Taiwanese Tech Giant MediaTek Working on Arm-Based Chip for Microsoft PCs, Source Reveals

By Madz Dizon

Jun 12, 2024 06:06 AM EDT

Taiwanese Tech Giant MediaTek Working on Arm-Based Chip for Microsoft PCs, Source Reveals — NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 03: A Microsoft Experience Center is seen on Fifth Avenue on April 03, 2024 in New York City. A Cyber Safety Review Board, created in 2021 by executive order and led by Homeland Security, released a report that detailed lapses by Microsoft that led to a targeted Chinese hack last year of top U.S. government officials’ email that included the email of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
(Photo : Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Three sources familiar with the topic have confirmed that MediaTek, a Taiwanese chip design behemoth, is working on an Arm-based PC processor that will run Microsoft's Windows operating system.

MediaTek Chips to Accelerate AI Computing in Laptops

According to reports, MediaTek's artificial intelligence PC chips will be unveiled "late next year." These chips will reportedly be built on top of ARM's existing designs, allowing MediaTek to expedite the design, development, and testing processes.

Given the designation as chips, it is highly probable that they will incorporate a neural processing unit (NPU) to facilitate AI experiences directly on the device, Reuters reported.

These laptops have the processing ability to run the AI apps that Microsoft executives have predicted will dominate consumer computing in the future. This endeavor is well-suited to the MediaTek chip.

Aiming squarely at Apple, the IT firm has been releasing Mac computers with its own Arm-based CPUs for the past four years. Also, Intel's long-term PC market supremacy could be jeopardized if Microsoft opts to optimize Windows for Arm.

Next-Gen Dimensity 9400 Teased by MediaTek at Computex

At Computex 2024, Mediatek also demonstrated that the Dimensity 9300+, their top-of-the-line mobile chip, is just as powerful as the chip used in Copilot+ personal computers. Additionally, it dropped hints that the next-gen Dimensity 9400 announcement is coming soon.

Intel and AMD debuted their x86 architecture-based artificial intelligence personal computer chips at Computex 2024, Indian Express reported.

When compared to the traditional x86 instruction set, which uses more power, MediaTek's and Qualcomm's next AI PC chips use less power.

It has also been rumored that NVIDIA and AMD are developing ARM chips specifically for Windows laptops, which are anticipated to be released soon.

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