The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G Compute Platform is a powerful and efficient system-on-a-chip designed for use in Windows laptops. It is based on the ARM architecture and manufactured using the modern 7nm process technology. The chip features four high-performance Kryo 495 Gold cores and four power-efficient Kryo 495 Silver cores, both based on the ARM Cortex-A76 and A55 architectures, respectively.
The Kryo 495 Gold cores are clocked at a maximum speed of 3.15 GHz under load, while the Kryo 495 Silver cores are clocked at 1.8 GHz under load. The chip also includes an integrated Adreno 680 GPU, which is powerful enough to handle most modern games and graphics-intensive applications.
One of the most significant features of the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G is its integrated 5G modem. The modem supports both Sub-6 GHz and mmWave frequencies, making it compatible with a wide range of 5G networks. It also supports Wi-Fi 6, which provides faster and more reliable Wi-Fi connectivity than previous generations.
According to Qualcomm, the processor performance of the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G is similar to that of an Intel Core i5 8th Gen U-series processor, such as the i5-8250U. However, this is only true for native ARM64 compiled Windows apps, which are not yet widely available. 32-bit applications and games designed for AMD/Intel processors run in a slow emulation, while 64-bit apps do not start at all. An emulator for 64-bit apps is expected to arrive in Windows in 2021.
The Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G is also incredibly power-efficient, with a thermal design power (TDP) of just 7 watts. This means that laptops equipped with this chip can be passively cooled without the need for a fan, which is ideal for quiet and portable devices. Furthermore, the chip is designed not to throttle under constant load, ensuring consistent performance over long periods.
In terms of connectivity, the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G supports a wide range of interfaces, including USB 3.1, HDMI, and PCIe. It also includes Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ technology, which allows compatible devices to charge up to 50% in just 15 minutes.
Overall, the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G is an impressive system-on-a-chip designed specifically for use in Windows laptops. It offers excellent performance, efficient power usage, and robust connectivity features, including support for 5G and Wi-Fi 6. However, its compatibility with legacy software is limited, and native ARM64 compiled Windows apps are not yet widely available. Nevertheless, as more developers adopt the ARM architecture, the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G is likely to become an increasingly popular choice for Windows laptop manufacturers.
