Nvidia confirms N1X and N1 chips for AI PCs, targeting Intel and AMD with RTX 5070 performance

Watch out, Intel: Nvidia finally confirms next-gen N1X and N1 chips for AI PCs are coming

After months of Nvidia's N1X and N1 chips rumors, CEO Jensen Huang has finally confirmed its Arm-based CPUs designed for AI PCs in collaboration with MediaTek -- and it's already taking aim at Intel Core Ultra Series 3 and AMD Ryzen AI 400. In an interview during Nvidia's year-end party in Taiwan, Huang commented on work with MediaTek for the hugely anticipated next-gen N1X and N1 chips, which have been tipped to power AI-based desktops and laptops, respectively. According to Taiwan media outlet UDN, Huang states these CPUs have been specifically geared for PCs with "powerful AI capabilities." The report notes that Nvidia's collaboration with MediaTek will offer a System-on-Chip (SoC) with "low power consumption but excellent performance," which recent rumors back up. Leaks indicate that N1X will be closely tied to Team Green's GB10 Superchip found in the DGX Spark, while the N1 for laptops may come in the form of a cut-down version of GB10. With the joint project with MediaTek confirmed, Nvidia's N1X and N1 SoCs already look to stir up the CPU competition. We've heard that the N1 series will reportedly deliver the same performance as an RTX 4070-equipped laptop, but with improved power efficiency, taking integrated gaming performance in PCs even further. While Jensen doesn't comment on when we'll see these Arm-based chips in upcoming PCs, reports have suggested an early 2026 launch, with wide availability later in the year. Other rumors believe the N1-series chips were delayed, pushing back the release to late 2026. We've heard that Nvidia's Arm-based SoC may power Dell's Alienware laptops down the line, and it could match the timing for Alienware's new ultra-slim gaming laptop. However, with Computex 2026 coming up, this may set the stage for Nvidia and MediaTek to reveal their AI-focused CPUs. Since benchmarking the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, Team Blue's flagship laptop processor, we've been hugely impressed by the performance and power efficiency gains the chip delivers. Especially when it comes to Intel XeSS 3 and its integrated graphics for gaming -- seeing Cyberpunk 2077 at High settings reach 217 frames per second is a highlight. Without XeSS and its multi-frame generation or super resolution, Intel's CPU is closer to the performance of an RTX 4050. Still impressive, considering this comes from Arc B390 integrated graphics on the chip, but if rumors ring true and Nvidia's N1-series reaches RTX 4070 levels of performance, that's a significant gap to beat. Rumors indicate that the N1 chip is expected to use 65W power to match the performance of a 120W RTX 4070 gaming laptop, and another source suggests the chip would offer a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 80W to 120W. Intel's Core Ultra 3 chips have shown they thrive on low power consumption, too, with the Asus Zenbook Duo we tested hitting 45W. For now, it's guesswork on what the N1X and N1 CPUs will deliver, but it appears to take the fight to Intel's impressive offering, along with AMD's Ryzen AI 400 series, according to the benchmarks we've seen in the Asus Vivobook 14 we tested. The CPU wars are heating up this year, and if the ongoing RAM shortage doesn't get in the way, your next laptop or desktop is looking to see a significant upgrade.

NVIDIA teases 'major release' of a new chip: its new Arm-based N1X processor

TL;DR: NVIDIA's upcoming Arm-based N1X and N1 processors, developed with MediaTek and fabricated on TSMC's 3nm node, target AI computers and high-performance gaming laptops. Rumored to deliver RTX 5070-level GPU power, these chips aim to compete directly with AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm in the laptop market. NVIDIA hasn't said much about its upcoming Arm-based N1X + N1 processors, but now NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has mentioned the N1X + N1 and his company working with MediaTek on the new chips. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang hanging out in Taipei, with a floral-themed shirt on (not a leather jacket!) Jensen is in Taiwan right now where he talked with local media, bringing up the N1X + N1 chips and saying they're a joint venture with MediaTek as a system-on-a-chip (SoC) designed for "AI computers". Jensen said the new N1X + N1 processors are being tweaked for low power and high performance, with rumored gaming performance levels of an RTX 5070. NVIDIA's new N1 branding goes hand-in-hand with the company's push into AI PCs and laptops using an Arm-based CPU complex developed with MediaTek, and will compete directly against AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm in the laptop market. NVIDIA's new N1X and N1 processors will be fabbed on TSMC's 3nm process node, with a design that looks similar to the GB10 chip inside of the GB10 mini AI supercomputer systems. On the next-gen side of things, the report adds that the upcoming N2X and N2 processors could arrive in Q2 2027, which is just over a year away now, as NVIDIA continues to drum into new Arm-based laptop markets. NVIDIA's upcoming N1X processor is shaping up to be a direct competitor to AMD's current-gen Strix Halo APU, which is already an absolute monster in the APU space. Strix Halo pairs serious CPU horsepower with a beefy RDNA 3.5-based Radeon 8060S GPU that can comfortably handle 1080p and 1440p gaming at 120Hz+, and even push into light 4K 60FPS territory if you're willing to dial back a few visual settings. What makes NVIDIA's N1X particularly exciting is the rumor mill suggesting GPU performance in the ballpark of an RTX 5070. If that turns out to be even remotely accurate, it would be a staggering result for an Arm-based PC processor, and a clear signal that NVIDIA is aiming straight at high-performance gaming laptops and compact desktops. With less than five months to go until Computex 2026, we're hoping NVIDIA takes the wraps off N1X on the show floor.