The Arm revolution in personal computing is on the horizon, as Windows laptops equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip are set to debut on June 18. However, a major question mark looms over how well the X Elite will be able to run older x86 Windows code through emulation.
Microsoft’s upcoming 24H2 update for Windows 11 will introduce a translation layer called “Prism” to facilitate the conversion of x86 code to Arm on the X Elite laptops. While Windows for Arm has supported x86 emulation for some time, Apple’s Rosetta 2 emulation layer for its Apple Silicon Macs has set a high standard for performance and efficiency.
Microsoft has made bold claims about Prism, suggesting that it will significantly improve emulation performance on Arm PCs, similar to what Rosetta did for Macs. The company specifically mentions a two-fold performance boost compared to the Surface Pro 9 with 5G, attributing this to both hardware improvements and enhanced emulation efficiency.
Efficient emulation is crucial for maintaining battery life on devices, making energy-efficient code translation a key factor for success. The 24H2 update and Prism have been optimized for the X Elite chip, potentially enhancing its emulation capabilities.
The X Elite’s CPU cores come from Nuvia, a company acquired by Qualcomm in 2021, with key figures from Apple’s Arm transition on board. This expertise in Arm architecture and emulation bodes well for the X Elite’s ability to run x86 code effectively.
While Qualcomm claims that the X Elite will seamlessly run Windows games and other software, the true test lies in how well it performs in real-world scenarios. The success of the X Elite and, by extension, the future of Arm chips in the PC market, hinges on the performance of its emulation capabilities.
Ultimately, the X Elite’s emulation performance will be a critical factor in determining its success, especially as Qualcomm relies on Microsoft to optimize the software stack for compatibility. The comparison with Apple’s full control over hardware and software integration highlights the challenges Qualcomm faces in delivering a seamless user experience on Arm-based PCs.
Article Source
https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/microsoft-reckons-its-new-prism-x86-emulation-for-arm-pcs-is-as-good-as-apples-rosetta/