It is vital to notice that this was all examined on the X2 Elite Excessive configuration, which comes with six extra CPU cores over the usual X2 Elite. There have been no X2 Elite programs to check, so we do not know what these multi-core scores will probably be. I have been instructed that GPU efficiency may even scale up on the X2 Elite, however we do not but understand how a lot quicker the X2 Elite Excessive is over its sibling.
The opposite caveats? The reference unit on which all of this was benchmarked is a much bigger laptop computer than many present Snapdragon X Elite choices—a 16-inch laptop computer with a 0.67-inch thick chassis. That is not overly giant, however efficiency in smaller laptops with much less thermal headroom might carry out in another way. Qualcomm did have a couple of different reference designs on show, resembling a 2-in-1 removable, mini PC, and all-in-one desktop. These weren’t out there for testing, however had been a preview of what to anticipate subsequent yr when these chips launch in precise units.
Lastly, benchmarks are benchmarks. Take all of this with a grain of salt. How these chips will have an effect on real-world efficiency in all of the apps you employ on daily basis will probably be completely different. We’ll have to attend till these processors land in laptops to essentially stress take a look at them, and we’ll have a greater concept of how they carry out towards the competitors.
X2 Elite Excessive and X2 Elite Confusion
Between the X2 Elite Excessive and the X2 Elite, there are technically three particular SKUs. The precise chip from the benchmarking session, the X2E-96-100, represents the top-tier efficiency within the lineup, with 18 cores and a dual-core 5-GHz increase. That is the chip that will probably be bought because the X2 Elite Excessive.
Confusingly, there are two Snapdragon X2 Elite chips, one which additionally has 18 cores and one with 12 cores. The distinction between the 2 18-core fashions is reminiscence bandwidth. Though all three chips have a brand new neural processing unit able to 80 TOPS, the X2 Elite chips are restricted to 8-channel reminiscence, whereas the X2 Elite Excessive has built-in 12-channel reminiscence with a bandwidth of as much as 228 GB per second.
That may sound like a refined distinction, and will probably be for most individuals, however AI workloads are extraordinarily memory-dependent—that decrease bandwidth will probably be a bottleneck for anybody tapping out the NPU. With the X2 Elite Excessive configuration, the main focus appears to be on dashing up AI workloads, somewhat than extra typical quicker CPU or GPU efficiency.
Qualcomm appears to need to push the main focus of AI in its top-tier configuration, however to date, the actual leap in efficiency looks like it could be between the 12-core and 18-core variations of the X2 Elite. However we’ll have to attend till we will evaluate these programs in new {hardware}.
Including one other top-tier chip with its personal branding is an attention-grabbing transfer for Qualcomm, particularly because the firm appears to have probably the most success with its mid-tier chips that confirmed up in laptops round $1,000. Nevertheless it’s a strategic transfer, particularly if the corporate desires to realize its aim of taking 50 p.c of the Home windows PC market share in 5 years.
