MediaTek has introduced the Dimensity CX C10 Max, a new 3nm laptop processor that will power an upcoming Googlebook as the company expands beyond its existing Chromebook focused Kompanio lineup.
The chip joins Intel and Qualcomm in Google’s new premium laptop initiative. MediaTek says the C10 Max is the flagship model in its new Dimensity CX family, although it has not yet revealed the rest of the lineup.
The C10 Max combines an eight core Arm CPU, an 11 core GPU and an NPU rated at up to 55 TOPS of AI performance.
Dimensity CX C10 Max uses an eight core Arm design
MediaTek is manufacturing the C10 Max on TSMC’s N3 3nm process.
The CPU uses three different Arm core types rather than eight identical cores. Its configuration includes one Cortex X925, three Cortex X4 cores and four Cortex A720 cores.
That arrangement is very similar to designs already used in some of MediaTek’s mobile processors.
| Specification | Dimensity CX C10 Max |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing process | TSMC N3 3nm |
| CPU cores | 8 |
| CPU layout | 1 Cortex X925, 3 Cortex X4, 4 Cortex A720 |
| GPU | Arm Immortalis G925 MC11 |
| GPU cores | 11 |
| NPU | MediaTek NPU 890 |
| AI performance | Up to 55 TOPS |
| L3 cache | 12MB |
| System level cache | 10MB |
| Memory | LPDDR5X up to 9,600 MT/s |
| Confirmed platform | Googlebook |
MediaTek describes the processor as using an all big core approach, although the individual Arm cores differ significantly in performance and design.
Specs closely resemble the Kompanio Ultra 910
The most notable detail is how closely the C10 Max resembles MediaTek’s existing Kompanio Ultra 910.
Both processors use the same CPU core arrangement, Immortalis G925 MC11 graphics, NPU 890, 12MB of L3 cache and 10MB of system level cache.
One confirmed difference is memory speed.
The Kompanio Ultra 910 supports LPDDR5X at up to 8,533 MT/s, while the C10 Max increases that figure to 9,600 MT/s.
This suggests that the new chip may be more of an evolution of MediaTek’s existing premium Chromebook silicon than a completely new architecture.
MediaTek has not yet disclosed full clock speeds, power limits or every specification needed for a direct comparison.
MediaTek claims higher efficiency against Snapdragon X Elite
MediaTek is positioning the C10 Max against Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite X1E 84 100 rather than the newer Snapdragon X2 family.
The company claims up to 15 percent better multithreaded performance at equal power and up to 50 percent lower power consumption in single threaded workloads.
Those claims need context.
MediaTek tested its own reference platform using ChromeOS, while the Snapdragon processor was tested in a Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge running Windows 11.
The systems also differ in several areas beyond their shared 16GB memory capacity and 60Wh battery.
MediaTek did not provide the full raw benchmark results, making direct comparisons difficult.
The company says the multithreaded comparison was performed at 12W using Geekbench 6.5.
Googlebooks will use Intel Qualcomm and MediaTek chips
Google’s new Googlebook category is designed as a premium laptop platform with deep Gemini integration and a software experience combining elements of Android and ChromeOS.
The first wave of Googlebooks uses processors from Intel and Qualcomm.
MediaTek is an official hardware partner, but its processor is not included in the initial five systems from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo.
The Dimensity CX C10 Max is instead expected to appear in a future Googlebook.
MediaTek has only confirmed the processor for Googlebooks at this stage and has not announced a Windows version.
The company also says the C10 Max will not move down into regular Chromebook or Chromebook Plus products.
Battery life claim reaches 19 hours
MediaTek says a C10 Max reference system can provide up to 19 hours of battery life.
That test used a 60Wh battery, although real world battery life will depend heavily on the final laptop design, display, power settings and workload.
The processor’s combination of Arm CPU cores, a 3nm manufacturing process and integrated AI hardware suggests efficiency will be a major part of its positioning.
The 55 TOPS NPU also places the chip comfortably within the range expected for modern AI focused laptops.
With Intel providing x86 options and Qualcomm and MediaTek covering Arm based designs, Googlebook is shaping up as a broader hardware platform than previous Chromebook generations.
The C10 Max gives MediaTek a place in that premium segment, although its close similarity to the Kompanio Ultra 910 means final laptop performance and pricing will be important in determining how much of an upgrade it actually provides.
Discussion (0)
Be the first to comment.