Qualcomm has introduced its Snapdragon X Elite platform, marking a significant stride in PC technology advancement. This innovative platform is crafted to transform the PC sector by delivering on-device Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities and addressing the long-standing battery life issues associated with laptops.
Central to the Snapdragon X Elite is the custom-integrated Qualcomm Oryon CPU, which is touted to offer up to 2 times faster CPU performance compared to rival processors. “Snapdragon X Elite represents a dramatic leap in innovation for computing as we deliver our new, custom Qualcomm Oryon CPU for super-charged performance that will delight consumers with incredible power efficiency and take their creativity and productivity to the next level,” remarked Kedar Kondap, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Compute & Gaming at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
The Snapdragon X Elite platform isn’t solely focused on speed; it’s engineered for AI, capable of running generative AI models with over 13 billion parameters on the device, which translates to 4.5 times faster AI processing power compared to what’s currently available in the market. This enhancement promises smarter and more intuitive user experiences.
The architecture of Snapdragon X Elite is based on a 4nm System-on-a-Chip design featuring a 12-core Qualcomm Oryon CPU, all clocked at 3.8GHz with a dual-core boost of up to 4.3GHz. This platform supports LPDDR5x memory with 136GB/s memory bandwidth and 42MB of total cache. Alongside, it features an Adreno GPU for graphics processing and Qualcomm’s Hexagon NPU enabling a myriad of capabilities.
Qualcomm has also integrated its best AI features into this platform, including the Qualcomm AI Engine with an integrated Qualcomm Hexagon NPU, facilitating the running of generative AI LLM models with over 12 billion parameters on-device. The processor comes with a micro NPU within the Qualcomm Sensing Hub, enhancing security, login experience, and privacy.
This platform also boasts intelligent security features that ensure protection from chip to cloud, including the Qualcomm Secure Processing Unit running Microsoft Pluton TPM, total memory encryption, and Microsoft Secured-core PC support. The Qualcomm AI Engine supports Windows Studio Effects and many other AI-accelerated applications and experiences.
Qualcomm has ensured seamless connectivity on the Snapdragon X Elite platform with a built-in 5G modem and Wi-Fi 7 with HBS multi-link support. The Snapdragon Seamless allows users to effortlessly switch between their favorite devices for a smooth and dynamic experience.
The Snapdragon X Elite platform is not merely about supercharged performance and power efficiency. It heralds a future where devices are as smart as they are fast. The first PCs powered by Snapdragon X Elite are expected to grace the market around mid-2024, ready to handle the intelligent and power-intensive tasks of the future, thus enabling powerful productivity, rich creativity, and immersive entertainment experiences on the go.
This unveiling comes after Qualcomm showcased its Oryon CPU during the Snapdragon Summit last year, aiming to provide the best possible computing performance for PCs. The tech community is buzzing with anticipation as PCs powered by Snapdragon X Elite could potentially compete with Apple Macs powered by Apple’s in-house M-series silicon. However, the real-world performance of this platform awaits to be seen.
