Chinese Chipmaker Hygon Unveils Revolutionary 128-Core C86-5G Processor
Beijing, Friday, 9 May 2025.
Hygon’s new C86-5G processor, with 128 cores and 512 threads, features an enhanced microarchitecture, poised to elevate global computing benchmarks and challenge existing market leaders.
Architectural Breakthroughs
The C86-5G represents a significant leap in processor architecture, featuring a completely redesigned microarchitecture that delivers over 17% improvement in instructions per cycle (IPC) compared to its predecessor [1][2]. Most notably, the processor implements four-way simultaneous multithreading (SMT4), enabling four threads per core - a rare feature previously seen only in Intel Xeon Phi and IBM POWER8 processors [3]. With this implementation, the 128 physical cores can handle an impressive 512 concurrent threads [1].
Memory and Connectivity Specifications
The C86-5G showcases advanced memory capabilities with support for 16-channel DDR5-5600 memory, a substantial upgrade from the 12-channel DDR5-4800 of its predecessor [1]. This enhancement allows for up to 1TB of high-speed memory deployment [1]. The processor also features 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes, matching the connectivity options of AMD’s fourth-generation Epyc processors [1]. Additionally, the inclusion of Compute Express Link 2.0 (CXL2.0) positions the C86-5G as a direct competitor to both AMD’s EPYC 9005 (Turin) and Intel’s 5th Gen Xeon (Emerald Rapids) processors [1].
Market Positioning and Applications
Hygon has strategically positioned the C86-5G for deployment in artificial intelligence training clusters, large-scale analytics platforms, and virtualized enterprise environments [5]. The processor’s development represents the culmination of a five-year evolution, starting from the C86-1G with 32 cores to the current flagship model [5]. This progression demonstrates China’s growing capabilities in high-performance computing [5], though [alert! ‘specific performance benchmarks against competitors not yet available’].