NVIDIA's alleged N1x chip for ARM laptops boasts a comparable number of CUDA cores to an RTX 5070 graphics card, yet users might not experience the same level of performance.
In the world of technology, anticipation is building for NVIDIA's upcoming ARM-based System-on-Chip (SoC), the N1x. This chip, designed to integrate an efficient Arm CPU with a powerful GPU, could revolutionise laptop GPU architecture.
The N1x boasts an impressive 20 ARM CPU cores and 6,144 CUDA GPU cores, with each Streaming Multiprocessor (SM) featuring 128 CUDA cores. Early leaked benchmarks suggest the GPU performance is comparable to an RTX 2050, but it's expected that the chip's full potential will be realised once finalised.
The N1x's high-end GPU, combined with its strong multitasking and computational performance, could bring a significant boost to laptop graphics and overall system efficiency compared to current offerings. If it performs at the same level as an RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, as suggested by an older leak, the N1x would be significantly better than the RTX 2050 level suggested by the new OpenCL leak.
However, the road to the N1x's launch has not been smooth. Delays have been reported due to a combination of factors, including delays in Microsoft's operating system roadmap, ongoing chip revisions at Nvidia, and weakening demand in the overall notebook market. Initially expected around Computex 2025 and CES 2026, recent reports indicate it may now launch later in 2026 or possibly at CES 2027 in January, due to engineering challenges that required design changes in the silicon.
NVIDIA has partnered with semiconductor manufacturer MediaTek to produce the N1x. An engineering sample of the N1x design was leaked in May 2025, revealing an expected power draw of 80-120W and a likely Q1 2026 release. The GB10, a chip created by NVIDIA and MediaTek, powers NVIDIA's DGX Spark, a desktop-sized AI supercomputer.
The N1x, if it performs as expected, has the potential to challenge or outperform most integrated GPUs currently on the market, including those from AMD, Intel, Qualcomm, and Apple. Having an APU like the N1x handle both CPU and GPU work without needing an extra 115W of power for a discrete GPU could be a massive breakthrough for laptops.
In summary, the N1x, if it delivers on its promise, could redefine ARM-based laptops' graphics performance. While the full impact awaits the official release and finalised benchmarks, the potential benefits for laptop performance and energy efficiency are undeniable.
- The upcoming NVIDIA SoC, the N1x, is designed to revolutionize laptop GPU architecture, featuring a powerful ARM CPU and GPU, and could potentially outperform integrated GPUs from competitors like AMD, Intel, Qualcomm, and Apple.
- Microsoft's operating system roadmap has reportedly contributed to some delays in the N1x's launch, with the chip initially expected to debut at Computex 2025 and CES 2026 but now rumored to be released later in 2026 or even at CES 2027.
- The N1x boasts 20 ARM CPU cores and 6,144 CUDA GPU cores, with each Streaming Multiprocessor (SM) having 128 CUDA cores, comparable to a RTX 2050 GPU, and expected to perform even better once finalized.
- NVIDIA has partnered with MediaTek to produce the N1x, and the GB10, a joint chip from the collaboration, powers NVIDIA's DGX Spark, a desktop-sized AI supercomputer.
- The N1x's high-end GPU and strong multitasking and computational performance could bring a significant boost to laptop graphics and overall system efficiency, potentially reducing the need for a separate, power-consuming discrete GPU.
- The N1x's impressive potential performance and energy efficiency make it a highly anticipated addition to the world of technology, especially for those in the gaming, PC, and laptop sectors, as well as for enthusiasts of artificial intelligence and various gadgets.
