NVIDIA Blackwell Platform debuts B200 and GB200 AI GPUs

Big changes often come from big ideas. That’s where the NVIDIA Blackwell Platform with B200 and GB200 AI GPUs steps in—a game-changing innovation in AI computing that’s set to transform how things work.

AI GPUs, or artificial intelligence graphics processing units, are special chips that help computers learn and decide things faster. They’re like supercharged brains for AI tasks. Unlike regular GPUs (graphics processing units) that do general jobs like gaming and videos, AI GPUs focus only on AI stuff. They’re built to do the complex math needed for training and running AI models.

The goal of the Blackwell Platform? As you can guess, to speed up AI tasks while saving energy and money. According to the company’s statement, this chipset is 30 times more powerful than the H100 and equally efficient.

The NVIDIA Blackwell Platform introduces cutting-edge AI GPUs, the B200 and GB200, designed to revolutionize AI computing (Image credit) Meet the NVIDIA Blackwell Platform, the needed powerhouse for AI

The Blackwell Platform is a groundbreaking advancement in artificial intelligence (AI) computing developed by NVIDIA. It encompasses a series of cutting-edge technologies and hardware innovations aimed at accelerating AI training and inference tasks while simultaneously improving energy efficiency and reducing costs. Named in honor of mathematician David Harold Blackwell, the Blackwell Platform is designed to facilitate the creation and deployment of trillion-parameter-scale AI models in real-time.

Amazon Web Services, Dell Technologies, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, Tesla and xAI are just some of the tech giants expected to adopt Blackwell soon.

“Blackwell offers massive performance leaps, and will accelerate our ability to deliver leading-edge models. We’re excited to continue working with NVIDIA to enhance AI compute.”

-Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI

But what makes it special? Here are the key components of the Blackwell Platform include:

• Blackwell GPU Architecture: Featuring six transformative technologies, including the world’s most powerful chip, second-generation transformer engine, fifth-generation NVLink, RAS engine, secure AI capabilities, and a dedicated decompression engine.
• B200 Blackwell GPU: The B200 Blackwell GPU is a fundamental component of the Blackwell Platform, offering exceptional AI inferencing performance. With an astonishing 208 billion transistors and built on the advanced TSMC N4P foundry node, the B200 GPU delivers unparalleled computational power. It features a custom interconnect for high-speed communication and supports advanced AI inference capabilities, including 4-bit floating-point operations.
• GB200 Grace Blackwell Superchip: This superchip combines two Blackwell GPUs with an NVIDIA Grace CPU, offering superior serial processing performance optimized for AI workloads. It provides high-bandwidth interconnectivity between GPUs and CPUs, enabling seamless communication and efficient data processing.

These AI GPUs excel in tasks like training and inference, offering exceptional computational power and efficiency (Image credit)

• NVIDIA Quantum-X800 InfiniBand and Spectrum-X800 Ethernet Platforms: Advanced networking solutions that complement the Blackwell GPUs, providing high-speed connectivity and scalability for large-scale AI deployments.
• Software Support: The Blackwell Platform is supported by NVIDIA AI Enterprise, an end-to-end operating system for production-grade AI. It includes NVIDIA NIM inference microservices, AI frameworks, libraries, and tools for deploying AI solutions in cloud, data center, and workstation environments.

Overall, the Blackwell Platform represents a significant leap forward in AI computing, offering unprecedented performance, energy efficiency, and scalability. It is poised to revolutionize various industries by enabling organizations to build and deploy advanced AI models at scale, driving innovation and unlocking new possibilities for transformative breakthroughs. But to understand its power, you need to understand its AI GPUs better.

What is the B200 Blackwell GPU?

The B200 Blackwell GPU is a cutting-edge component of NVIDIA’s Blackwell Platform, specifically engineered to excel in artificial intelligence (AI) inference tasks. It represents a leap forward in AI computing technology, offering remarkable performance and efficiency without compromising on quality.

