Key Takeaways
1. The Adreno X2 GPU features four render slices, 2,048 ALUs, and is up to 2.3 times faster and 125% more efficient than its predecessor.
2. It supports kernel-level anti-cheat software, allowing compatibility with a wider range of games secured by various security systems, except Riot’s Vanguard.
3. The GPU has 21 MB of high-performance on-chip memory, enabling shader processors to access memory at speeds up to 4 TB/s.
4. Initial benchmarks show the Adreno X2 performs well in lighter games, running Cyberpunk 2077 at nearly 60 FPS and outperforming its predecessor in various titles.
5. The Adreno X2 competes favorably against Intel and AMD offerings, but its driver support remains a concern for future performance.
Qualcomm has revealed new details about the Adreno X2 GPU that powers its Snapdragon X2 Elite CPUs. This GPU features four render slices and includes 2,048 ALUs, which is roughly comparable to 16 AMD WGPs. The company boasts that the Adreno X2 is up to 2.3 times quicker than the previous version while being 125% more efficient in terms of power usage. Additionally, it now has the capability to support kernel-level anti-cheat software, meaning that future laptops running on Snapdragon X2 Elite can handle a broader selection of games secured by Denuvo, Tencent ACE, GameGuard, BattleEye, and Uncheater. Notably, Riot’s Vanguard is absent from this list.
High-Performance Memory
The Adreno X2 achieves its performance with 21 MB of what Qualcomm refers to as ‘high-performance on-chip memory’. This memory acts like a block of L3 cache that all render slices can access (5.25 MB per slice). Qualcomm states that shader processors can reach this memory at speeds up to 4 TB/s. In other aspects, the GPU can tap into the SoC’s LPDDR5X-9523 RAM at speeds of up to 228 GB/s. Each render slice of the Adreno X2 contains two texture pipelines, four raytracing units, two render backends, and two shader processors.
Benchmarking Performance
Qualcomm has shared some initial benchmarks for the Adreno X2. While it may face challenges with graphically intensive games like Black Myth: Wukong, it performs exceptionally well in lighter games, like War Thunder, where it significantly outperforms its predecessor. The benchmarks also suggest that the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme X2E-96-100 will feature a noticeably stronger GPU compared to the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme X2E-86-100 and X2E-80-100. It can even run Cyberpunk 2077 at nearly 60 FPS, marking a significant improvement over the last generation.
Competitive Edge
When lined up against similar offerings from Intel and AMD, the Adreno X2 shows surprising strength. It competes closely with the Radeon 890M and Arc 140v across a variety of games such as Diablo IV, Metro Exodus, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and again, War Thunder. These benchmarks are from first-party tests conducted on a Qualcomm reference device, not on a ready-to-market laptop. The real differences will be clearer when Snapdragon X2 Elite laptops are released in early 2026.
To sum up, the Adreno X2 is looking to be a strong rival to the integrated GPUs from Intel and AMD. Despite the impressive performance figures on paper, the ongoing issue with Adreno GPUs has been their inadequate driver support, and it’ll be intriguing to see how Qualcomm addresses this challenge.
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