Qualcomm Unveils Snapdragon X Plus: Powering Affordable AI PCs with 8-Core Performance

Qualcomm Intros Snapdragon X Plus 8-Core: Brings Copilot+ In The Reach of Entry-Level Users

Qualcomm has introduced its brand new Snapdragon X Plus 8-Core CPU which brings 45 TOPS of AI performance for Copilot+ PCs to mainstream users. The Snapdragon X lineup has so far consisted of the 12-core "Elite" and 10-core "Plus" variants but today, Qualcomm is making a brand new addition to its lineup with an 8-core "Plus" SKU which is aimed at mainstream audiences who want to take advantage of Microsoft's Copilot+ features and a very capable office/home setup. The Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus laptops on the market mostly cost above $1000 US but Qualcomm is changing that with the 8-core models which will start at $799 US and deliver the same 45 AI TOPS that are featured on the top chips while retaining decent performance & battery timings. In terms of specifications, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus "X1P-42-100" & X1P-46-100" feature eight Oryon CPU cores based on a 4nm process node. The cores are segmented into two clusters with one of the clusters. The max single and multi-core boost clocks are rated at 3.4 & 3.2 GHz for the lower-end model and 3.4 & 4.0 GHz for the higher-end model. The CPU packs 30 MB of total cache with each cluster offering 12 MB of L2 cache. On the GPU side, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-Core CPUs feature the Adreno X1-45 GPU as an integrated chip which features 2.1 and 1.7 TFLOPs compute respectively. The higher-end 10 and 12-core variants feature 3.8 and up to 4.6 TFLOPs of compute. Both models retain LPDDR5x DRAM support with 8448 MT/s speeds and the NPU delivers 45 TOPS of AI compute. In terms of performance, Qualcomm compares the Snapdragon X Plus 8-Core CPU against entry-level chips such as the Ryzen 7 8840U, Ryzen 5 8640U, Core Ultra 7 155U & the Core Ultra 5 125U. The CPUs are compared in CPU and GPU workloads such as Geekbench and 3DMark Wildlife and Qualcomm is showcasing some hefty performance increases however, real-world benchmarks do paint a different story as we have reported here for the 8-core parts. The first Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-Core laptops will be available today from leading OEMs including ACER, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung at the aforementioned $799 US starting price points.

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core for Copilot+ PCs announced

Qualcomm ahead of the IFA 2024, in an event introduced the new Snapdragon X Plus 8-core SoC for Copilot+ PCs, after the 10-Core version that was introduced earlier this year. The 8-core Qualcomm Oryon CPU powering this Snapdragon X Plus promises 61% faster CPU performance, while competitor peak performance requires 179% more power, said the company. It is built on the same 4nm process node and technology as the other Snapdragon X series SoCs. For the Single Thread performance, it promises up to 22% faster CPU performance vs. competition at ISO power, while competitor peak performance requires 121% more power, said the company. For the Multithread performance, this is 41% faster, while the competitor requires 124% more power, added Qualcomm. The integrated GPU has support for up to three external monitors, ensuring exceptional graphics and immersive visual experiences. It still has Qualcomm Hexagon NPU capable of 45 TOPS equipped to handle AI-driven applications. This allows for powerful on-device AI applications, promising significant advancements in computing. PCs from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Samsung powered by Snapdragon X Plus 8-Core will roll out starting today, said Qualcomm. Commenting on the launch, Cristiano Amon, President and Chief Executive Officer, Qualcomm Incorporated, said:

Cheaper Copilot+ PCs are coming with Qualcomm's 8-core Snapdragon X Plus chip

It uses the same NPU from the company's 12-core and 10-core AI silicon. Qualcomm is moving to make AI PCs more affordable. Following the company's 12-core Snapdragon X Elite and 10-core Snapdragon X Plus, it unveiled a toned-down eight-core version of the Snapdragon X Plus on Wednesday. The chip includes the same Hexagon neural processing unit (NPU) from the higher-end variants, capable of 45 trillion operations per second (TOPS) for powerful on-device AI. The 4nm AI-focused chip has a custom Qualcomm Orion CPU built for "mainstream" (i.e., cheaper) Copilot+ PCs. Its eight cores can reach speeds of up to 3.2GHz, with single-core performance at up to 3.4GHz. Qualcomm says it enables days-long battery life in laptops. The chip includes an integrated Adreno GPU, which supports up to three 4K 60Hz monitors or two 5K 60Hz displays. It supports an internal display of up to UHD 120Hz with HDR10. The chart below shows how the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core's specs compare to other AI chips in the line: "Copilot+ PCs, powered exclusively today by Snapdragon X Series platforms, launched the new generation in personal computing, made possible by our groundbreaking NPU," Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon wrote in a press release. "We are now bringing these transformative AI experiences, along with best-in-class performance and unprecedented battery life, to more users worldwide with Snapdragon X Plus 8-core. We're proud to be working with our global OEM partners to restore performance leadership to the Windows ecosystem." The first PCs with the 8-core Snapdragon X Plus include laptops from Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo and others. They'll be available starting today.

