China Launches First 6nm GPU to Compete with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, Yet Underperforms Compared to GTX 660 Ti

China’s pursuit of self-sufficiency in the GPU sector has hit a disappointing milestone, as its inaugural 6nm GPU finds itself outperformed by a product that’s over a decade old: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti.

Lisuan’s G100 6nm GPU: A Rollercoaster of Expectations and Performance

In response to U. S.export restrictions, China is making strides toward independence in various technological spheres, including AI and GPU development. Lisuan, a notable contender in this race, recently announced its first GPU utilizing a 6nm manufacturing process. Initial assessments, however, have cast doubt on this optimistic endeavor. Performance tests via Geekbench show that the G100 GPU struggles to keep pace with contemporary offerings from industry giants NVIDIA and AMD, delivering results that align closely with the aging GeForce GTX 660 Ti.

Lisuan had previously touted its 6nm GPU as a potential rival to NVIDIA’s RTX 4060. However, upon examination, the OpenCL scores registered just 15, 524 points, relegating it to the lower tier of performers in the Geekbench database. The results suggest capabilities akin to those of older GPUs from AMD and NVIDIA, which may seem discouraging for Lisuan, but it could still be early days for this product.

The Geekbench data reveals that the G100 GPU has 32 compute units (CUs) and only 256 MB of VRAM, figures that appear far below what is expected from a modern 6nm GPU. It’s possible that such performance metrics stem from the sample testing phase, indicating that the final consumer model could present enhanced capabilities. Lisuan’s use of SMIC’s advanced 6nm process, previously leveraged in Huawei’s Kirin systems-on-chip (SoC), marks a significant achievement in the consolidation of China’s semiconductor capabilities.

However, the need for refined software support remains a glaring issue in China’s GPU landscape. Many Chinese manufacturers, including Moore’s Threads and Birentech, have faced challenges due to unoptimized drivers. For Lisuan to compete effectively against established players like NVIDIA, it is crucial to prioritize driver development and optimization before full-scale product launch.

For further information, refer to the original report on Tom’s Hardware.

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