Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite 2 could target gaming desktops with liquid-cooled performance

[Daniel Sims]

Rumor mill: Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chips, which spearheaded a recent push to promote Arm-based Windows, have exclusively powered laptops so far. However, new reports suggest that the company's next-generation lineup will fulfill its promise to expand into desktops following its canceled mini PC.

Established leaker Roland Quandt believes the previously leaked follow-up to Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite series of CPUs is intended for desktops. Numerous laptops featuring the chips launched earlier this year running an Arm-based version of Windows, and the company aims to expand into other form factors.

The Snapdragon X2 Elite (or possibly X Elite 2), codenamed Project Glymur, initially appeared in international import-export databases in late September, according to WinFuture. Hardware details are scarce, but Qualcomm previously used special housing to test the NAND and RAM chips for a new flagship processor with the model number SC8480XP.

I think Qualcomm is coming for the desktop with Snapdragon "X Elite 2". They're testing "Project Glymur" SC8480XP with an AIO liquid cooler feat 120mm fan(s?), just like what you'd use in a (gaming) desktop

– Roland Quandt (@rquandt.bsky.social) December 9, 2024 at 8:26 PM

Quandt reports that the company has begun testing the CPU with AIO liquid coolers resembling those typically used for gaming desktops, suggesting Qualcomm is aiming for higher-end sectors. Snapdragon X Elite laptops have demonstrated modest gaming performance thus far, but seeing what they can accomplish with higher power budgets could be intriguing.

The company announced plans to bring Snapdragon to all PC form factors at a July Computex presentation but has since remained silent on the subject. Qualcomm unveiled a Snapdragon X Elite mini PC for use as a dev kit earlier in the year but abruptly ceased selling and supporting the device in October.

Geekom might become the first company to release a Snapdragon X desktop. The mini PC manufacturer hasn't formally announced the device, but a leaked promo image reveals that it will be called the QS series and house the top-end X Elite CPU in an aluminum chassis.

Although various laptop manufacturers released new models featuring Qualcomm's chips, they haven't amassed a significant presence in the overall PC market yet. Lower prices, which the company promises will come next year, could help attract customers.

GenAI is a primary selling point of Snapdragon X Elite and other "AI PC" processors, but users have shown little interest in the technology. Instead, Qualcomm's main advantage might be longer battery life, with some laptops featuring the company's chips lasting a whole day on a single charge.

The likelihood of desktops running Windows on Arm is expected to increase with the emergence of Arm CPUs from other manufacturers. Nvidia has teased plans for one in 2025, and Arm previously stated that more clients are preparing chips.

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Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite 2 could target gaming desktops with liquid-cooled performance

 

[Theinsanegamer]

We keep hearing all these performance claims, yet every snapdragon chip so far has been underwhelming.

 

[J95qRP7]

Aren’t 120mm AIO essentially garbage? I thought they get saturated so quickly because of the small fluid volume that you’re better off with a simple heat sink fan combo.

 

[erickmendes]

We keep hearing all these performance claims, yet every snapdragon chip so far has been underwhelming.

Perhaps it can outperform the new 200 series Intel lol

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Aren’t 120mm AIO essentially garbage? I thought they get saturated so quickly because of the small fluid volume that you’re better off with a simple heat sink fan combo.

They're not really garbage, but they are worse then large air coolers, since the radiator area is so small compared to even cheap coolers like the hyper212. they're useful for tiny builds where an air cooler would be too cramped, but otherwise going below 240mm is a waste of cash.

 

[Dreadcthulhu]

Would Nvidia/AMD/Intel graphics cards even work on a Qualcomm desktop machine? Qualcomm is way behind in the GPU department, and I don't see AMD or Intel making their graphics drivers ARM compatible anytime soon. As for Nvidia, I could see them making ARM compatible graphics drivers, but limiting them to their own future ARM chips they have in the works.

 

[Axeia]

I see this going two ways.
Either they crank it to the max and throw efficiency out of the window and try to steal the Crown from x86 chips.

Or

"Look it's a gaming PC because it has RGB water-cooling"

The first option would be a lot more interesting to see, but who would buy it. Gamers don't tend to be type that want to gamble if their games will run or not.

 

[NumberNine]

They seem to believe gaming PCs are classiified based on their cooling solution, rather than their ability to... actually run games. Nice try.

 

[toooooot]

Do they know about huge amount of games they would need to optimize for this chip?
I recall it took Intel a long time. Hopefully they do. They do because we need cheaper alternatives to these cards that do not need to be sold to gamers as there is a huge demand in AI industry. An alternative solution that costs 40% less, can run games at 1080p, with or without upscaling on medium settings.
But I also agree that they probably overclocked their chips to make performance a bit better. Now it requires water cooling.

 

[airbornex]

I’m glad Qualcomm is going all-in on desktops too, because hearing about “Snappy X Elite” and only seeing it stuck in laptops made it feel like a missed opportunity.

 

[Axeia]

They do because we need cheaper alternatives to these cards that do not need to be sold to gamers as there is a huge demand in AI industry. An alternative solution that costs 40% less, can run games at 1080p, with or without upscaling on medium settings.

Sounds like you are describing AMD Strix Point

Enough performance to run modern games at playable framerates at 1080p.
And unlike Qualcomm a regular x86 design so anti cheat software won't cause problems.
Also unlike Qualcomm graphics drivers for windows that are mature, so no weird glitches or games flatout refusing to work.