Qualcomm unveiled its Snapdragon X Elite, a new 4nm processor with Arm-based Oryon cores for laptops. In a private event for press and analysts, Qualcomm demonstrated the new CPU’s capabilities, comparing it to Intel, AMD, and Apple chips.
The Updated Geekbench 6.2 Scores with Snapdragon X Elite
Qualcomm presented two reference designs showcasing what consumers can expect from the Snapdragon X Elite in mid-2024. Configuration A, designed for high-performance laptops, features a CPU with a dual-core boost clock of 4.3 GHz. Configuration B, for thinner devices, has slightly lower clock speeds at 4 GHz.
Configuration A, 16.8mm thick, features a 16.5-inch LCD screen with 3840×2160 resolution, an 80W TDP, and an 87WHr battery. Configuration B, 15mm thick, offers a 14.5-inch OLED screen with 2880×1800 resolution, a 23W TDP, and a 58 Wh battery.
Qualcomm compared the Snapdragon X Elite to an Intel Core i7-13800H in a 2023 Razer Blade 15, an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS in a 2023 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, and an Apple M2 in a 2022 13-inch MacBook Pro. The tests used Arm-native applications versus x86 versions on other systems, without emulation.
The Snapdragon X Elite (Config. A) outperformed its competitors in single-threaded benchmarks, surpassing the Core i7-13800H, Ryzen 9 7940HS, and Apple M2. In multi-threaded benchmarks, it continued to excel, outscoring the Core i7-13800H, Ryzen 9 7940HS, and Apple M2.
Notably, the Snapdragon X Elite benefits from higher memory bandwidth with LPDDR5X-8533, surpassing its rivals in certain benchmarks. The Core i7-13800H and Apple M2 support LPDDR5x-6400, while the Ryzen 9 7940HS utilizes LPDDR5x-7500. As a result, the Snapdragon X Elite enjoys a 33% memory bandwidth advantage over the Core i7-13800H and Apple M2 and 14% over the Ryzen 9 7940HS.
Qualcomm showcased the Snapdragon X Elite’s AI performance using the UL Procyon AI benchmark, where its Hexagon NPU delivered up to 10X higher AI performance than the Intel and AMD chips.
Graphics performance was evaluated with GFXBench Aztec Ruins and 3DMark Wildlife Extreme, even though these benchmarks are typically used for smartphones. The Snapdragon X Elite outperformed the competition, with Configuration A achieving 98% to 151% higher frame rates in Aztec Ruins and Configuration B performing on par with the Apple M2.
It’s important to note that Snapdragon X Elite-equipped laptops are not expected to hit the market until mid-2024. By that time, they will likely face competition from new generations of Intel, AMD, and Apple chips.
