Cockpit domain control research: How does cockpit domain control differentiate itself from the competition in terms of x86 AI PC, multi-domain computing, and domestic substitution?

Zoss Automotive Research Institute released the "2024 Smart Cockpit Domain Controller Research Report".

x86 architecture VS ARM architecture : AMD V2000 and Intel Malibou Lake lead the x86 AI cockpit

Ecarx Makalu computing platform, the world's first mass-produced AMD V2000 for cars

For a long time, Qualcomm has dominated the high-end cockpit SoC, and "ARM+Android" is the mainstream framework of smart car machines. With the rise of smart cars , users' demand for differentiated cockpits such as 3D HMI, AI large models , and large-scale games is growing, and the "x86+ Linux " architecture has attracted the attention of car companies.

Under the ARM architecture, the CPU is not so outstanding in performance, and the core frequency is relatively low, but the advantage is good heat dissipation performance; the CPU under the x86 architecture has a large demand for computing, so the computing power is super strong, the core frequency is relatively high, and there are high requirements for heat dissipation. The advantage of x86 is that it can run large-scale software . The typical representative of x86 is Tesla , whose car operating system is a secondary development based on Linux.

Source: Zoss Automotive Research "2024 Intelligent Cockpit Domain Controller Research Report"

In the automotive field, the leaders of x86 architecture chips are mainly AMD and Intel. Since 2023, AMD, Intel, NVIDIA and others have begun to focus on the smart car market , trying to seize the high-end smart cockpit market share from Qualcomm.

At present, all Tesla Model 3 series are equipped with AMD Ryzen V1000. According to Zoss Automotive Research Institute data, AMD Ryzen V1000 has begun to take shape in the market, accounting for 6.1% of the market share of L1 and above smart cockpit SoCs.

Market share of L1 and above smart cockpit SoC in China in 2023

Source: Zoss Automotive Research Institute, "2024 Intelligent Cockpit Domain Controller Research Report", Zoss Automotive Research Institute Database

Based on the success of V1000, AMD further launched the next generation product AMD Ryzen V2000A, which uses 7nm process technology and has a CPU peak computing power of 394K DMIPS, an 88% increase over the previous generation V1000 series and better than Qualcomm's SA8295P. It supports 4 4K displays , has dual Gigabit Ethernet , and has passed the AEC-Q100 automotive grade chip certification, supporting Automotive Grade Linux and Android Automotive.

As the world's first Tier 1 partner of AMD's V2000A series, Ecarx launched the Ecarx Makalu computing platform in March 2023, equipped with an x86-based AMD V2000A processor and an AMD Radeon RX 6600 series discrete graphics card (optional). Through its self-developed underlying virtualization technology, it supports different operating systems, such as instrument OS (Linux), Android, and Game OS (3A games).

In the second half of 2024, the ECARX Makalu computing platform will be equipped with Lynk & Co's pure electric models Z10 and smart Elf #5 for mass production and launch.

Features of the ECARX Makalu computing platform include:

Hypervisor virtualization program for automotive safety standards

Ecarx Technology has launched a self-developed Hypervisor virtualization program for AMD V2000 and Radeon RX 6600 series discrete graphics cards (optional) that meets automotive safety standards. According to Ecarx's 2023 Techday, its computing power utilization rate is 11.7% higher than the industry level, and its virtualization performance loss is 67% lower than the industry level. Based on this, the "Makalu" platform can simultaneously run the x86 operating system (Game OS for the rear entertainment screen), the self-developed instrument real-time operating system RTOS based on Linux (ASIL-B safety level), and the customized Flyme Auto operating system based on Android (central control screen).

Strong graphics rendering capabilities, supporting 3A games

The Ecarx Makalu computing platform has 394K DMIPS CPU performance, 10.1T FLOPS graphics rendering capability (1.8T built-in, 8.3T is an independent optional configuration), supports up to 32GB of independent memory, ITB SSD solid-state drive , and provides 8GB G DDR 6 high-speed independent video memory, which can realize ray tracing, 3D environment real-time rendering and other functions. At the same time, Ecarx Technology has reached an ecological strategic partnership with Unreal Engine to support large-scale 3A games and a rich Epic Games Store game ecosystem.

