Windows ARM laptops

[stanlawj]

I have looked more closely into the hardware specs of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X platform.
My conclusion that this platform is a potential MacbookAir+Ipad combo killer, i.e. you only need to buy 1 mobile Windows tablet device, no longer 2 like Apple forces you to, and no restrictions on the tablet (like mouse, multiple external monitors, free multiple windows)!!

Please check the 2nd post for updates:

Qualcomm Snapdragon X CPU Lineup:​

CPU NAME	CORES	CACHE	2-CORE BOOST / ALL-CORE BOOST	GPU TFLOPS	NPU TOPS	MEMORY SUPPORT	TDP
X1E-84-100	12	42 MB	4.2 - 3.8 GHz	4.6 TFLOPs	45 AI TOPS	LPDDR5x-8448	23-80W
X1E-80-100	12	42 MB	4.0 - 3.4 GHz	3.8 TFLOPs	45 AI TOPS	LPDDR5x-8448	23-80W
X1E-78-100	12	42 MB	N/A - 3.4 GHz	3.8 TFLOPs	45 AI TOPS	LPDDR5x-8448	23-80W
X1P-64-100	10	42 MB	N/A - 3.4 GHz	3.8 TFLOPs	45 AI TOPS	LPDDR5x-8448	10-20W

Detailed specifications of the entire Snapdragon X platform (CPU, GPU, and chipsets):
https://www.qualcomm.com/products/mobile/snapdragon/pcs-and-tablets/snapdragon-x-elite
3 sections are notable:

• External displays: max 2 at DisplayPort 1.4 protocol (footnote no. 4 states 3 displays up to 4K @ 60Hz HDR10, 1 display up to 5K 60Hz, or up to 4K @ 120Hz (5K, 4K, 4K in concurrency)
  
  
• VPU: media encoders for video content creation up to 4K60 10-bit for AV1, H.265, H.264. No VP9 (note: AV1 is newer and superior to VP9, but it means older devices can play VP9 but not AV1)
  
  
• Cellular Modem: X65 5G up to 10Gbps download, 3.5Gbps upload.
  
  
• Wifi 7 & BT4: it has everything that is the latest for 2024.

 

[stanlawj]

For those who are not aware, Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite originated from the startup Nuvia designing SoCs for datacentres.

https://golden.com/wiki/NUVIA_(company)-W4XD4NK

Nuvia was founded by Gerard Williams III, John Bruno, and Manu Gulati.

Gerard Williams III, NUVIA's CEO, was chief architect for all Apple CPU and SoC development. For CPUs, he led the Cyclone, Typhoon, Twister, Hurricane, Monsoon, Vortex, Lightning, and Firestorm architecture work. He was also the chief architect for the Apple MAC hardware platform's M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra.

https://golden.com/wiki/Gerard_Williams_III-RJVN66

Hence, Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite is the Windows ARM CPU that has the potential to match Apple Silicon, if given enough years of development. Most likely it will occupy the Windows non-gaming (or light gaming) laptop segment, while AMD and Intel occupy the Windows enthusiast gaming laptop segment.

 

[stanlawj]

Future Ipad killer.
Now imagine this with Qualcomm's 5G WWAN chipset (Surface Pro 5G, coming soon in Q3 2024).

 

[joesph]

 

[chaiscool]

For those who are not aware, Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite originated from the startup Nuvia designing SoCs for datacentres.

https://golden.com/wiki/NUVIA_(company)-W4XD4NK

Nuvia was founded by Gerard Williams III, John Bruno, and Manu Gulati.

Gerard Williams III, NUVIA's CEO, was chief architect for all Apple CPU and SoC development. For CPUs, he led the Cyclone, Typhoon, Twister, Hurricane, Monsoon, Vortex, Lightning, and Firestorm architecture work. He was also the chief architect for the Apple MAC hardware platform's M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra.

https://golden.com/wiki/Gerard_Williams_III-RJVN66

Hence, Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite is the Windows ARM CPU that has the potential to match Apple Silicon, if given enough years of development. Most likely it will occupy the Windows non-gaming (or light gaming) laptop segment, while AMD and Intel occupy the Windows enthusiast gaming laptop segment.

More like whether they can keep the power efficiency gap in relative to x86. If intel / amd manage to close the gap, that dream of yours for arm to occupy the non gaming will not be feasible.

It's a race between power efficiency and compatibility. See who win lol. Imo it's x86, intel was just lazy over the last decade. Snapdragon still need to rely on Microsoft to work on the software which they have no control over to ensure software compatibility.

 

[watzup_ken]

At this stage, I will steer clear from ARM based Windows laptop. I think the results look promising, but for the price they are asking, you are paying to be an early adopter this early. The main issue is with Microsoft, and less so with Qualcomm. I have serious doubts about MS' competency to optimize ARM to run on Windows. And I am not sure if other software developers will also optimize for ARM chips.

