NVIDIA’s push into the consumer CPU market has been delayed again, with its ARM-based N1 and N1X processors now expected no earlier than late 2026. Initially aimed for a 2025 release, the chips encountered critical hardware defects that now require a silicon respin (updating the silicon’s design).
NVIDIA’s CPU Stumbles
The CPUs were notably absent during major 2025 tech events, including NVIDIA’s own GTC and Computex, which indicated the chip was far from ready. Although the chipmaker briefly resolved an earlier issue through firmware, a newly discovered defect appears to demand a full revision of the chip design, according to SemiAccurate (via Tom’s Hardware).
Despite these issues, NVIDIA’s GB10 Superchip, which likely shares some of the common designs (such as the 20-core CPU), are unaffected. Like the N1 and N1X, GB10 was co-developed with MediaTek for AI workstations, and is based on Arm like the Qualcomm Snapdragon X series SoCs. In the case of the consumer versions, reports indicate GPU performance may be on par to that of the RTX 4070-equivalent laptop.
It was also reported that the first laptop to feature such chip will be an Alienware model, although it’s unclear if the delay may affect such plans. Still, regardless of when the chip will launch, it’ll have to address the big elephant in the room – can all games reliably run on such systems without compatibility issues? This hurdle alone will be key in convincing the mass market to make the transition to Arm, of which both Intel and AMD are currently competing against.
Pokdepinion: Off to a rough start.
