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VIA Zhaoxin x86 4 and 8-core SoC processors launch
As we talked about a while ago, VIA launches their Zhaoxin processors, well SoC's really. Zhaoxin has launched the new processors in the KX-5000 series. With the to be released KX-7000, it wants to compete with AMD again.
KaiXian
KX is short for KaiXian, the 5000 series is to be used in laptops and desktops. The KaiXian chips are fabbed on a 28nm process from Chinese HLMC, using a WuDaoKou microarchitecture. The procs are quad-cores up to 2.0 GHz with 8 cores versions as well at the same maximum speed.
The KaiXian 5000 series is mostly aimed forPCs, workstations, and laptops. Those SKUs are positioned against Intel’s Core i3 and Core i5 processors.
| New SKUs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Cores/Threads | Frequency | L2 Cache |
| KX-5640 | 4/4 | 2.0 GHz | 4 MiB |
| KX-5540 | 4/4 | 1.8 GHz | 4 MiB |
| KX-U5680 | 8/8 | 2.0 GHz | 8 MiB |
| KX-U5580 | 8/8 | 1.8 GHz | 8 MiB |
| KX-U5580M | 8/8 | ≤ 1.8 GHz | 8 MiB |
The fastest 8-core proc thus has eight cores and eight threads at 2.0 GHz based on a 187 mm2 64-bit chip that has 2.1 billion transistors. 64 kb L1 cache is present per core and a total of 8 MB L2 cache. Instructions include Intel VT-x, Trusted Execution Technology, SSE4.2, AVX, and AVX2. The chips have PCIe 3.0, a total of 16 lanes and then four lanes likely for an additional interconnect to a chipset or heck, even something M2. The integrated memory controller supports dual channel ddr4-2133 up-to 64 GB. The integrated GPU provides a maximum of 4096 x 2304 pixels at 60 Hz via display port or HDMI. This is a DirectX 11.1 part, not DX12.
KaisHeng 20000
Zhaoxin also announced the KaisHeng 20000 series which is geared towards embedded networking, storage, and servers. This series should not be confused with a similarly named “ZX-2000” series which are actually quad-core ARM Cortex-A17 CPUs.
| New SKUs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Cores/Threads | Frequency | L2 Cache |
| KH-26800 | 8/8 | 2.0 GHz | 8 MiB |
| KH-25800 | 8/8 | 1.8 GHz | 8 MiB |
As with the KX-5000 parts, all models have virtualization support compatible with Intel’s VT-x, Trusted Execution Technology (TXT), SSE 4.2, and AVX support. The KaisHeng 20000 parts support up to 128 GiB of memory and have added support for ECC and RDIMMs. Additionally, those SKUs do not have a GPU enabled. Zhaoxin reported the following SPEC CPU 2006 scores:
| SPEC CPU 2006 Scores | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Test | KX-5640 (4C @ 2GHz) | KX-U5680 (8C @ 2GHz) | Atom C2750 (8C @ 2.4GHz/2.6GHz) |
| SPECint | 19.1 | 19.9 | 17.5 |
| SPECint_rate | 64.3 | 115 | 101 |
| SPECfp | 22.9 | 25.7 | 23.0 |
| SPECfp_rate | 53 | 81.3 | 76.8 |
Source: fuse.wikichip.org
Hilbert Hagedoorn
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#5512983 Posted on: 01/22/2018 04:28 PM
These are SoC's based on a BGA package. So a platform with a chipset is not required similar to say the proc in your smartphone.
These are SoC's based on a BGA package. So a platform with a chipset is not required similar to say the proc in your smartphone.
uKER
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#5512984 Posted on: 01/22/2018 04:30 PM
Oh, so they're staying out of the PC-building market then, and only selling to OEMs.
Oh, so they're staying out of the PC-building market then, and only selling to OEMs.
slimmy427
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#5512985 Posted on: 01/22/2018 04:32 PM
28nm...sounds like they are trying to compete with the wrong era. I would be interested to see the energy efficiency. May have something to do with the low clock frequency?
28nm...sounds like they are trying to compete with the wrong era. I would be interested to see the energy efficiency. May have something to do with the low clock frequency?
schmidtbag
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#5512993 Posted on: 01/22/2018 04:47 PM
Interesting... I wasn't expecting VIA to come out with such an upgrade over their previous generation, and I didn't think they were going to do laptops. I'm interested in the idea of a Zhaoxin laptop, but, VIA is notorious for their negligence with GPU drivers, on any OS. Unless they ditch their GPUs entirely, I'd rather just get a laptop based on Snapdragon, Tegra, or i.MX.
