Chinese CPU Manufacturer Introduces 32-Core Chiplet-Based Processor

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Even for the most accomplished chip designers, it is a monumental challenge to create big monolithic many-core CPUs. Many Chinese CPU developers lack access to cutting-edge production nodes, making chiplet design the only option for creating processors with a large core count.



According to Sina, the Chinese central processing unit (CPU) manufacturer Loongson performs this same thing with its 32-core 3D5000 processor. This year Loongson started shipping its 3C5000 CPU, which has 16 LA464 cores with the company's LoongArch microarchitecture, up to 64MB of cache, and four 64-bit DDR4-3200 memory interfaces with ECC support. By combining two 3C5000 CPUs onto a single substrate, the Loongson 3D5000 becomes a 32-core processor with eight memory channels. It is feasible to construct a server with up to 128 cores thanks to the 32-core processor's support for up to 4-way simultaneous multiprocessor setups. According to the source, Loongson has just finished verifying its 3D5000 processor. At 2.0 GHz, the CPU supposedly uses 130W, but at 2.20 GHz, it uses 170W. The LGA-4129 socket is used for the 3D5000 CPU by Loongson.

Although it is impressive to create a 32-core CPU using a custom microarchitecture, the product is really just a means of gauging one's competence in chiplet-based design. China's SMIC, which makes processors for Loongson, is falling well behind TSMC, the market leader, despite its gradual adoption of more modern nodes. It is for this reason that businesses like Loongson can not compete with the likes of AMD and Intel in the market.

Loongson sees chiplets as a chance to develop serious processors and server platforms with a large number of cores and a proprietary microarchitecture optimised for use in high-end data centres and supercomputers. Meanwhile, it is unclear if any other Chinese CPU makers will follow suit. Loongson claims that its 32-core 3D5000 CPU achieves 400 points on the SPEC CPU2006 base test, while a 2-way 32-core 3D5000-based computer achieves over 800 points on the same benchmark. According to the CPU inventor, a 4-way machine may score 1600 points. Samples of Loongson's 32-core processors are scheduled for release in the first half of 2023, with commercial products following.

Chinese CPU Manufacturer Introduces 32-Core Chiplet-Based Processor


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