Qualcomm, in collaboration with its notebook partners, has set its sights on equipping various portable machines with the power of the Snapdragon X Elite chipset by the latter half of 2024. Speculations have emerged about the development of a Snapdragon X Elite Gen 2, which may share similarities with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, particularly in terms of GPU capabilities. Both chipsets are rumored to feature the Adreno 830 GPU, with the potential for an overclocked version in the Snapdragon X Elite Gen 2.
Initial reports suggested that the base Adreno 830 could outperform Apple’s M2 in certain benchmarks, laying a strong foundation for the upcoming Snapdragon X Elite Gen 2. According to information from the Korean forum DC Inside, Qualcomm plans to incorporate a slightly more powerful version of the Adreno 830 in the Gen 2 variant. This upgraded GPU was previously rumored to be 10 percent faster than the higher-binned version of Apple’s M2 in 3DMark Wild Life Extreme tests, indicating promising graphical performance for the successor of the Snapdragon X Elite.
In terms of CPU performance, the current-generation Snapdragon chipset designed for notebooks already boasts a 21 percent improvement over Apple’s M3 in Geekbench 6’s multi-core results. This suggests that the Snapdragon X Elite Gen 2 could further enhance its predecessor’s capabilities. However, concrete details about the upcoming chipset remain scarce, leading to speculation.
While Qualcomm may be considering transitioning to the 3nm process for future silicon, it is uncertain if the Snapdragon X Elite Gen 2 will undergo the same treatment due to cost and yield considerations. The ultimate performance of the Snapdragon X Elite in both compute and GPU tests will determine expectations for the forthcoming chipset. Positive results could generate excitement for the Gen 2 variant, especially considering the rumored overclocked Adreno 830 GPU. However, if the current Snapdragon X Elite disappoints in various tests, anticipation for its successor may diminish.
Nonetheless, the prospect of improved GPU performance, as seen in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, keeps enthusiasts eager for what’s to come. The Snapdragon X Elite Gen 2 holds the promise of delivering enhanced capabilities to portable machines, potentially solidifying Qualcomm’s position in the market.
