Forget GPUs — China unveils 2 ExaFLOPS supercomputer using only CPUs, packing 47,000 processors into 92 compute cabinets as it looks to supersede the US once again
Could China’s Lingsheng become the fastest computer in the world?
by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/efosa-udinmwen · TechRadarNews By Efosa Udinmwen published 4 May 2026
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- Lingsheng system targets two exaFLOPS using only central processing units
- CPU-only architecture challenges GPU-dominated supercomputing industry standards
- System design integrates high-bandwidth memory and high-speed interconnect networks
A Chinese supercomputing center has announced plans for a machine that would reach two exaFLOPS using nothing but central processors.
The Lingsheng system, unveiled at an April 2026 conference in Shenzhen, would pack 47,000 processors into just 92 compute cabinets.
Lu Yutong, director of the National Supercomputing Center in Shenzhen and the system's chief designer, explained that the hardware and software stack is "fully independently controllable."
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A fundamentally different architectural strategy
The exascale machines in the industry at the moment heavily rely on GPU accelerators or specialized hardware.
This makes the CPU-only approach a major departure from established global trends.
The system leverages domestically produced high-performance CPUs alongside on-chip high-bandwidth memory and high-speed interconnect networks.
It also incorporates 3D floating orthogonal computing and full liquid cooling to manage thermal output.
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