Qualcomm releases new GPU drivers for Microsoft Surface powered by Snapdragon X Elite

Qualcomm continues to grow its ecosystem for Windows devices despite the small market for such solutions. The company introduced updated graphics drivers version 31.0.82.0 for devices with the Snapdragon X Elite processor, such as the Microsoft Surface Laptop, which Qualcomm says is a significant step toward improving the user experience.

Snapdragon X Elite processor.

Key driver improvements

1. AI acceleration via DirectML:
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   • The driver adds support for tools such as:
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     • Stable Diffusion 1.5 and Turbo.
     • Segment Anything, Whisper, MobileNet, ResNet.
   • Now developers can run these models directly in the browser using WebNN, making it easier to integrate artificial intelligence.
2. Optimization for creative applications:
   • Fixed issues with DaVinci Fusion (artifact correction).
   • Fixed a crash in Adobe After Effects.
3. Improvements for games:
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   • Support for new games:
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     • Black Myth: Wukong Benchmark, Baldur’s Gate, Strange Brigade, Dying Light 2, Ark Survival Ascended.
   • Performance Improvement:
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     • Games such as God of War, Hogwarts Legacy, Diablo 4, GTA V, and World War Z have received improved frame rates and optimized behavior.

Difficulties with drivers and their availability

Despite important improvements, installing Qualcomm drivers remains a challenge:

• They often depend on OEMs such as ASUS or Lenovo.
• Even for Surface devices, the driver doesn’t always work correctly, as noted by Reddit users, for whom a solution was found in the beta version of the driver dated June 2023.

This speaks to the need for more support and stability from Qualcomm and their partners.

Market Impact and Outlook

The Qualcomm updates are important not only for users, but also for developers:

• The ability to integrate AI into apps through the browser opens up new opportunities for creative and analytical tasks.
• Gaming acceleration and performance improvements make Snapdragon X Elite more competitive in a market dominated by Intel- and AMD-based solutions.

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Closure

While the market for laptops with Qualcomm processors remains tight, the company is making moves to strengthen its position by offering improvements for gaming, AI and creative applications. However, limited driver availability and reliance on OEMs remain a challenge that Qualcomm will have to overcome.