Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/18/nvidia_gb200_nvl4/
Source: The Register
Title: Nvidia’s latest Blackwell boards pack 4 GPUs, 2 Grace CPUs, and suck down 5.4 kW
Feedly Summary: You can now glue four H200 PCIe cards together too
SC24 Nvidia’s latest HPC and AI chip is a massive single board computer packing four Blackwell GPUs, 144 Arm Neoverse cores, up to 1.3 terabytes of HBM, and a scorching 5.4 kilowatt TDP.…
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text discusses Nvidia’s latest hardware innovations in high-performance computing (HPC) and AI with the introduction of the GB200 NVL4 and H200 NVL configurations. These chips enhance compute performance and system scalability, which are crucial for AI-centric workloads and HPC solutions in modern infrastructure.
Detailed Description:
The provided text highlights the advancements in Nvidia’s high-performance computing (HPC) and AI chip offerings, particularly focusing on two new configurations: the GB200 NVL4 and the H200 NVL. This information is pertinent for professionals in the fields of AI, cloud computing, and infrastructure security as it showcases the ongoing innovations that can impact computational capacity, efficiency, and deployment strategies in data centers and cloud environments.
Key Points:
– **GB200 NVL4 Configuration**:
– Contains four Blackwell GPUs and 144 Arm Neoverse cores.
– Has a total of up to 1.3 terabytes of HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) and a thermal design power (TDP) of 5.4 kilowatts.
– Communications are managed through standard Ethernet or InfiniBand NICs, which may allow for broader compatibility with existing systems.
– The design aligns with trends in HPC, where multiple processing units are integrated into systems.
– **HPC System Builder Integration**:
– Major HPC vendors like HPE, Eviden, and Lenovo are expected to utilize Nvidia’s GB200 NVL4 boards, indicating a broad adoption in enterprise environments.
– HPE is anticipated to launch new EX systems that incorporate these boards, signaling advancements in liquid-cooled HPC cabinets capable of delivering impressive compute performance.
– **Performance Metrics**:
– The text mentions the computational capability of an HPE EX cabinet producing over 10 petaFLOPS of FP64 performance.
– Comparisons are made with AMD’s MI300A APUs, showcasing how different architectures cater to various computational needs, whether for precision or AI workloads.
– **H200 NVL Configuration**:
– Offers general availability for a new PCIe-based upgrade with the capability to manage extensive compute resources.
– Features a setup that allows for enhanced memory and computational pooling through NVLink, significantly improving performance despite the limitations of PCIe bandwidth.
– **Power Considerations**:
– Each H200 card operates under significant power constraints, highlighting the need for efficient thermal management in deployment scenarios.
Overall, the document emphasizes the significant evolution of Nvidia’s computing architectures and their relevance to current workloads and scalability in advanced AI and HPC systems. Security and compliance professionals need to consider how these advancements in hardware capabilities can impact their infrastructure, particularly in terms of protection mechanisms, compliance with energy consumption regulations, and how best to secure sensitive computations conducted on these powerful systems.