This Chinese company made a graphics card that supports Vulkan and DirectX

[nanoguy]

Why it matters: Over the past several years, Chinese companies have been busy developing x86 processors, DRAM, and NAND memory that could soon replace the need for foreign solutions. In the meantime, no one noticed that a company called Innosilicon has developed the first Chinese graphics card that’s capable of gaming.

While everyone looking to buy a GPU has their eyes set on what AMD, Nvidia, and Intel are doing, it’s easy to miss the quiet work of Chinese companies looking to break into the consumer and server GPU markets. Back in September, we learned that Jingjia Micro (also known as Jingjiawei) was testing two graphics cards — a lower end model that is said to be as powerful as a GeForce GTX 1050 or Radeon RX 560, and a higher end model that could rival something like a GeForce GTX 1080 or an RX Vega 64.

Jingjiawei isn’t the only Chinese company trying to develop a GPU. Innosilicon set out on a similar path by partnering with a company called Xiandong, who already has some experience in making server GPUs. The two companies made a graphics card they call the Fenghua 1 and can be used as a compute accelerator card for the data center or as a desktop graphics card.

Interestingly, the Fenghua 1 is based on PowerVR IP from Imagination Technologies. It also supports APIs like OpenGL, Vulkan, OpenGL ES, OpenCL, and DirectX, which is a first for any Chinese GPU. And since it’s also aimed at the consumer market, it comes with an HDMI 2.1 port, a DisplayPort 1.4, and even a DVI port.

Not much is known about the hardware itself, but the announcement does say the card features Micron GDDR6X video memory, and that the GPU is based on one of Innosilicon’s Innolink chiplet designs. Additionally, the card is compatible with the PCIe 4.0 standard and works under Windows, Linux, and Android environments, but the press release doesn’t tell us anything useful about its performance. The only number we get is FP32 performance, which is rated at 6 teraflops. For reference, AMD’s RX 6600 is capable of 7.3 teraflops and Nvidia’s GTX 1660 SUPER can reach a hair over 5 teraflops.

Another hint about the potential of the new Fenghua 1 graphics card comes from Imagination Technologies chief marketing officer David Harold. Back in October 2020, he said the 11th generation PowerVR architecture has 70 percent better performance-per-watt when compared to existing desktop GPUs.

If true, this claim may speak to the energy efficiency of the Fenghua 1, but we’ll have to wait and see how it performs in real world tasks against existing solutions from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel.

The new graphics card is expected to become available to consumers sometime in the 2022-2023 timeframe.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/92303-chinese-company-made-graphics-card-supports-vulkan-directx.html

 

[Guberian]

I know another surprise thats still happening that was made in China.

 

[m4a4]

I know another surprise thats still happening that was made in China.

Oh? Which one?

 

[Geralt]

We need more manufacturers competing in order to escape from scoundrels like Nvidia.

 

[Crinkles]

I know another surprise thats still happening that was made

- by nature.

Anyone recall McCain latching onto "socialism" from Joe The Plumber, the plumber who wasn't much of a plumber?

Same with this; one person says it, then another repeats it, then it spreads until there's a huge contingent of internetted folks screaming it at every opportunity.

Some falsehoods after establishing roots, last for thirty years.

 

[Shadowboxer]

They won’t have any trouble beating Radeon, those cards really are dreadful. It will be difficult to compete with Nvidia. But we now have two new GPU makers in the pipeline with Intel aswell, Nvidia might actually get a challenge.

 

[CuckyTheWhiteGuy]

They won’t have any trouble beating Radeon, those cards really are dreadful. It will be difficult to compete with Nvidia. But we now have two new GPU makers in the pipeline with Intel aswell, Nvidia might actually get a challenge.

Your referring to discrete videocards right? Cuz intel has been making integrated graphics since forever.

Anything to shake up the market is great, especially when we cant even find a RX 6600 or GTX 3060 at MSRP.

And I assume they won't rely on TSMC for its silicon either.

