Nvidia has hinted that if it built CPUs, it would focus on lower-end mobile processors such as those used in netbooks. Brookwood said such a move would let it sidestep some of Cyrix's problems -- but not enough of them.

License or acquire a CPU from an existing maker

Brookwood suggests that Nvidia buy Centaur, the semi-autonomous U.S. division of Via that designs its C7 mobile processor. The C7 was used in Hewlett-Packard's first-generation 2133 netbook. Enderle said that Via's C7 successor, , "is competitive with Intel's Atom though not as low-powered."

Although the Nano hasn't attracted many customers, Brookwood attributes that to Via's lack of marketing muscle and its need to stay neutral as a major motherboard maker. Nvidia wouldn't be shackled by Via's constraints. "It would be the least bizarre of many alternatives," Brookwood said.

Enderle favors Nvidia approaching GlobalFoundries Inc., the , to see if it is willing to manufacture for Nvidia CPUs based on AMD or Intel technology.