Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chip has been leading a recent campaign to promote Arm-based Windows, which has so far been used only in laptops. However, new reports suggest the company’s next-generation product line will fulfill the promise of expanding to desktops after plans for a mini PC launch were canceled.
Famous leaker Roland Quandt believes that a previously leaked successor version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite CPU line is designed specifically for desktops. Many laptops equipped with this chip have been launched this year with Arm-based Windows, and the company plans to expand into other device formats.
Snapdragon X2 Elite (or possibly X Elite 2), codenamed Glymur, first appeared in international import-export databases in late September, according to WinFuture. Hardware details remain limited, but Qualcomm has previously used special enclosures to test NAND and RAM chips for a new flagship processor codenamed 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) 10 December 2024 at 08:26
Quandt announced that the company has begun testing CPUs with AIO liquid coolers similar to what is commonly seen on gaming desktops, suggesting that Qualcomm is targeting a higher-end segment. To date, Snapdragon X Elite laptops have shown somewhat modest gaming performance, but exploring their capabilities with higher power budgets could be very interesting.
The company announced plans to bring Snapdragon into all forms of personal computers during a presentation at Computex in July, but there has been no further information on this topic since then. Qualcomm introduced a Snapdragon X Elite mini PC as a development kit earlier this year but abruptly stopped selling and supporting the device in October.
Geekom could become the first company to launch a Snapdragon X desktop. This mini PC manufacturer has not officially announced the device, but a leaked promotional image shows it will be named the QS series and will feature a high-end X Elite CPU in an aluminum chassis.
Although many laptop manufacturers have launched new models using Qualcomm chips, they do not yet have a significant presence in the overall PC market. Lower prices, which the company promises for next year, could attract customers.
GenAI is the main selling point for Snapdragon X Elite and other “PC AI” processors, but users still appear to show little interest in this technology. Instead, Qualcomm’s main advantage could be longer battery life, with some laptops equipped with the company’s chips able to operate a full day on a single charge.
The potential for Windows on Arm desktops is predicted to increase with the emergence of Arm CPUs from other manufacturers. Nvidia has drawn attention with plans for a product in 2025, and Arm has previously stated that many customers are preparing chips.
According to Techspot
