Chinese CPU maker Zhaoxin is working on a discrete GPU

China’s looking to muscle itself into the GPU market, bringing itself into competition with the likes of AMD and Nvidia. Zhaoxin Semiconductor has revealed its plans to create a discrete graphics card, showing a roadmap which would see the company release its first product in 2020/2021. 

This new GPU will be a 70W product which will utilise TSMC’s 28nm manufacturing process, placing Zhaoxin far behind the likes of AMD and Nvidia. Regardless, this is one small step which will bring China closer to its goal of technological independence. 

Within its eight-core KX-U6780A processor, Zhaoxin can already deliver performance levels which can provide 20FPS gameplay in DATA 2 at 1080p using its integrated graphics. While this is at minimum settings, it reveals that Zhaoxin already has a foot in the graphics arena, and ambitions to deliver faster and more competitive products. 

What remains to be seen is how Zhaoxin can develop discrete graphics solutions without stepping on the toes of AMD, Nvidia and Intel, three major players within today’s GPU market. This venture could result in a variety of IP-based lawsuits, though it is worth noting that Zhaoxin’s products are unlikely to ever become available outside of China.