Zhaxoin KH-5000 Chiplet CPUs from China: 96 Cores, 384 MB Cache, 12-Channel DDR5, 128 PCIe 5.0 Lanes, and ZPI 5.0 Interconnect for Quad-Socket Servers

China’s leading CPU manufacturer, Zhaoxin, has recently announced its groundbreaking KH-5000 Chiplet CPUs for server systems, boasting an impressive configuration of up to 96 cores.

Zhaoxin Unveils the 96-Core KH-5000 Chiplet CPUs Tailored for China’s Server Market

Previously, Zhaoxin’s top-tier offering was the KH-4000 CPUs, which support up to 32 cores and feature technology such as 32 threads, a 64 MB cache, 8-Channel DDR4 memory, and 128 PCIe 4.0 lanes. The architecture of these chips includes various configurations, with options for 12 and 16 cores and clock speeds nearing 2.5 GHz. Launched in Q4 2022, anticipation is now high for the KH-5000 series to redefine server capabilities in China.

During the Shanghai World Expo 2025, Zhaoxin presented its latest server CPU, the KH-5000, built on an enhanced chiplet architecture and designed for an LGA socketed platform. Key attributes of these CPUs include significant core counts and advanced input/output capabilities.

Specifications and Features of the KH-5000 CPUs

The KH-5000 series promises to deliver exceptional performance, featuring a remarkable 96 cores in its top model. However, it remains uncertain whether these CPUs will implement Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT) or stick to the Non-SMT structure of the KH-4000. Key specifications include:

384 MB of cache
Base clock speed of 2.0 GHz with a boost up to 3.0 GHz
New ZPI 5.0 interconnect enabling dual and quad-socket arrangements, allowing a total of 384 cores on a single motherboard

The ZPI 5.0 not only boosts data transfer rates but also enhances power efficiency and reduces latency.

KH-5000 vs. KH-4000: A Comparative Overview

Core Count: 96 Cores vs 32 Cores
Peak Clock Speed: 3.0 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
Cache Size: 384 MB vs 64 MB
Memory Support: 12-Channel DDR5 vs 8-Channel DDR4
PCIe Support: 128 PCIe 5.0 Lanes vs 128 PCIe 4.0 Lanes
Interconnect Technology: ZPI 5.0 vs ZPI 3.0

With significant enhancements in I/O capabilities, the KH-5000 CPUs will support 12-Channel DDR5 (with ECC), a robust 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes (compliant with ZPI/CXL), and additional support for 16 PCIe 4.0/SATA/USB lanes. The design of the package and integrated heat spreader (IHS) closely resembles AMD’s EPYC “Bergamo”series, a trend also seen in the KH-4000 CPUs and Zhaoxin’s KX-7000 consumer line.

Though Zhaoxin has yet to announce a precise release date for the KH-5000 server CPUs, their anticipated launch is expected to significantly elevate server performance across China’s domestic market. Furthermore, Zhaoxin also introduced the KX-7000N CPU, an advancement over the KX-7000, incorporating a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) intended for accelerated AI workloads.

This new KX-7000N series integrates the NPU alongside existing WeUs, while discussions are underway regarding an innovative consumer-focused “KX”lineup aimed at the burgeoning “AI PC”sector. This forthcoming series is expected to deliver enhanced core counts, advanced computing performance, support for PCIe 5.0, and a brand-new heterogeneous and high-performance NPU architecture. Stay tuned for further updates from Zhaoxin in the upcoming months.

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