According to Phone Arena (via HotHardware), news recently broke that Microsoft and AMD are working together to develop a laptop processor. In terms of graphics performance, this processor can surpass Qualcomm processors. The joint chipset of Microsoft and AMD will likely feature Cortex-X1 core and mRDNA 2 GPU. Moreover, an Exynos modem for 5G connectivity will also be included. The coincidence of these two news leads us to conclude that Microsoft, with its new ad, is looking for someone to take responsibility for developing new chips for Surface devices. The new chipset will use a 5nm architecture. Here’s what Microsoft said in its LinkedIn job listing: “Are you passionate about building cool devices and technologies? The Surface team is lighting up Microsoft experiences with the next generation of devices. A fundamental part of our strategy is bringing productivity and mobility together through devices that enable new experiences – helping people and organizations unlock their creativity, passion, and potential.” Microsoft Surface duo 2 is the latest Surface device by the company using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G chipset. The GPU is Adreno 660. The phone will be available to purchase on October 21. Moreover, The price starts at $1,499. Ditching flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon chips won’t be an easy process for Microsoft, and it requires a high level of engineering to ensure the performance of Surface devices. However, the collaboration between Microsoft and AMD can be a safe solution.
Microsoft is looking for an in-house chip for Surface devices
This is not the first Microsoft effort to develop an in-house chip for its devices. The company has worked with Qualcomm to develop the Microsoft SQ1 chip for Surface Pro X in 2019. Also, Microsoft has also been looking to hire some engineers from Intel, Nvidia, AMD, and Qualcomm. Dates back to December 2020, Bloomberg reported that Microsoft wants to design chips for server computers and Surface devices. Relying on in-house chipsets for devices will allow the companies to have more control over the performance and building costs. Apple has followed this procedure for a long time, and other smartphone manufacturers like Samsung and Huawei have been doing the same for years. Likewise, Google is also looking to launch its Pixel 6 series with the in-house Tensor processing unit. So, Microsoft doesn’t want to lag behind.
