In a recent DC Anti-Conference Live presentation, Wade Vinson, chief data center distinguished engineer at NVIDIA, shared insights based upon work by NVIDIA designing, building, and operating NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD multi-megawatt data centers since 2016.
NVIDIA is helping make data centers more accessible, resource-efficient, energy-efficient, and business-efficient, as well as scalable to any size and location globally. The evolution of data centers into AI data centers is not just a trend but a necessity driven by the increasing computational demands of AI workflows.
The GPU revolution
At the heart of this transformation lies the power of GPUs. Since their introduction to data centers in 2012, GPUs have revolutionized the industry by enabling parallel processing and significantly reducing the time required for intensive tasks. This shift has resulted in remarkable improvements, offering 30x performance per watt and 60x performance per dollar compared to traditional CPU-based systems.
The impact of GPUs extends beyond mere performance enhancements; they are reshaping the very foundation of data center operations, paving the way for more efficient and cost-effective AI-driven infrastructures.
Energy efficiency: The new frontier
The drive towards sustainable computing is a key factor in the transformation of data centers into AI factories. Recent advancements have led to substantial increases in energy efficiency for training and inferencing large language models. What once required 40-gigawatt hours now needs only three gigawatt hours, marking a significant leap in efficiency.
This progress is crucial as the number of large language model builders continues to grow. Moreover, the efficiency extends to everyday applications, with a typical ChatGPT query consuming a mere 0.4 watts per hour.
As data centers evolve, the focus on performance per watt and performance per dollar will continue to drive innovation across the entire platform, including GPUs, CPUs, interconnects, power, and cooling systems, ultimately leading to the creation of AI factories with unprecedented levels of efficiency.
Don’t miss Wade Vinson’s presentation on transforming data centers into AI factories, a critical step towards the 5th Industrial Revolution. Watch the DC AC live Keynote video now to equip yourself with the knowledge needed to lead your organization into the AI-driven future of data centers.