System-on-Chip

A System-on-Chip (SoC) is a design approach that packs the processor that acts as a computer's brain, the processor that handles graphics, and the memory that stores information all into one semiconductor chip. It's a bit like putting the chef, the dishwasher, and the fridge all in the same kitchen instead of separate rooms, so there's no time wasted carrying ingredients back and forth.

In older laptops, these components sat apart from each other, each with its own separate memory. That meant time and power were spent shuttling data back and forth between parts. An SoC attaches all these components to a single chip, shortening the distance data has to travel, which in turn cuts down on heat and power consumption — leaving room to make devices thinner and lighter.

Apple's own chips for the Mac are a well-known example of this approach, and NVIDIA's recently released chips for laptops and mini PCs follow the same structure, combining CPU, GPU, and memory onto a single chip.

One article describes NVIDIA's RTX Spark as "a System-on-Chip that integrates the CPU, GPU, and memory onto a single chip." A common point of confusion here is that System-on-Chip isn't the name of a specific company's product — it refers to the design approach itself of combining multiple components onto one chip.