Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus

Qualcomm, a major player in mobile chip technology, is known for its Snapdragon processors powering top-tier Android phones. However, its expansion into Windows laptops faced challenges in performance and compatibility. Experience a new level of performance with the Snapdragon® X Elite Platform. Designed for AI, it’s the most powerful, intelligent, and energy-efficient processor in its class for Windows laptops. Delivering lightning-fast responsiveness, it effortlessly handles demanding multitasking, from productivity and creativity to immersive entertainment and beyond. With the introduction of the Snapdragon X Plus and Snapdragon X Elite in late 2023 and early 2024, Qualcomm is set to correct its course, enhancing laptop processing capabilities in speed, efficiency, and AI acceleration.

The Snapdragon X Plus and X Elite are systems-on-chip (SoC) that combine essential computer components—such as CPUs, GPUs, memory controllers, and neural processing units—into one package, a method also employed by Intel, AMD, and Apple. These processors integrate cutting-edge features, including AI acceleration through onboard NPUs.

Snapdragon X Elite X1E Performance

The Snapdragon X Elite X1E, Qualcomm’s fastest ARM-based SoC for Windows laptops as of May 2024, features 12 Oryon CPU cores (running at up to 4.2 GHz), a 4.6 TFLOPS Adreno X1-85 GPU, a Hexagon NPU delivering 45 TOPS (trillion operations per second), and an LPDDR5x-8448 memory controller. Qualcomm’s Oryon cores are partially based on Nuvia IP and use ARM v8.7 microarchitecture. These chips also support USB 4, including potential compatibility with Thunderbolt 4 and external GPUs like GeForce and Radeon, though this remains unconfirmed.

AI and Efficiency

The Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips are powered by Qualcomm’s new Oryon cores, optimized for both performance and efficiency. AI capabilities are central to these processors, each featuring an NPU capable of 45 TOPS, claimed by Qualcomm to be the fastest for laptops. For comparison, Intel’s Core Ultra “Meteor Lake” processors offer 10 TOPS, while AMD’s Hawk Point series reaches 16 TOPS. This positions Qualcomm at an advantage in AI applications, at least until Intel’s next-gen Lunar Lake chips launch.

The X Elite comes in three versions, all featuring 12 cores with a multithreaded frequency up to 3.8 GHz and a 4.6 TFLOP iGPU. Two of these SKUs include Qualcomm’s Dual-Core Boost technology, similar to Intel’s Turbo Boost and AMD’s Turbo Core, dynamically adjusting processor power when needed.

Snapdragon X Plus Overview

The Snapdragon X Plus, Qualcomm’s entry-level laptop chip, offers 10 cores, 42MB of cache, a multithreaded frequency up to 3.4 GHz, and an NPU delivering 45 TOPS. Although the TOPS measurement sounds impressive, it doesn’t always indicate the quality or type of calculations performed, so real-world performance may vary.

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus Specs at a Glance:

• CPU: 12-core Snapdragon X Elite, 10-core Snapdragon X Plus (Qualcomm Oryon architecture)
• GPU: Qualcomm Adreno (4.6 TFLOPS for X Elite)
• NPU: Qualcomm Hexagon NPU (45 TOPS)
• Process: 4nm TSMC
• Memory: Up to 64GB LPDDR5, 136 GB/s bandwidth
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, 6E, 7, and Snapdragon X65 5G Modem
• Availability: Mid-2024, with support from at least 9 OEMs

Graphics Performance

The Snapdragon X Elite’s integrated Adreno X1-85 GPU supports DirectX 12 and ray tracing but lacks full DirectX 12 Ultimate compliance. With a performance of 4.6 TFLOPS, it falls behind professional Nvidia Ada GPUs but outperforms AMD’s Radeon 780M. This level of power is expected to provide around 30 FPS in demanding games like Baldur’s Gate 3 at 1080p/Low settings. The GPU also supports up to three UHD 2160p monitors and advanced video codecs like AV1, HEVC, and AVC, though the newer VVC codec remains exclusive to Intel’s Lunar Lake for now.

Qualcomm’s latest laptop processors mark a significant step forward in processing power, AI capabilities, and efficiency, placing them as strong contenders in the notebook market.