At the Shanghai World Expo 2025, Zhaoxin introduced its KH-5000 series, a new generation of server processors designed for China’s data center and enterprise systems. The new chips represent a major upgrade over the previous KH-4000 series, offering increased core counts, better memory support, and faster connectivity.
The KH-5000 series is built using a chiplet architecture and supports installation on an LGA platform. The top configuration in the lineup features 96 cores. While the presence of simultaneous multithreading (SMT) has not been confirmed, the company reports a 30% improvement in instructions per cycle over its earlier architecture. Clock speeds range from 2.0 GHz base to 3.0 GHz boost, with the high-end SKU featuring up to 384 MB of cache.
One of the notable advancements is the adoption of ZPI 5.0 interconnect. This update allows dual- and quad-socket configurations, enabling up to 384 physical cores on a single system using four processors. The new interconnect delivers increased bandwidth, lower latency, and improved power efficiency compared to the previous ZPI 3.0 version.
The KH-5000 series also brings improvements in memory and I/O. These processors support 12-channel DDR5 ECC memory, providing higher data throughput and reliability for demanding server workloads. In terms of expansion, the chips include 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes, along with 16 additional lanes supporting PCIe 4.0, SATA, and USB. CXL compliance is also included for added flexibility in modern deployments.
The new platform continues the design approach seen in past Zhaoxin processors, with an integrated heat spreader and packaging that resembles AMD’s EPYC line. This consistency in form factor may assist system integrators in adopting the new CPUs without major changes in infrastructure.
While Zhaoxin has not confirmed a release date for the KH-5000 CPUs, the announcement highlights the company’s focus on expanding China’s server hardware capabilities. These processors are expected to power a wide range of local enterprise and public sector systems.
In addition to the KH-5000, Zhaoxin also announced the KX-7000N processor. This consumer-grade chip adds a built-in NPU for accelerating AI-related tasks. It follows the earlier KX-7000 series and paves the way for future consumer CPUs targeting the AI PC category. These upcoming chips are expected to bring more cores, PCIe 5.0 support, and a new generation NPU design.
More updates on product availability and performance are expected in the coming quarters.
Zhaoxin KH-5000 vs KH-4000 – Server CPU Comparison
| Specification | KH-5000 | KH-4000 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Architecture | Chiplet-based | Chiplet-based |
| Core Count | Up to 96 cores | Up to 32 cores |
| Thread Count | Not Confirmed (SMT TBD) | 32 threads (No SMT) |
| Base Clock | 2.0 GHz | Up to 2.5 GHz |
| Boost Clock | 3.0 GHz | Up to 2.5 GHz |
| Cache | Up to 384 MB | Up to 64 MB |
| Memory Support | 12-Channel DDR5 ECC | 8-Channel DDR4 ECC |
| PCIe Support | 128x PCIe 5.0 + 16x PCIe 4.0/SATA/USB | 128x PCIe 4.0 |
| Interconnect | ZPI 5.0 (Dual/Quad-Socket) | ZPI 3.0 |
| CXL Compliance | Yes | No |
| Platform Type | LGA Socket | LGA Socket |
| Power Efficiency | Improved over previous-gen | Standard |
| Launch Window | To Be Announced | Q4 2022 |
Source: Wccftech
