Building a large monolithic many-core CPU is extremely difficult even for a well-known chip designer. For Chinese CPU developers, many of whom do not have access to cutting-edge production nodes, the only way to build high-core-count processors is with chiplet designs. After all, this is exactly what Chinese CPU maker Loongson is doing with his 32-core 3D5000 processor. Sina report.
Earlier this year, Loongson began shipping its 3C5000 processor, which relies on its LoongArch microarchitecture, 16 LA464 cores with up to 64MB of cache, and four 64-bit DDR4-3200 memory interfaces with ECC support. . Loongson 3D5000 adopts two 3C5000 CPUs and puts them on a single board to build a 32-core processor with 8 memory channels. The 32-core processor supports up to 4-way simultaneous multiprocessor configurations, allowing you to build servers with up to 128 cores.
Loongson recently completed verification of its 3D5000 processor, the report said. The CPU is reported to consume 130 W at 2.0 GHz and 170 W at 2.20 GHz. Loongson’s 3D5000 CPU comes in his LGA-4129 package.
Building a 32-core CPU based on your own microarchitecture is an accomplishment, but keep in mind that the product is a way to test your ability to build chiplet-based designs. China-based SMIC, which makes processors for Loongson, is slowly adopting more advanced nodes, but lags far behind market leader his TSMC. Therefore, a company like Loongson cannot offer a product that matches AMD’s or Intel’s.
Chiplets present a real opportunity for Loongson to build fairly serious processors and server platforms with a large number of hardened cores and unique microarchitectures for servers and supercomputers. On the other hand, I don’t know if other his CPU developers in China will follow suit.
In terms of performance, Loongson said the 32-core 3D5000 CPU scored 400 points on the SPEC CPU2006-based test, while the two-way 32-core 3D5000-based machine scored over 800 points on the SPEC CPU2006-based benchmark. I’m here. CPU designers believe 4-way machines will reach 1600 points.
Loongson is preparing to ship samples of the 32-core processor in the first half of 2023, but the commercial version will ship later.