Here is what you need to know about the B200 Blackwell GPU:

• Impressive computational power: Equipped with an impressive 208 billion transistors, the B200 GPU boasts immense computational power, ensuring swift and accurate processing of complex AI workloads.
• Advanced manufacturing process: Built using the state-of-the-art TSMC N4P foundry node, the B200 GPU leverages the latest semiconductor manufacturing techniques to optimize performance and energy efficiency.
• Efficient interconnectivity: The B200 GPU features a custom-designed interconnect mechanism, facilitating high-speed data transfer between GPUs and other system components. This efficient communication system enhances overall system performance.
• AI inference optimization: Tailored to excel in AI inference tasks, the B200 GPU supports advanced capabilities such as 4-bit floating-point operations. This optimization ensures efficient processing of AI models, minimizing energy consumption while delivering exceptional results.
• Integration with Blackwell Platform: As an integral part of the Blackwell Platform, the B200 GPU seamlessly integrates with other components like the GB200 Grace Blackwell Superchip and advanced networking solutions. This cohesive integration maximizes performance and scalability across the platform.

What is the GB200 Blackwell GPU?

The GB200 Blackwell GPU stands as a cornerstone within NVIDIA’s Blackwell Platform, designed to significantly advance the field of artificial intelligence (AI) computing. This GPU represents a notable evolution in AI processing capabilities, particularly in the realms of training and inference tasks, owing to its distinct features and functionalities:

• Exceptional processing power: With an impressive transistor count of 208 billion, the GB200 GPU delivers substantial computational power, enabling rapid execution of complex AI workloads.
• Innovative Architecture: Fabricated using the TSMC N4P foundry node, the GB200 GPU benefits from cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing techniques. This ensures an optimal balance between performance and energy efficiency, a critical consideration in AI computing.
• Efficient interconnectivity: The GB200 GPU is equipped with high-bandwidth interconnectivity capabilities, facilitating seamless communication between GPUs and other system components. This streamlined data transfer process enhances overall system performance and scalability.
• Advanced AI capabilities: Featuring support for double-precision floating-point operations and other advanced AI functionalities, the GB200 GPU is well-equipped to handle demanding AI workloads effectively. Its flexible architecture empowers organizations to train and deploy complex AI models efficiently.ü
• Integration within the Blackwell Platform: As an integral part of the Blackwell Platform, the GB200 GPU seamlessly integrates with other components, ensuring cohesive performance and scalability across the entire AI ecosystem.

B200 vs GB200: Wait, what is the difference between them?

GB200 and B200 both belong to Nvidia’s new Blackwell series of AI GPUs unveiled at GTC 2024, but with a key difference.

(Image credit)

• B200: This is a standalone GPU, the largest chip currently possible with existing technology. It boasts 208 billion transistors across two chiplets, 192 GB of HBM3E memory, and 8 TB/s of memory bandwidth. B200 is ideal for high-performance AI inferencing and training in data centers.
• GB200: This isn’t a single GPU, but a superchip that combines the B200 GPU with an NVIDIA Grace CPU. The Grace CPU offers superior serial processing compared to traditional x86 CPUs and is optimized to work with Nvidia’s AI GPUs. This combination is designed for scenarios requiring both powerful AI processing and strong central processing capabilities.

Here are all the details about B200 vs GB200 comparison:

Feature B200 GB200 Type Standalone GPU Superchip (GPU + CPU) Processing Cores B200 GPU Cores B200 GPU Cores + Grace CPU Cores Memory 192 GB HBM3E Depends on configuration (total memory from B200 GPUs + memory on Grace CPU) Bandwidth 8 TB/s Depends on configuration (memory bandwidth of B200 GPUs + bandwidth between B200 and Grace CPU) Application High-performance AI inferencing & training Applications needing both powerful AI and central processing

Now, you know everything you need to know about NVIDIA’s new AI GPUs! For more NVIDIA GTC 2024 news, stay tuned.

Featured image credit: Kerem Gülen/DALL-E 3