Key Takeaways
1. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus SoCs are gaining popularity among major laptop brands due to their strong performance and energy efficiency.
2. AMD is set to release its first ARM APU, called Sound Wave, in 2026, aimed at competing with Qualcomm’s offerings.
3. The AMD Sound Wave is expected to feature a CPU with 2 P-cores, 4 E-cores, and a total of 12 threads, along with an RDNA 3.5 iGPU.
4. The APU will include a 128-bit LPDDR5X-9600 memory controller and is anticipated to come standard with 16 GB of memory.
5. AMD’s Sound Wave will be manufactured using TSMC’s 3 nm process, signaling a promising future for ARM-based Windows laptops alongside new Qualcomm SoCs.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus SoCs represent the first truly remarkable ARM chips for Windows laptops. Their outstanding performance and energy efficiency have led to widespread adoption by leading laptop manufacturers such as Asus, Dell, HP, Microsoft, and others. Nevertheless, Qualcomm will not be the only beneficiary in the ARM-based Windows laptop market, as both MediaTek and AMD are set to introduce their ARM APUs in the near future.
AMD’s ARM Innovations
AMD’s upcoming ARM laptop processor is referred to as “Sound Wave.” As reported in May 2024, AMD aims to launch its first ARM APU in 2026. This APU is expected to come with a “strong NPU” designed to attract users of Microsoft Surface devices away from Qualcomm’s offerings.
Thanks to insights from Moore’s Law Is Dead, we have some intriguing specifications about the AMD Sound Wave that are worth discussing.
Technical Specifications
The AMD Sound Wave may have a CPU configuration of 2 P-cores, 4 E-cores, and 4 MB of L3 cache. If these 6 cores support SMT, similar to AMD’s x86 processors, we could see a total of 12 threads available. Additionally, the CPU is expected to be combined with an RDNA 3.5 iGPU featuring 4 Compute Units, 16 MB of MALL (Memory Attached Last-Level Cache), and enhanced machine learning capabilities.
According to MLID’s sources, the unexpected inclusion of MALL cache in a compact APU like Sound Wave “makes sense” for increasing power efficiency and supplying additional bandwidth for the AI engine. Speaking of AI, the AMD Sound Wave APUs will also include a 4th-generation AI engine.
Memory and Manufacturing Process
For its memory subsystem, AMD is reportedly utilizing a 128-bit LPDDR5X-9600 memory controller. Laptops running on the Sound Wave architecture are anticipated to come standard with 16 GB of memory, which is quite positive, as AMD appears to be positioning Sound Wave as the successor to the Zen 2-based Ryzen 7020 “Mendocino” APUs designed for 5-10 W form factors.
In terms of manufacturing, AMD Sound Wave is said to be produced using the TSMC 3 nm process. We could start seeing laptops powered by AMD’s ARM processor as soon as 2026.
Overall, with AMD Sound Wave expected to debut in 2026 alongside new Qualcomm Snapdragon ARM SoCs for Windows, and with Nvidia and MediaTek also entering the AI PC chip space, the future looks promising for ARM-based Windows laptops.
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