China debuts new generation of self-developed, fully controllable server processor chips

Chinese company Loongson Technology released a new generation of domestically developed processor chips for general-purpose central processing units (CPUs), named 3C6000, on Thursday, a step forward to enter the new era of artificial intelligence (AI) processors. The 3C6000 series CPUs adopt China's independently developed LoongArchTM instruction set architecture (ISA), relying on no foreign-licensed technology or overseas supply chains, according to a corporate press release.

The overall performance of Loongson's 3C6000 CPUs - embedded with Loongson's chips - matches the level of mainstream products in the global market in 2023, the company said.

The performance of the 3C6000 CPU can be benchmarked against Intel's 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable Processors, Chinastarmarket.cn reported, citing a third-party test report.

"The debut of the 3C6000 marks a breakthrough for China in the field of high-end general-purpose processors, breaking through foreign technological blockades and monopolies. It holds significant importance for ensuring national information security and industrial security," Zhang Xiaorong, director of the Beijing-based Cutting-Edge Technology Research Institute, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Loongson Technology also debuted the Loongson 2K3000/3B6000M chips for industrial control and mobile terminals, along with related complete systems and solutions, on Thursday at a product release conference, the company said.

The release of the Loongson 2K3000/3B6000M shows that Loongson has systematically mastered the core technologies for designing general-purpose processors, graphics processors, AI processors, and foundational software. This achievement signals the company's entry into a new era of advancing AI processor development, Hu Weiwu, chairman of Loongson Technology, said on Thursday, according to the press release.

"The Loongson 3C6000 and 2K3000 CPUs released at the conference do not rely on any foreign technology licenses or overseas supply chains," Hu noted.

Hu also revealed that Loongson Technology is developing the next-generation general-purpose CPUs and chip products, which further significantly enhance performance.

Also at the conference, Shi Huikang, an official of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said that in the past, China's ISA heavily relied on foreign licenses. 

"Today, products based on the independently developed LoongArchTM ISA are rapidly expanding, reflecting a swift enhancement of self-development capabilities. By firmly controlling the core CPU ISA, China has achieved both quantitative growth and qualitative improvements across a full spectrum of products. This has driven a leap forward in the industrial ecosystem, elevating the foundation of China's independent information technology system to new heights," said Shi.

"As a fully self-developed and controllable general-purpose processor, the Loongson 3C6000 adopts the independently developed LoongArchTM ISA. This facilitates collaboration with more industry partners to jointly build a self-reliant software and industrial ecosystem," said Zhang.

The 3C6000 series CPUs can meet the computing needs of various scenarios, including general computing, intelligent computing, storage, industrial control, and work stations, according to CCTV News.

The Loongson 3C6000 series processors passed the safety and reliability assessment test of the China Information Technology Security Evaluation Center in March and obtained Level 2 certification, as shown on the center's website. 

According to media reports, the Level 2 certification represents the highest level of security, meaning that 3C6000 CPUs can ensure security for critical applications. Some companies have begun to launch their core business systems based on the 3C6000 server processors.