Tuesday, September 15th 2020

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Says NVIDIA-Branded CPUs Could be Coming

It was just yesterday that we have received the news of NVIDIA's latest move - acquiring Arm Ltd. from Softbank Group for $40 billion. However, it seems like there are more reasons for the deal than what meets the eye. In the briefing regarding the acquisition, NVIDIA's CEO was asked a question, by Timothy Prickett Morgan, from TheNextPlatform, about NVIDIA's plans for a possible implementation of Arm's Neoverse core in an NVIDIA-branded CPU design and start selling them to data centers. To that question, Mr. Huang gave a prolonged answer indirectly saying that the company can build the CPU if there is a market for it.

He explains that there is an entire network surrounding the Arm ecosystem and that there may be customers interested in contracting NVIDIA to build them semi-custom or completely custom chip based on Arm ISA on NVIDIA's own interest. Any of these options are available and Mr. Haung says that they are there for the best interest of the ecosystem to enrich it enhance it even further. This means that it is just a matter of time before we see NVIDIA-branded CPU make its way to data-center or some other areas of technology, so we have to wait and see for ourselves.
Source: Tom's Hardware
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59 Comments on NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Says NVIDIA-Branded CPUs Could be Coming

#26
Jism
FourstaffIntel trying to get to graphics, AMD has both segments, now Nvidia going to CPU. Lines getting blurred by the day.
There was a time Nvidia made chipsets, and they where pretty good at it. It actually made the chipsets of both Intel and AMD look ridiculous. Once the contracts where pulled and both vendors decided to make chipsets on their own again Nvidia retracted from that chipset market. Primarily because Nvidia did chipsets with geforce's build into it, so you woud'nt need a external GPU at all if the plan was just plain 2D and some games with it.

It would only make sense for Nvidia to enter the (license-free) CPU market again, ARM. The amount that they pay for obtaining ARM is'nt a bargain either.
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#27
Anymal
Xex360Haven't seen them in anything but cars or their shield (old models), how can you compare then?
But now they own the company and its IP they have more freedom and especially money, GPU wise they are the best (with AMD second).
Tegra is happily ever after in Nintendo Switch
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#28
fynxer
thesmokingmanThat's a good point but I think the more pressing issue for Nvidia is that this has to pass thru Chinese regulators first. And given what the US is doing to tiktoc, does anyone think Bejing is gonna be complaint?
Funny thing is nvidia is very respected in China and will probably have no problems with them.

If nvidia gets approved for buying ARM only makes it possible for China to start buying stock in nvidia until they are majority owners and control both GPU and ARM CPU tech.
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#29
InVasMani
I said quite a few years back that I felt ARM could end up becoming a stronger competitor to x86 on the desktop. It's taken awhile and progress is slower than I would've thought it would be like by now, but this could really change things a lot. It might not be the desktop so much though honestly by the time things get underway. I think Nvidia could continue to push ARM's progress in the smartphone form factor, but added emphasis toward VR and augmented reality. Really with Nvidia's IP they could be at the forefront of mobile augmented/VR technology. The Nintendo switch is a good example it's old tech now by imagine what Nvidia can do on it's own with all it's available IP tech and all it's inside connections to software development as well. I can't imagine Microsoft is a happy camper with this they could really challenge it's OS dominance in a round about way over time.

