TheRetroArcade
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Joined: Feb 2026
Joined: Feb 2026
How much this translates into gaming is very much another question.
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Qualcomm's new second-gen Snapdragon X2 CPU has appeared in the Geekbench results browser for the first time (via Notebookcheck) and posted some pretty impressive numbers. In terms of single-core performance, it's over 30% faster than the best laptop CPUs from AMD and Intel.
Geekbench is but one metric and obviously not a real-world application. But especially when it comes to single-core performance, it tends to align reasonably well with actual, usable performance.
For the record, then, an Asus Zenbook A16 equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme X2E-96-100, which is the top-spec model from the new X2 family, has been logged in the Geekbench 6 online results. In terms of single-core CPU performance, we're talking 4,033 points.
For context, the fastest laptop with the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip knocks out 3,048 points by the same metric. As for Intel's hot new Panther Lake chip, that clocks in at just under 3,000 points.
So, in terms of plain old single-core performance, the new Qualcomm chip is fully one third faster. That is a heck of a lot. Imagine if AMD or Intel brought out a new CPU that had over 30% more performance than the previous gen. Quite.
The Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme X2E-96-100 looks pretty nifty in multi-core performance, too. But then it is an 18-core model. Of course, the implications for actual PC performance in general and, more specifically, gaming performance are far more complicated. Even if the new X2 chip does offer comfortably the best single-thread pure CPU performance, it remains an Arm chip and that means, for now, most games have to be run in emulation mode to support x86 code.
What's more, despite the fact that Qualcomm's CPUs theoretically support discrete GPUs, good luck finding a system that actually has one. Instead, you'll be using Qualcomm's integrated Adreno GPU.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
Qualcomm says the GPU in the second-gen X2 chip is much improved over the first generation. But it's still an integrated GPU. As it happens, the new chip also appears in Geekbench's OpenCL graphics test. Here it scores 44,786 points. That compares with over 55,000 points for Intel's excellent Panther Lake iGPU.
Of course, those Geekbench graphics scores are al...Read more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com
What do you think about this?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
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Every Friday
GamesRadar+
Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.
Every Thursday
GTA 6 O'clock
Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.
Every Friday
Knowledge
From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.
Every Thursday
The Setup
Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.
Every Wednesday
Switch 2 Spotlight
Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.
Every Saturday
The Watchlist
Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.
Once a month
SFX
Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!
Qualcomm's new second-gen Snapdragon X2 CPU has appeared in the Geekbench results browser for the first time (via Notebookcheck) and posted some pretty impressive numbers. In terms of single-core performance, it's over 30% faster than the best laptop CPUs from AMD and Intel.
Geekbench is but one metric and obviously not a real-world application. But especially when it comes to single-core performance, it tends to align reasonably well with actual, usable performance.
For the record, then, an Asus Zenbook A16 equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme X2E-96-100, which is the top-spec model from the new X2 family, has been logged in the Geekbench 6 online results. In terms of single-core CPU performance, we're talking 4,033 points.
For context, the fastest laptop with the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip knocks out 3,048 points by the same metric. As for Intel's hot new Panther Lake chip, that clocks in at just under 3,000 points.
So, in terms of plain old single-core performance, the new Qualcomm chip is fully one third faster. That is a heck of a lot. Imagine if AMD or Intel brought out a new CPU that had over 30% more performance than the previous gen. Quite.
The Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme X2E-96-100 looks pretty nifty in multi-core performance, too. But then it is an 18-core model. Of course, the implications for actual PC performance in general and, more specifically, gaming performance are far more complicated. Even if the new X2 chip does offer comfortably the best single-thread pure CPU performance, it remains an Arm chip and that means, for now, most games have to be run in emulation mode to support x86 code.
What's more, despite the fact that Qualcomm's CPUs theoretically support discrete GPUs, good luck finding a system that actually has one. Instead, you'll be using Qualcomm's integrated Adreno GPU.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
Qualcomm says the GPU in the second-gen X2 chip is much improved over the first generation. But it's still an integrated GPU. As it happens, the new chip also appears in Geekbench's OpenCL graphics test. Here it scores 44,786 points. That compares with over 55,000 points for Intel's excellent Panther Lake iGPU.
Of course, those Geekbench graphics scores are al...Read more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com
What do you think about this?