Intel Core 7 150UL vs Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core 7 150UL and Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 occupy different segments of the processor market, and the recorded data shows almost no direct overlap in their intended use cases. The Intel part is a desktop-oriented processor built on the Raptor Lake architecture, while the Qualcomm part is a mobile processor built on the Glymur codename with a 3 nm process. Both processors sit at the 50th percentile in the database, indicating they are mid-pack performers relative to all CPUs tracked, but their architectural directions diverge sharply.

The Intel Core 7 150UL is the choice for systems requiring a traditional desktop socket, specifically Intel Socket 1700, with support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Its 10 cores and 12 threads, combined with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, make it suitable for workloads that benefit from high single-thread frequency. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100, by contrast, is a mobile-focused part with 12 cores and 12 threads, a base clock of 4.00 GHz, and no listed boost clock. Its 3 nm process from TSMC and 220 mm² die size indicate a denser, more power-efficient design, but the database does not record a TDP for this chip, leaving thermal comparisons impossible.

For users building or upgrading a desktop system, the Intel Core 7 150UL is the only option that fits a standard desktop socket with replaceable memory standards. For mobile or embedded designs where the Qualcomm BGA 2343 socket is acceptable, the Snapdragon X2E-78-100 provides more cores, a larger L2 cache, and higher memory bandwidth. The data does not support a universal winner; it supports a platform-dependent selection.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Intel Core 7 150UL uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-PS codename, and is manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 uses the Glymur codename, part of the Snapdragon X2 Elite generation, and is manufactured on a 3 nm process at TSMC. This process difference is substantial: the 3 nm node allows for significantly denser transistor packing, which the die size data reflects. The Qualcomm die is 220 mm², while the Intel die size is not recorded.

Core and cache configurations differ notably. The Intel part has 10 cores and 12 threads, meaning it uses a hybrid arrangement where some cores support hyper-threading. Its L1 cache is 80 KB per core, L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core, and L3 cache is 12 MB shared. The Qualcomm part has 12 cores and 12 threads, indicating no hyper-threading or equivalent simultaneous multithreading. Its L1 cache is larger at 288 KB per core, and its L2 cache is 16 MB shared, while no L3 cache is recorded. The Qualcomm L2 cache is over 13 times larger than the Intel L2 cache in total, assuming all Intel cores contribute their per-core L2, which is a significant difference for workloads that rely on fast on-chip data reuse.

Memory support also diverges. The Intel processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, while the Qualcomm processor supports only LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 152.4 GB/s. The Intel memory bandwidth is not recorded, so a direct bandwidth comparison is not possible from the data. PCIe capabilities differ as well: the Intel part provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Qualcomm part provides Gen 5 with 12 lanes (CPU only), giving the Qualcomm part both a newer PCIe generation and more lanes.

Integrated graphics differ in brand and configuration. The Intel Core 7 150UL uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 uses Adreno X2-85. The database does not record benchmark scores for either GPU, so no performance comparison can be made.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 150UL wins in scenarios that favor high boost clocks and desktop platform compatibility. Its boost clock of 5.00 GHz is the highest clock speed recorded between the two processors, and it is the only one of the pair that supports DDR4 or DDR5 desktop memory. For applications that are latency-sensitive or rely on single-threaded performance, the 5.00 GHz boost capability provides a clear advantage. The Intel part also fits the Intel Socket 1700, a widely used desktop socket, which simplifies integration into existing desktop motherboards. Its market segment is recorded as Desktop, confirming this positioning.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 wins in scenarios that favor core count, cache capacity, memory bandwidth, and process efficiency. It has 12 cores versus the Intel 10, and its L2 cache is 16 MB shared versus the Intel per-core 1.25 MB. The Qualcomm memory bandwidth is recorded at 152.4 GB/s, a figure that the Intel part cannot match because its bandwidth is not recorded. The 3 nm process from TSMC suggests lower power consumption per transistor, though the database does not record TDP for the Qualcomm part, so power efficiency cannot be quantified. The Qualcomm part also supports PCIe Gen 5 with 12 lanes, double the lane count and newer generation than the Intel Gen 4 with 8 lanes. Its market segment is Mobile, which aligns with its BGA socket and LPDDR5X memory support.

The wins are therefore split by platform and workload type. The Intel part is the pick for desktop builds with high-frequency needs. The Qualcomm part is the pick for mobile or compact systems where core count, cache, and memory bandwidth matter more than peak clock speed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 has 12 cores, while the Intel Core 7 150UL has 10 cores.

Q: Does the Intel Core 7 150UL support DDR5 memory?

A: Yes, the Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The Qualcomm part supports only LPDDR5X.

Q: What is the boost clock of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100?

A: The database does not record a boost clock for the Qualcomm part. Its base clock is 4.00 GHz, while the Intel part has a base clock of 1.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a larger L2 cache?

A: The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 has 16 MB of shared L2 cache. The Intel Core 7 150UL has 1.25 MB per core, which totals less than 16 MB across its 10 cores.

