PowerLeader's Powerstar CPU Lineup: Rebadged Intel Chips Discovered

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 05/26/2023 08:38 AM | source: wccftech | 10 comment(s)

PowerLeader, a prominent Chinese computer manufacturer, recently unveiled its Powerstar CPU lineup, starting with the PSTAR P3-01105 CPU. Upon closer examination, the PSTAR SKU closely resembled Intel's 10th Generation Comet Lake CPU, specifically the Core i3-10105 model.

The Powerstar CPU claims to outperform any domestic x86 CPU in terms of performance, utilizing a "storm core" microarchitecture. Although similarities with the Core i3-10105 CPU were apparent, such as a clock speed of 3.7 GHz and core configuration, minor differences in nomenclature indicated the rebadging. A recent Geekbench 5 benchmark submission confirmed that the Powerstar CPU is essentially an Intel Comet Lake processor under a different name. PowerLeader expects to ship approximately 1.5 million Powerstar units this year and may announce additional rebranded models in the future.

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fantaskarsef
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#6135900 Posted on: 05/26/2023 10:30 AM

So... they have permission from Intel to do this? Or how does that legally work?

anticupidon
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#6135914 Posted on: 05/26/2023 10:50 AM

China does what China does best.

H83
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#6135920 Posted on: 05/26/2023 11:24 AM

So... they have permission from Intel to do this? Or how does that legally work?

Probably some legal workaround or some obscure loophole...

There's always an way to do some things...

schmidtbag
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#6135998 Posted on: 05/26/2023 03:06 PM

Here's what I'd want to know:
Clearly this group got internal knowledge, likely from one of Intel's board partners. They don't have to know a lot, they just have to know enough to copy Intel's homework and tweak the firmware to make it look like their own. While it is possible they have the skills to design their own motherboard, I'd be really interested to see if the boards they make will have a nearly identical design to any other Intel boards, maybe just with some components removed and some other customary network-tapping chip added. If such a board exists, Intel will know who spilled the beans.

TieSKey
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#6136352 Posted on: 05/27/2023 06:38 PM

My bet is intel itself rebranding stuff to bypass US trade restrictions (free market where?).

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