I’ve been tracking the “N1X” rumors for months, and Jensen Huang just gave us the confirmation we were waiting for. In a year-end update from Taiwan, Nvidia’s CEO officially confirmed that Team Green is building Arm-based CPUs for AI PCs in a massive partnership with MediaTek.
This isn’t just another chip launch. Nvidia is coming straight for the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 and AMD Ryzen AI 400 crown. Here’s why your next laptop might not have an “Intel Inside” sticker.
The Lineup: N1X and N1
Nvidia is splitting its focus between desktops and laptops to make sure “AI PC” isn’t just a buzzword.
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The N1X (Desktop): This is the heavy hitter. It’s reportedly based on the “Blackwell” architecture found in Nvidia’s high-end data center tech.
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The N1 (Laptop): A more power-efficient version designed to give you elite gaming performance without killing your battery life.
Performance: Integrated Graphics That Don’t Suck
The big highlight here is the integrated graphics. We’re used to iGPUs being “good enough” for Chrome but terrible for Cyberpunk.
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The Claim: Rumors suggest the N1 series could match the performance of a dedicated RTX 4070 laptop GPU.
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The Efficiency: It’s tipped to do this at just 65W. For context, a standard RTX 4070 laptop usually gulps down 120W.
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Why it matters: You could get high-end gaming performance in an ultra-thin laptop (like the rumored new Alienware) without the massive heat or the brick-sized power adapter.
The Timeline: When Can You Buy One?
While Jensen didn’t drop a specific date, the breadcrumbs are all there.
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Expected Reveal: Computex 2026 (this June) is the prime stage for a full unveiling.
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Launch Window: We’re likely looking at an early 2026 announcement with laptops hitting shelves by the second half of the year.
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Analytic Touch: If Nvidia pulls this off, it changes the Windows-on-Arm landscape entirely. Microsoft has been waiting for a chip that can actually handle gaming and heavy AI workloads simultaneously—this is it.
Quick Specs: What We Know
| Feature | Nvidia N1 / N1X Rumors |
| Architecture | Arm-based (TSMC 3nm) |
| GPU Power | Matches RTX 4070 levels |
| Target Power | 65W to 120W TDP |
| Primary Rival | Intel Panther Lake / AMD Strix Halo |
The Takeaway
Nvidia isn’t just a “graphics card company” anymore. By jumping into the CPU market with MediaTek, they’re trying to own the entire brain of your computer. If they can deliver RTX 4070 power inside a chip that fits in a MacBook-thin chassis, Intel and AMD are going to have a very stressful 2026.