Interesting... I wasn't expecting VIA to come out with such an upgrade over their previous generation, and I didn't think they were going to do laptops. I'm interested in the idea of a Zhaoxin laptop, but, VIA is notorious for their negligence with GPU drivers, on any OS. Unless they ditch their GPUs entirely, I'd rather just get a laptop based on Snapdragon, Tegra, or i.MX.
artk2219
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#5513012 Posted on: 01/22/2018 05:29 PM
AMD was on 28nm until just last year, and honestly i'm still amazed at what they were able to squeeze out of bulldozer at that point, and it wouldn't be the first time that via had a very efficient low power part. Their older parts did quite well against brazos and atom in the early 2010's, unfortunately their graphics have just always sucked and been poorly maintained. That being said I'd love to see some low end machines powered by these guys, they would make great low power vhosts, NAS's, SANS, fierwalls, webservers, whatever honestly.
28nm...sounds like they are trying to compete with the wrong era. I would be interested to see the energy efficiency. May have something to do with the low clock frequency?
AMD was on 28nm until just last year, and honestly i'm still amazed at what they were able to squeeze out of bulldozer at that point, and it wouldn't be the first time that via had a very efficient low power part. Their older parts did quite well against brazos and atom in the early 2010's, unfortunately their graphics have just always sucked and been poorly maintained. That being said I'd love to see some low end machines powered by these guys, they would make great low power vhosts, NAS's, SANS, fierwalls, webservers, whatever honestly.
cryohellinc
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#5513015 Posted on: 01/22/2018 05:34 PM
Well hey, everyone started somewhere. I hope they will mature faster, as I'm 200% certain the have a fantastic reverse engineering team.
Well hey, everyone started somewhere. I hope they will mature faster, as I'm 200% certain the have a fantastic reverse engineering team.
Embra
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#5513018 Posted on: 01/22/2018 05:45 PM
It will be interesting to see what hey come out with the next few years.
It will be interesting to see what hey come out with the next few years.
H83
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#5513035 Posted on: 01/22/2018 06:34 PM
Wanting to compete against AMD and Intel?... VIA is feeling very brave...
Wanting to compete against AMD and Intel?... VIA is feeling very brave...
f14dude
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#5513038 Posted on: 01/22/2018 06:40 PM
So is this designed for Windows or Linux? or some other say.... Amiga OS? :p
So is this designed for Windows or Linux? or some other say.... Amiga OS? :p
Hilbert Hagedoorn
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#5513042 Posted on: 01/22/2018 06:42 PM
Hey do not mess with the Amiga, that's holy grounds and territory!
So is this designed for Windows or Linux? or some other say.... Amiga OS?
Hey do not mess with the Amiga, that's holy grounds and territory!
sykozis
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#5513047 Posted on: 01/22/2018 06:54 PM
At 2.0ghz, they're not going to be competitive against anything AMD or Intel currently have. Maybe they want to compete with the Celeron J1800 and Athlon 5350?
VIA has done well with low-power processors. They've never produced a mid-range or high-end processor that was able to compete directly with their AMD or Intel counterparts though.
Wanting to compete against AMD and Intel?... VIA is feeling very brave...
At 2.0ghz, they're not going to be competitive against anything AMD or Intel currently have. Maybe they want to compete with the Celeron J1800 and Athlon 5350?
it wouldn't be the first time that via had a very efficient low power part. Their older parts did quite well against brazos and atom in the early 2010's
VIA has done well with low-power processors. They've never produced a mid-range or high-end processor that was able to compete directly with their AMD or Intel counterparts though.
f14dude
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#5513051 Posted on: 01/22/2018 07:03 PM
I actually think the Amiga OS can use a newer processor and thought these processor might fit the bill.
Joking aside, been thinking of building an Amiga OS 4.1 based machine just for fun but no way to get the part. Not easy here at the stateside anyway.
Hey Hilbert, ever think about building a machine based on Amiga OS 4.1 and OC it? Could be a great article.
Thanks.
Hey do not mess with the Amiga, that's holy grounds and territory!
I actually think the Amiga OS can use a newer processor and thought these processor might fit the bill.
Joking aside, been thinking of building an Amiga OS 4.1 based machine just for fun but no way to get the part. Not easy here at the stateside anyway.
Hey Hilbert, ever think about building a machine based on Amiga OS 4.1 and OC it? Could be a great article.
Thanks.
Stairmand
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#5513063 Posted on: 01/22/2018 07:38 PM
Off topic but Amiga OS (4 onwards) require a PowerPC based setup. They tried to sell there own desktops based on Power PC but they were hideously expensive for the spec and limited usability.
Off topic but Amiga OS (4 onwards) require a PowerPC based setup. They tried to sell there own desktops based on Power PC but they were hideously expensive for the spec and limited usability.
RedSquirrel
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#5513101 Posted on: 01/22/2018 08:59 PM
B̶u̶t̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶y̶ ̶r̶u̶n̶ ̶C̶r̶y̶s̶i̶s̶ Can it hash bro?
B̶u̶t̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶y̶ ̶r̶u̶n̶ ̶C̶r̶y̶s̶i̶s̶ Can it hash bro?
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One vital piece of info is missing here: what platform do these run on?
Do they hijack one of Intel's or AMD's platforms or are they intending to introduce their own?