Nvidia's N1X SoC Leaks: 20-Core Chip Scores Impressive 3,096 on Geekbench, Challenges Intel and AMD

Nvidia's rumored N1X system-on-chip (SoC) has made a surprising appearance on the benchmark platform Geekbench, courtesy of Olrak on Twitter. The alleged 20-core chip is showcasing performance that rivals the current top-tier mobile processors from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm. According to the Geekbench results, the N1X achieved 3,096 points in single-core tests and 18,837 points in multi-core tests, with an average clock speed of 4 GHz. These scores were recorded on an HP development board (model HP 83A3) running Linux (Ubuntu 24.04.1). To provide context, it's important to note that direct comparisons between processors can be tricky due to differences in operating systems and Geekbench versions. However, the N1X's performance is still impressive. For instance, Intel’s Arrow Lake-HX and AMD’s Ryzen AI MAX scored 3,078 and 3,125 in single-core tests, respectively, while they achieved 22,104 and 21,035 in multi-core tests. While the N1X may not surpass these scores, it remains competitive. In contrast, Apple’s M4 Max dominated with 4,054 points in single-core performance and 25,913 points in multi-core, demonstrating its continued leadership in this benchmark. The Snapdragon X Elite by Qualcomm, with 2,693 and 13,950 points in single- and multi-core tests, respectively, falls significantly behind the N1X. The N1X is part of Nvidia’s broader N1 series, which has been the subject of numerous speculations as Nvidia explores the consumer Windows-on-Arm market. The company is said to have collaborated with MediaTek for the CPU development, utilizing off-the-shelf Arm Cortex cores. This partnership is already evident in the DGX Spark project (previously Project DIGITS), which features a GB10 superchip equipped with 20 Arm cores—10 Cortex-X925 and 10 Cortex-A725. The GB10 also includes a GPU with 6,144 CUDA cores based on the Blackwell architecture. The development board reportedly has 128GB of system memory, with 8GB reserved for the GPU. The N1X's 20 threads suggest it has 20 physical cores, as Arm designs typically do not support Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT), unlike Intel’s processors. This configuration aligns with the specifications of the GB10, further lending credibility to the rumor. Despite its promising performance, Nvidia did not announce or even acknowledge these chips during their presentation at Computex last month. This suggests a possible 2026 launch date, though the company might be focusing more on the DGX Spark. Nvidia aims to bring these mini-PCs to market before the upcoming holiday season, potentially positioning them as high-performance alternatives for specialized tasks. The competitive landscape in the coming year promises to be intense. AMD is rumored to be developing its Sound Wave APUs, Intel is set to release Panther Lake, and Qualcomm is expected to launch the Snapdragon X2 SoCs. These new chips will likely feature significant improvements, making the race for superior mobile performance even more exciting. In summary, the leaked N1X SoC by Nvidia shows strong potential to challenge the current leaders in mobile processor performance. While Nvidia remains tight-lipped about official details, the chip’s appearance on Geekbench offers tantalizing hints about what we can expect in the future. Tech enthusiasts will surely keep a close watch on Nvidia and its partners as they continue to develop and refine these technologies. Make sure to follow Tom's Hardware on Google News to stay updated with the latest news, analysis, and reviews. Click the "Follow" button to receive notifications directly in your feed.