Qualcomm has been the sole supplier of chipsets for Windows on ARM laptops, a deal that will soon come to an end. However, the company will continue build for Microsoft's platform. And that includes the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3.
As the name suggests, this is the third generation of Qualcomm's Windows on ARM processors Snapdragon 8cx. The new silicon is built on a 5nm process that promises a 40% increase in single-core performance. However, it is the multi-core performance that stands out, 85% better than the previous generation.
GPU performance has 60% gains, and 60% better per watt performance compared to a x86 chip. All in, Qualcomm is positioning the Snapdragon 8cx as the answer to performance issues that have plagued Windows on ARM machines from day one.
Windows on ARM has not been well received, especially during the early days. Devices were slow and there were also concerns of a perpetual need to upgrade. Microsoft even distanced itself from Qualcomm in the wake of the release.
Microsoft's own Surface Pro X – the company's first ARM-based device – was only met with a lukewarm reception. Of course, that device had a Qualcomm chipset under the hood. With the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, the chip has WiFi 6/6E and 5G connectivity and battery life that will keep a device running for days.
Exclusive Deal
Last month, it emerged that Qualcomm's exclusive deal with Microsoft for Windows on ARM is about to end. We have started seeing some movement that suggests Microsoft is looking to movie away from its partner.
At an executive summit this month, MediaTek discussed plans to build chips for Windows on ARM. Of course, Microsoft is also rumoured to be working in collaboration with AMD on a proprietary ARM processor.
Tip of the day: If you have an HP, Dell, or Lenovo touchscreen PC, you'll probably want to enable or disable it at various times. Unfortunately, however, many Windows 10 touch screen laptops don't make this easy.
Thankfully, through some tweaks, you can turn off the touch screen no matter your device. In our tutorial, we show you how to disable a touchscreen on Windows 10. We'll also show you to enable it if you wish, which may help if your HP laptop touch screen is not working, the touch screen is not working on your Lenovo laptop, or you're having problems with any other brand.
Last Updated on February 15, 2022 10:14 pm CET by Markus Kasanmascheff
