At CES 2025, Qualcomm revealed a fresh addition to its desktop-class Snapdragon series, named the Snapdragon X. This was the only new system on chip (SoC) that debuted at the event, featuring eight powerful Oryon cores running at a speed of 3.0 GHz, accompanied by a 45 TOPS neural processing unit (NPU). Clearly, this chip is aimed mainly at the entry-level laptop market.
Performance Insights
Recent updates have offered us clearer insights into the performance of this new desktop ARM SoC, thanks to Rolan Quandt, who successfully conducted a Geekbench 6 test using a laptop during the event. The Snapdragon X, integrated into a 16-inch Asus Vivobook, showed respectable multi-core performance. However, it’s important to note that the single-core performance isn’t as impressive as one would hope.
Before we look into the specifics, it’s essential to mention that these laptops are still in the quality control phase, meaning there could be potential for enhanced performance. For single-core performance, the 8-core Snapdragon X scored approximately 2,121 points. In contrast, the multi-core score is more appealing, sitting around 10,492 points. This multi-core performance aligns it closely with the higher-tier Ryzen 7 8840U “Hawk Point” processor, though the Snapdragon X falls short in single-core performance.
Pricing and Expectations
Ultimately, the affordability of the laptops powered by Snapdragon X is a significant factor. Qualcomm aims to target the $600 price range, although it’s possible that well-equipped models may cost more. One may anticipate that Qualcomm will excel in terms of power efficiency and battery longevity, but its 1.7 teraflops Adreno iGPU pales in comparison to the older entry-level Radeon 740M iGPU that has been on the market for some time now.
For individuals who value battery life and can manage their tasks on an ARM-based platform, the Snapdragon X appears quite compelling, as long as iGPU performance isn’t a top priority. However, this holds true only if the upcoming devices are reasonably priced.
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