Giant CPU cores with expansive caches unveiled in Qualcomm Snapdragon X manufacturing process design
In the rapidly evolving world of mobile technology, two powerhouse players, Qualcomm and Apple, continue to push the boundaries with their flagship processors. A recent comparison between Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus models and Apple's M4 reveals intriguing differences and similarities in terms of die size, CPU cores, process technology, and GPU performance.
The Snapdragon X Plus, scheduled for release on September 4, 2024, boasts a CPU domain that takes up 48.2 mm² of space, which is twice the size of the Adreno X1 GPU domain (24.3 mm²). The die shot of the Snapdragon X Elite, leaked by an anonymous source, suggests a die size of 169.6 mm² for the processor. However, the die shot does not reveal the 45 TOPS neural processing unit (NPU) in the Snapdragon X.
On the other hand, Apple's M4, released on May 7, 2024, features a 10-core design with a die size that remains unspecified. The high-performance general-purpose CPU cores used in the M4 are around 3 mm² large, significantly smaller than the Oryon cores in the Snapdragon X.
The Snapdragon X Elite processor's GPU performance ranges from 1.7 TFLOPS to 3.8 TFLOPS, while Apple's M4 integrated 10-core GPU delivers superior graphics performance, though exact TFLOPS are not provided. Both processors support high-speed memory, with the Snapdragon X featuring a 128-bit LPDDR5X-8448 memory interface, and Apple's M4 utilising high bandwidth memory typical for Apple SoCs.
In terms of AI capabilities, the Snapdragon X Elite processor boasts a powerful 45 TOPS Hexagon NPU, while Apple's M4's AI performance is not quantified in the sources. Both processors are built on advanced ARM-compatible nodes, with the Snapdragon X likely on a 4nm or 3nm class, and Apple M4 on an advanced 3nm process technology.
In conclusion, Apple’s M4 offers higher clock speeds and integrated GPU cores aimed at maximizing performance-per-watt with its advanced 3nm process, while Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X focuses on a slightly lower clocked but large core count ARM design with strong AI capabilities, and good but slightly lower GPU TFLOPS, suitable for Windows on ARM laptops.
An annotated die shot of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X processor, codenamed Phoenix, has been posted by someone named Piglin on the Chinese Baidu platform. The Snapdragon X Elite is made on TSMC's N4P process technology, a 4nm-class node, while Apple's M4 is produced using TSMC's N3E (a 3nm-class process) manufacturing technology.
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The Snapdragon X Elite, scheduled for release in September 2024, will combine smartphones and cutting-edge technology with its powerful 45 TOPS neural processing unit, making it an attractive gadget for AI-focused applications. On the contrary, Apple's M4, launched in May 2024, focuses on smartphone performance-per-watt with its 3nm process technology, although its AI capabilities remain unquantified in public sources.
In the forthcoming battle of flagship processors, smartphone enthusiasts and technology aficionados eagerly anticipate how these two powerhouses, Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite and Apple's M4, will leverage their unique features to stand out in the rapidly evolving world of mobile technology.