Qualcomm Expands Snapdragon X Series with Introduction of Snapdragon X Plus 8-Core Platform

Qualcomm Technologies has expanded its Snapdragon X Series portfolio with the introduction of the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core platform, designed to enhance battery life, performance, and AI-driven features. This platform is equipped with the Qualcomm Oryon CPU, which offers 61% faster CPU performance while consuming significantly less power compared to competitors. It also integrates a GPU and supports up to three external monitors for enhanced graphics and visual experiences. At the core of the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core platform is a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of 45 TOPS (trillions of operations per second), optimizing AI processing power while maintaining energy efficiency. These advancements in connectivity and processing power enable increased productivity in ultra-portable designs without compromising battery life. The platform is designed for diverse use cases such as creating presentations on the go or conducting videoconferences, offering a versatile computing experience. Cristiano Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm, emphasized the role of the Snapdragon X Series platforms in advancing personal computing with AI-powered features. He noted that the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core platform brings these capabilities to a broader user base, highlighting its custom-built Qualcomm Oryon CPU as a key factor in delivering high performance and efficiency. Rangoon Chang, Corporate Vice President of ASUS, acknowledged the significance of the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core in expanding access to AI-powered computing, emphasizing ASUS's commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology through products like the ProArt PZ13. Pavan Davuluri, Corporate Vice President of Windows + Devices at Microsoft, echoed these sentiments, noting Qualcomm's role in advancing the development of Copilot+ PCs. Davuluri emphasized the collaboration between Qualcomm and Microsoft to push the boundaries of what AI-driven personal computing can achieve.

Qualcomm takes on Intel with its 'new' Snapdragon X Plus chips for Microsoft Copilot+ PCs: What's in it for users - Times of India

Qualcomm has expanded its Snapdragon X Series chipset portfolio by launching Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processors that provide on-device AI experiences with a 45 TOPS NPU to Copilot+ PCs that Microsoft announced last year. The announcement comes a day after Intel announced its Lunar Lake chipsets that have 8-core architecture, ahead of IFA 2024. As per Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, the latest launch, OEMs will be able to offer affordable (in the $700 to $900 range) Copilot+ PCs.This means that users can expect a longer battery life and AI performance compared to the high-end Snapdragon X series chips at a more affordable price point. "Consumers and enterprise users will be empowered by groundbreaking on-device AI experiences with a 45 TOPS NPU that brings Copilot+ to more devices. The Snapdragon X Plus 8-core will be available from Acer, ASUS, Dell Technologies, HP, Lenovo, among others with select devices available for purchase today," Qualcomm said. Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core chip features, specs Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core chips are aimed at thin and light PCs, with a custom Qualcomm Oryon CPU. The Snapdragon X Plus 8-core also gets 45 TOPS NPU of AI processing power. "With the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core, we are now bringing to more users these transformative AI experiences, and the best-in-class performance and unprecedented battery life of our power efficient custom Qualcomm Oryon CPU," Amon added. Pavan Davuluri, corporate vice president, Windows + Devices, Microsoft - who was also present at the Intel Lunar Lake launch event said that Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus 8-core builds on the momentum for Copilot+ PCs that began in May. "Their breakthrough platform unlocks all-day battery life, unprecedented performance and efficiency, and with the powerful NPU, brings AI-powered Windows experiences to even more people," he added. Intel Lunar Lake PCs launch Intel also launched its Lunar Lake chips for thin-and-light laptops a day ahead of Qualcomm. All the Lunar Lake chips have 8-core architecture though there are differences in the high-end and lower-end models that will effectively reflect in their pricing. The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk's news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity.

Qualcomm guns for Intel, AMD with cheaper 8-core X-Plus SKUs

Not to be outshined by Intel's Lunar Lake launch, Qualcomm on Wednesday rolled out a pair of slimmed-down X chips aimed at cheaper Copilot+ PCs. Launched ahead of the IFA conference in Berlin, Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus 8-core features two fewer Oryon cores than the original X Plus launched alongside its flagship X Elite parts back in May. Despite the lower core count, Qualcomm claims the chips are still plenty potent, boasting up to 61 percent higher single core performance in Geekbench 6.2 compared to Intel's older 12-core Core Ultra 7 155U. More importantly, the chips boast the same 45 TOPS Hexagon NPU as their siblings, which Qualcomm says will allow them to meet Microsoft's 40 TOPS performance target while undercutting the competition with AI PCs ranging from $700-$900. The 8-core parts will be available in two SKUs: one clocked at 3.2 GHz capable of boosting to 3.4 GHz on a single core and a more powerful 3.4 GHz version with a single-core boost of 4 GHz. The lower core count does come at the expense of a smaller cache which has been cut down from 42 MB on the 10-core variant to just 30 MB. Compared to the X Elite and even the 10-core X Plus, Qualcomm has also cut down the 8-core part's Adreno GPU considerably with performance coming in at 1.7-2.1 teraFLOPS of FP32 performance, compared to 3.8-4.6 teraFLOPS on Qualcomm's 10-and 12-core SKUs. One area where the new chips might have a leg up on Intel is memory capacity. According to Qualcomm's product brief, the chips can support up to 64 GB of memory, twice that of Intel's newly launched Lunar Lake parts, which top out at 32 GB. However, Whether you'll be able to find a notebook with an 8-core X chip and 64 GB is another matter entirely since the LPDDR5x memory used with these chips won't be upgradable. Speaking of systems, Qualcomm says the chips will power notebooks from Acer, Asus, Dell Technologies, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung, starting today. Since their debut this May, Qualcomm's X-series SoCs have enjoyed widespread adoption by OEMs, with the chips even finding their way into premium thin and lite notebooks like Dell's XPS 13. This was no doubt helped by the fact that the chips were the first to meet Microsoft's Copilot+ spec. Since then, competition from Intel and AMD has heated up with the launch of their respective Strix Point and Lunar Lake offerings, which claim higher performance, improved efficiency, and Copilot+ compliant NPUs of their own. Unfortunately for Qualcomm's x86 competitors, they won't be able to tap into those features until Microsoft flips the switch in November. ®