Launched in mid-2024, the first wave of Snapdragon X processors represented Qualcomm's first serious foray into the PC market. These chips suggested interesting potential for laptops, with a particular focus on energy efficiency, an area where the ARM architecture excels. The mixed reception to this first generation of Snapdragon X processors does not seem to have dampened Qualcomm's enthusiasm, however: the manufacturer is currently working on a second generation called Snapdragon X2.
A more efficient and more powerful second generation?
Supply chain sources indicate that these new processors should provide a significant performance improvement, estimated at between 18 and 22% compared to the current generation. This increase is believed to be partly due to higher clock frequencies, with rumors suggesting boost frequencies reaching around 4.4 GHz, compared to a range of 4 GHz to 4.3 GHz for the current X Elite models.
Beyond simply increasing the clock speed, it's more than likely that Qualcomm has also optimized the Oryon micro-architecture designed by the Nuvia team to gain power efficiency and raw performance. Another persistent rumor suggests that the Snapdragon X2 Elite series could see its core count increased from 12 to 18, which would significantly increase the parallel processing power of these chips.
| Snadragon X Elite (SC8380XP) | Snapdragon X2 Elite (SC8480XP) | |
| CPU Architecture | Oryon | Oryon V3 |
| Base frequency | 3.0 – 3.8 GHz | Approximately 4 GHz |
| Boost Frequency | 4.0 – 4.3 GHz | Approximately 4.4 GHz |
| Number of cores | 12 | Up to 18 |
| Manufacturing process | TSMC N4P | TSMC 4nm or 3nm |
The manufacturing process selected by Qualcomm remains unknown for now; the manufacturer could choose to stick with a refined version of TSMC's N4P process, or opt for a transition to 3nm for its new chips. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of transistor density, power consumption, and production costs. Qualcomm could also take advantage of this opportunity to bring its Snapdragon X series to the desktop PC market, which would be a first for this range, which was initially designed for laptops. This expansion would demonstrate Qualcomm's growing confidence in the potential of its ARM architecture compared to the competing x86.
The arrival of these second-generation processors is expected for the end of 2025, or even the beginning of 2026. If the announced performance gains materialize, and if the With some compatibility issues from the first generation fixed, Qualcomm could position itself more competitively against x86 solutions from Intel and AMD. The goal seems to be to narrow the performance gap and offer a viable alternative for a wider range of users. The price positioning of computers equipped with Snapdragon X2 will therefore be a determining factor. Until then, Microsoft's Build 2025 conference – scheduled for May – could be the opportunity for the manufacturer to reveal more official information on its next generation of processors.
Source: THUS
0 Comments