Chinese GPU firm Biren plans IPO in Hong Kong
A Chinese GPU firm backed by the government plans to go public in Hong Kong, as it looks to capitalize on the increased demand for its graphics processing units. The move will see the firm take on Nvidia, as it follows in the footsteps of its Western rival and lists on the stock exchange.
Biren, best known for powering the Tianhe supercomputer which tops the latest Top500 list, plans to apply for an IPO and negotiate with potential investors, including government-supported funds. It previously sought funding at a valuation of 17 billion yuan (£2.5 billion / $2.9 billion), which it has now exceeded.
The company’s prospects are bright, as the market for AI-capable compute GPUs booms. Biren’s products compare favorably to Nvidia’s on paper, as the two firms both offer products based on the same GPU architecture, with Biren’s chips perhaps offering better value.
Biren’s debut family of compute GPUs
Biren’s debut family of compute GPUs includes the BR100 and the BR104 models, with the latter boasting performance of up to 128 FP32 TFLOPS (1 INT8 PetaFLOPS) or 1.12 TFLOPS (128 FP32 TFLOPS) or 1 INT8 PetaFLOPS. The higher-end BR100 offers performance up to 256 FP32 TFLOPS (2 INT8 PetaFLOPS) or 2.24 TFLOPS (256 FP32 TFLOPS) or 2 INT8 PetaFLOPS.
Biren’s GPU line-up seems competitive on paper, but it will face stiff competition from Nvidia, which dominates the Chinese AI chip market. The U.S.-led campaign restricted Chinese companies from acquiring compute GPUs from AMD, Intel, and Nvidia, but Biren can sell more GPUs since Nvidia’s products are expensive and in short supply.
This hasn’t always been the case, as Biren previously had a strained relationship with Taiwan-based contract manufacturer TSMC, which temporarily halted shipments of compute GPUs to the AI firm last year. The firm was reportedly forced to reduce its headcount to cut costs, and its fortunes now appear to be on the up.
Biren says its main focus now is ensuring its software stack is competitive with Nvidia, Intel, and AMD, as it can now sell more GPUs. “Our main focus is on ensuring our software stack is competitive with Nvidia, Intel, and AMD,” the firm says. “We are confident that our unique position as a GPU supplier will allow us to capture market share.”
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Perhaps this confidence stems from the increased demand for GPUs, which is driven by AI applications. Biren also has the backing of the Chinese government, which aims to advance the country’s domestic semiconductor industry.
This campaign will undoubtedly have an impact on the GPU space, as it will make it harder for Western firms to sell their products to Chinese buyers. It will be interesting to see how the GPU market evolves, with Biren serving as a reminder that there’s plenty to play for.
