{"id":260757,"date":"2025-09-30T22:45:57","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T20:45:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hwcooling.net\/?p=260757\/"},"modified":"2025-10-01T09:19:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T07:19:54","slug":"arm-processor-that-beats-amd-and-intel-snapdragon-x2-elite-is-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hwcooling.net\/en\/arm-processor-that-beats-amd-and-intel-snapdragon-x2-elite-is-here\/","title":{"rendered":"Arm processor beating AMD and Intel? Snapdragon X2 Elite is here"},"content":{"rendered":"

Expectations for the first-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite<\/a> were high: it finally brought the long-awaited CPU architecture from Nuvia, designed by former Apple architects. And while it turned out to be among the best Arm processors so far, some were still a bit underwhelmed. Qualcomm has now unveiled the second generation, which may fix that. We don\u2019t yet have all the details, but early signs point to a huge generational leap.<\/p>\n

This second generation of processors for PCs and especially laptops running the Arm version of Windows 11 is called Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite. However, it is already based on the third generation of the Oryon CPU core architecture, because Qualcomm labels the Oryon core version used last year in the Snapdragon 8 Elite for smartphones as the second generation, separate from the first version of the core that debuted in the original laptop Snapdragon X Elite\u2014we analyzed it for you in this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Qualcomm has now introduced Snapdragon X2 processors at the Snapdragon Summit 2025. They are already manufactured on a 3nm process, which can provide potential for significant improvements in energy efficiency\u2014the first generation was still made on 4nm node. The design still appears to be monolithic without chiplet usage.<\/p>\n

18 cores, new graphics, NPU and faster memory<\/h3>\n

In the highest-performance version, the processors have up to 18 third-generation\u00a0Oryon cores, but it looks like it is no longer a homogeneous configuration where all the cores were the same. Qualcomm has moved to a hybrid paradigm, where the SoC contains twelve big \u201cPrime\u201d cores and six little-ish or medium-sized ones, called \u201cPerformance\u201d cores (which will be confusing desgnation next to Intel\u2019s P-Cores which are the big cores).<\/p>\n

\"Procesory<\/a>
Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme CPUs (Source: Qualcomm)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The processor has a total of 53 MB cache for both groups of cores. This is likely the sum of L2 cache plus system cache\u2014one could guess that each cluster of six cores has a 15MB block of shared L2 cache (45 MB in total), plus there is an 8MB system cache (SLC).<\/p>\n

The third-generation Oryon cores are quite a surprise. The company revealed that in the top model, which will be called Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, the cores reach a frequency of 5.0 GHz, making it one of the highest-clocked Arm processors (or possibly the outright leader). In the first 4nm generation the maximum clock was just 4.3 or 4.4 GHz, so single-thread frequency is now 16% higher. On top of that, performance per MHz (the so-called \u201cIPC\u201d) should also improve, so the performance potential is very strong\u2014more on that shortly.<\/p>\n

\"Qualcomm<\/a>
Qualcomm promises up to a 39% jump in single-thread performance in Geekbench 6.5 for the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme (Source: Qualcomm)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

New GPU<\/h3>\n

The processors will carry integrated Adreno graphics, though not much is known about it yet. It supports Vulkan 1.4, OpenCL 3.0 and DirectX 12.2 Ultimate, including mesh shaders and ray tracing\u2014with improved performance compared to the previous generation. The GPU supports an internal laptop display at 4K resolution and up to 144 Hz refresh rate, and on external monitors it can output up to 5K resolution (DisplayPort 1.4 is supported). The multimedia engine supports both decoding and encoding of HEVC, H.264 and AV1 at up to 8K resolution.<\/p>\n

\"Procesory<\/a>
Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme CPUs (Source: Qualcomm)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There is also a Hexagon NPU for local acceleration of artificial intelligence applications (the platform supports Copilot+), whose performance has risen to 80 TOPS in INT8 operations. For memory, the processors still use LPDDR5X technology\u2014with supported speed of LPDDR5X-9523, faster than the previous generation and current x86 processors.<\/p>\n

Top model: Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme<\/h3>\n

The already mentioned top model Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme<\/strong> (code X2E-96-100<\/strong>) with 18 cores can use its maximum 5.0 GHz<\/strong> boost when one or two cores are loaded. With all cores loaded, the big Prime cores can run at a maximum of 4.4 GHz (which was the single-thread boost in the first generation). The Performance-class cores have a maximum clock of 3.6 GHz.<\/p>\n

The Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme model has a GPU labeled X2-90, but we don\u2019t yet know how many compute units that entails, nor has any compute performance number been given. The GPU clock is 1.85 GHz.<\/p>\n

