I wish they pivoted to RISC-V instead of their proprietary architecture
this post was submitted on 28 Jul 2024
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On the other hand, there's value in exploring different approaches as well.
I don't think there are any benefits compared to RISC-V with custom instructions, maintaining your own toolchain is also extra work which could benefit everyone with RISC-V
The benefit is that you can make fairly drastic changes to the architecture, which they already have done incidentally, while with RISC-V the architecture is already mature. I agree there's a downside that there's a duplication of effort as a result. The way I look at it is that RISC-V is a good mature platform, but Loongson is more of an experimental architecture they can try different ideas with.
Since China has moved to replace government computers and servers with Loongson and Phytium chips, isn't it beneficial for the chips to be proprietary for protectionist reasons as well as limiting access of the tech's source and schematics to imperialist adversaries (iirc)?
certainly possible
RISC-V only gives you the instruction set and standard, it does not tell you how to actually do it. The way you handle the microarchitecture internally is up to you.
It could just be that they're already invested in the architecture they built, and don't see much value in switching.
Fair, but I still think they should switch. I don't think it would be too difficult anyway. It should mostly amount to rewrite of the decoder as can be inferred from the fact that it is mostly a superset of MIPS64.
The perceived benefits, are being independent of the west on technology. Which RISC-V already provides.
There are chinese companies making RISC-V chips and machines: https://milkv.io/pioneer
I get the impression that LoongArch has more priority because they fully own that ISA which means foreign entities such as the US Empire can have 0 impact on it. If something happens to RISC-V that could put China at a disadvantage they still have LoongArch. If they go all in on RISC-V they could easily get fucked or bullied into submission, that's my view anyways.
There's no danger in using RISC-V -- if the official standard is compromised somehow, China can just make their own "fork". I think it's more likely just a business decision by Loongson. Unless it's replaced, it'll likely become an open standard eventually
Good point, I didn't think of that! Either way, I'm quite happy to see more general purpose RISCs emerge. At this point I'm just really sick of dealing with Intel's CISC crap lol.
I'd like to see more people contributing to RISC-V as well. I'm just saying they probably have their reasons for pursuing the current approach. I tend to give people benefit of the doubt because a lot of the time the devil is in the details. It'll be interesting to watch how this develops one way or the other I suspect.
Is there a way to buy it? I hear often something about CPUs from China, Russia whatever, but I would like to buy and just try it. Idk, maybe it is cheaper
Not this one, but a few months ago they started shipping the 3A6000 (on a 7A2000 board) through AliExpress. I am pretty sure we had an article here somewhere about it. They were fairly priced (processor + board for something like 350 USD) but not super high end. Which makes sense, you don't target high end professionals first.
I briefly entertained making my new PC from all Chinese components, but decided to give it some more time. I have little doubt I will be happy to do that not too long from now.
If you want to try it just as a fun project for a secondary PC though, you absolutely can source most of the parts from AliExpress. Russian chiptech isn't to the level of China, so I don't think you will find much there. Not yet at least.
I never actually looked, I assume once they go to mass production it must be possible to order them online.
There are some boards on AliExpress but they're all the older ones. I would not buy one right now though they're a bit expensive for what they are. I'd wait for at least another year.
Loongson, don't stop making chips! Intel are losing to defects.