 

[chaiscool]

At this stage, I will steer clear from ARM based Windows laptop. I think the results look promising, but for the price they are asking, you are paying to be an early adopter this early. The main issue is with Microsoft, and less so with Qualcomm. I have serious doubts about MS' competency to optimize ARM to run on Windows. And I am not sure if other software developers will also optimize for ARM chips.

Microsoft really pwn qualcomm. Basic task like download and install app also make it very difficult and need try multiple browser.

Tech ppl already struggle to use, average ppl GG. For that price point, stay x86 is the better choice.

 

[stanlawj]

Conclusion by Artisright: The *most optimistic view is M3 Macbook Air performance level (*most means usually not able to reach this level).


Jump to 26min06secs to find out how fast this CPU can get. If Microsoft and developers optimise their software for Snapdragon X cpus, the performance can beat M3 Macbook Air substantially.

 

[stanlawj]

HP EliteBook Ultra G1q 14

13 hours battery life (Wifi with websurfing)

Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 SoC,
16 GB of LPDDR5x-8400 soldered RAM,
512 GB SSD for US$1700 retail
14" IPS 2240x1400 60Hz screen
5MP camera with IR for Windows Hello

Review: https://www.notebookcheck.net/HP-El...expectations-for-Windows-on-ARM.850291.0.html

 

[rarenick]

Want to use whole suite of Adobe software will encounter problems working halfway or not? I would worry about that.


Read HWZ Forum Rules!

 

[stanlawj]

Want to use whole suite of Adobe software will encounter problems working halfway or not? I would worry about that.


Read HWZ Forum Rules!

Yes big problem. No software support for hardware video acceleration yet. Seems like the Adobe developers are slow to compile their software with the necessary libraries to unlock the hardware acceleration. The ARM chip has the necessary hardware codecs.

 

[joesph]

 

[stillgottheblues]

Want to use whole suite of Adobe software will encounter problems working halfway or not? I would worry about that.


Read HWZ Forum Rules!

Need to wait for a few years before they fully support ARM. That's how it is on the Mac OS

 

[rarenick]

https://postimg.cc/YhxvgPsn

For normal users, do we need ai ready laptops? Sounds overhyped. Last time everything also called xp now everything also called ai.


Read HWZ Forum Rules!

 

[yusoffb01]

good if have budget option, like last time galaxybook with snapdragon 7c ~$300

 

[ZacharyA]

HP EliteBook Ultra G1q 14

13 hours battery life (Wifi with websurfing)

Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 SoC,
16 GB of LPDDR5x-8400 soldered RAM,
512 GB SSD for US$1700 retail
14" IPS 2240x1400 60Hz screen
5MP camera with IR for Windows Hello

Review: https://www.notebookcheck.net/HP-El...expectations-for-Windows-on-ARM.850291.0.html

Looks nice, are you using enterprise models for personal use?

 

[stanlawj]

Looks nice, are you using enterprise models for personal use?

It's not mine. It's from notebookcheck review site.

 

[watzup_ken]

Conclusion by Artisright: The *most optimistic view is M3 Macbook Air performance level (*most means usually not able to reach this level).


Jump to 26min06secs to find out how fast this CPU can get. If Microsoft and developers optimise their software for Snapdragon X cpus, the performance can beat M3 Macbook Air substantially.

Beating MBA M3 to me is a very low bar. You are talking about a passively cooled laptop where you know with certainty that it will throttle and throttle quite badly under sustained load. Comparing between the Elite X and M3, the former have 12 performance cores vs the latter with 4 performance & 4 efficient cores, already reveals a fairly big core advantage for Qualcomm. At this stage, they can't seem to materialize that core count advantage.

 

[watzup_ken]

I have looked more closely into the hardware specs of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X platform.
My conclusion that this platform is a potential MacbookAir+Ipad combo killer, i.e. you only need to buy 1 mobile Windows tablet device, no longer 2 like Apple forces you to, and no restrictions on the tablet (like mouse, multiple external monitors, free multiple windows)!!

Please check the 2nd post for updates:

I don't disagree with this, but I do still find Windows touch screen to be quite difficult to use. Apple have their own product stack that they want to adamantly maintain, which I feel is to their disadvantage.

 

[chaiscool]

Conclusion by Artisright: The *most optimistic view is M3 Macbook Air performance level (*most means usually not able to reach this level).


Jump to 26min06secs to find out how fast this CPU can get. If Microsoft and developers optimise their software for Snapdragon X cpus, the performance can beat M3 Macbook Air substantially.

Based on apple pace on m series chip, apple would significantly be ahead by the time Microsoft and developer optimize for arm.