Potential unveiling of Snapdragon X2 Elite hints at a powerful 18-core processor paired with an impressive 64GB RAM capacity.
It looks like Qualcomm's next big move is shaping up with the rumored Snapdragon X2 Elite, codenamed SC8480XP. This bad boy is said to feature 18 CPU cores and support a whopping 64GB of LPDDR5X RAM – a new record for Qualcomm's Windows-on-ARM initiatives.
Leaked from test platforms by @KOMACHI_ENSAKA and reported by TechPowerUp, the X2 Elite seems poised to blur the line between ARM laptops and high-end desktops. With its impressive 18 Oryon V3 CPU cores, this chip promises better multitasking and more headroom for compute-heavy applications like video editing and local AI inference[1]. The core architecture itself is a third-gen Oryon design, derived from the server-class NUVIA Phoenix cores, expected to deliver up to 30% better single-thread performance, and even bigger gains in multi-core workloads[2]. This puts Qualcomm squarely in the ring with AMD and Intel's most efficient silicon.
The spec sheet doesn't stop at cores. Testing configs are reportedly running with up to 64GB of LPDDR5 RAM, doubling current X Elite laptops' memory capabilities[3]. Qualcomm is also moving toward a System-in-Package (SiP) approach, embedding RAM and storage onto the processor, reminiscent of Apple Silicon but with an edge – minimizing latency by eliminating external buses[3].
Interestingly, the X2 Elite is being tested with full-blown desktop cooling solutions, including a 120mm all-in-one liquid cooler. This isn't standard equipment for a thin-and-light laptop; it's desktop-tier gear, hinting that Qualcomm may be prototyping desktop or high-TDP laptop configurations[3]. If this is the case, it would mark a significant departure from Qualcomm's previous strategy, which focused on ultra-portables and long battery life[3].
While the X2 Elite's potential is exciting, it's important to note that software compatibility and optimization remain sore spots for Windows on Arm[4]. But, Qualcomm's hardware might be catching up or even surpassing Apple and Intel on paper, provided the ecosystem – apps, drivers, and thermal envelopes – can keep up with the silicon[4].
Stay tuned for more updates. The Snapdragon X2 Elite might just be Qualcomm's most aggressive move yet, challenging the market and changing the game for ARM-based computing.
Sources
- Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite Now Leaked: Fastest Windows ARM Chip yet with 64 GB RAM and 18 Cores, Hinting towards Desktop-class Performance
- Snapdragon X2 Elite: Installation Image Reveals Oryon V3 CPU Cores, Presumably Qualcomm's Third-Gen CPU Architecture
- Snapdragon X2 Elite: 18 Cores, 64GB RAM, and water cooling
- 4 reasons why Qualcomm's ARM chips are lagging behind Intel and AMD
- The Snapdragon X2 Elite, with its 18 Oryon V3 CPU cores and 64GB of LPDDR5X RAM, is shaping up to be Qualcomm's most aggressive move, pushing the boundaries between ARM laptops and high-end desktops.
- With its core architecture derived from server-class NUVIA Phoenix cores, the X2 Elite promises up to 30% better single-thread performance and significant gains in multi-core workloads, putting Qualcomm in direct competition with AMD and Intel.
- The X2 Elite's specifications extend beyond cores, with reports of up to 64GB of LPDDR5 RAM and Qualcomm's move towards a System-in-Package (SiP) approach, minimizing latency by embedding RAM and storage onto the processor.
- Interestingly, the X2 Elite is being tested with full-blown desktop cooling solutions, hinting that Qualcomm may be prototyping desktop or high-TDP laptop configurations, marking a departure from their previous focus on ultra-portables and long battery life.
- Despite the potential of the Snapdragon X2 Elite, software compatibility and optimization remain challenges for Windows on Arm, but Qualcomm's hardware might be closing the gap or even surpassing Apple and Intel, provided the ecosystem can keep pace.
- The Snapdragon X2 Elite, with its impressive performance and potential desktop capabilities, has the power to change the game for ARM-based computing.
- As more updates surface about the Snapdragon X2 Elite, the role of artificial-intelligence in gadgets and technology will become increasingly significant as more compute-heavy applications like video editing and local AI inference can be accommodated on ARM-based devices.
