Beijing, August 26, 2024
China’s homegrown CPU, the Loongson 3B6600, has achieved a significant milestone by matching the performance of Intel’s 12th Gen Core processors. This development marks a major leap forward for China’s domestic semiconductor industry, which has been striving for years to catch up with international giants.
A New Era for Loongson
The Loongson 3B6600, developed by the Loongson Technology Corporation, is the latest addition to the company’s lineup of CPUs. It boasts a new CPU core that significantly improves performance compared to its predecessor, the Loongson 3A6000. According to recent benchmarks, the 3B6600 offers around a 20% increase in performance at the same frequency.
The Loongson 3B6600 is a testament to China’s commitment to developing indigenous technology. It represents a significant step forward in our journey to achieve parity with international CPU manufacturers, said Dr. Hu Weiwu, the lead architect of the Loongson series CPUs.
Performance Comparison
The Loongson 3B6600’s SPEC06 integer score is set to exceed 50 points, which is close to the mainstream level of x86 CPUs. This performance is particularly impressive considering it is achieved with a manufacturing process that lags behind international standards. If produced using the same advanced manufacturing techniques as foreign CPUs, the Loongson 3B6600’s performance could potentially increase further.
In addition to its processing capabilities, the Loongson 3B6600 integrates a GPU, the LG200, which supports DDR5 memory, PCIe 4.0 bus, and HDMI 2.1. This integration aims to provide a comprehensive solution for both graphics rendering and AI acceleration.
Diverse Product Lineup
Loongson has also unveiled several other CPUs in its lineup. The Loongson 3C6000, for instance, features 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Loongson 3D6000 boasts 32 cores and 64 threads, supporting dual and quad direct connections. The Loongson 3E6000 comes in two configurations: 64 cores with 128 threads or 60 cores with 120 threads, and supports dual direct connections.
According to official benchmarks, the Loongson 3C6000 and 3D6000 show significant improvements over their predecessors. The Loongson 3C6000 offers a 60-95% improvement in SPEC CPU 2017 tests and a 33-100% improvement in UnixBench single-thread and multi-thread tests, respectively. The Loongson 3D6000 shows a 62-110% improvement in SPEC CPU 2017 tests and a 55-79% improvement in UnixBench tests.
Strategic Focus on GPU and AI
Looking ahead, Loongson plans to place greater emphasis on GPU and AI capabilities. The LG200 GPU, already integrated into the 3B6600, is designed to handle both graphics rendering and AI acceleration. The company aims to continuously iterate and upgrade its GPU technology, aspiring to achieve a balanced development of both CPU and GPU capabilities, similar to AMD.
Avoiding Dependence on Advanced Processes
Loongson’s strategy has been to focus on improving CPU architecture while not chasing the cutting edge of manufacturing processes. This approach has helped ensure a stable supply chain and avoid potential bottlenecks caused by dependence on advanced processes, such as those from TSMC. Although this has resulted in lower clock speeds compared to international competitors, it aligns well with the typical lower clock speeds of server CPUs, which are more focused on instructions per cycle (IPC) rather than raw frequency.
Potential in the Server Market
As long as the software ecosystem can keep pace, Loongson CPUs are well-positioned to make significant strides in the server market. The company’s focus on IPC and its strategic choice of mature manufacturing processes make its CPUs suitable for server applications, where high IPC and stable performance are more critical than high clock speeds.
Conclusion
The launch of the Loongson 3B6600 is a significant achievement for China’s domestic CPU industry. It not only showcases the country’s progress in semiconductor technology but also signals its intent to compete on the global stage. With a continued focus on innovation and a strategic approach to development, Loongson is set to play a pivotal role in China’s technological future.
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