Qualcomm has provided more insight into the Adreno X1 GPU, the graphics processor integrated into their forthcoming Snapdragon X Elite/Plus chips. These processors will power Windows on Arm laptops set to launch next week.
Future Generations and Branding
The Adreno X1 marks the first custom-designed GPU for Windows on Arm systems from Qualcomm. The “X1” label identifies the initial generation, with future versions likely adopting similar naming conventions, such as Adreno X2 or X3.
Technical Specifications
The top-tier configuration of the Adreno X1, named “X1-85,” features up to 6 shader cores and 1536 FP32 ALUs (Arithmetic Logic Units). This setup allows for the processing of 96 texture units per cycle and delivers a peak performance of up to 4.6 TFLOPS (trillion floating-point operations per second). Additionally, it can handle an impressive 72 million pixels of data per second.
The Adreno X1 supports popular graphics APIs, including DirectX 12.1 (Shader Model 6.7), DirectX 11, Vulkan 1.3, and OpenCL 3.0. This wide compatibility ensures that developers can utilize the Adreno X1’s features across various applications.
Performance Comparisons and User Control
Qualcomm compares the Adreno X1-85 to Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H mobile processor, which has 8 Xe cores. They assert that the Adreno X1-85 can equal or even exceed Intel’s GPU performance in several games at 1080p resolution. However, detailed information about game settings and testing platforms has not been provided.
Moreover, Qualcomm is introducing the “Adreno Control Panel,” an application dedicated to managing game optimization and driver updates. This focus on user control and continuous enhancement indicates Qualcomm’s dedication to improving the Adreno X1’s performance over time, with updates promised at least once a month.
