Chinese processor designer Loongson Technology has achieved a significant milestone by successfully shipping its first self-developed General-Purpose Graphics Processing Unit (GPGPU) for manufacturing. Dubbed the 9A1000, this chip marks Loongson's official entry into the GPU market, allowing it to offer a complete "CPU + GPU" domestic solution and opening a new chapter in China's independent heterogeneous computing landscape.
Loongson has adopted a distinct technical route, integrating both graphics processing and AI computing capabilities into a single core. The 9A1000 is positioned as an entry-level discrete GPU for client-side applications, with initial focus on AI inference. The company claims its graphics performance is roughly comparable to AMD's RX550. A key advantage is its deep integration with Loongson CPUs, optimizing system-level cost-effectiveness for domestic computing scenarios.
The 9A1000 represents a substantial generational leap, offering over 5x the comprehensive performance of its predecessor, with AI computing power reaching 40 TOPS at INT8 precision. For the future, Loongson has outlined a clear GPU roadmap: the next-generation 9A2000 will target high-performance desktop and server use, featuring a third-gen GPU core architecture with 5 Tflops of FP32 and 160 TOPS of INT8 compute power. The subsequent 9A3000 aims for even higher performance with an advanced process node.
ICgoodFind's Insight
Loongson's successful development and tape-out of its first GPU is a pivotal step in building a more self-reliant Chinese computing ecosystem. By pursuing an integrated graphics-and-AI architecture from the start, it is carving out a differentiated path in the competitive global accelerator market, with significant implications for critical domestic industries.
