Nvidia and AMD are teaming up to develop Arm processors for use in Windows PCs, according to insiders cited by Reuters news agency. These chip giants are expected to introduce their respective CPUs by 2025. This move marks a shift in focus as, currently, Qualcomm holds an exclusive agreement to produce Arm chips for Windows-based devices.
Nvidia has initiated the development of its processor, codenamed ‘Stiles,’ which is built on the Arm architecture and supports Windows, sources have revealed to Reuters. AMD is pursuing a similar path. These plans are part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to foster collaboration with chip manufacturers in creating Arm processors for Windows, ultimately aiming to enhance its competitiveness against Apple’s Arm-based system-on-chips (SoCs).
Both Nvidia and AMD are gearing up to launch these processors in the next few years. Although specific technical details and specifications are scarce at the moment, neither company has offered any official comments on the matter, leaving room for speculation.
Microsoft, for its part, has had a longstanding collaboration with Qualcomm on Arm-based SoCs for Windows, dating back to 2016. Qualcomm holds an exclusive deal to produce Arm-based SoCs for Windows PCs, which is set to last until 2024. This agreement has long been the subject of rumors, and Reuters’ sources confirm its existence. In the coming days, Qualcomm is expected to unveil its new Snapdragon SoCs for Windows PCs, featuring Nuvia’s in-house Arm-based cores, in a presentation in which Microsoft is slated to participate.
Notably, Nvidia has a history of involvement with Arm-based chips, having previously offered Tegra SoCs built on Arm architecture. These chips have been used in various devices, including the Nintendo Switch and tablets such as Microsoft’s Surface RT, released back in 2012. Earlier this year, Nvidia introduced its Grace data center processor, powered by Arm Neoverse cores. It’s worth noting that Nvidia had considered a $40 billion acquisition of Arm but ultimately refrained from doing so due to concerns raised by market regulators regarding competition.
AMD, traditionally a competitor to Intel in the x86 CPU space, had previously explored the development of its Arm microarchitecture called K12, primarily targeting servers. However, AMD eventually abandoned these plans. In the same vein, there are rumors circulating that Microsoft may also be working on its own Arm-based chips, initially intended for server applications but with potential applications in Surface devices down the road.