Q: What process nodes are used for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 7 150UL uses a 10 nm process at Intel, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 uses a 3 nm process at TSMC.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 5?

A: The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100 supports PCIe Gen 5 with 12 lanes (CPU only). The Intel Core 7 150UL supports PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records no direct head-to-head benchmark scores between the Intel Core 7 150UL and the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100. The winsA and winsB fields are both zero, and the headToHeadBenchmarks array is empty. This absence of benchmark data means that all comparative conclusions must come from the recorded specification fields.

The most significant difference in clock speed favors the Intel part. The Intel boost clock of 5.00 GHz is substantially higher than the Qualcomm base clock of 4.00 GHz, and the Qualcomm part has no recorded boost clock. For single-threaded workloads that scale with clock frequency, the Intel part has a clear theoretical advantage. The Intel base clock of 1.70 GHz is much lower than the Qualcomm base clock of 4.00 GHz, which suggests the Intel part relies heavily on boosting to reach competitive performance, while the Qualcomm part maintains a high clock at all times.

The core count difference favors the Qualcomm part by 20%: 12 cores versus 10 cores. However, the Intel part has 12 threads versus the Qualcomm 12 threads, meaning the Intel part gains two additional threads from hyper-threading on some of its cores, while the Qualcomm part does not add any threads beyond its physical cores. This makes the thread count identical at 12, despite the Qualcomm part having two more physical cores.

Cache differences are pronounced. The Qualcomm L1 cache is 288 KB per core, which is 3.6 times larger than the Intel L1 cache of 80 KB per core. The Qualcomm L2 cache is 16 MB shared, while the Intel L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core. For a 10-core Intel part, the total L2 is 12.5 MB, which is 3.5 MB less than the Qualcomm 16 MB. The Intel part has a 12 MB L3 cache, while the Qualcomm part has no recorded L3 cache. This suggests the Qualcomm part relies on its large L2, while the Intel part uses a three-level cache hierarchy.

Memory bandwidth is only recorded for the Qualcomm part at 152.4 GB/s. The Intel part's memory bandwidth is absent from the database, so no direct comparison is possible. The Qualcomm memory support is limited to LPDDR5X, which is a low-power mobile standard, while the Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5, which are desktop standards with potentially different bandwidth characteristics.

PCIe capability clearly favors the Qualcomm part. Gen 5 doubles the data rate per lane compared to Gen 4, and the Qualcomm part also has more lanes: 12 versus 8. For systems with high-bandwidth add-in cards or NVMe storage, the Qualcomm part provides more headroom.

The process node difference is 3 nm versus 10 nm. This is a three-generation jump in manufacturing technology, and the Qualcomm die size of 220 mm² with 12 cores suggests a much denser design than the Intel part, whose die size is not recorded. The Intel part is built at Intel's own foundry, while the Qualcomm part is built at TSMC, which may affect yield and power characteristics, though the database does not record those metrics.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the Intel Core 7 150UL and the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2E-78-100:

• Cores: Intel has 10, Qualcomm has 12.
• Threads: Intel has 12, Qualcomm has 12 (no difference, but note the core count difference).
• Base clock: Intel is 1.70 GHz, Qualcomm is 4.00 GHz.
• Boost clock: Intel is 5.00 GHz, Qualcomm is not recorded.
• TDP: Intel is 15 W, Qualcomm is not recorded.
• Socket: Intel uses Intel Socket 1700, Qualcomm uses Qualcomm BGA 2343.
• Architecture: Intel uses Raptor Lake, Qualcomm has no architecture listed.
• Codename: Intel is Raptor Lake-PS, Qualcomm is Glymur.
• Generation: Intel is Core 7 (Raptor Lake-PS), Qualcomm is Snapdragon X2 (Elite).
• Process node: Intel is 10 nm, Qualcomm is 3 nm.
• Foundry: Intel is Intel, Qualcomm is TSMC.
• Die size: Intel is not recorded, Qualcomm is 220 mm².
• L1 cache: Intel is 80 KB per core, Qualcomm is 288 KB per core.
• L2 cache: Intel is 1.25 MB per core, Qualcomm is 16 MB shared.
• L3 cache: Intel is 12 MB shared, Qualcomm is not recorded.
• Memory support: Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5, Qualcomm supports LPDDR5X.
• Memory bandwidth: Intel is not recorded, Qualcomm is 152.4 GB/s.
• PCIe: Intel is Gen 4 with 8 lanes, Qualcomm is Gen 5 with 12 lanes.
• Integrated graphics: Intel uses Iris Xe Graphics 96EU, Qualcomm uses Adreno X2-85.
• Market segment: Intel is Desktop, Qualcomm is Mobile.
• Release date: Intel is 2024-04-07, Qualcomm is 2026-04-05.
• Part number: Intel is unknown, Qualcomm is X2E78100.

Fields that are identical or not recorded for either part include ECC memory support (false for both), multiplier unlock status (false for both), launch MSRP (absent for both), transistor count (absent for both), and total L3 cache (absent for both). The percentile ranking is also identical at 50 for both, and both have an average benchmark score of zero, indicating no benchmark data in the database.