Currently, Qualcomm-powered Windows devices still lag behind those powered by Intel and AMD chips, which remain the dominant players.
However, the latest addition from Qualcomm is the Snapdragon X Elite chip, offers an interesting promise: lThe ability to run existing x86/64 games without developers having to port them to Arm. If successful, this could change the landscape of Windows on Arm.
Apple’s move to M chips has set a high standard in the industry. Its chips deliver remarkable performance and efficiency, even when running x86 software through the Rosetta 2 emulation layer.
Windows on Arm has tried to catch up but still doesn’t offer the same smooth experience. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite seems to want to change that.
The company says it’s working closely with game developers to ensure their titles “work” on upcoming Snapdragon laptops.
The key is advanced emulation, allowing x86/64 games to run at near full speed. Qualcomm claims that most games are limited by the GPU and that its Adreno GPU drivers support modern graphics standards, avoiding major performance hits due to emulation.
If Qualcomm’s claims are true, the Snapdragon X Elite could usher in a new era of Arm-based laptops. Of course, there is some skepticism about hardware that hasn’t been released yet.