How crazy will it be in less than a decade when Nvidia has all in one mobile augmented reality/VR devices with great battery life and quick charging capabilities with even more power overall than consoles getting ready to being released now from Microsoft/Sony!!? That seems like a very plausible reality. Interestingly if end up powered by a smartphone and you can SLI bridge link a pair together perhaps and control each eye wirelessly streamed to each. Seems like they have tons of potential going forward plus all the AI robotics as well.
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#30
lexluthermiester
AquinusAre Tegra chips not CPUs? :confused:
Tegra is a combination ARM CPU set with a custom refined Maxwell GPU built together on the same SOC. So in a way yes but it's really like all other SOC's, an enhanced APU.
FourstaffIntel trying to get to graphics, AMD has both segments, now Nvidia going to CPU. Lines getting blurred by the day.
Right? It's getting weird in the tech world but it's very interesting, fun and exciting to watch. I predicted that NVidia may usher in ARM for desktops on a widespread basis in the next few years. I know several people who already use Raspberry Pi as a desktop PC and use their phones/tablets for everything else. If NVidia really wanted to, they could give X86/X64 real competition in the desktop/laptop space. They have both the clout and resources to make it happen.
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#31
Splinterdog
I'd hardly call the current consumer CPU market competitive with just two main players, so more competition has to be welcomed.
Good for Nvidia I say.
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#32
ur6beersaway
Still curious what Softbank's motivation is to even consider selling ARM at all. You own ARM a guaranteed winner & in all likely hood going to mushroom in value. I understand 40 bil. is 40 bil, not that they need money, but maybe 400 bil. in 10 years? why sell a probable moneymaker? Either way hope it is a fun ride for us.
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#33
dragontamer5788
ur6beersawayStill curious what Softbank's motivation is to even consider selling ARM at all.
Softbank lost too much money on WeWork and Uber, and needs to show a profit this year.

Selling ARM at $40 Billion (which would be a profit of $8 Billion from their $32 Billion purchase) is the easiest way to get a profit.
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#34
Wshlist
I'd definitely advise Wikipedia to put a sale of Arm to Nvidia in their 'List of 2020 disasters'.

(Just as that co-founder of arm said incidentally.)
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#35
InVasMani
lexluthermiesterTegra is a combination ARM CPU set with a custom refined Maxwell GPU built together on the same SOC. So in a way yes but it's really like all other SOC's, an enhanced APU.


Right? It's getting weird in the tech world but it's very interesting, fun and exciting to watch. I predicted that NVidia may usher in ARM for desktops on a widespread basis in the next few years. I know several people who already use Raspberry Pi as a desktop PC and use their phones/tablets for everything else. If NVidia really wanted to, they could give X86/X64 real competition in the desktop/laptop space. They have both the clout and resources to make it happen.
The traditional common usage desktop/laptop use is low hanging fruit really. The future is VR and augmented reality I think it's about to go through a big boom like the smartphone industry did the last decade. I don't think it's really hit that boom yet, but it's about to take off if this acquisition deal goes thru Nvidia will kick start the hell out of that possibly in tandem with Nintendo think a VR and augmented hybrid Switch with probably as much power or more than the upcoming Microsoft/Sony consoles maybe even these Ampere RTX GPU's within the decade with increased efficiency and shrunk down obviously.

Things are headed in that direction on multiple fronts the desktop won't go away, but I can see it certainly becoming a more dwindling breed of users as time marches onward. That said I feel there will be a co-existence of the two things with scalable VR and augmented reality in accordance to surroundings if you're around a capable desktop you can always tap into that extra processing power and scale the level of detail higher much like the Nintendo Switch with it's tethered and non-tethered performance.

The way I see it this is kind of the push the VR and augmented reality industry actually really needs to thrive in a major way. If anything can make the technology work a highly credible way it's Nvidia. Will it be perfect probably will it have compromises along the way undoubtedly, but will it have a clear path forward and matching innovation to go along with I believe so. Will it cost a ARM and a leg no, but maybe both ARMS.
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#36
watzupken
ur6beersawayStill curious what Softbank's motivation is to even consider selling ARM at all. You own ARM a guaranteed winner & in all likely hood going to mushroom in value. I understand 40 bil. is 40 bil, not that they need money, but maybe 400 bil. in 10 years? why sell a probable moneymaker? Either way hope it is a fun ride for us.
The value of the investment is only on paper if you don't realize the gains. Unless you are getting truckloads of dividends each year, otherwise, investors should at some point in time exit the investment they made once it is in the money. There may be other considerations, for example, the China ARM going rogue, and needing to get funds for other investments.
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#37
Unregistered
fynxerYEA, until US government forces nvidia to start enforce embargo left and right.

