MediaTek Joins Hands with Nvidia, Declares 'AI PC War' Against Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm [Taiwan Chip News]

Mass Production Based on ARM Architecture Starting Next Year
Full-Scale Battle with x86-Based Intel and AMD Alliance
Competition Also Expected with Qualcomm of the Same ARM Family

Taiwan's largest fabless semiconductor company, MediaTek, is starting mass production of AI PC processors developed based on ARM architecture in collaboration with U.S. AI chip leader NVIDIA. This move challenges the 'x86'-based AI PC processor market led by Intel and AMD. Competition with Qualcomm, which already supplies ARM-based AI PC processors, is also expected to intensify.

According to industry sources on the 19th, MediaTek and NVIDIA have completed the design of the AI PC processor and plan to begin mass production next year in the second half using TSMC's 3nm (nanometer, one billionth of a meter) process. However, MediaTek has not issued an official statement regarding this.

The AI PC processor jointly developed by MediaTek and NVIDIA combines MediaTek's central processing unit (CPU) technology with NVIDIA's graphics processing unit (GPU) technology.

[Image source=MediaTek]

Industry expectations are high. After its release next year, this processor is likely to be installed in major PC brands such as Lenovo, HP, Dell, and ASUS. MediaTek initially entered the PC market focusing on low-cost Chromebooks equipped with Google's Chrome OS. Through this collaboration with NVIDIA, it has expanded its reach into the AI PC processor market. Competition with Qualcomm, which has already entered the AI PC processor market based on ARM architecture, is expected to intensify. Qualcomm supplies major PC brands through its Snapdragon X series.

This development also signifies that the existing x86-based processor market has entered full-scale competition with ARM architecture-based chips. x86 is a CPU design method devised by Intel in 1978. The CPU is the device that acts as the brain of a computer, and x86 and ARM define how CPUs are designed and operate. x86 is mainly used in high-performance computers (desktops, laptops, servers, etc.). The ARM design, developed by the British semiconductor design company ARM, is mainly used in low-power devices such as smartphones and tablets. However, as ARM-based CPUs have penetrated the PC market, not only Qualcomm but also collaborative products from MediaTek and NVIDIA are expected to compete in the market.

MediaTek is a strong player in the chipset market that serves as the brain of smartphones. Through this AI PC processor, MediaTek will expand its business area from its experience in the Chromebook market to the general PC market. NVIDIA has already established a strong position in the discrete graphics card market and is expected to expand its business into various fields through this collaboration with MediaTek.

MediaTek currently develops chipsets for Chromebooks in cooperation with ASUS, Lenovo, HP, Acer, and others. It also produces chipsets for tablet PCs. Additionally, in September this year, it collaborated to integrate NVIDIA's G-SYNC technology into MediaTek's display chips, significantly enhancing the performance of gaming monitors.

MediaTek and NVIDIA are also collaborating on the development of smart systems for vehicles. The two companies plan to provide solutions for next-generation smart cars by combining MediaTek's system on chip (SoC) with NVIDIA's GPU and AI technologies. They aim to offer a one-stop solution for next-generation smart connected cars to the global automotive industry.

The collaboration between MediaTek and NVIDIA is expanding beyond the AI PC market into gaming and automotive markets. The combination of their technologies is expected to further intensify competition in various fields such as AI, gaming, and automobiles.

Taiwan Economic Daily News = Li Mengshan, Zhong Huiling / Translation = Asia Economy