New Zhaoxin KX-7000 Central Processing Unit (CPU) falls short compared to older Intel Core i3-8100 and AMD Ryzen 5 5600G processors, findings suggest.
In a significant stride for China's semiconductor industry, Shanghai Zhaoxin Semiconductor Co., Ltd. has unveiled its latest offering, the KX-7000 desktop CPU. This CPU, based on the x86 architecture, boasts eight cores and a boost clock of up to 3.7 GHz.
The KX-7000's chiplets, responsible for CPU cores and I/O functions, are manufactured by Shanghai Zhaoxin Semiconductor Co., Ltd., a company at the forefront of developing domestically produced x86-compatible CPUs. However, specific details about the foundry partner or the semiconductor fabrication node used to manufacture these chiplets are not yet confirmed.
Initially debuted in December 2021, the KX-7000 was tested on a generic motherboard that supports DDR4 memory, with DDR4 clocked at 3,200 MHz being the minimum requirement for the CPU to boot for the first time. The KX-7000 also supports PCIe 4.0 and both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, although it may not work in 600- or 700-series motherboards.
In terms of performance, the KX-7000 falls behind modern Intel and AMD CPUs. In 3DMark tests, its score was lower than other CPUs, but it could match the performance of an Intel 8100 when equipped with an RX 6400 graphics card. Interestingly, in the older game Dragon Quest X, which relies more heavily on single-threaded performance, the KX-7000 did not perform as well when used without a graphics card.
The KX-7000's integrated GPU, the C-1190, is based on the Arise GT10C0 graphics card made by Chinese graphics company Glenfly. In 3D Mark Time Spy, the C-1190 scored a paltry 42 points, compared to the 8100's 469 and the 5600 G's 1440.
The US government's trade restrictions on China, such as blocking Intel from selling Meteor Lake CPUs to Huawei, have made domestically produced chips more appealing concerning supply chain stability. While Zhaoxin chips are unlikely to go head-to-head with Western x86 CPUs soon, self-sufficiency is a more important goal for China's semiconductor industry.
In conclusion, the Zhaoxin KX-7000 is a significant step forward for China's domestic CPU production, offering eight cores and a boost clock of up to 3.7 GHz. While its performance lags behind modern Intel and AMD CPUs, it demonstrates China's commitment to semiconductor self-sufficiency. For the most precise and current fabrication details, official Zhaoxin disclosures or semiconductor industry reports would be the next resource to consult.
The KX-7000's development, spearheaded by Shanghai Zhaoxin Semiconductor Co., Ltd., signifies a substantial advancement in China's domestic CPU production, leveraging technology in both the x86 architecture and the chiplets manufactured in-house. This strategic move towards financial independence in the semiconductor sector aligns with China's aim for self-sufficiency, despite the performance discrepancies compared to Western x86 CPUs.
%20falls%20short%20compared%20to%20older%20Intel%20Core%20i3-8100%20and%20AMD%20Ryzen%205%205600G%20processors%2C%20findings%20suggest.){kind=link}