Nvidia has quietly launched into CPUs that would work with Microsoft’s Windows operating system and use Arm technology, Reuters reported on Tuesday (October 24). AMD also plans to produce chips for PCs using Arm technology, specifies the press agency, citing sources close to the matter.
Nvidia and AMD could market processors as early as 2025, one of the sources said. The two manufacturers would thus join Qualcomm, which has been offering laptop chips based on Arm technology since 2016. At an event to be held Tuesday and attended by Microsoft executives, including Windows and Devices vice president Pavan Davuluri, Qualcomm plans to give more details on a flagship chip designed by a team of former engineers from Apple, during its big annual rally, according to Reuters.
The performance of Apple chips
The graphics card giant’s new project is part of Microsoft’s efforts to help chipmakers build processors based on Arm technology for Windows PCs. Microsoft is indeed seeking to counter Apple’s offensive in recent years, since the launch of its own chips for its Macs. The Redmond firm has observed the effectiveness of Apple’s chips based on Arm technology, including for artificial intelligence processing, and wants to achieve similar performance. Laptops running Intel chips struggle to match the battery life and performance of Apple’s M1 and M2 chips, and Meteor Lake processors are expected to arrive in December to try to challenge Apple.
Microsoft approached Qualcomm in 2016 for the development of chips under Arm architecture compatible with Windows until 2024. But the firm also encourages other groups to enter this market. “Microsoft learned in the 90s that it did not want to depend on Intel again, that it did not want to depend on a single supplier” Jay Goldberg, managing director of D2D Advisory, a strategy and financial consulting firm, told Reuters.
Microsoft is also encouraging chipmakers to integrate advanced AI functions into processors. The company predicts that AI-enhanced software, such as its Copilot, will become an increasingly important part of Windows usage.
Microsoft in action for Surface
Microsoft’s first Surface tablet, the Surface RT, featured Nvidia’s Arm-based Tegra processor. Alas, Windows RT never managed to break through. Since then, there have been no more devices based on Nvidia’s Arm processor running Windows, with the partnership with Qualcomm taking over.
Microsoft is also reportedly working on its own Arm-based chips for servers and perhaps even Surface devices. An Arm-based SQ1 processor with Qualcomm for the Surface Pro AMD also worked with Microsoft to create a custom version of its Ryzen processor for the Surface Laptop 3, and is reportedly working with Microsoft on artificial intelligence chips.
Sources: Reuters, The Verge