While Qualcomm is a household name in the smartphone industry, its processors have rarely found their way into laptops—until now. The year 2024 could mark a turning point, as Qualcomm unveiled its latest chipset, the Snapdragon X Elite, designed to shake up the Windows laptop market.
The ARM-based Snapdragon X Elite promises to elevate Windows laptops to new heights, boasting improved multi-core performance, enhanced AI capabilities, and significantly better power efficiency, translating into extended battery life for users.
With these advancements, Windows on ARM devices finally have the potential to compete head-to-head with Apple’s formidable M3 MacBooks and even challenge the capabilities of the upcoming M4 lineup in certain aspects.
So, how did Qualcomm, a company primarily known for its smartphone SoCs, manage to develop what could arguably be the most significant leap in Windows laptop processors in the last decade?
The story behind the Snapdragon X Elite and the role played by a few ex-Apple engineers is a fascinating one.
The Story Begins at The Apple Park in Cupertino
The story of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite begins in an unexpected place: Apple Park in Cupertino. It’s here that the seeds were sown for what would eventually become the powerful CPU cores of the Snapdragon X Elite.
When Apple launched the original iPhone in 2007, it needed a new type of chip to meet the demands of a mobile phone with a large touchscreen. Since Apple wasn’t a chip design company at the time, they partnered with Samsung.
Samsung designed and manufactured the initial iPhone SoCs (System on Chips), combining ARM CPU cores with PowerVR graphics. However, Apple wanted more control over its chips, which led to the acquisition of Palo Alto Semiconductor in 2008 for $278 million.
With its newly acquired chip design team, Apple went to work and designed its first in-house SoC: the Apple A4. This chip still relied on Cortex CPU cores from ARM and PowerVR graphics, with Samsung still handling the manufacturing. The A4 was a pivotal step, but Apple wasn’t stopping there.
In 2010, Apple acquired Intrinsity, gaining access to their Fast14 electronic design automation software. This acquisition allowed Apple to implement dynamic logic designs, significantly boosting chip performance.
By the time the Apple A6 rolled out, Apple had stopped licensing CPU cores from ARM and instead built a custom CPU called “Swift,” based on a modified ARMv7-A architecture. This marked Apple’s transition to a full-fledged fabless semiconductor company.
The Birth of Nuvia – The Company Behind the Snapdragon X Elite
Apple’s investment in its chip design department paid off. With each new generation, Apple silicon became increasingly powerful and efficient. This success story reached a peak with the introduction of the Apple M1 in 2020, a chip that revolutionized performance and efficiency in laptops and desktops.
However, not all engineers wanted to stay within Apple’s walls. In early 2019, a group of former Apple chip architects founded Nuvia, a startup aimed at creating server-grade CPUs. Gerard Williams, Nuvia’s CEO, had been a key figure at Apple from the A4 to the M1. Alongside him were Manu Gulati and John Bruno, both with significant contributions to Apple’s silicon success.
Nuvia’s goal was clear: to create the highest single-thread performance and world-class energy efficiency (the Phoenix architecture) in their CPUs. With a team of top-notch engineers, Nuvia quickly raised substantial funding—$53 million in Series A and $240 million in Series B.
Their ambitious plans and early performance claims for the Phoenix architecture promised a leap ahead of the competition. Then, in March 2021, Qualcomm acquired Nuvia for $1.4 billion.
The objective was to integrate Nuvia’s Phoenix CPU architecture into future Snapdragon SoCs. This acquisition set the stage for the Snapdragon X Elite, a chip that aims to rival Apple’s M-series in both performance and efficiency.
Snapdragon X Elite: The Specs and the Hype
The Snapdragon X Elite is a complete system-on-a-chip, combining CPU, GPU, and NPU, along with other components like display engines and a 5G modem.
Manufactured using TSMC’s 4nm process node, it features 12 CPU cores based on Nuvia’s Phoenix architecture. These cores are divided into three clusters of four cores each, all designed for performance (P-cores) without the inclusion of efficiency cores (E-cores).
Here’s a detailed look at its hardware specs:
CPU Architecture
- CPU Code Name: Oryon
- Cores: 12 cores divided into three clusters with 4 cores each
- Base Clock Speed: 3.4GHz for all-core workloads
- Boost Clock Speed: Up to 4.2GHz for dual-core boost
- Cache: 42MB total (L2 and L3 cache combined)
- Design: Based on Nuvia’s Phoenix architecture, optimized for performance without including efficiency cores
GPU and NPU
- GPU: Integrated Adreno GPU
- Performance: Supports full DX12
- Compute Capability: Up to 4.6 TFLOPS
- Comparison: Claimed to outperform AMD’s Phoenix APU by up to 80%
- NPU: Integrated Hexagon NPU
- Performance: Up to 45 TOPS of INT8
- Capability: Can locally run the 13 billion parameter model of Llama 2, faster than NPUs in competing architectures
Memory and Storage
- Memory Support: LPDDR5X-8448
- Initial Announcement: LPDDR5X-8533 (downgraded likely for yield improvement)
- I/O and Other Components:
- Display Engines: Integrated
- 5G Modem: Included
- Process Node: 4nm, likely TSMC’s N4P
- Die Size: Estimated 170 to 180mm², larger than Apple’s M3 but competitive with Intel’s Meteor Lake-M and AMD’s Phoenix
Performance and Efficiency
Qualcomm claims the Snapdragon X Elite will deliver outstanding single-thread performance and world-class energy efficiency, rivaling and potentially surpassing Apple’s M-series chips. However, these claims await independent verification.
Software and Ecosystem
The X Elite will run Windows for ARM, with a potential exclusive contract between Qualcomm and Microsoft. This partnership is critical, as previous attempts at Windows on ARM have struggled due to performance issues and limited app support.
Challenges Ahead: Software and Competition
Despite the impressive hardware, the Snapdragon X Elite’s success hinges on software optimization. Qualcomm’s partnership with Microsoft for Windows on ARM is crucial.
Previous attempts at Windows on ARM have struggled due to subpar performance and limited app support. Qualcomm must ensure that the Snapdragon X Elite can fully utilize its hardware potential.
Moreover, the competition is fierce. The X Elite will face off against Intel’s Lunar Lake, AMD’s Zen 5 APUs, and Apple’s upcoming M4. Each of these contenders promises significant advancements in performance and efficiency.
Conclusion: A Bright Future for ARM CPUs?
The Snapdragon X Elite represents a significant leap in ARM-based CPU technology, driven by a rich history of innovation and talent.
While its success is not guaranteed, the potential for Qualcomm to finally make Windows on ARM a viable option is exciting. As the competition heats up, only time will tell if the X Elite can live up to the hype.
What do you think? Can the Snapdragon X Elite match or even surpass Apple’s M-series? Would you consider switching to Windows for ARM if it delivers on its promises? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
