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Qualcomm's Beastly New Chip Challenges Top Competitors
18 Apr
Summary
- New 18-core Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme challenges top chips from AMD, Apple, and Intel.
- Qualcomm's latest CPU boasts 80 TOPS NPU, nearly doubling AI performance.
- The chip shows significant multi-core gains, outperforming many rivals.
Qualcomm has unveiled its new flagship system-on-a-chip, the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, positioning it as a serious contender in the high-performance laptop CPU market. This 18-core processor utilizes Qualcomm's 3rd-gen Oryon CPU architecture, representing a substantial upgrade from previous generations. It features an expanded cache and a significantly enhanced Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of 80 TOPS, nearly doubling AI performance from its predecessor.
Testing in the Asus Zenbook A16 reveals that the X2 Elite Extreme excels in multi-core performance, often surpassing chips from AMD, Apple, and Intel. While Apple still holds a lead in single-core performance, the new Snapdragon chip delivers class-leading multi-core results, even outperforming some high-wattage workstation-class processors.
The integrated Adreno GPU has also seen a complete re-architecture, supporting DirectX 12.2 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4. While it trails some competitors in certain synthetic graphics tests, it shows considerable improvement over the first-generation Snapdragon X Elite, particularly in areas like ray tracing, where it even edged out the Apple M5 in some benchmarks.
This new chip signifies Qualcomm's move from an "alternative" option to a "serious challenger" in the laptop silicon space. The X2 Elite Extreme demonstrates that 2.6-pound laptops can now house performance previously reserved for larger, more powerful machines, signaling a significant shift in Qualcomm's competitive standing.
