Team brings efficient power distribution to AI infrastructure

Texas Instruments announced that it is working with NVIDIA on the development of power management and sensing technologies for 800V HVDC power distribution systems used in data centre servers. The new power architecture paves the way for more scalable and reliable next-generation AI data centres.

Why it matters
With the growth of AI, the power needed per data centre rack is predicted to increase from 100kW today to more than 1MW shortly. To power a 1MW rack, today's 48V distribution system would need almost 450lbs of copper, making it physically impossible for a 48V system to scale power delivery to support computing needs in the long term.

The new 800V high-voltage DC power-distribution architecture will provide the power density and conversion efficiency that future AI processors require while minimising the growth in size, weight, and complexity of the power supply. This 800V architecture will enable engineers to scale power-efficient racks as data centre demand evolves.

"A paradigm shift is happening right in front of our eyes," said Jeffrey Morroni, director of power management research and development at Kilby Labs and a TI Fellow. "AI data centres are pushing the limits of power to previously unimaginable levels. A few years ago, we faced 48V infrastructures as the next big challenge. Today, TI's expertise in power conversion combined with NVIDIA's AI expertise is enabling 800V high-voltage DC architectures to support the unprecedented demand for AI computing."

"Semiconductor power systems are an important factor in enabling high-performance AI infrastructure," said Gabriele Gorla, VP of System Engineering at NVIDIA. "NVIDIA is teaming with suppliers to develop an 800V high-voltage DC architecture that will efficiently support the next generation of powerful, large-scale AI data centres."