Qualcomm was earlier rumored to release the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the ‘1 + 5 + 2’ CPU configuration, where the SoC would feature one Cortex-X4 super score. However, one rumor claims that there is another version in the works, one that could potentially deliver more performance, assuming the silicon’s thermals can be tamed.

Other Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 version to feature two Cortex-X4 super cores, according to one rumor

Only yesterday, Revegnus provided some details revolving around the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s Cortex-X running at 3.40GHz, along with a few tidbits about its successor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. Now, he is back on the micro-blogging social network, talking about two versions, one with a ‘1 + 5 + 2’ CPU cluster and the other one with a ‘2 + 4 + 2’ configuration, meaning that the more powerful variant could tout two Cortex-X4 cores while running fewer Cortex-A720 cores.

The ‘2 + 4 + 2’ configuration naturally means that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will bring more performance to the table, and it is not like this is the first time a company will take advantage of multiple performance cores. Google followed this practice with the Tensor G2 found in the Pixel 7 series, with the chipset featuring two Cortex-X1 units instead of one.

Naturally, Qualcomm will only finalize one version unless the company has different plans, but our assumption is that the version which delivers the most performance for the least amount of consumed power will make it through to the press release. Assuming the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with two Cortex-X4 cores manages to make it past the finish line, how does Qualcomm intend to control its thermals?

Snapdragon 8 Gen3 has two cluster configurations

There are 1+5+2 and 2+4+2

— Revegnus (@Tech_Reve) April 19, 2023

Keep in mind that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is reported to stick with TSMC’s 4nm process, the same one used to mass produce the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, so other than tweaking the chipset design, Qualcomm does not have the luxury that Apple possesses with the Taiwanese’ giant’s cutting-edge 3nm technology. Then again, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 has been praised for its remarkable efficiency, so the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 might be able to pull it off. However, it will also be up to flagship phone makers to use robust cooling solutions to keep those thermals in check.

As for which version Samsung could use in next year’s Galaxy S24 series, we feel whichever one manages to beat the A17 Bionic, or at least come close to its performance. An early engineering sample of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 was said to be tested in Geekbench 5, and it did not even break a sweat in beating the A16 Bionic, so we do have high hopes from the SoC; let us hope Qualcomm delivers on that front.

News Source: Revegnus