Zhaoxin’s x86-Compatible CPUs for DIY Enthusiasts Now Available
by Anton Shilov on January 29, 2020 1:00 PM EST
Zhaoxin, a joint venture between Via Technologies and the Chinese government, has been selling processors for various client systems for years, but recently the company rolled out its latest CPUs that some of the local PC makers position as solutions for DIY enthusiasts. At least initially, Zhaoxin’s KaiXian KX-6780A will be available only in China.
Zhaoxin’s KaiXian KX-6780A is an eight-core x86-64 processor with 8 MB of L2 cache, a dual-channel DDR4-3200 memory controller, modern I/O interfaces (PCIe, SATA, USB, etc.), and integrated DirectX 11.1-capable graphics (possibly S3 based but unknown). The CPU cores are in-house designed LuJiaZui cores, built around a superscalar, multi-issue, out-of-order microarchitecture that supports modern instruction sets extensions like SSE 4.2 as well as AVX along with virtualization and encryption technologies. The processor is made using TSMC’s 16 nm process technology.
Zhaoxin formally introduced its KaiXian KX-6000-series CPUs back in 2018, but it looks like higher-end models like the KX-U6780A and the KX-U6880A are entering the consumer market this quarter.
As it turns out, Xinyingjie, one of Chinese PC makers, uses the C1888 motherboard based on the KX-U6780A that is designed for enthusiast-grade PCs and therefore supporting expandability using a PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, two SO-DIMM slots, M.2 slots, and various internal and external interfaces. One thing to keep in mind about the Zhaoxin’s KaiXian KX-6780A/C1888 platform is of course lack of CPU upgrade path because the processor uses an BGA packaging.
When Zhaoxin originally introduced its Kaixian KX-6000, it said that their performance was comparable to that of Intel’s 7thGeneration Core i5 processor, a quad-core non-Hyper-Threaded CPU. Since then, we have not really got a proper confirmation to the claim and will certainly be interested to test the chip in our labs.
According the to the video source, this mini-PC design is expected to be available from March for consumers. Currently this is a prototype, with enhancements expected between now and the final product.
Related Reading:
- Zhaoxin Displays x86-Compatible KaiXian KX-6000: 8 Cores, 3 GHz, 16 nm FinFET
- China Calling: AMD Forms Joint Venture for x86 Server SoCs in China
- AMD Creates Quad Core Zen SoC with 24 Vega CUs for Chinese Consoles
- Cypress and Zhaoxin Have USB 3.1 Gen 2 USB Controllers
Source: 二斤自制 YouTube Channel
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asmian - Wednesday, January 29, 2020 - link
No doubt comes with PLA backdoors and spyware built in for the home market (even assuming they haven't just added extra spy chips into the mainboard). You'd have to be a brave Western "enthusiast" to want one.But then we've had that from Intel for many years, right? Just different three-letter agencies and their Israeli friends exploiting all those convenient baked-in flaws they are now belatedly having to fix...
yannigr2 - Wednesday, January 29, 2020 - link
Probably not as many backdoors ans security holes as those integrated in US hardware to be used from US agencies.flyingpants265 - Wednesday, January 29, 2020 - link
Literally exactly correctHStewart - Wednesday, January 29, 2020 - link
I am curious why nobody connected AMD x86 cpu deal with China and trade issues and now this one. Did AMD seriously break the law?https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelkanellos/2016/...
Reflex - Wednesday, January 29, 2020 - link
No, why do you ask? There is no indication AMD broke any laws or sanctions.Also, Via is a longstanding x86 chipmaker that has a full license and has made compatible chips since the 90's. No relationship to AMD.
rahvin - Wednesday, January 29, 2020 - link
Via's license is a bit tricky though, the license to x86 goes away if the company is sold to anyone. If intel wants to challenge this someday I don't doubt there is something sneaky going on with Via and it's ownership such that it's now got all these Chinese employee's etc. I'd be willing to bet there is some stealth transaction involved that has transferred Via to Chinese ownership and invalidated the x86 license.Reflex - Saturday, February 1, 2020 - link
I mean sure, if you want to invent conspiracy theories you can get there I suppose. Those are easy to imagine especially about foreigners. There is no evidence for such and Via has a thirty plus year history of being trustworthy.coburn_c - Wednesday, January 29, 2020 - link
The x86_64 patent expires next year, anyone will be free to make them.smayonak - Wednesday, January 29, 2020 - link
If that patent is set to expire, I wonder why TransMeta processors/project Denver was never released as a standalone CPU.Spunjji - Thursday, January 30, 2020 - link
The performance was never really there, so they needed to compete on price, which wasn't possible due to volume.