NVIDIA & MediaTek Launch GB10 Grace Blackwell SoC
At Hot Chips 2025, NVIDIA revealed its latest GB10 SoC architecture, describing it as a "miniaturized" version of the Blackwell GPU architecture. In collaboration with MediaTek, NVIDIA integrated 20 ARM v9.2 CPU cores with a high-performance GPU into a single 2.5D package, creating a compact iteration of the Grace Blackwell platform.
Unlike traditional data center chips, NVIDIA emphasizes that GB10 is designed specifically for lightweight DGX Spark workstations. The SoC combines CPU and GPU cores, built on TSMC's 3nm process and packaged using a 2.5D interposer. The launch of GB10 alongside DGX Spark marks a strategic step for NVIDIA as it navigates the rapidly diversifying AI chip market.
Industry insiders note that competitors such as AMD, Intel, and several AI startups are also releasing AI-focused SoC solutions. In this environment, NVIDIA aims to expand beyond high-end data centers. GB10 balances size, power consumption, and performance rather than chasing the peak throughput of full-scale DGX systems. By leveraging an optimized CPU/GPU combination, unified memory architecture, and cache coherence, GB10 ensures smooth execution of common AI workloads on desktop-grade platforms—offering a practical testbed for large-scale training experiments.
The GB10 SoC also signals NVIDIA's increasingly open approach to CPU/GPU integration. Partnering with MediaTek represents a shift away from strict in-house CPU design, enabling faster innovation through ecosystem collaboration. This type of deep cross-company integration could influence both high-performance computing (HPC) and consumer-level devices.
Rumored N1/N1x SoC designs may build on GB10's architecture, extending NVIDIA's GPU technology into consumer laptops and broader markets. By gradually moving from cloud AI to edge and device AI, the DGX Spark paired with GB10 embodies NVIDIA's market strategy—strengthening its foothold in the AI developer community and expanding the reach of the CUDA ecosystem.
The DGX Spark offers value on three fronts: it provides developers with an accessible, high-performance local environment; creates an ecosystem bridging PCs and the cloud; and leverages cross-industry collaboration to expand NVIDIA's influence. GB10 is not just a hardware innovation—it's a critical piece of NVIDIA's strategic AI infrastructure.
At Hot Chips 2025, NVIDIA highlighted new ideas in CPU/GPU synergy, unified memory design, and energy-efficient performance. GB10 is not a simple performance upgrade; it's a holistic solution for high-performance workstations, desktop AI development, and lightweight data center applications. By combining a "mini Blackwell GPU" with ARM CPUs, NVIDIA offers small and medium-sized teams an approachable AI development platform that seamlessly connects with cloud-based DGX systems, creating a full development-to-deployment workflow.
