Apple vs Qualcomm vs Intel vs AMD - Best 2024 Laptop CHIP?!

Summary

At Computex 2024, major chipmakers Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and Apple showcased their latest laptop chips, each aiming to redefine the industry. Intel's Lunar Lake impressed with its focus on efficiency and battery life, while AMD's Ryzen HX 370 excelled in multi-core performance, ideal for gamers. Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite, though still untested, promises compelling power efficiency for ARM-based laptops. Apple's M4 continued to lead in single-core performance and software optimization for macOS. With fierce competition, 2024 is set to be a groundbreaking year for laptop innovation, with each chip offering distinct advantages for different user needs.

Takeaways

• 😀 Intel's Lunar Lake chip is a major surprise, featuring a massive focus on efficiency and mimicking Apple's strategy with onboard memory and fewer cores.
• 😀 Intel sacrificed raw performance for efficiency, with 8 cores (4 P-cores and 4 E-cores) to maximize battery life, signaling a shift toward ARM-based chip designs.
• 😀 AMD's Ryzen HX 370 chip is set to dominate in multi-core performance, making it the ideal choice for high-performance, gaming laptops.
• 😀 Snapdragon X Elite offers impressive performance gains in certain AI tasks while consuming less power, but faces challenges due to the need for software emulation on Windows ARM.
• 😀 Apple’s M4 chip continues to lead in single-core performance, benefiting from Apple's tightly integrated hardware and software ecosystem, though it remains limited to MacOS.
• 😀 Intel's Lunar Lake offers the highest total platform TOPS (120), including 67 from the GPU, compared to AMD’s 80 and Snapdragon’s 48.
• 😀 Snapdragon X Elite’s ARM architecture provides compelling CPU performance and battery life, but early compatibility issues with software could impact its potential.
• 😀 AMD's Ryzen HX 370 is significantly faster than Snapdragon X Elite in CCH tasks and 15% faster than Apple's unbinned M3 Pro chip, making it a solid choice for demanding workloads.
• 😀 Lunar Lake's GPU efficiency is improved with 35% lower power usage, aided by a switch to TSMC's 3nm node, putting it on par with Apple's M3 GPU in terms of efficiency.
• 😀 2024 is shaping up to be a groundbreaking year in laptop chip innovation, with significant improvements in battery life, AI performance, and platform compatibility across all major brands.

Q & A

What was the biggest surprise at Computex 2024 regarding Intel's new chips?

The biggest surprise was Intel's redesign of its Lunar Lake SOC for laptops. The chip focuses heavily on efficiency, with Intel adopting a strategy similar to Apple's M1, including onboard memory and a reduced core count, signaling a shift towards ARM-like designs in their chips.

How does Intel's Lunar Lake compare to Apple's M-series chips?

Intel's Lunar Lake SOC closely mimics Apple's M-series chips, especially the M1, by integrating memory directly onto the chip for improved efficiency. However, Intel still uses x86 architecture, while Apple uses ARM, which gives Apple a long-term edge in performance and efficiency.

What specific improvements does the Lunar Lake chip bring to Intel's laptop offerings?

Lunar Lake introduces several improvements, including a focus on power efficiency, integration of memory on the chip for the first time, and a redesigned GPU that uses 35% less power. It also switches to TSMC’s 3nm node, offering better performance per watt.

What are the potential downsides of Intel's Lunar Lake chip?

One downside is that Intel's use of x86 architecture may limit its long-term competitiveness, as ARM-based designs, like those from Apple and Qualcomm, are expected to dominate in terms of performance in the coming years. Additionally, Intel's focus on efficiency may come at the cost of raw performance.

What sets AMD's new Ryzen HX 370 chip apart from the competition?

AMD's Ryzen HX 370 chip offers impressive multi-core performance, with claims of being 30% faster than Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite. It is designed for high-performance tasks, making it ideal for gamers and demanding users, but it may have worse battery life compared to more efficiency-focused chips.

How does Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite perform compared to other chips in terms of power efficiency?

Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite excels in CPU performance while maintaining impressive power efficiency, thanks to its ARM-based design. However, being the first mainstream ARM chip for Windows laptops, it may face challenges with software compatibility, potentially requiring emulation for certain apps.

What challenges does the Snapdragon X Elite face in terms of software support?

The Snapdragon X Elite may face challenges in software compatibility, as it's the first ARM-based chip for mainstream Windows laptops. Some apps may require emulation, which could negatively impact performance and power efficiency.

How does Apple’s M4 chip compare to the other chips in terms of single-core performance?

Apple’s M4 chip leads in single-core performance, thanks to its superior IPC (Instructions Per Cycle). This makes it the fastest in single-threaded tasks, providing an incredibly snappy experience, which sets it apart from the competition.

What is the key advantage of Intel’s Lunar Lake chip for Windows laptops?

The key advantage of Intel’s Lunar Lake chip is its compatibility with x86 architecture, ensuring the widest software support with no need for emulation. This makes it a strong choice for thin and light Windows laptops that prioritize efficiency and battery life.

How does AMD’s new chip impact the gaming laptop market?

AMD’s Ryzen HX 370 chip is likely to dominate the gaming laptop market due to its high multi-core performance and strong GPU capabilities. However, it may come at the cost of shorter battery life, which makes it less suitable for ultra-portable laptops but perfect for performance-heavy devices.