Microsoft Identifies AI Laptops Standards
Microsoft has unveiled its guidelines for AI laptops in anticipation of the imminent release of such devices to the market. During CES 2024, major laptop and desktop manufacturers showcased their upcoming line of devices, predominantly featuring modern AMD or Intel chips with touted AI capabilities. According to TrendForce, Microsoft is now stipulating that laptops incorporating AI features should possess a minimum of 16GB of RAM. This move is anticipated to drive demand for higher RAM capacities, potentially diminishing the popularity of devices equipped with 8GB of RAM. It reflects a broader trend wherein AI applications extend beyond large servers and into users’ devices.
As the global market for AI servers is poised to grow by over 1.6 million units, experiencing around 40% growth, the competition among chip manufacturers intensifies. The requisite performance for AI computers is set at a minimum of 40 trillion operations per second. Currently, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chip stands as the sole contender capable of achieving 45 trillion operations per second, meeting the stipulated requirements. In contrast, Intel’s Meteor Lake and AMD’s Ryzen 8040 face challenges, although Ryzen 8050 and Lunar Lake aim to comply.
Qualcomm’s early adherence to Microsoft’s guidelines positions it favorably to market its products, with Ultrabook mobile devices, the first Windows-operated systems powered by AI, featuring the Snapdragon X Elite processor. Major companies like DHP and Lenovo are planning to produce Qualcomm-based products in line with Microsoft’s specifications. Furthermore, Microsoft’s rules extend to the quality of RAM technology, with computer device manufacturers increasingly opting for LPDDR5x-type RAM over DDR SO-DIMM due to its faster data transfer, a crucial factor for artificial intelligence. TrendForce estimates that approximately 35% of RAM demand for computers will be of the LPDDR type, a figure expected to rise in tandem with the growing demand for AI-enabled computers.
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