It’s been a long time coming but Nvidia has finally voiced their intentions to license or develop its very own x86-compatible processor core, saying it is not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when.’

During a Q&A session at a technology conference this week, the company's senior vice president of investor relations and communications, Michael Hara, revealed this along with plans to specifically target low-cost PCs and mobile devices.

The company would focus on system-on-chip (SoC) solutions, like Tegra, but this time combining a GeForce graphics chip with an x86 core rather than using an ARM based processor.

Hara didn't discuss specific details but said such a move might make sense in two to three years – putting them in even more direct competition with rivals Intel and AMD.

Currently the graphics firm does not have the rights to produce x86 chips, though, which means they would need to either settle on a licensing agreement with Intel or form a partnership with a company that already has one.