NVIDIA Corporation is an American technology company that designs computer processors, networking equipment and software. It is best known for the technology behind advanced computer graphics and many modern artificial intelligence systems.
NVIDIA products are used inside data centers, gaming computers, professional workstations, research laboratories and vehicles. The company designs its technology, while specialist manufacturing partners produce most of its chips.
NVIDIA makes the powerful computing tools that help computers learn from data, create realistic graphics and solve demanding technical problems.
Quick overview
NVIDIA at a glance
Graphics cards for gaming and computing systems used to build artificial intelligence.
Designs chips, systems and software; manufacturing partners physically produce its chips.
Cloud providers, technology companies, researchers, creators, gamers and carmakers.
Games, AI services, cloud computing, image software, scientific research and vehicles.
01
What the company does
NVIDIA began as a graphics-chip company. Its early products helped personal computers render faster and more realistic images. Over time, researchers discovered that the same type of processor could perform many calculations at once, making it useful for scientific computing and artificial intelligence.
Chips that perform graphics, AI and other computing work.
Complete hardware that combines processors, memory and networking.
Equipment that lets thousands of processors work together.
Tools that help developers use NVIDIA hardware for specific jobs.
02
Products and services
Chips and complete systems used to train and run artificial intelligence.
Blackwell · H100 · DGXGraphics processors and online services for computer games.
GeForce · RTX · GeForce NOWHigh-speed data-center connections and switches.
InfiniBand · SpectrumTools that help developers use NVIDIA hardware.
CUDA · AI Enterprise · OmniverseTechnology used for 3D design, engineering and professional content creation.
Computing systems and software used to develop assisted and autonomous driving.
03
How NVIDIA appears in everyday life
The online service may run calculations on NVIDIA processors.
Your game console or computer may use an NVIDIA graphics card.
Researchers may use accelerated computing to run complex simulations.
Engineers and artists may use NVIDIA graphics and simulation tools.
04
Who buys and uses its products?
The organization that pays NVIDIA is not always the person who eventually uses the technology.
Direct buyers
Cloud companies, server manufacturers, large businesses, carmakers, researchers, retailers and distribution partners.
End users
AI developers, scientists and researchers, designers and engineers, gamers and creators, and people using AI-powered services.
05
How the business works
NVIDIA earns most of its money by selling chips and computing systems. It also sells networking products, software subscriptions and services.
NVIDIA designs
Chips, systems, networking and software.
Partners produce
Specialist manufacturers build the physical chips and boards.
Customers buy
Products reach companies and users through direct sales and partners.
Software expands use
Developer tools make the hardware useful for more jobs.
06
Company history
NVIDIA is founded in California by Jensen Huang, Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem.
The company launches the GeForce product line and completes its initial public offering.
NVIDIA introduces CUDA, allowing programmers to use graphics processors for a broader range of computing.
Researchers use NVIDIA processors in an influential image-recognition system, helping demonstrate their value for AI.
NVIDIA completes its acquisition of networking company Mellanox.
NVIDIA introduces Blackwell, a new generation of computing technology for AI.
07
Leadership and company identity
NVIDIA was co-founded in 1993 by Jensen Huang, Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem. Jensen Huang has served as chief executive since the company began.
The name NVIDIA is commonly associated with the Latin word invidia, meaning envy.
Santa Clara, California.
NVIDIA is a fabless chip company: it designs chips but relies on manufacturing partners to make them.
08
Competitors
NVIDIA competes with different companies in different parts of its business.
| Business area | Companies and alternatives |
|---|---|
| AI processors | AMD, Intel and chips developed by cloud companies |
| Gaming graphics | AMD and Intel |
| Data center networking | Broadcom and other networking companies |
| AI development software | Other hardware platforms and open software tools |
09
Common questions
Does NVIDIA manufacture its own chips?
NVIDIA designs its chips, but specialist manufacturing partners physically produce most of them.
Is NVIDIA only a graphics card company?
No. Gaming remains important, but NVIDIA also sells data-center systems, networking products, automotive technology and software.
What is CUDA?
CUDA is NVIDIA's software platform that lets developers use its processors for general computing work, not only graphics.
Why is NVIDIA important to artificial intelligence?
Its processors can perform many calculations in parallel, and its software makes them widely usable by AI developers.
Who are NVIDIA's customers?
Customers include cloud providers, server makers, technology companies, research organizations, carmakers, gamers and creators.
What does “fabless” mean?
It means NVIDIA designs chips while outside manufacturing partners fabricate them.