Chinese to release X86-compatible CPU in 2009

Posted at: 3:29pm 9th September 2008 by Jeremy Laird

New Godson-3 CPU supports X86 via emulation and takes aim at Intel Atom

Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Computing have taken the wraps off the latest version of their home grown Godson PC processor. Unlike previous Godson chips, Godson-3 is claimed to pack x86 compatibility, allowing it to run Windows operating sytems and compatible software.

As the name suggests, Godson-3 is the third generation of a processor project that dates back to 2001. According to analysts, it's part of China's increasing efforts to become 'technology independent.' Godson processors already power a range of desktop and mobile systems in China but lack of x86 support currently restricts them to running versions of Linux as an OS.

Due in 2009, Godson-3 will initially be a quad-core design, but the architecture is said to be scalable beyond four cores. As with AMD's Athlon 64 and Intel's forthcoming Core i7 CPUs, the chip packs an integrated DDR2 memory controller. On-die cache memory quantities are currently unknown. X86 support for Godson-3's MIPS processing cores takes the form of 200 new hardware translation instructions. That obviously adds an air of intrigue to the Godson-3 – how exactly does the chip work, does it infringe any Intel/AMD licences and what are the performance implications?

Typically, the performance of processors that emulate instruction sets is a rung below those that support them natively. Transmeta's ill-fated Crusoe CPU, which delivered X86 compatibility courtesy of code morphing, offered around half the clock-for-clock performance of Intel's elderly Pentium III processor.

However, the Chinese have let slip one vital piece of information. In quad-core trim, Godson-3 is said to be a 10 watt chip. With eight cores, it consumes 20 watts. That's much, much less than any of Intel or AMD's current quad-core chips.

Given that Godson-3 will be manufactured using a 65nm silicon process, which is hardly cutting edge, that suggests a fairly low transistor count. And that in turn points to modest performance. On a core-for-core basis, therefore, the Chinese chip is probably more comparable to Intel's low cost and low power Atom processor than the full fat Core 2 or upcoming Core i7 CPUs.

Intel's Erik Metzger has been quoted to the the effect that Godson-3 will only offer 80 per cent of the performance of a conventional x86 processor. But it's unclear what this means and, frankly, whether Mr Metzger, who is apparently a patent attorney at Intel, knows his processors chips from his patents. Certainly it would be a massive shock if the Chinese were to release an x86 emulating CPU that got within 80 per cent of Intel's flagship desktop CPUs.

More likely, Godson-3 might help to keep Intel honest in the rapidly expanding net-top and netbook sectors. Indeed, Godson-3 is expected to launch in the 1GHz to 1.2GHz range which again points to Atom-esque performance. Currently, there's no indication whether this government-backed Chinese chip will be sold in Western markets.

Via Technology Review.
Photo from Flickr user KevinDooley.