China achieves breakthrough in RRAM-based analog computing

Researchers at Peking University have developed an analog chip based on resistive random-access memory (RRAM) that performs computations directly within its hardware circuits, bypassing traditional binary processing. According to the team, the chip can be up to a thousand times faster and a hundred times more energy-efficient than modern GPUs from Nvidia and AMD, while maintaining digital-level accuracy.

Analog circuits process data as continuous electrical currents, eliminating the need for energy-intensive data transfers between processor and memory. When solving tasks such as those in MIMO wireless systems, the chip matched the precision of digital processors while consuming far less power.

The RRAM architecture integrates memory and computation in one device, overcoming the speed and power limits of digital chips. The prototype is compatible with industrial manufacturing, and future versions are expected to handle more complex tasks at even higher speeds.