Flyme Auto operating system enables smooth "Car Phone" car-to-car connectivity

All mobile phone applications are installed in the car, and the car computer and Pad are interconnected (the central control screen video and car control applications can be projected to the co-pilot and rear PAD screens for display, and the PAD can also reversely control the central control screen to achieve multi-screen interaction).

As competition in the smart cockpit field continues to intensify, providing an ultimate and differentiated user experience has become one of the keys to competition in this field. Obviously, the "x86+Linux" architecture is the optimal solution for high-performance, immersive, 3A gaming cockpit solutions in the smart cockpit market, and the innovative technology demonstrated by Ecarx Technology also indicates that models equipped with this domain control system will show outstanding performance when they are launched in the second half of the year.

Neusoft Group will launch Neusoft C4 4.0 intelligent cockpit domain controller based on Intel Malibou Lake

Intel is also seamlessly importing the application ecosystem built on the x86 architecture, in which it excels, into automobiles.

Intel launched its first software-defined automotive SoC chip at the 2024 CES . It is also the world's first automotive-grade chip using Chiplet. Intel used the more mature Intel 7 process technology for the first chip. It is expected that Intel's Intel 4 process and Intel 3 process will be integrated into it in the future to achieve iteration. Geely's Zeekr has made it clear that it will use this software-defined automotive SoC chip.

Intel is the leader in the chiplet field, and FOVEROS is the most critical 3D packaging technology in the chiplet field. Even TSMC is far inferior to Intel. With chiplets, customized IP can be placed in chip modules. Intel is the leader of the chiplet UCIe interface standard, and SDV SoC also adopts the UCIe standard. UCIe Association members include Alibaba Group, AMD, ARM, Google, Intel, Microsoft , META, ASE, NVIDIA , TSMC, Qualcomm and Samsung.

Chiplet is very flexible, and the development results can be reused infinitely, and can adapt to high, medium and low-end vehicle models.

Based on Intel Malibou Lake, Neusoft Group will launch Neusoft C4 4.0 intelligent cockpit domain controller.

Neusoft C4 4.0 intelligent cockpit domain controller based on Intel Malibou Lake features include:

Based on x86 architecture Intel Malibou Lake chip

Powerful computing power: PC-level processor using 7nm process technology, with powerful performance (maximum support 400+DMIPS CPU)

Powerful AI capabilities: A complete AI tool chain enables offline large models to be deployed in the car, meeting user privacy requirements and providing low latency and optimal user experience. First Time Token<1.5S (supports large models with 6 billion parameters on the end)

Powerful gaming capabilities: Supports independent GPU, allowing you to experience AAA-level games in the cabin

Powerful ecosystem: Supporting Android's original ARM ecosystem with Houdini virtualization technology

Neusoft C4 4.0 Intelligent Cockpit Domain Controller (Based on Intel Malibou Lake) Product Hardware Specifications

Qualcomm SA8295/8255 domain controller platform: cabin berthing and multi-domain computing are key application directions

Qualcomm's cockpit platform has undergone four evolutions. The first chip SA8295P of the fourth-generation cockpit platform product released in 2022 began to be mass-produced in 2023 and has become one of the preferred solutions for domestic high-end smart cockpits.

According to the Zoss Automotive Research Database, from January to April 2024, the total sales volume of passenger cars in the price range of RMB 500,000 and above was 110,055 units. The penetration rate of Qualcomm SA8295P cockpit domain control in this price range has reached 21.6%.

Qualcomm SA8295P cockpit domain control system installation status in passenger cars in China (January-April 2024)

Source: Zoss Automotive Research Institute, "2024 Intelligent Cockpit Domain Controller Research Report", Zoss Automotive Research Institute Database

Next, the competitiveness of Qualcomm Snapdragon SA8255P began to emerge. Compared with the previous generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 product, it has achieved significant improvements in CPU, GPU, AI, ISP, etc., and has a very high cost performance. SA8255P is not inferior to SA8295P in terms of performance specifications, such as:

Supports LP DDR5 memory, which exceeds the Snapdragon 8295's LPDDR4X in terms of memory speed, is more than twice as fast as the previous generation SA8155P, and has doubled the bandwidth;

The CPU computing power is 230K DMIPS, and the NPU computing power is 24TOPS, which is comparable to SA8295P;

In terms of functions, it can expand the "cabin, travel and berthing in one", support APA, RPA, HPA, and expand L2 ADAS functions, and can be used as a replacement for SA8295P, SA8775P and other products;