Benchmarking international standard
As a well-known domestic x86 system solution provider, Zhaoxin has mastered three core technologies of central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU) and chipset. Its self-developed domestic x86 solution includes Kaixian and Kaisheng. Large series, the first series for the desktop machine (including all kinds of desktops, notebooks), embedded products, the winning series is for server products.
When talking about the overall performance of the Megacore x86 solution, Dr. Ray Yong said that the overall performance of the Megachip processor has been able to benchmark the international mainstream standards. Take the ZX-C series CPU and KX-5000 as examples. On behalf of the i3 processor, the host frequency can reach 2GHz. For daily office applications, 4K decoding, and even running Call of Duty, Tomb Raider and other mainstream 3D games have no pressure. Considering that the 3GHz frequency has begun to become mainstream, Followed by the latest KX-6000 series, its overall performance against Intel's i5 series processor, including the most popular (also high performance requirements for the computer) 'eat chicken' game, can still run smoothly.
In terms of integrated circuits, especially processor chips, it takes a long time to actually interpret a technology to avoid system vulnerabilities, security problems, or to find out the cause and repair in case of security problems. Time has developed two generations of ZX-C and KX-5000 processors, thus fully interpreting the x86 system architecture and corresponding technology.
The ZX-C series has been used for 4 years. Dr. Ray Yong said that the designed processor is well controlled in terms of power consumption and area. The single-core performance is improved by 20% and the multi-core performance is doubled. However, it did not meet expectations. At the same time, it was found that many detours were taken during the design process. Therefore, the KX-5000 series was further developed. This generation of chips has greatly modified the single core, and introduced all the multicores, and opened up I/O. The frequency, in order to achieve the performance of the standard Intel's sixth-generation i3 processor, to meet the needs of daily office, large-scale games and other applications.
Self-controllable should not only consider the chip architecture
In recent years, with the emergence of computer system vulnerabilities and the emergence of Sino-US trade wars, self-control has once again become a key word in national development planning. Dr. Luo Yong told reporters that Zhaoxin chose to develop its own micro-architecture based on x86 considering x86. The architecture has a mature system ecosystem, and there is no problem of nuclear and authorization. Compared with the system architecture of Haiguang, the system architecture of the mega core is completely autonomous in terms of evolution and upgrade, and there is no authorization problem.
The network vulnerabilities in the past two years are actually problems in the chipset. Zhaoxin has a completely autonomous GPU and chipset, which can well avoid this problem. Now the GPU is integrated in the CPU chip, ie Integrated graphics. Dr. Ray Yong said that in the future, as the demand for domestic GPUs continues to expand, it is also possible to make the GPU independent. But the chipset has always been independent, such as the ZX-C series processor with the ZX-100S chipset independently developed. The KX-5000 series processor and subsequent products will adopt the SoC architecture, integrate the chipset function and the CPU core into one chip, and can selectively cooperate with the ZX-200 IO expansion chip to meet various peripheral interfaces. demand.
From bottom to top: ZX-C, KX-5000, KX-6000
In addition, in the military industry, especially in military equipment, it is necessary to have a strong localization. It is also necessary to replace 10 Intel chips with 10 domestic chips. In this embedded and special vertical industry, the mega core is relatively late. But gradually more products appear and replace foreign chips.
When it comes to the controllability of the semiconductor industry, Dr. Luo Yong is not worried. In fact, in terms of the controllability of the semiconductor industry chain, the domestic industry tends to over-emphasize production and architecture, but ignores the design process and design tools (EDA). There are still many problems. , including the following aspects: First, the technology has not been achieved, reliability, stability and ecological compatibility issues still need to be improved; Second, the design process, TSMC and Hua Hong Hongli have solved certain problems for domestic chips However, it is still difficult to benchmark the international high-end capabilities; Third, EDA, so far, the three largest companies - Synopsis, Cadence, MentorGraphics are American companies, there is not a large overall design tool in China.
Industrial ecological compatibility
The biggest advantage of x86 is ecological compatibility. Many system chips in China are doing very well now, but because a large number of users' applications are based on Windows systems, domestic chips are not compatible, which brings problems that cannot be promoted. Dr. Luo Yong said The market ecology is slowly accumulating. Intel and Microsoft have used 40 years of ecology. No chip manufacturer can replace it in a short time. We should respect the original ecology and develop our own products based on this.
The processor designed by Megacore has been performing well for domestic desktop applications so far in single-core and multi-core performance. The performance of the whole machine can be benchmarked against Intel's i3 and i5 processors, which can basically meet the mainstream applications of desktops. The vast majority of the software ecosystem is based on the Windows system of the x86 architecture, so the Megacore processor is well compatible with its peripherals, software and drivers.
Facing international competition with emerging fields
With the rise of emerging technologies, Dr. Ray Yong said that Zhaoxin is now focusing on the next generation of planning, including AI, edge computing, heterogeneous computing, etc. Because these markets are just getting started, Intel is only two or three years ahead, unlike the cloud. Storage, the processor field is leading for 20 years, you have to chase it step by step.
For these emerging fields, we are more promising to make similar performances. There are more differences in the Chinese market. We will make domestic chips to face the international competition sooner or later, and these emerging areas are the key to our differentiated competition. Megacore next-generation chips must not only improve desktop performance, but also expand capacity, including application capabilities for these emerging areas.