The Snapdragon X2 Elite might have doubled down on compute performance, but a multitude of tests show that its GPU continues to be one of the weakest links of the SoC. Fortunately, a user shows that the RTX Spark driver has introduced unofficial eGPU support through a USB4 connection, allowing you to experience competitive shooters like Overwatch at upwards of 200FPS.
Notebooks like the ASUS Zenbook A16 offer a solid configuration to help ARM laptop owners enjoy AAA and competitive titles without relying on the integrated graphics processor. On Reddit, “ DerpSenpai ” has pointed out another user who successfully got a Snapdragon-powered machine working with a desktop RTX 5070 Ti. He has also mentioned instructions below for those who want to attempt it, but be sure to have a vacant USB4 port and an eGPU enclosure.
Driver Install Steps
- Download “ RTX Spark Developer Driver ”
- Extract EXE with 7-Zip
- Open Device Manager, locate Microsoft Basic Display Adapter, right-click, and open Properties
- Navigate to the driver tab at the very top, click “Update Driver,” then “Browse my computer for drivers”
- Click “Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer” at the bottom
- Select “Have Disk?” and navigate to the 7-Zip extracted NVIDIA driver folder
- Select NVIDIA Desktop Device
As for the performance, “ reagag ” didn’t conduct a truckload of benchmarks, but reveals that, with the Snapdragon X2 Elite and RTX 5070 Ti, he obtained 300 FPS in Overwatch while running at 1440p in the training range, and between 180-220 FPS when playing a match. What’s interesting is that the Snapdragon X2 Elite didn’t boost past 4.30 GHz, but it’s unconfirmed whether this was due to a software limitation or the SoC reaching higher temperatures.
Additional results reveal Persona 3 Reload hitting 60-100 FPS at 4K. Strangely, GPU utilization was only 20 percent, which could be a driver-related issue. As for the final game, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, this hardware combination was reaching 100 FPS at 4K with DLSS set to Performance. GPU utilization was 100 percent, while the CPU was around 10 percent. Overall, decent performance gains, but seeing as how the RTX 5070 Ti is a capable GPU, we’d expect nothing less.
It’s quite mind-boggling how a driver meant for an entirely different platform managed to run on a competitor’s hardware. Whether or not NVIDIA pulls the plug on driver compatibility for the Snapdragon X2 Elite, it’s nice to know that you can experience some decent performance from this setup.
News Source: Reddit
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