A Comprehensive Overview of China’s Domestic CPU Development and Leading Vendors

1. Domestic CPU Development History

China’s CPU development can be divided into three stages: the initial phase (1950‑1970) when early semiconductor research laid the foundation for the first integrated‑circuit computers; the turning point (1980‑1990) marked by institutional restructuring and reduced policy support; and the acceleration phase (2000‑present) driven by national programs (e.g., 863, 973, “National Integrated Circuit Industry Development Outline”) that produced the first commercial general‑purpose CPUs such as Loongson‑1.

2. Phytium (飞腾) – Ecosystem Leader

Founded by the National University of Defense Technology in 1999, Phytium has built a full product line covering desktop, server, and embedded markets, transitioning from SPARC to ARM instruction sets. Notable products include the FT‑2000+/64 server CPU (16 nm, 2.0‑2.3 GHz) and the FT‑2000/4 desktop CPU (16 nm, 2.6‑3.0 GHz), which achieve performance comparable to Intel Xeon E5‑2695V3 and Core i5 respectively. Phytium also implements a complete security‑trusted processor architecture covering cryptographic acceleration, secure boot, TEE, and hardware‑level attack resistance.

3. Kunpeng (鲲鹏) – Rapidly Rising Leader

Huawei’s Kunpeng series, based on the ARM v8 architecture, includes server CPUs (e.g., Kunpeng 920, 7 nm, 64 cores, 2.6 GHz) and PC processors. The Kunpeng 920 delivers SPECint scores > 930 and a 30 % better performance‑per‑watt than competing X86 solutions. Its ecosystem benefits from open‑hardware policies and extensive software compatibility, enabling seamless execution of Android and Linux workloads without binary translation.

4. Haiguang (海光) – Performance‑Driven Practitioner

Backed by Sugon, Haiguang collaborates with AMD to produce X86 CPUs based on the Zen 1 architecture, such as the 8‑core desktop Dhyana and 32‑core server Dhyana Plus. After achieving volume production in 2018, Haiguang recorded revenue of CNY 3.90 billion in 2019 and became profitable, benefiting from strong synergy with Sugon’s sales channels and the growing demand for “China‑chip” solutions in telecom and data‑center markets.

5. Loongson (龙芯) – Fully Independent Innovator

Loongson, originating from the Institute of Computing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has produced a series of MIPS‑based CPUs (e.g., 3A/B4000 four‑core, 1.8‑2.0 GHz) and is developing next‑generation 12 nm products (3A5000, 3C5000). The architecture features a self‑designed instruction set (LoongISA) and over 500 patents, supporting a wide range of applications from desktops and servers to aerospace and industrial control.

6. Zhaoxin (兆芯) – Joint‑Venture X86 Pioneer

Zhaoxin, a joint venture between Shanghai municipal capital and VIA, delivers X86 CPUs such as the KX‑6000 (3.0 GHz, 16 nm) and KH‑30000 series, achieving SPECint scores of 170 and performance comparable to 7th‑gen Intel i5. The company continues to develop 32‑core, dual‑socket server chips (KH‑40000) and explores sub‑7 nm processes.

7. Shenwei (申威) – Supercomputing‑Oriented Processor

Developed by the Shanghai High‑Performance Integrated Circuit Center, Shenwei CPUs are based on the Alpha architecture with multiple generations (e.g., Shenwei 432, 443, 3232) targeting cloud, big‑data, and high‑performance computing workloads. The Shenwei Information Security Industry Alliance, comprising more than 50 members, promotes ecosystem integration and UOS compatibility.

Conclusion

Under the combined influence of international environment, national policies, and market demand, a large number of Chinese CPU vendors have made significant breakthroughs in process technology, performance, and ecosystem construction, contributing to the autonomy, security, and trustworthiness of China’s computing infrastructure.