Snapdragon X Elite: 25 Games Tested on the Microsoft Surface Pro 11
The compatibility layer used by these CoPilot Plus laptops is truly impressive. It elevates them to a level where they can rival recent conventional laptops in terms of gaming performance. Not only that, but they also offer advantages in terms of battery life, noise, and heat generation.
While some may be sceptical, there are numerous reasons to be optimistic about advances in AI technology, particularly in gaming. Microsoft's CoPilot Plus laptops, which run Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, are changing the game by providing phone-like intelligence in a portable device like the Microsoft Surface Pro 11.
These laptops may not feature standard Intel or AMD processors, but don't be fooled. They are quite strong, and early reports indicate that they can handle gaming reasonably well. To put these promises to the test, a tester chose to play 25 titles from their Steam, GoG, and Epic libraries on the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition.
What was discovered was quite astounding. These CoPilot Plus laptops provide not only excellent gaming performance, but also consistent performance whether plugged in or not. For example, playing The Witcher 3 for an hour only depleted 51% of the battery, implying that almost two hours of maxed-out gaming is conceivable. While this may not seem like much, it outperforms the battery life of gaming PCs and laptops with standard speed CPUs. It's worth mentioning that the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Generation used in testing claims the shortest battery life of the first wave of Snapdragon X laptops, so other models may last longer.
One important feature of these laptops is the compatibility layer, which Microsoft utilises to ensure that games and apps operate properly. This layer is required since Qualcomm processors differ from standard laptop and desktop CPUs in terms of architecture. To verify compatibility, the tester chose games from various decades, as older games may provide greater issues to the compatibility layer. While the testing was not as thorough as a Digital Foundry breakdown, it did provide a rough guide for those looking to get into the CoPilot Plus laptop market early on.
Here's a glimpse into how the 25 games performed on the Microsoft Surface Pro 11:
- Amid Evil: Absolutely playable with epic graphics, 60fps, and native resolution.
- Bioshock Infinite: Runs respectably at native resolution with minor cuts to visuals.
- Control: Runs well at 30fps+ with low settings and a render resolution of 1680 x 1050.
- Cyberpunk 2077: Barely playable with a 30fps experience, but not the best performance.
- Fallout 4: Yes, but not at native resolution. Erratic frame rates at ultra graphics.
- Final Fantasy VII: Absolutely playable, but a controller is recommended.
- Grand Theft Auto Vice City: Requires additional effort and throws up an error message.
- Half-Life 2: Absolutely playable at a smooth 60fps.
- Leisure Suit Larry 1: Runs fine but looks over-sharpened due to scaling.
- Minecraft: Doesn't download from the Microsoft Store, but may work from other sources.
- Morrowind: Yes, but performance varies. Runs at 40fps to 200fps depending on the scene.
- No Man's Sky: Crashes often, but performance is not a problem when it runs.
- Oblivion: Runs well but may drop to 40fps at maximum resolution with maxed-out settings.
- Realms of the Haunting: Runs, but suffers from strangely terrible performance.
- Resident Evil 7: Yes, and it looks great. Playable with some tweaks for higher frame rates.
- Return of the Obra Dinn: Absolutely playable at a smooth 60fps.
- Skyrim (original edition): Yes, but graphical sacrifices are needed for 60fps.
- Skyrim: Special Edition: Not well at native resolution, requires tweaks for full-screen mode.
- Slay The Spire: Yes, but frame rate drops may occur before tweaking.
- Subnautica: Runs nicely at 1920 x 1280 resolution with a 40fps frame rate cap.
- Tales from the Borderlands: Absolutely playable at native resolution with maxed graphics.
- The Excavation of Hob's Barrow: Runs fine at 40fps.
- The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition: Yes, but tweaks are needed for optimal results.
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: Yes, and the latest Direct X 12 version is recommended.
- Ultima Underworld 1: No, crashes upon loading.
The compatibility layer used by these CoPilot Plus laptops is truly impressive.
It elevates them to a level where they can rival recent conventional laptops in terms of gaming performance.
Not only that, but they also offer advantages in terms of battery life, noise, and heat generation.
Source: FORBES