Exclusive: Mysterious Nvidia "N1X" Arm-Based Chip Surprises in Geekbench Test

A previously unknown processor hints at Nvidia’s next-generation ambitions

SANTA CLARA, CA – A cryptic new Nvidia chip codenamed "N1X" has surfaced on Geekbench, sparking intense speculation about the company’s roadmap for custom Arm-based silicon. The unexpected appearance, first flagged by hardware sleuth @Olrak29_ on X (formerly Twitter), reveals a 12-core processor with hybrid architecture—matching recent industry trends toward performance/efficiency core designs.

The Geekbench 6 listing (view full results here) shows the N1X hitting a single-core score of 1,483 and multi-core score of 7,162—placing it roughly between Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and Apple’s M2 Pro in raw performance. Notably, the chip identifies as an "Nvidia A1" device with 32GB RAM, running an unknown Linux-based OS.

Key Details From the Benchmark:

Hybrid Core Configuration: 8 efficiency cores + 4 performance cores
Clock Speeds: Efficiency cores at 1.76 GHz, performance cores peaking at 3.15 GHz
Architecture: Confirmed Armv9-A, likely implementing Nvidia’s custom "Grace" CPU lineage
Manufacturing Process: Suspected TSMC 4N (5nm enhanced), matching Nvidia’s Hopper GPUs

Industry analysts suggest two plausible scenarios: This could be a prototype for Nvidia’s next-generation automotive/robotics platform, given the Linux environment and similar TDP constraints. Alternatively, it may signal Nvidia’s re-entry into the Windows on Arm ecosystem, challenging Qualcomm’s exclusivity deal ending later this year.

"These scores tell us Nvidia isn’t just iterating—they’re architecting something disruptive," said TechInsights lead analyst Ming Liu. "The core configuration suggests a focus on AI inference workloads, possibly pairing with next-gen Blackwell GPUs."

Strategic Context:

Nvidia’s last Arm-based client processor, the Tegra line, powered the Nvidia Shield and Nintend Switch but bowed out of the PC space in 2018. The "N1X" emerges as Nvidia’s data center Grace CPU superchips gain traction, suggesting a unified architecture scaling from edge devices to servers.

The discovery follows Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s recent tease about "revolutionary client devices" in development. With Computex 2024 just weeks away, timing suggests a possible unveiling.

Source: Initial discovery via @Olrak29_’s X/Twitter thread

Why It Matters: If commercialized, the N1X could disrupt three markets simultaneously:

AI PCs: Leveraging CUDA acceleration for on-device generative AI
Automotive: Replacing current Tegra chips in self-driving systems
Gaming: Powering a rumored "Switch 2" console launching in 2025

Nvidia declined to comment when contacted, but Geekbench entries rarely appear without internal approval. As the industry awaits official confirmation, one thing is clear: Nvidia’s silicon ambitions extend far beyond GPUs.

Update 10:15 AM PT: Geekbench has since removed the listing, though archived results remain accessible via the original link. Typical behavior for unreleased hardware.