News Unlike Apple's chips, Qualcomm's X Elite Arm CPU will run Windows games just fine using x64 emulation — native ARM64 code will give best performance

[Admin]

Qualcomm, in a victory for Arm CPU architecture and especially itself, point toward competent gaming performance in x86 applications on its upcoming X Elite-based laptops.

Unlike Apple's chips, Qualcomm's X Elite Arm CPU will run Windows games just fine using x64 emulation — native ARM64 code will give best performance : Read more

 

[JamesJones44]

I'm assuming the "emulation" uses the Windows WOW64 functions which is more like translation than full blown emulation.

 

[kealii123]

On my Qualcomm CX gen 3 tablet running windows, I can already get a few games running pretty well. Many games refuse to start, or crash, or give you 2-3 fps. But those that do run give me fps on par with my steamdeck set to 7 watts, with the same 800p resolution and same graphics settings. I assume my fanless tablet is also running at 7 watts for the CPU/GPU, so to have performance on par watt for watt, with whatever crappy translation layer that the last gen chips use is pretty impressive. This newer Nuvia-based stuff is supposed to be 50%+ more efficient, frame-per-watt than what I have now, and it sounds like it has better translation support. RIP Intel, AMD on life support (not really, but always nice to have more competition)

 

[Notton]

If this is true, and the prices aren't exorbitant, it could make for a killer handheld or sub 12" laptop/tablet.
The entire market segment that Steamdeck, Ally, Claw, Legion, Ayaneo, GPD, etc. cater to could be upturned.

However, this can all be over promised hype.

 

[bit_user]

If ... the prices aren't exorbitant,

Heh, you're funny!

However, this can all be over promised hype.

My bet is that they're not lying, but just cherry-picking some examples that work well. You can bet there will be plenty of examples that don't, but the key question is how the typical game will fare.

 

[kealii123]

Asahi Linux on life support?

JK they will probably be the ones leading the charge of getting good linux experiences on the new Qualcomm stuff!

 

[ivan_vy]

My bet is that they're not lying, but just cherry-picking some examples that work well.

half a truth is a lie in my book. Im not asking for niche apps, but there are plenty of productivity apps that need to be tested before calling it a true x86 replacement.

 

[bit_user]

Asahi Linux on life support?

JK they will probably be the ones leading the charge of getting good linux experiences on the new Qualcomm stuff!

I doubt it. Qualcomm has been pretty busy upstreaming 1st party support. OEMs like Lenovo likely already have a partnership with a big distro like Redhat or Ubuntu. From what I hear, most features are working pretty well on the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3-powered Thinkpad X13S (not sure what distro), thanks to Lenovo's own contributions.

I think Asahi is purely focused on Macs.

 

[bit_user]

half a truth is a lie in my book. Im not asking for niche apps, but there are plenty of productivity apps that need to be tested before calling it a true x86 replacement.

I'm barely paying any attention to this hype. I only care how it performs in the hands of reviewers I trust.

 

[Notton]

Okay, I saw some youtube videos of the demo models Snapdragon had setup at their campus.

The "lower powered version of the chip" was doing 30fps at 1080p for Baulder's Gate 3. Unknown level of graphics detail. Unknown if it's running natively or through emulation. Unknown how much power it is consuming.

For a reference point, I looked around and it seems that the ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) can run BG3 at 1080p /30fps with medium-high graphics. It uses 18W while doing this.

It's kind of hard to base any conclusion off of that, but it's good to see it can run a popular title with decent fps.

 

[palladin9479]

I'm assuming the "emulation" uses the Windows WOW64 functions which is more like translation than full blown emulation.

Umm WOW64 is just library substitution.. this is a completely different thing.

What they did was embed an x86 emulator into firmware while also including some assistance instructions to help accelerate some of the compound instructions of x86. Performance is definitely not going to be anywhere near a real x86 system of similar generation but it should be enough to run Windows and some older stuff.