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.
Lisuan Tech is the only one of these firms to achieve Microsoft’s Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) certification for its drivers. The achievement represents considerable progress in software reliability and compatibility for Chinese graphics cards. WHQL certification is basically the ticket into the Windows ecosystem. It's not something that Microsoft hands out easily. The company thoroughly and rigorously evaluates the hardware and drivers for compatibility, stability, and security.
Lisuan Tech Graphics Cards Specifications
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 |
- |
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.
