China Gets Its First Domestically Produced 64-Core Servers With Zhaoxin’s KH-40000 CPUs

Chinese chipmaker, Zhaoxin, has unveiled server solutions for the domestic market based on KH-40000 CPUs, featuring up to 64 cores in a single rack.

Development of Chinese firms towards in-house solutions has started to hasten up recently, after the "vigorous" waves of US sanctions. After making strides in the client CPU market with its recent KX-7000 CPUs, it looks like Zhaoxin has decided to make a dominant entry in the server markets with its general-purpose "R3210 Z11" server, which features the Kaisheng KH-40000 series CPUs, connected in a dual-socket configuration.

It is reported that the server comes with extended compatibility and can house 32 DDR4 modules, along with six PCIe slots. It isn't a huge number when we compare them with the likes of AMD and Intel's latest server solutions, but for China's domestic markets, it is indeed an achievement.

Expanding on the Zhaoxin KH-40000 CPUs, they are based on Zhaoxin's new self-developed  "Yongfeng" micro-architecture coming with a reference frequency of 2.0/2.2GHz and a maximum operating frequency of 2.7GHz. A single CPU can integrate 32 cores, provide 64MB cache, support dual-channel 64-core interconnection, and access memory bandwidth up to 200GB/s. The KH-40000 CPU is compatible with the x86 instruction set, supports SM2, SM3, and SM4 acceleration instructions, features processor and IO virtualization technology, and supports secure boot technology and national standard trusted computing system, making it a leading option for the industry's adoption.

The Zhaoxin KH-40000 CPUs are available in 32-core, 16-core, and 12-core versions, and it is said that the latest servers will utilize the highest-end 32-core variant which means that it is expected to come with computing power backed by 64 cores from two chips. To power up the system, the "R3210 Z11" server will come with a platinum power module, which supports up to 1600W of usage. The firm has designed the server for several industry applications, ranging from security management, all the way to health care and social services.

In addition to that, UDH has also announced its 2U server solution, the XRS302, which features the same dual 32-core CPU configuration.

Chinese alternatives, particularly those designed to cater to the tech industry are evolving rapidly, and it won't take too long before they reach the level of global players, creating room for more competition.