Chip-making giant Qualcomm may be ready to launch a desktop CPU in 2024 which may feature 12 CPU cores. Codenamed "Hamoa", the desktop chip could come with an 8+4 configuration. The chip's big cluster consists of eight performance cores while the cluster of four is made of energy-efficient cores. The chip will support discrete GPUs as well, says a report by GSMArena, citing a source.
"In other news: Qualcomm's working on a 2024 desktop chip codename 'Hamoa' with up to 12 (8P+4E) in-house cores (based on the Nuvia Phoenix design), similar mem/cache config as M1, explicit support for dGPUs and performance that is 'extremely promising', according to my sources," a developer named Kuba Wojciechowski posted on Twitter.
Qualcomm, which is a known name among the smartphone chip manufacturers, is working on a desktop CPU that would use Nuvia's Phoenix core design, developed by engineers who have worked with Apple in developing its ARM-based chipset. Qualcomm acquired the Nuvia startup some time ago so it's no surprise that the company will make use of the new architecture, which in turn promised a 50 to 100 per cent performance increase in a 5-watt per core limit. That's of course based on respective numbers from back in 2020, the GSMArena report added.
San Diego, California-based Qualcomm is working on finalising the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. The company is likely to unveil the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip at its Tech Summit 2022.
Meanwhile, joining other chip makers, Qualcomm recently painted a gloomy picture of the expected sales outlook for smartphones in the wake of Covid-19-induced lockdowns in China and economic slowdown. Qualcomm has projected a lower-than-expected profit for the quarter and said it expected a low double-digit percentage decline in smartphone volumes this year, compared with its prior forecast of a mid-single-digit percentage drop, says a report by news agency Reuters.