Abstract
The case examines Nvidia’s rise during 2020 and 2021 as it moved from a graphics chip specialist to a dominant force in data center computing. The analysis focuses on Nvidia’s software moat built through CUDA, its acquisition of Mellanox, and its attempt to acquire Arm. These moves supported its push into accelerated computing and its launch of the Grace CPU. The case contrasts Nvidia’s trajectory with Intel’s manufacturing delays, loss of competitive position, and its strategic shift under the IDM 2.0 plan. The document presents the competitive dynamics among Nvidia, Intel, and AMD, and outlines the strategic dilemmas facing Nvidia as regulatory pressure and renewed competition altered the structure of the semiconductor industry.
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