Chinese chipmaker gains traction replacing American processors - Longsoon ships 10,000 chips into schools

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Along with new hardware, China's schools adopt new software too.

Loongson
(Image credit: Loongson)

As China is accelerating its transition to its own computer platforms, local developers of processors are set to benefit. Recently the Hebi city government procured as many as 10,000 computers based on processors from Loongson for 50 schools in the city. The new PCs are not only based on domestic hardware, but they also use homegrown software, according to Weixin.QQ.com. Loongson helped to adjust learning experiences and eventually could ship considerably more CPUs for China's educational sector.

The 10,000 desktop systems are based on Loongson's 3A5000-series quad-core processors based on the homegrown LoongArch GS464V instruction set architecture and will be used in the Hebi city and Qi Bin District. These computers run on the domestic UOS operating system and come with a full set of licensed software, including the WPS Office, the Mythware Classroom Management software, as well as 104 applications covering a wide range of educational and management needs, according to the report.

Selling 10,000 CPUs is hardly a big deal for Loongson as this is essentially a relatively small commercial batch of processors. But this is a pilot program that involves 50 schools. If the program achieves its goals and is considered a success then the company will be able to sell considerably more of its CPUs, which will be a big deal. 

In addition to building desktop computers, Loongson has reportedly helped develop educational materials by assisting in the creation of six textbooks based on the latest standards. Loongson has also supplied teaching robots and set up education scenarios in some pilot schools.

Looking ahead, Loongson plans to expand the 'Hebi Experience' to more regions across the country, which will provide the company with a plethora of new business opportunities to sell its computer platforms to the educational sector. 

According to a recent Financial Times report, China has begun a policy shift to phase out foreign processors from its government computers and servers. This move is aimed at gradually replacing AMD and Intel processors from PCs used by Chinese government agencies with domestic CPUs, which will decrease sales of American CPUs and increase sales of Chinese CPUs in the government sector. 

Anton Shilov
Anton Shilov
Freelance News Writer

Anton Shilov is a Freelance News Writer at Tom’s Hardware US. Over the past couple of decades, he has covered everything from CPUs and GPUs to supercomputers and from modern process technologies and latest fab tools to high-tech industry trends.

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21 Comments Comment from the forums
  • ThomasKinsley
    With performance of the Loongson processor approximating the first gen Ryzen, I'm not sure how popular this program will be. These are essentially functioning as Chromebooks while not participating in the cloud computing paradigm. I suppose it all depends on how light Unity Operating System is.
    Reply
  • diminishedfifth
    Can we really call it gaining traction though? It's China. The government does as it pleases. I really doubt the companies changing to the Chinese processor, are doing so willingly.
    Since they are forced to switch, yeah it looks like "traction" but remove the whole "China is forcing them to switch" can it really be called traction? Besides the CPU being benched by various Western channels, have those CPUs shipped anywhere in a decent quantity?
    Reply
  • Unolocogringo
    Wow a whole 10,000. (SARACSM)Lets see. China is about 1.5 billion and say 20% are school age.
    So 300 million students -10,000 computers = a whole lot of people still on western hardware or doing without.
    Reply
  • Co BIY
    It's 100% conceivable to me that preventing early access to computers may increase a student's lifelong progress.

    So ...

    Also the computational power of a computer should have very little effect on the large majority of educational applications. The quality of the curriculum and it's implementation into software would be key.
    Reply
  • das_stig
    Doesn't matter about performance, if it works and nobody complains, what people should be looking at is the potential number of processors they could sell. According to Google, 2021 - China had 529,300 educational institutions of all kinds, 291 million students enrolled, full-time teaching staff was 18,443,700 and 294,800 kindergartens across the country, thats a lot of cpu's western companies not going to get cash from.

    Now lets expand that, NK and the likes decides to buy Chinese as cheaper, India develops their own, western manufacturers should be taking a very good look and be worried.

    This isn't even including server and military sales, this is just the start of Asian fighting back!
    Reply
  • Notton
    Unolocogringo said:
    Wow a whole 10,000. (SARACSM)Lets see. China is about 1.5 billion and say 20% are school age.
    So 300 million students -10,000 computers = a whole lot of people still on western hardware or doing without.
    This is such a weird comment to make.
    Did you read the article?
    It's a pilot project for 50 schools, so probably 200 PCs per school.

    Even at a professional workplace, you don't suddenly replace 100% of your equipment at once. People need some time to get used to the new equipment, and there could be some unforeseen bugs that need to be worked out.
    You do understand that, right?
    Reply
  • PEnns
    The laws of unintended consequences:

    China will switch to local soft and hardware. Many Asian and African countries will switch to the Chinese versions because they cost a fraction of the western counterparts, thus expanding Chinese influence.

    Western companies are worried but their crowds are cheering the amazing sanctions against China.
    Reply
  • gg83
    Yeah, these are probably the rebranded Intel chips.
    And what????? " Loongson helped to adjust learning experiences and eventually could ship considerably more CPUs for China's educational sector. "
    Reply
  • ivan_vy
    PEnns said:
    The laws of unintended consequences:

    China will switch to local soft and hardware. Many Asian and African countries will switch to the Chinese versions because they cost a fraction of the western counterparts, thus expanding Chinese influence.

    Western companies are worried but their crowds are cheering the amazing sanctions against China.
    Microsoft giving almost free (and free upgrades) software was to keep them in the chinese market.
    https://finance.yahoo.com/news/s/microsoft-tackles-china-piracy-free-023452318.htmlHardware manufacturers are the real losers with the dumb sanctions.
    https://www.news18.com/tech/hp-moving-its-pc-production-out-of-china-report-8376961.htmlDo USA lawmakers really thought they could stop China?
    -you can't have any of my toys. -fine, I'll make mine. -*surprised Pikachu face
    "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer" -Mario Puzzo
    Reply
  • pug_s
    Notton said:
    This is such a weird comment to make.
    Did you read the article?
    It's a pilot project for 50 schools, so probably 200 PCs per school.

    Even at a professional workplace, you don't suddenly replace 100% of your equipment at once. People need some time to get used to the new equipment, and there could be some unforeseen bugs that need to be worked out.
    You do understand that, right?
    Agreed. This is only the beginning. In US' schools, it took a few years when cheap chromebooks replaced macs. I'm pretty sure that China is doing the same thing using their loongson's chips.
    Reply