Taiwan's MediaTek, a fabless corporation, is expected to unveil its self-developed central processing unit (CPU) for PCs at Computex 2025, Asia's largest computing and IT exhibition. MediaTek, which has established itself as a leader in application processors (AP) for mobile devices, is expanding into the PC market based on a CPU co-developed with NVIDIA. MediaTek is anticipated to target the mid-range PC market first, gradually expanding its lineup to include premium models.
According to industry sources on the 8th, MediaTek plans to reveal its PC CPU, which is expected to be released by the end of this year, at Computex 2025, which begins on the 20th (local time). The CPU being showcased by MediaTek has been developed based on Arm architecture in collaboration with NVIDIA, a leader in graphics processing units (GPUs). It is reported to be mass-produced using TSMC's 3 NANO (nanometer; 1 NANO is one billionth of a meter) process.
MediaTek is a dominant player in the mobile AP market. Unlike Apple and Qualcomm, which dominate the premium AP market, MediaTek has focused on affordable models aimed at the Chinese mobile market, gradually increasing its market share. According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, MediaTek held a 34% market share in the AP market in the fourth quarter of last year, ranking first, while Apple and Qualcomm accounted for 23% and 21%, respectively.
MediaTek appears to be entering the CPU market as part of its business diversification efforts. While MediaTek currently produces PC CPUs, most of its products are only installed in Google Chromebooks. A semiconductor industry source noted that “MediaTek is gradually increasing its share in areas such as automotive semiconductors beyond its core AP business” and added, “They plan to make a full-scale entry into the CPU market to diversify their portfolio.”
MediaTek is advancing a collaborative development with NVIDIA to enter the CPU market. This CPU chipset is expected to integrate NVIDIA's Blackwell GPU. MediaTek and NVIDIA are collaborating to maximize energy efficiency in CPU development in line with the emergence of the artificial intelligence (AI) market. Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, mentioned at CES 2025, the world's largest IT exhibition in January, that “we partnered with MediaTek to co-design energy-efficient CPUs” and noted, “This collaboration has been a win-win for both companies.”
MediaTek is aiming to enhance its market share by equipping its self-developed CPUs in PCs from ASUS, Acer, MSI, and others in the Chinese market, and is expected to commence development of a premium lineup as well.
MediaTek is anticipated to compete with Qualcomm's Snapdragon series, which has released Arm-based CPUs for the PC market. Last year, Qualcomm unveiled its Snapdragon X Plus 8 and 10-core products targeting the mid-range PC market.