Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus ‘X1P-42-100’: Benchmarks Expose Poor GPU Capabilities

The first benchmarks of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus “X1P-42-100” 8-Core CPU have been leaked. The results give us a glimpse into what Qualcomm is offering with its entry-level Snapdragon X CPUs, , the reviews are mixed. Here’s a breakdown of what we found:

Entry-Level Snapdragon X CPU

Qualcomm is gearing up to launch a new entry-level Snapdragon X CPU, the “X1P-42-100.” This chip is targeted at mainstream audiences looking for affordable options in the AI PC segment. Think of it as the new kid on the block who’s still finding their footing.

Specifications:

• The CPU has eight Oryon cores built on a 4nm process node.
• These cores are divided into two clusters:
  • One cluster operates at 3.24 GHz.
  • The other runs slightly faster at 3.42 GHz.
• The maximum single and multi-core boost clocks are 3.4 GHz and 3.2 GHz, respectively.
• It features 30 MB of total cache with 12 MB of L2 cache per cluster.

GPU and NPU Performance:

• The Snapdragon X Plus “X1P-42-100” comes with an integrated Adreno X1-45 GPU, which runs at a modest 280 MHz and delivers 1.7 TFLOPs of compute power.
• For comparison, other models in the same family offer a much higher 4.6-3.8 TFLOPs. It’s like bringing a slingshot to a cannonball fight.
• The device uses LPDDR5X-8448 memory.
• The NPU (Neural Processing Unit) retains the same 45 TOPS, indicating Qualcomm’s focus on AI tasks over graphics performance. It’s like Qualcomm brought a knife to a GPU gunfight, but a really smart knife.

Benchmark Performance:

Cinebench 2024:

• The CPU scored 102 points in the single-core test.
• It scored 649 points in the multi-core test.
• In comparison, a 10-core Snapdragon X Plus model scored 107 and 809 points, respectively. That’s about a 5% lower single-core and a 20% lower multi-core performance.

Blender:

• The CPU took 2 minutes, 3 seconds, and 48 milliseconds to complete a standard render test. A bit like a marathon runner who stops for a sandwich halfway through.

GPU Benchmarks:

• • 3DMark Time Spy:
    • The Snapdragon X Plus “X1P-42-100” scored 1025 points in total.
    • It got 916 graphics points and a CPU score of 3181.
    • The X Elite scores around 1900 points, while other X Plus offerings hit around 1500 points. Our chip here is lagging by 40%. It’s like bringing a rubber duck to a speedboat race.
  • 3DMark Steel Nomad:
    • Scored 1159 points with an average of 8.6 FPS.
    • This is 40-50% lower than the X Elite and other X Plus models. Imagine trying to win a drag race in a go-kart.

Gaming Performance:

• • In Shadow of The Tomb Raider:
    • At low settings (1080p), it scores an average of 18 FPS.
    • At high settings (1080p), the score drops to 12 FPS.
    • The X Elite, by contrast, can reach up to 33 FPS. This is like trying to play soccer with a beach ball when everyone else has a proper one.

Market Position and Pricing:

• • These entry-level laptops will start at a price point of $700 USD. A competitive price, but with new contenders like Lunar Lake and Krackan Point CPUs on the horizon, Qualcomm may need more than just budget-friendly pricing to stay afloat.

Conclusion

Thus, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus “X1P-42-100” is marketed as a low-cost solution for those desiring AI capabilities in a PC. Nonetheless, its benchmark score implies lesser performance than its rivals, especially in terms of CPU and GPU. Its basic model starts at around $700 USD, making this notebook affordable but dissipating performance across graphics and multitasking limits the overall capabilities of this particular line of product.