Qualcomm’s first PC processor, the Snapdragon X Elite, will find its way into Windows-based models later this year. In this context, Qualcomm is also preparing to enter the gaming world with ARM-based computers. So how will Snapdragon Elite X’s gaming performance be?

Playing games with Snapdragon X Elite

Microsoft recently announced that the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 will be powered by the Qualcomm’s processor. Although Microsoft did not explicitly position these models as gaming PCs, it said that the computers will have gaming support.

Qualcomm engineers said that gaming will be possible and “extremely efficient” with the Snapdragon X Elite. This means that most games on Steam will run on Snapdragon PCs without the need for optimization.

For better performance, developers have some options. They can optimize games for ARM64 to take full advantage of the hardware. They will also be able to create hybrid applications by leveraging Windows libraries and Qualcomm drivers.

Qualcomm claims that games will run smoothly with x86/x64 emulation. The company’s Adreno GPU will also support DirectX 11, 12 and Vulkan graphics APIs and OpenGL technology.

Although not marketed as a gaming PC, it will be possible to play games on upcoming Snapdragon-powered Windows devices. We’ll soon see how the Surface computers that will be available later in the year will perform.

So what do you think about this?