Chinese GPU maker Lisuan Tech becomes only the fourth GPU maker ever to earn Microsoft WHQL certification — LX 7G100 GPU joins Nvidia, AMD, and Intel as it crosses the WHQL driver finish line, first Chinese firm to earn certification

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WHQL certification could help put Lisuan Tech's 6nm GPUs on the map.

Lisuan Tech graphics cards
(Image credit: Lisuan Tech)

Nvidia, AMD, and Intel make some of the best graphics cards. However, a fourth contender has entered the game. Lisuan Tech (via DigiTimes) has officially earned Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) certification for its 6nm graphics cards. Notably, Lisuan Tech is only the fourth chipmaker to earn the WHQL certification, and the first Chinese graphics card manufacturer to do so, marking a significant milestone in China's semiconductor industry.

Chinese graphics card designers, such as Lisuan Tech, Biren Technology, and Moore Threads, have demonstrated they can make functional graphics cards. While the hardware aspect is often solid, these companies have historically faced significant challenges in software. A graphics card can have impressive specifications, but an underwhelming software stack, such as immature drivers or poor compatibility, can really decimate its performance.

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Lisuan Tech Graphics Cards Specifications

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Graphics Card

LX 7G100

LX Max

LX Ultra

LX Pro

Memory Capacity

12GB

12GB

24GB

24GB

Memory Type

GDDR6

GDDR6

GDDR6 w/ ECC

GDDR6

Display Outputs

4x DisplayPort 1.4a

4× DisplayPort 1.4a

N/A

4x DisplayPort 1.4a

Display Support

8K @ 60Hz, HDR, FreeSync, DSC

8K @ 60Hz, HDR, FreeSync, DSC

N/A

8K @ 60Hz, HDR, FreeSync, DSC

FP32 Performance

-

-

Up to 24 TFLOPS

-

Virtual GPU

-

Row 5 - Cell 2

16-way virtualization

-

Cooling

Axial fan, active

Axial fan, active

Blower fan, active

Axial fan, active

Platform

PC, workstation

Workstation

Server, rack mount

Workstation, all-in-one

Lisuan Tech's current eXtreme LX series portfolio comprises four models: LX 7G100, LX Max, LX Ultra, and LX Pro - all built on the 6nm process node. However, only the first is a gaming graphics card, while the remaining three target workstation and server clients. According to a DigiTimes report, Lisuan Tech secured WHQL certification for the LX 7G100, opening the door to the global gaming market for the Chinese graphics card manufacturer.

The LX 7100, Lisuan Tech's first and only gaming product so far, has shown some evidence of delivering a performance close to Nvidia's last-generation GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card.

The WHQL certification obviously carries a lot of weight for Lisuan Tech. Microsoft digitally signs WHQL drivers, so there is a certain assurance of their legitimacy and security as opposed to downloading a driver that throws up security warnings when you try to install it. Furthermore, WHQL drivers are the only ones allowed to be distributed through Windows Update. Therefore, the LX 7G100 can offer a plug-and-play experience in which the Windows operating system automatically finds and installs the correct driver.

WHQL is much more than Microsoft's stamp of approval. Its value is equivalent to that of a passport, potentially allowing Lisuan Tech to expand its products beyond the domestic market. Whether the company has ambitions beyond China's borders remains to be seen, but in the event one of its cards makes its way into the wider world, getting it up and running may be less of a challenge than it otherwise would be.

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Zhiye Liu
Zhiye Liu
News Editor, RAM Reviewer & SSD Technician

Zhiye Liu is a news editor, memory reviewer, and SSD tester at Tom’s Hardware. Although he loves everything that’s hardware, he has a soft spot for CPUs, GPUs, and RAM.

33 Comments Comment from the forums
  • usertests
    Some good news for once. Although I doubt almost anyone here will be using one within the next few years.

    Much like the B580, pairing it with 12 GB could help it punch above its weight.
    Reply
  • Gururu
    usertests said:
    Some good news for once. Although I doubt almost anyone here will be using one within the next few years.

