China’s homegrown flagship GPU targets AI, gaming, and medical imaging with CUDA compatibility and groundbreaking features
Chinese semiconductor company Innosilicon Technology has officially launched its latest flagship GPU, Fenghua No.3, part of the company’s “Fenghua” (meaning Fantasy) series. The new chip marks a significant leap forward from its predecessors, developed as part of China’s push for technological self-reliance. Unlike previous models that relied on Imagination Technologies’ PowerVR IP, Fenghua No.3 adopts an open-source RISC-V architecture based on the Nanhu V3 project from the OpenCore Institute.
During the launch event, company representatives highlighted that Fenghua No.3 was designed entirely in-house. While full technical details remain undisclosed, the GPU is confirmed to be compatible with Nvidia’s CUDA platform, potentially unlocking access to a vast ecosystem of software and developer tools. Built as an all-purpose GPU, it is designed to support a wide range of applications, from AI and scientific computing to CAD, medical imaging, and gaming, with specialized versions expected for different industry sectors.
In the gaming sector, Fenghua No.3 includes support for the latest graphics APIs such as DirectX 12, Vulkan 1.2, and OpenGL 4.6, along with hardware-level ray tracing. The company showcased live demos running games like Tomb Raider, Delta Force, and Valorant, claiming smooth performance. However, no specifics on graphics settings, resolutions, or frame rates were revealed, so real-world gaming performance remains to be seen.
For AI and large-scale computation, Fenghua No.3 is equipped with over 112GB of HBM memory, making it ideal for handling large-scale models. A single GPU can manage 32B and 72B parameter LLMs, while an eight-GPU cluster can scale to 671B and 685B parameters. The company also claims full compatibility with leading AI models such as DeepSeek V3, R1, V3.1, and Qwen 2.5 and 3. Additionally, the inclusion of an integrated RISC-V CPU on the same board enables comprehensive on-device computing capabilities.
Fenghua No.3 also achieves several industry-firsts. It is China’s first GPU to support YUV444 color format, ensuring high-fidelity color rendering for industrial CAD, content creation, and professional video editing. The GPU also supports up to six 8K (7680×4320) displays at 30Hz, expanding its potential use cases for visualization and simulation. Most notably, Fenghua No.3 is the world’s first GPU with native DICOM medical imaging support, enabling accurate display of X-ray, MRI, CT scan, and ultrasound images on standard monitors without the need for expensive specialized hardware.
China’s semiconductor industry continues to advance steadily, and while it may not yet rival the United States in cutting-edge chip technology, its focus on self-sufficiency and domestic innovation is rapidly accelerating. Fenghua No.3 represents one of the most ambitious steps yet toward that goal, offering a versatile, high-performance GPU platform built entirely on homegrown technology.
