Loongson ships 1M 3A6000 CPUs in China domestic chip push

Loongson Reaches 1 Million Unit Milestone

Loongson Technology, a Chinese CPU designer, has shipped more than 1 million units of its 3A6000 desktop processor since its November 2023 launch, according to the South China Morning Post. The milestone marks a significant step in China’s effort to build a domestic chip industry and reduce reliance on foreign semiconductor technology.

Technical Specifications and Performance

The 3A6000 features Loongson’s proprietary LoongArch instruction set, in-house IP cores, and relies on a domestic supply chain. According to the source, the chip’s overall performance is roughly comparable to Intel desktop processors from around 2020.

The processor includes four cores, eight threads, and clocks up to 2.5 GHz. Detailed testing shows single-thread performance near AMD’s 2017-era Zen 1 architecture. The chip’s branch predictor—which guesses the next instruction—operates at a level close to AMD’s Zen 2, while its reordering capacity, which helps manage instruction execution, is closer to Zen 3 capabilities.

Memory performance is more limited. Dual-channel DDR4-2666 read bandwidth is approximately level with a 2015 Intel Core i5-6600K. The source notes that low clock speed constrains real-world performance despite an improved memory controller compared to the prior generation.

Operating system support remains restricted. Users must rely on open-source software built for the chip, and some programs run slowly or fail to run entirely.

Market Positioning and XinChuang Program

The 3A6000 is primarily targeted at China’s government-backed XinChuang IT replacement program, which replaces foreign information technology with domestic alternatives in government and sensitive sectors. According to the source, the chip’s performance, while trailing current-generation processors by several years, is sufficient for everyday tasks including 4K video editing, though software support limitations remain.

A mini PC equipped with the 3A6000 sells for 2,799 yuan (approximately US$387), indicating that sales have expanded beyond government procurement into retail channels. The source suggests this pricing reflects a small but growing commercial market.

Geopolitical Context and Broader Strategy

Loongson’s milestone occurs as Beijing steps up efforts to reduce reliance on foreign semiconductor technology following tightened US export controls that have restricted access to advanced chips, design software, and foundry services.

According to the source, Loongson may also sell these CPUs in Russia and Belarus, which face EU and US sanctions. Such sales could provide sanctioned markets with a non-Western semiconductor option, though the source does not confirm active sales to these regions.

Performance Assessment

While the 3A6000’s performance lags current mainstream processors, the source indicates the chip’s capabilities align with government office and non-performance-critical applications. In these settings, domestic self-reliance carries greater priority than raw computational power.