Wednesday, September 3rd 2008
China to Launch its Quad-Core CPU in 2009
Chinese researchers unveiled details of a general-purpose microprocessor with which they hope to give computing to the most ordinary people in China. The chip, code-named "Godson-3", was developed with government funding by more than 200 researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Computing Technology (ICT). Analysts suggest this takes China one step closer technological independence.
These chips are being manufactured by ST Microelectronics and branded as "Loongson" meaning Dragon Chip. Predecessors of this chip have been manufactured since 2001 and with its advancement marks rapid propagation of the Linux platform and other open-source software. These PCs would make it to as many workplaces and schools as the Chinese government can take them to. It is noted that the Godson-3 that has four processing cores releases in 2009 with a design that is scalable. In fact an 8-core version is planned as well. These chips use the 65nm fabrication process, with the 4-core version rated to consume as low as 10W. An interesting bit on the machine architecture is that these chips aren't x86 per say, but the designers have added instruction sets to simulate an x86-like environment. With it they hope to run a broader range of software, Microsoft Windows included. Since its a simulated x86 environment, a license from Intel isn't required. Erik Metzger, a patent attorney at Intel, says that the chip will only perform at about 80% of the speed of an actual x86 chip.
Source:
Technology Review
These chips are being manufactured by ST Microelectronics and branded as "Loongson" meaning Dragon Chip. Predecessors of this chip have been manufactured since 2001 and with its advancement marks rapid propagation of the Linux platform and other open-source software. These PCs would make it to as many workplaces and schools as the Chinese government can take them to. It is noted that the Godson-3 that has four processing cores releases in 2009 with a design that is scalable. In fact an 8-core version is planned as well. These chips use the 65nm fabrication process, with the 4-core version rated to consume as low as 10W. An interesting bit on the machine architecture is that these chips aren't x86 per say, but the designers have added instruction sets to simulate an x86-like environment. With it they hope to run a broader range of software, Microsoft Windows included. Since its a simulated x86 environment, a license from Intel isn't required. Erik Metzger, a patent attorney at Intel, says that the chip will only perform at about 80% of the speed of an actual x86 chip.
66 Comments on China to Launch its Quad-Core CPU in 2009
On the other hand, I don't think China would care what/who's patents are being stepped on. If this is a China only product it probably won't matter anyway. But will it be a China only product?
Definately interested in the bench marks on it though.
intel may survive it , but I think AMD is not so lucky ...
I'd rather not see China enter mass production. Who knows what they'd be building chips with! Hell, they can't even get dog food or kids toys right without killing someone... hehe
Anyway, I read about this a few days ago, they spoke of 200 x86 instructions added, though it was unclear to what purpose. If the purpose is to actually run existing x86 software (including Windows) it could be interesting to obtain one of these, or the next generation. Performance of the previous models wasn't that bad, relatively speaking. And 8 cores at 20W, even if they're not as efficient, is still interesting.
The Godson did in several years what Intel/AMD/IBM/etc did in 30 years. Within a few years China will be on par with if not ahead of our chips.
As far as I know all those machines run Red Flag Linux and are used basically everywhere in China.
Apart from performance apparently being comparable the chips aren't anything like eachother.
I'm sure Los Angeles has more high school graduates than a school in Seattle, but I wouldn't use this to say that Los Angeles is more "hi tech." :laugh:
What exactly is "craptacular" about the Godsons history? I think it's quite amazing.
Meh, so much for gaining independence with a free market.