As soon as the deal is finished ARM tech will be considered US Tech.
Hopefully after November (January) we'll have more stability in that regard.
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#39
watzupken
SplinterdogI'd hardly call the current consumer CPU market competitive with just two main players, so more competition has to be welcomed.
Good for Nvidia I say.
I actually think this acquisision will end up with less competition in the longer run, instead of more. ARM sells IPs to companies to design their own processors. As a result, you see more options from say Qualcomm, Apple, etc, that are entering the CPU market. With Nvidia taking over ARM and with questionable intentions, it is very likely they are going to give themselves the advantage, at the expense of depriving others of any sorts of advantage.
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#40
dragontamer5788
watzupkenI actually think this acquisision will end up with less competition in the longer run, instead of more. ARM sells IPs to companies to design their own processors. As a result, you see more options from say Qualcomm, Apple, etc, that are entering the CPU market. With Nvidia taking over ARM and with questionable intentions, it is very likely they are going to give themselves the advantage, at the expense of depriving others of any sorts of advantage.
NVidia taking over ARM could create renewed interest in OpenPOWER and RISC-V. So maybe indirectly, it would create more competition.
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#41
lexluthermiester
InVasManiThe future is VR and augmented reality I think it's about to go through a big boom like the smartphone industry did the last decade.
I disagree with you in the respect that VR & AR will boom. They are solid technologies that have a lot of promise in many area's of computer interaction, however the use model is limited.
dragontamer5788NVidia taking over ARM could create renewed interest in OpenPOWER and RISC-V. So maybe indirectly, it would create more competition.
Good point!
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#42
biffzinker
dragontamer5788NVidia taking over ARM could create renewed interest in OpenPOWER and RISC-V. So maybe indirectly, it would create more competition.
MIPS might make a comeback.
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#44
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
AddSubAMD is re-purposing server stuff for desktop and calling it a revolution (/r/AMD and Ryzen cult crowd will have a word to say about that I bet :rolleyes:).
Correct. I mean why not? Why would you design multiple x86 CPUs from the ground up?

As for Nvidia making x86: impossible.
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#45
R0H1T
AddSubAMD is re-purposing server stuff for desktop
Who says that thing is made first/only for servers? What weird contention/speculation/opinion from you :rolleyes:

Unlike Intel AMD only has one design for all their markets, two if you count the monolithic die approach for zen2 APUs. Not to mention it's been wildly successful at all levels!
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#46
Aretak
AddSubAMD is re-purposing server stuff for desktop and calling it a revolution (/r/AMD and Ryzen cult crowd will have a word to say about that I bet :rolleyes:).
Of course. You'd have to be a hilariously bitter and blinkered fanboy to claim otherwise. Ryzen has been a revolution, not just for what it offers itself, but for forcing Intel to stop gouging everybody for quad cores and making you buy massively-overpriced HEDT chips (which are and have always been repurposed Xeons, if you really want to go down that road) should you want more.

Keep pointing those fingers though. I'm sure you're distracting somebody from your own bias.
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#47
xtreemchaos
why not everythings fair in love n war. i think it would be good another bunch of cpus on the market but he hasnt said thay would be for mainstream yet, heres hoping eh :)
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#49
Splinterdog
watzupkenWith Nvidia taking over ARM and with questionable intentions...
Why so much suspicion? And please explain 'questionable intentions'.
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#50
Vayra86
Xex360Haven't seen them in anything but cars or their shield (old models), how can you compare then?
But now they own the company and its IP they have more freedom and especially money, GPU wise they are the best (with AMD second).
LG Optimus 2X also had a Tegra chip, was the first dual core even. Wasn't even that bad, but not great either. Big part of that products' problems were also due to LG and its shit update policy.

www.gsmarena.com/lg_optimus_2x-3598.php
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