Snapdragon X Elite for notebooks outperforms top-of-the-line products from Apple and Intel. See the details

A Qualcomm announced today, during the snapdragon summit, its newest computer processor: the Snapdragon X Elite. With a focus on performance for workloads with AI and surprising performance, the new chip promises to shake up the world of PC processors so dominated by competing brands. Check the information:

What is the Snapdragon X Elite

O Snapdragon X Elite it's a platform System on a Chip (SoC) ARM focused on computers, recently announced by Qualcomm. What most surprises about it and makes the ad significant is its performance, which surpasses that of competitors such as Apple and Intel with less energy use — which translates to the end consumer as longer battery life even when carrying out more complex tasks.

CPU

Counting on an architecture of 4nm, Snapdragon X Elite has a 12-core system Qualcomm Oryon CPU to optimize the demand of the most diverse workloads and also has Dual-Core Boost for greater responsiveness and effectiveness in the different demands of users, which according to Qualcomm can have performance up to 2x greater than chips in the same category manufactured by the company's competitors — being the first ARM CPU to reach more than 4Ghz when using the Dual-Core Boost.

Qualcomm presented data showing that the performance of the Snapdragon X Elite reaches the Max M2, Apple using 30% less energy than the Cupertino company's chip. Compared to the i9-13980HX da Intel, peak performance is achieved with 70% less energy.

Snapdragon

Kedar Kondap, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Computing and Gaming at Qualcomm. 

GPU

Furthermore, the X Elite features an integrated GPU Qualcomm Adreno, which allows cutting-edge graphics and varied entertainment in games or necessary graphical demands, which, according to the company, is up to 2 times faster than other GPUs in the category – all this with low energy usage which, according to the company, It will allow notebooks that use the processor to have a battery that lasts several days on a single charge. In short, the new platform is 80% faster and 80% more economical than the powerful Ryzen 9-7940HS da AMD.

The platform can be used in a wide variety of computer formats, from the simplest notebooks to two-in-one computers, according to Qualcomm. Furthermore, according to the company, the performance of the machines will reach that of competitors with only 1/3 of the energy consumption.

The chip also offers support for up to 3 monitors connected to the computer at the same time, with each of them transmitting an image at 60Hz for a more complete and fluid experience for those who need large display functions. multitasking.

The memory bandwidth also has a leap compared to the previous model, with 136 GB/s and compatibility with LPDDR5X memory, being compatible with up to 64 GB of memory. In addition, the processor also accepts USB up to 4.0 in combinations of up to 3x USB-C, 3x USB-4, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 and 1x eUSB2.

NPU and AI

Beyond the GPU Adreno and CPU Orion, Snapdragon X Elite also has the Qualcomm AI Engine, integrated with the NPU (Neural Processing Unit) Hexagon, which will enable fluid experiences with different types of workloads that require the use of AI, with the ability to run generative AI models at surprising speeds – with, to date, confirmed support for Windows Studio Effects and several other applications and experiences AI. It has 50% more computing power and 5x more performance than NPU of the past generation.

The processor is capable of generating up to 30 AI tokens per second, with these units being responsible for communicating and processing the performance of the artificial intelligence model as a whole. This generates, in total, a performance 4,5 times greater than that of competitors in the same activities, according to Qualcomm, showing the processor's focus on workflows with AI. Below, Qualcomm displays the performance of the Snapdragon X Elite compared to the Intel chip running Stable Diffusion:

Furthermore, for greater security, login experience and privacy, the chip features the latest version of the Micro NPU inside the Sensing Hub da Qualcomm, enabling safer and more immersive data security experiences, as well as supporting Qualcomm Secure Processing Unit for protecting the cores and also full encryption of the memory through the Microsoft Pluton TPM e Microsoft SecurePC.

Windows ARM Challenges

It is important to emphasize that, as impressive as the functions and capabilities of the Snapdragon X Elite are on paper, so that it truly becomes a competitor and adopted by companies as well as processors in the Intel and AMD are, a major adaptation of both Windows and software manufacturers will be necessary so that the ARM architecture is supported and does not present compatibility problems or lack of programs for those who decide to adopt computers with this platform, this being Qualcomm's main challenge for the near future — the hardware it already has, now it lacks full compatibility with operating systems and applications.

Snapdragon Seamless

Through integration with platforms Snapdragon Mobile, it will be possible to download, transmit, stream and synchronize data, in addition to compatibility with 5G e Wi-Fi 7 via HBS Multi-Link for connecting to the cloud without any type of hindrance, in addition to supporting 4K HD video streaming.

Also, with the Snapdragon Seamless, it will be possible to change which device you are using easily and smoothly, allowing for dynamic experiences, whether it's using a photo from your cell phone to add information to a note or even playing a game between the two platforms just by dragging between the windows. In addition, there will also be compatibility with Snapdragon Sound and Qualcomm Secure Processing Unit, for a better audio experience and security, respectively.

Availability

The first notebooks with the Snapdragon X Elite, as Honor PC powered by Snapdragon X Elite, are scheduled to be launched after the first half of 2024. Prices and availability in Brazil have not yet been confirmed by any company. 

Furthermore, the following partners have already confirmed that they will produce computers with Snapdragon X Elite, promising more options for Windows ARM machines on the market:

• Acer;
• Asus;
• Dell;
• HP;
• Lenovo;
• Microsoft (with Surface);
• Samsung;
• Xiaomi.

Technical specifications

Watch the summary of the event on our YouTube channel:

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reviewed by Glaucon Vital in 24 / 10 / 23.