 

[tygrus]

How much stolen IP was used to make these Chinese originals/copies?

 

[p51d007]

How long until someone gets one of these, breaks it down, find it is a 99% copy of Nvidia/AMD/Intel?
That's what they do. REVERSE engineer something.

 

[godrilla]

How much stolen IP was used to make these Chinese originals/copies?

reminder patents are used to control western markets. For some reason Ch!na is exempt.

Also journalists used to ask lets see the benchmarks or proof instead of just taking Ch!nese media's or companies word for it.
In the past few years I've seen some outrageous claims and no push back from tech media. They rather be first or exclusive than accurate. I guess clicks are more important than reputation.

 

[Bulllee]

How much stolen IP was used to make these Chinese originals/copies?

J. Robert Oppenheimer didn't invent a GPU...is was it is.

 

[trieste1s]

How much stolen IP was used to make these Chinese originals/copies?

Not a problem. The USA grew strong industrially by smuggling out or outright robbing Great Britain of its IP.

 

[VaRmeNsI]

IP is used to strangle the market for the benefit of the holder, the threat of copying drives innovation.

 

[paul1122]

Oh? Which one?

I think he's talking about that one that isn't letting you buy a video card right now. As in "whoa Hun, this gpu is expensive!"

Yes, I said Whoa-Hun.

 

[paul1122]

- by nature.

In a lab, in China. By a woman named Nature.

 

[m4a4]

I think he's talking about that one that isn't letting you buy a video card right now. As in "whoa Hun, this gpu is expensive!"

Yes, I said Whoa-Hun.

Sure he's not referencing Wuhan?

 

[Rocky4040]

They won’t have any trouble beating Radeon, those cards really are dreadful. It will be difficult to compete with Nvidia. But we now have two new GPU makers in the pipeline with Intel aswell, Nvidia might actually get a challenge.

Be gone Nvidia fanboy lol /j On a serious note though AMD Radeon card compete quite well with Nvidia's cards even at the top level now so yea there is that. To bad you can't find any video cards from either company and if you do you are expected to pay a 300%-600% market on them. Sweet times we all live in for sure lol.

 

[Cycloid Torus]

Not a problem. The USA grew strong industrially by smuggling out or outright robbing Great Britain of its IP.

Yes, about 1660 I believe. Oldest water mill in America, Brewster, Massachusetts. Original tech was Byzantine about 300 BCE or about 800 years before Merlin Ambrosius.

 

[Eldritch]

I normally detest China making 'inspired' products BUT in case of graphics cards, it's horribly needed. Just look at the hoarding and scalping scams going on along with artificially inflated prices. We need mass competition not a duopoly.

 

[batailleuse]

IP is used to strangle the market for the benefit of the holder, the threat of copying drives innovation.

I would not be so sure, why would a company spend millions in innovation if all they have to do is to spend the money first and just reverse engineer it for a fraction of the price.

do you know why Chinese product cost so little...? well it's because they dont spend much money innovating they just copy or steal everything.

 

[theruck]

Patents pending...

 

[bbian]

How much stolen IP was used to make these Chinese originals/copies?

Innosilicon uses IP from IMG.

 

[Ludak021]

How much stolen IP was used to make these Chinese originals/copies?

Less than in Disney.

 

[Uncle Al]

I'm just waiting for the day that some lesser country starts stealing China's technology and building cheaper versions .... then we'll see/hear how loudly THEY scream ......

 

[batailleuse]

I'm just waiting for the day that some lesser country starts stealing China's technology and building cheaper versions .... then we'll see/hear how loudly THEY scream ......

lol exactly. china **** on international trade agreement, common sense, and IP... however, they are the first to force WTO or other country to apply them when it applies to a Chinese company/Chinese tech-IP.

sheer ****ing irony, as almost everything from and in china.

(eg: lived 7 years in china)

if war ever happen with china vs anyone, I doubt they would even follow Geneva convention or any international treaties on certain weapon type bans.