Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has appeared on Geekbench 6
By ForGeeks Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 came to market with an unusual processor configuration — 1 main, 2+2 performance and 3 efficient cores. A Geekbench 6.1.0 scorecard has recently surfaced, showing that Qualcomm has dropped one efficient core to add an additional performance core, and that the performance cores will be running at different speeds.
There’s one main core running at 3.30GHz, followed by three performance cores at 3.15GHz, joined by two more running at a lower frequency of 2.96GHz, and finally two performance cores at 2.27GHz. Here’s a comparison table:
Note that although the performance cores in 8 Gen 2 were different (A715 and A710), they were running at the same frequency. In 8 Gen 3, both clusters run at different frequencies, but whether they will have different cores is still unknown. ARM has already introduced the Cortex-X4, A720 and A520, so they are the most likely candidates for the Gen 3 chip (unless ARM introduces new designs between now and Oct. 24).
So far, ARM has already introduced the Cortex-X4, A720 and A520, so they are the most likely candidates for the Gen 3 chip.
The 1+5+2 or, more likely, 1+(3+2)+2 core configuration follows the pattern ARM had in mind when designing these cores. The X4 promises 15% higher performance for equal power or 25% higher efficiency for equal performance. The X4 was expected to run at 3.4GHz, which is almost on par with the chips «for the Galaxy»/8+ Gen 2 (their main core runs at 3.36GHz).
The X4 is expected to run at 3.4GHz, which is almost on par with the chips «for the Galaxy»/8+ Gen 2 (their main core runs at 3.36GHz).
What about the rumors that the first core of the 8 Gen 3 will run at 3.7GHz? That would be impressive for a passively cooled and battery-powered device, but even a new node (TSMC N4P instead of N4) might not be enough for that. Judging by these (albeit very early) benchmarks, Qualcomm and TSMC have yet to hit 3.7GHz.
So far, Qualcomm and TSMC have not yet reached 3.7GHz.
There’s always the possibility that the top speed has been limited in some of the performance modes (this always remains in question in benchmarks we haven’t run ourselves). It’s also unclear whether this chip «for Galaxy» — Samsung has reportedly extended its agreement with Qualcomm into next year as well.
It’s also unclear whether this is the chip that will be used for the Galaxy» — Samsung has reportedly extended its agreement with Qualcomm into next year.
But even if that’s not the case, the gains over Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for the Galaxy are pretty significant for a single generation — +12% in single-core and +26% in multi-core for the new chip. Single-core performance still lags behind Apple’s A16 chip, but multi-core — is ahead.
Snapdragon 8 Gen.
Of course, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will have to compete with the A17, not the A16, for the top spot in the performance rankings. Plus, Apple has bought up almost all of the 3nm capacity to make its chips, so it will have a node advantage.
And Apple has bought up almost all of the 3nm capacity to make its chips, so it will have a node advantage.
With Qualcomm expected to unveil the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in late October, Samsung is expected to introduce the Galaxy S24 series early next year.
