Lisuan G100 Puts China on the GPU Map with FP8/INT8 AI Capability

China’s GPU scene has taken a surprising leap forward with the Lisuan G100, a 6nm homegrown graphics chip that has stirred conversations for more than just its gaming performance. Once dismissed as a lagging sector compared to NVIDIA and AMD, the domestic market is suddenly buzzing: Lisuan claims its G100 is the first Chinese gaming GPU to support FP8 operations, a feature key to modern AI workloads.

The G100 had already drawn attention when benchmarked close to NVIDIA’s RTX 4060, signaling that Chinese silicon might finally be capable of competing on performance.

Now, FP8 support adds another layer of intrigue. For context, FP8 – short for 8-bit floating point – offers greater efficiency in training and inference of AI models, particularly those dealing with large, dynamic datasets like transformers. Until now, no domestic chip was reported to handle FP8. Some reports, however, suggest that what Lisuan has announced might actually be INT8 support (8-bit integer operations), a different format more commonly used for high-throughput, energy-efficient AI inference. While INT8 and FP8 aren’t the same, either capability signals progress in China’s race to close the hardware gap.

Benchmarks back up the ambition: with an OpenCL score of 111,290, the G100 sits between AMD’s RX 9060 XT and NVIDIA’s RTX 4060 Ti. Not top-tier, but credible – especially for a first attempt. And unlike Moore Threads or earlier efforts that struggled to make a dent, Lisuan is backing the chip with its self-built ‘TrueGPU Tiantu’ architecture and a proprietary software stack, suggesting it wants to do more than just copy Western designs.

Industry watchers speculate Lisuan could expand into AI accelerators if this launch succeeds, potentially targeting markets that rely on inference and edge AI. Mass production is reportedly underway, with retail availability expected before year’s end. Whether it’s true FP8 or simply INT8, the G100 shows a domestic industry no longer content with second place. If performance holds up, this could be the most serious step yet toward breaking China’s dependence on foreign GPUs.