The Chinese chipmaker Loongson is garnering attention with its bold statement that its next-generation CPUs will showcase performance on par with Intel’s 12th Gen Core i7 and Core i5 processors. This anticipated breakthrough is expected to significantly elevate the domestic Chinese PC market.
During a recent interview, Loongson’s CEO, Hu Weiwu, conveyed optimism for the future of Loongson’s processor lineup. Presently, Loongson’s product offering includes the 8-core 3A6000 CPU, aligning closely with the performance of Intel’s 10th Gen and AMD’s Zen 2 architectures. The company has also introduced its 3B6600 and 3B7000 CPUs which are designed for PCs, featuring an 8-core structure and built on the same process node as their 3A6000 counterparts.
Loongson has its sights set on substantial performance enhancements with its forthcoming CPUs. Projections indicate a 20-30% performance improvement over the 3A6000 series, with the potential to reach up to a 50% increase with the final product. This places next-generation Loongson CPUs in a strong position. While we await specific details on the specifications of these upcoming chips, the performance goals outlined offer exciting prospects.
The company anticipates that by 2025, its domestically produced CPUs will deliver equivalent performance to Intel’s 12th-gen CPUs. Previously, Loongson chips were recognized for achieving Core i3 level performance, but now they aim to match the capabilities of high-end Core i7 and Core i5 processors. Achieving performance equal to an Alder Lake Core i7 would signify a significant leap for China’s PC industry, and even with the minor upgrades of Raptor Lake over Alder Lake, Loongson could remain competitive with further optimized versions of their chips that include higher clock speeds.
This progression would bring Loongson’s processors not only to Intel’s level but also to a place where they can rival AMD processors, challenging chips such as the Ryzen 7 7700X. Such advancements in performance could place Loongson’s CPUs alongside some of the most lauded 8-core processors on the market.
The most notable advantage of these next-generation Loongson CPUs is expected to be their price-to-performance ratio, potentially surpassing that of their AMD and Intel counterparts. This makes them an appealing option within the Chinese domestic market, particularly given the broader restrictions imposed by the US. Furthermore, in line with endeavors to support domestic technology, the Chinese government is already transitioning to home-grown CPU solutions for state-owned institutes, positioning Loongson as a prime contender in this switch.
With these advancements, Loongson is making strides towards creating a stronger indigenous PC market in China, showing significant potential in the CPU industry and posing a challenge to established players like Intel and AMD.