According to graphs shown by Qualcomm, the third-generation Oryon core in this processor scores up to 39% higher in Geekbench 6.5 single-thread compared to the first generation. It may reach somewhere around 4000 points. But these are official benchmarks, so take them with a grain of salt. In any case, performance should be top-class. Multi-thread performance is said to be up to 50% better, and graphics performance allegedly up to 2.3\u00d7 higher.<\/p>\n

192bit memory<\/h4>\n

A very interesting aspect of this chip is the memory. Qualcomm has broken away from the traditional 128-bit width and used a \u201ctriple-channel\u201d controller with a 192-bit width. Thanks to this, the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme will have an advantage in memory bandwidth over typical laptop and desktop processors. Combined with the high effective clock speed, a bandwidth of 228 GB\/s<\/strong> is achieved\u2014not that far off from AMD\u2019s Ryzen AI Max with its 256-bit memory<\/a>. RAM capacities will probably range from 48 to 192 GB.<\/p>\n

\"Specifikace<\/a>
Specs of individual Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite models (Source: Qualcomm)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The cheaper Snapdragon X2 Elite<\/h3>\n

This Elite Extreme model will be the only one at the top, while the other two models introduced yesterday belong to the lower \u201cElite\u201d tier. The Snapdragon X2 Elite<\/strong> model X2E-88-100<\/strong> still has 18 cores and 53 MB of L3 cache, but with lower clocks. Maximum boost for one or two Prime cores is 4.7 GHz<\/strong>, and maximum all-core clock is 4.0 GHz. The cluster of smaller Performance cores runs at 3.4 GHz. This is probably the model that will ship in notebooks the most often and be the most available, while the Elite Extreme uses the highest-binned silicon and may therefore be harder to get.<\/p>\n

This model should have the same GPU configuration\u2014also labeled X2-90. However, its clock speed is reduced to just 1.70 GHz. The NPU performance stays at 80 TOPS, but memory differs. X2 Elite models only get the standard 128-bit memory with capacities from 32 to 128 GB. Bandwidth is 152 GB\/s<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The third and so far last model Qualcomm unveiled is the Snapdragon X2 Elite<\/strong> model X2E-80-100<\/strong>, cut down to 12 cores, consisting of 6 Prime cores and 6 Performance cores. Cache is reduced to 34 MB total (possibly 2 \u00d7 15 MB L2 cache and 4 MB SLC?). Maximum boost clock remains 4.7 GHz<\/strong>, but is now available only for a single thread, while two threads max out at 4.4 GHz. This may be because the CPU has only one cluster of Prime cores instead of two and perhaps only one preferred core in each cluster can run at maximum boost.<\/p>\n

Maximum all-core clock is 4.0 GHz on Prime cores and 3.4 GHz on Performance cores. This model also has 128-bit memory with the same 152 GB\/s bandwidth and the 80 TOPS NPU. Qualcomm will likely cut down the integrated GPU, as this SKU’s graphics has a different label (X2-85), which probably means some compute units are disabled. The GPU clock remains 1.70 GHz.<\/p>\n

Single-thread power up to 18 W<\/h3>\n

Qualcomm has not yet disclosed the TDP of these processors. However, the increased clock speeds likely mean somewhat higher single-thread power draw during boosting\u2014graphs shown at the unveiling suggest that single-thread power consumption in Geekbench 6.5 could reach up to 18 W at the maximum 5.0 GHz clock speed (which is fairly close to AMD\u2019s mobile APUs\u2014the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with Zen 5 architecture is said to have a maximum single-thread draw of about 19\u201321 W).<\/p>\n

USB4, PCI Express 5.0<\/h3>\n

As usual, Qualcomm will emphasize communication connectivity with these processors, its traditional domain. The platform will provide WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 (with the Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 adapter), and also the option of mobile 5G internet with speeds up to 10 Gb\/s (via the Snapdragon X75 modem).<\/p>\n

\"Procesory<\/a>
Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme CPUs (Source: Qualcomm)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The SoC supports USB4 (three USB-C ports) and probably additional lower-speed USB interfaces. Storage can be of the mobile UFS 4.0 type, or regular NVMe SSDs in an M.2 slot can be used. For these, the processor adds support for PCI Express 5.0\u2014it has a controller with 12 lanes and four additional PCIe 4.0 lanes (the 12-core model has only 8+4 lanes). So in terms of storage, you\u2019ll be able to use the best available today.<\/p>\n

Snapdragon X2 will actually only be a product of next year<\/h3>\n

It should be noted that this unveiling is paper-only. The company announces processors several months before they are actually available in notebooks. The real release will be during the first half of 2026, though exactly when is not yet stated. But once they arrive, these processors will certainly be very interesting.<\/p>\n

Sources: Qualcomm (1<\/a>, 2<\/a>) VideoCardz<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Jan Ol\u0161an, editor @ Cnews.cz<\/strong><\/p>\n