    Much like the B580, pairing it with 12 GB could help it punch above its weight.
    This smells like a big reason Intel is reducing its dGPU offerings, which have undoubtedly target low-mid tier segment. No one will be able to compete with China in dominant market segment if they have 5060 level GPUs flooding market at Chinese prices. Maybe the US will ban them...
    Reply
  • King_V
    Gururu said:
    This smells like a big reason Intel is reducing its dGPU offerings, which have undoubtedly target low-mid tier segment. No one will be able to compete with China in dominant market segment if they have 5060 level GPUs flooding market at Chinese prices. Maybe the US will ban them...
    But from the article:
    The LX 7100, Lisuan Tech's first and only gaming product so far, has shown some evidence of delivering a performance close to Nvidia's last-generation GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card.

    How did you translate "performance close to the RTX 4060" to being RTX 5060 level, given that the RTX 5060 is approximately 20% faster than the RTX 4060?
    Reply
  • Gururu
    King_V said:
    But from the article:


    How did you translate "performance close to the RTX 4060" to being RTX 5060 level, given that the RTX 5060 is approximately 20% faster than the RTX 4060?
    Because there is nowhere to go but up! They will have 5070 worthy cards by 2028 no doubt.
    Reply
  • bit_user
    I wish the article cited anything about their microarchitecture. Is this one of the GPU makers using Imagination Technologies' IP? It's not an idle point, because whether or not it is would suggest whether the others might be soon to follow.
    Reply
  • bit_user
    Gururu said:
    This smells like a big reason Intel is reducing its dGPU offerings, which have undoubtedly target low-mid tier segment.
    I think the prospect of Chinese GPUs must be kicking around in the backs of their minds, but doubt it had any bearing on their decision to cancel the consumer launch of Big Battlemage, for instance. A theoretical B770 would undoubtedly be much faster than any of these Lisuan GPUs and would probably remain so, for the rest of its product life.

    I think the reason has far more to do with how far behind they are from AMD and Nvidia, as well as GDDR memory pricing. Those two factors just make it difficult for Intel to find a niche where it offers a compelling value.

    Gururu said:
    Because there is nowhere to go but up! They will have 5070 worthy cards by 2028 no doubt.
    Such predictions were made before, and have not played out. I think it's difficult to say exactly when they will even be able to offer a competitive value at any tier, much less when they'll be able to compete at that level.

    Recent history shows that it's a big hill to climb. I would caution against being too optimistic.
    Reply
  • TCA_ChinChin
    bit_user said:
    I wish the article cited anything about their microarchitecture. Is this one of the GPU makers using Imagination Technologies' IP? It's not an idle point, because whether or not it is would suggest whether the others might be soon to follow.
    I don't think so, simply because Tom's has had previous articles about china based GPU makers using Imagination graphics. Lisuan uses their own "TrueGPU" architecture based on a quick google search and I didn't find any claims that this Imagination IP. Lisuan itself was founded by ex-S3 employees though, according to wikipedia.
    Reply
  • Mindstab Thrull
    Gururu said:
    Because there is nowhere to go but up! They will have 5070 worthy cards by 2028 no doubt.
    I second this motion. Sure, Nvidia, if they actually decide to make consumer GPU's at that point, would be on 6000-series, but China having homegrown GPU's that are only a generation behind is still pretty good. The better they are, the more attention Nvidia, AMD, Intel and others have to pay and need to actually be worth the sand being used.

    Mindstab Thrull
    Reply
  • bit_user
    Mindstab Thrull said:
    I second this motion. Sure, Nvidia, if they actually decide to make consumer GPU's at that point, would be on 6000-series, but China having homegrown GPU's that are only a generation behind is still pretty good.
    Depends on pricing and power consumption. Nobody wants RTX 5070 performance at RTX 4090 power consumption. I think you guys are really underestimating just how hard it will be to catch up not just performance-wise, but also within cost constraints and without sky-high TDPs.

    Mindstab Thrull said:
    The better they are, the more attention Nvidia, AMD, Intel and others have to pay and need to actually be worth the sand being used.
    Or, they could just entirely leave the market. I'm not saying it'll happen, and certainly not in 2028, but it could one day become reality. If China ever does own the client dGPU market, don't think they'll keep prices low, out of the goodness of their hearts.
    Reply
  • PEnns
    In this gamers' and users' GPU ocean of gloom and bad news, could one actually be seeing a possible ray of hope?

    I shall look forward to a day, hopefully soon, when TH and others are testing one of those!!

    PS: Of course, Jen et al have friends in high places. A well placed bribe, I mean, a shiny golden gift, could scuttle the whole thing and prevent any import....
    Reply