Copilot+ laptops, with Snapdragon X Plus SoC, may disappoint gamers
The upcoming Copilot+ laptops, powered by the 8-core Snapdragon X Plus processor, are set to make their debut at the IFA 2024 trade show in Berlin. However, preliminary benchmarks indicate that this new system-on-chip (SoC) may not live up to expectations, especially for gaming enthusiasts. The tests reveal subpar performance in both CPU and GPU evaluations.
Performance of Snapdragon X Plus is inferior to its predecessor
In the Cinebench 2024 single-core test, the new chip scored 102 points, falling short by 5% compared to the 107 points achieved by its predecessor, the 10-core Snapdragon X Plus. The multi-core benchmark was even more disappointing with a score of just 649 points, a significant drop of 20% from its predecessor's score. These results suggest that the new processor may struggle to deliver high-performance gaming experiences.
Disappointing scores in Blender and Geekbench
The Snapdragon X Plus CPU also underperformed in Blender and Geekbench tests. It took 2:33.48 to complete the standard render test in Blender, a time-consuming process that could impact gaming performance. In Geekbench 6, it only managed to score 2,422 points in the single-core test and 11,386 points in the multi-core benchmark, further highlighting its potential limitations for gamers.
Adreno X1-45 GPU's performance raises concerns
The Adreno X1-45 GPU, part of the Snapdragon X Plus chipset, also raised concerns with its performance. In 3DMark Time Spy, it scored a mere 1,025 points overall and just 916 graphics points - significantly lower than the 1,900 points achieved by its predecessor. The GPU's score in 3DMark Steel Nomad was only marginally better at 1,159 points but at a low frame rate of just 8.6 FPS.
Real-world gaming benchmarks reveal subpar performance
Real-world gaming benchmarks for Shadow of the Tomb Raider were also disappointing. The GPU could only achieve an average of 18 FPS at 1080p on low settings and just 12 FPS on high settings at the same resolution - significantly lower than the 33 FPS scored by its predecessor. These results suggest that gamers may face challenges when playing demanding games on devices powered by this new chipset.
Chipset specifications of the tested Snapdragon X Plus
The tested chip, codenamed "X1P-42-100," is designed for mainstream Copilot+ PCs and was evaluated on an ASUS ProArt PZ13 laptop. It features eight Oryon CPU cores divided into two clusters, running at 3.24GHz and 3.42GHz, respectively. The CPU is based on a 4nm process node with a total cache of 30MB, including a dedicated L2 cache for each cluster. The GPU is an Adreno X1-45 chip clocked at 280MHz, delivering AI compute power of up to 1.7 TFLOPS.
