Nvidia's N1X and N1 processors leak in full ahead of launch

Just a day before the expected announcement, detailed specifications of Nvidia's upcoming N1-series Arm processors for PCs and laptops have leaked online. According to information published by VideoCardz, citing internal Nvidia documents, the company is preparing at least four variants of the N1 family, ranging from high-performance N1X models to more power-efficient and affordable N1 chips aimed at thinner, mainstream devices.

The flagship N1X reportedly shares its core configuration with the GB10 processor used in Nvidia's DGX Spark desktop AI supercomputer. The top-tier variant is said to feature a 20-core CPU consisting of ten Cortex-X925 performance cores paired with ten Cortex-A725 efficiency cores. Graphics duties are handled by a Blackwell 2.0 GPU featuring 48 Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs), equivalent to 6,144 CUDA cores.

A slightly cut-down N1X configuration is also planned. It would feature 18 CPU cores in a 9+9 arrangement alongside a 40-SM GPU with 5,120 CUDA cores. Both N1X models are reportedly designed to operate within a power range of 45 W to 80 W, placing them in the same class as today's high-end laptop processors. Unlike conventional CPUs, however, this figure covers the complete CPU and GPU package.

More intriguing may be the standard N1 lineup, which appears targeted at thinner, more affordable systems. Two configurations have reportedly been planned. The higher-end version combines eight Cortex-X925 cores and four Cortex-A725 cores with a 20-SM GPU, delivering 2,560 CUDA cores. A second variant scales back to a 10-core CPU configuration with seven performance cores and three efficiency cores, paired with a 16-SM graphics processor offering 2,048 CUDA cores. The N1 family is said to operate within a considerably lower 18 W to 45 W power range.

Memory support also differs significantly between the two product families. The N1X reportedly supports up to 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory through a 16-channel interface, whereas the standard N1 tops out at 64 GB and uses an 8-channel design. Storage capabilities have also been scaled accordingly, with N1X supporting up to three M.2 SSDs and N1 supporting two.

The leaked documents also suggest that Nvidia has been working on the project for quite some time. According to VideoCardz, one of the slides carries a 2024 date, indicating that development may have been underway for at least two years. Not all of the listed models are guaranteed to appear in shipping products, and some may never make it to market, but the documents indicate these were at least part of Nvidia's original roadmap.

The timing of the leak is particularly notable, as the embargo on Nvidia's new Arm-based PC platform is expected to lift within days. If the specifications prove accurate, the N1 family could mark Nvidia's most ambitious attempt yet to enter the Windows-on-Arm laptop market, bringing together Arm CPU technology and high-performance Blackwell graphics in a single package.