Chinese GPU maker Lisuan Tech earns Microsoft WHQL certification

Lisuan Tech has earned Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs certification for its 6nm graphics cards, making it the fourth chipmaker and the first Chinese graphics card manufacturer to do so. Nvidia, AMD, and Intel are the only other GPU makers to hold the certification. Chinese graphics card designers have historically faced significant challenges in software despite solid hardware, with immature drivers and poor compatibility hampering performance. Lisuan Tech is the only Chinese firm to achieve WHQL certification for its drivers. The company’s current portfolio includes four models built on the 6nm process node: the LX 7G100, LX Max, LX Ultra, and LX Pro. Only the LX 7G100 is a gaming graphics card, according to a DigiTimes report cited in the announcement, and it is the model that received WHQL certification. The LX 7100 has shown evidence of delivering performance close to Nvidia's last-generation GeForce RTX 4060. WHQL certification is not granted easily. Microsoft thoroughly evaluates the hardware and drivers for compatibility, stability, and security. WHQL drivers are digitally signed by Microsoft and are the only drivers allowed to be distributed through Windows Update. This means the LX 7G100 can offer a plug-and-play experience in which the operating system automatically finds and installs the correct driver. The certification could prove valuable if Lisuan Tech seeks to expand beyond China's domestic market, giving its products easier entry into the global Windows ecosystem.