NVIDIA Arm AI Chip May Debut in Alienware Laptop

According to The Verge, NVIDIA is preparing to unveil its first custom-built Arm-based AI PC processor by the end of 2025 or early 2026. This innovative chip will debut in a next-generation gaming laptop from Dell's premium gaming brand, Alienware, marking a major shift away from traditional x86 processors.

The upcoming processor is described as an APU (Accelerated Processing Unit), combining a high-performance Arm architecture CPU with NVIDIA's next-generation Blackwell GPU. This integration is expected to deliver significant advances in gaming and AI performance. There are also indications that the Arm CPU portion may be co-developed with MediaTek, continuing a growing trend of strategic partnerships in the semiconductor space.

This isn't NVIDIA's first foray into Arm-based solutions. The company previously introduced “Project DIGITS” (DGX Spark), a personal AI supercomputer powered by the GB200 Grace Blackwell Superchip. This platform integrates the Grace CPU—featuring 20 high-performance Arm-based cores—and the Blackwell GPU, a design also co-engineered with MediaTek.

Currently, most mainstream laptops are still equipped with x86 CPUs from Intel or AMD. NVIDIA's shift to a custom Arm CPU paired with its Blackwell GPU architecture could significantly enhance the Windows on Arm experience, especially for gaming. In contrast, devices using Qualcomm's Snapdragon X processors rely on Microsoft's Prism software to emulate games, which limits GPU compatibility and overall performance.

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has previously stated that the company plans to extend its Arm processor roadmap to personal AI systems like DIGITS. Dell CEO Michael Dell also hinted at a potential collaboration during a 2024 interview, suggesting a deeper partnership may be on the horizon.

Adding to the speculation, tech YouTuber “Moore's Law is Dead” recently leaked an image believed to show the new NVIDIA APU, reporting that the chip's power consumption could range between 80W and 120W—a significant indicator of its high-performance design.

NVIDIA isn't alone in targeting the AI PC and Arm processor segment. MediaTek is reportedly developing its own Arm-based AI PC chips, and AMD is said to be working on Arm processors for future Microsoft Surface devices, signaling intensified competition in the Arm PC ecosystem.