Snapdragon X Elite focuses on competing for mainstream PC usage needs in the market
During the intricate exposition of the newly announced PC-grade processor, Snapdragon X Elite, Qualcomm’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of Computing & Gaming, Kedar Kondap, accentuated that this processor not only integrates the avant-garde autonomous architecture of the Oryon CPU but is also exclusively composed of performance cores, tallying to 12 cores in a 3-cluster configuration. This robust architecture underpins its transcendental computational performance, vastly eclipsing that of its competitors.
Perhaps influenced by Arm’s prior allegations of Qualcomm acquiring NUVIA in a manner that breached licensing agreements, Qualcomm stipulated that the current Snapdragon X Elite employs the Armv8.7 architectural instruction set, rather than the contemporary Armv9, yet emphasized that this divergence doesn’t impinge upon practical application.
With all cores operating at a frequency of 3.8GHz, the processor adopts a “4+4+4” 3-cluster configuration, allowing two of these cores to overclock, enhancing the operational frequency to 4.3GHz. Within the aggregate 42MB cache memory design, each computational cluster is allocated 12MB, with an additional 6MB designated for L3 cache memory.
Another focal point is the enhancement of software compatibility. Consequently, in conjunction with collaborating with Microsoft to bolster integration with the Windows operating system, there’s native support for Microsoft’s DirectX 12 API, along with support for OpenCL. Additionally, partnerships with numerous gaming studios have been forged, ensuring a plethora of games run efficiently on Windows PCs powered by the Snapdragon X Elite processor.
Furthermore, the memory configuration can be expanded up to 64GB, and it’s congruent with a high-end 8-channel configuration mode. The Snapdragon Seamless technology simplifies multi-device interaction, providing users with a more seamless experience on PCs equipped with the Snapdragon X Elite processor.
However, Kedar Kondap clarified that the PCIe channels associated with the Snapdragon X Elite do not cater to discrete GPUs or externally connected GPUs. Instead, the primary compatibility is with M.2 specification SSDs, Wi-Fi expansion modules, and USB 4.0 peripherals.
From Qualcomm’s perspective, PCs integrated with the Snapdragon X Elite processor target mainstream market demands rather than the elite pinnacle of the market pyramid. The principal ambition is to metamorphose the prevailing market usage paradigms.
Moreover, in light of market rumors suggesting NVIDIA and AMD’s intention to launch consumer-grade processors designed with Arm architecture, thereby strategizing for the always-connected PC market, Kedar Kondap expressed his favorable view of such developments, perceiving them as a positive impetus for market evolution. Kondap also confirmed forthcoming releases of various Snapdragon X Series processors, but specifics, nomenclatures, and anticipated launch timelines remain undisclosed.
