I think it's also interesting if taken into the context that a lot of the Nvidia-Intel feud stems around Nvidia's development of an x86 CPU that had to be shelved due to Intel patents. The chipset licensing disputes, etc, seem to all stem from Intel being upset about Nvidia attempting to encroach on their turf.
It makes me wonder if Nvidia was lobbying Microsoft to expand Windows support beyond x86 as a direct result of all this.
Either way, Nvidia's pretty clearly wanted to expand into the desktop CPU market for a while now, and with Intel blocking their entrance to the x86 market, it only makes sense they'd start examining other options. ARM seems like a pretty logical place for them to end up given the options.
> Nvidia's pretty clearly wanted to expand into the desktop CPU market for a while now
While trying to just hold position as a supplier of GPUs for x86 PCs would be very difficult for nVidia now that both of the big x86 CPU manufacturers are pushing their own GPU systems hard (and increasingly, integrating them in the CPU). This is probably quite an up-or-out situation for them.
Or, what if they just need to expand to be able to afford continuing the development of cutting-edge graphics? The profit margins must be getting thinner.
It makes me wonder if Nvidia was lobbying Microsoft to expand Windows support beyond x86 as a direct result of all this.
Either way, Nvidia's pretty clearly wanted to expand into the desktop CPU market for a while now, and with Intel blocking their entrance to the x86 market, it only makes sense they'd start examining other options. ARM seems like a pretty logical place for them to end up given the options.