[Insights] NVIDIA Teams Up with Intel on x86 RTX SoCs — What Does This Mean for Its Arm-Based N1X?

Recently, NVIDIA invested $5 billion in Intel and announced plans to collaborate on developing x86-based RTX SoCs. According to Zhu Xi’s column in TechNews, this raises questions about NVIDIA’s potential launch of  its first desktop-level Arm-based CPU, the N1X. Given the competitive dynamics between the x86 and Arm architectures, the future direction of such a product is expected to draw considerable attention.

NVIDIA only recently acknowledged the N1X, describing it as a power-optimized derivative of the workstation-class GB10, as noted by TechNews. Still, with growing leaks about its specs—such as a CUDA core count comparable to desktop GPUs and a unified memory architecture aimed at professional users—market expectations for the chip continue to build.

This positioning, in turn, draws comparisons with NVIDIA’s newly announced x86 RTX SoCs. Both products share NVIDIA’s GPU architecture and unified memory design, but the CPU differs: the x86 RTX SoCs rely on Intel’s x86 cores, whereas the N1X is built on Arm architecture, reportedly co-developed with Taiwan’s MediaTek.

Meanwhile, NVIDIA has yet to confirm a launch date for N1X, though sources suggest the unveiling has been pushed to the second half of 2026.

WoA Challenges and AMD Competition

Looking at the current state of Windows on Arm (WoA), it would not be surprising if NVIDIA decided to cancel the N1X, as TechNews points out. Adoption of WoA remains sluggish, and even with NVIDIA’s GPU ecosystem supporting N1X and its focus on professional users, the platform is unlikely to see a quick rebound.

Meanwhile, AMD’s Strix Halo, viewed as the chief rival to NVIDIA’s x86 RTX SoC, has been gaining visibility. Against this backdrop, shelving the Arm-based N1X in favor of SoCs developed with Intel appears to be a pragmatic move.

Why N1X May Still Matter for NVIDIA

So, is it really possible that the N1X could be canceled? Indeed, if NVIDIA moves forward with Intel on launching an RTX SoC, the rationale for N1X becomes quite thin. However, the chip still carries strategic significance for NVIDIA. After all, it represents the company’s first processor designed for PCs. If NVIDIA still intends to challenge Intel and AMD’s dominance on the CPU side, the N1X could serve as an important step. Moreover, if Microsoft remains committed to investing in Windows on Arm, then N1X may still be worth pursuing.

Read more

• [News] Mega NVIDIA-Intel Deal: No Chipmaking Orders, Co-Developed Products Might Launch 2027–28
• [News] Intel Rumored to Explore Foundry Deal with Archrival AMD Amid Big Tech Backing

(Photo credit: Lip-Bu Tan’s X)