New Qualcomm processor for Windows on ARM

Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3. © Qualcomm.

Qualcomm announced its new PC chip: the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, which, as the name implies, succeeds last year’s 8cx Gen 2 model with substantial performance gains, of course. It is the first ARM chip for Windows computers to use the 5nm process and promises up to 85% better CPU performance and up to 60% faster graphics performance compared to the previous generation. This chip will likely be at the core of a new generation of Surface Pro X laptops next year. Qualcomm says that the battery life of a device with an 8cx Gen 3 remains the same as with an 8cx Gen 2, usually around 25 hours, which is the main argument for running Windows on ARM chips. The company adds that games can run in Full HD resolution at speeds of up to 120 FPS. The 8cx Gen 3 also offers improvements in image and audio processing, artificial intelligence, connectivity and security. It remains to be seen whether this chip will bring enough laptop power to finally compete with the x86 chips from Intel and AMD, and help the market for Windows laptops on ARM finally take off.

Also read on our blog: “Did Qualcomm have exclusivity for Windows on ARM?”.

⇨ The Verge, Chaim Gartenberg, “Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 is its latest attempt to hit a Windows on Arm home run.”

2021-12-01