Analysis of Major Domestic Server CPU Vendors and Market Outlook

Domestic server CPU market is dominated by six listed companies: Zhaoxin, Haiguang, Phytium, Kunpeng, Loongson, and Shenwei, which are classified by instruction‑set licensing into three categories: x86 IP core (e.g., Zhaoxin), instruction‑set architecture (e.g., Haiguang, Kunpeng, Phytium), and architecture + self‑development (e.g., Loongson, Shenwei).

Zhaoxin is a joint venture with ViSiON, offering x86‑based CPUs (KX series, KH series) with 16 nm process, up to 3.0 GHz, supporting DDR4‑3200, and targeting government, finance, and industrial sectors; future products aim at 7 nm, PCIe 4.0, and AMD Zen 2 performance.

Haiguang leverages AMD x86 and Zen IP, providing CPUs and DPUs for telecom, finance, and AI workloads, with product series covering high‑, mid‑, and low‑end markets; it has achieved significant revenue from DPU shipments.

Phytium originates from the National Defense University, offering a full CPU family (S series, D series, E series) with 16 nm process, up to 2.2 GHz, 64‑core designs, and strong ecosystem support across over 1,000 partners, including Android compatibility.

Kunpeng (Huawei) focuses on ARM‑based server CPUs, with the flagship Kunpeng 920 built on a 7 nm ARM V8 architecture, delivering up to 64 cores, 2.6 GHz, DDR5, PCIe 4.0, and performance surpassing comparable Intel Xeon models.

Loongson started with MIPS and later developed its own LoongISA and LoongArch instruction sets, offering low‑, mid‑, and high‑end CPUs (1‑, 2‑, 3‑series) with 12/14 nm processes, up to 2.5 GHz, and a growing software ecosystem (Loongnix, LoongOS, cloud solutions).

Shenwei focuses on the special‑purpose market, developing CPUs based on Alpha and its own SW_64 ISA for high‑performance and secure applications, with notable achievements in supercomputing (e.g., Sunway TaihuLight).

Performance comparison shows Haiguang 7000 series and Kunpeng 920 leading in x86 and ARM segments, while Phytium’s latest S2500 joins the top tier; Zhaoxin, Loongson, and Shenwei lag behind in core count and I/O capabilities.

Ecologically, x86‑based Haiguang and Zhaoxin benefit from mature software support, while ARM‑based Phytium and Kunpeng are rapidly improving ecosystem compatibility; self‑developed Loongson and Shenwei face challenges due to limited software support.

Short‑term market drivers include digital‑economy infrastructure projects and the “Xin‑Chuang” (innovation‑driven) initiative, favoring Haiguang, Kunpeng, and Phytium, whereas long‑term competitiveness will depend on investment, talent, and iterative capability.