Image courtesy: Reuters


November 18, 2024 Tags:

Nvidia's Blackwell AI chips, which have been eagerly awaited by customers, are now facing unexpected setbacks. These chips, designed to be much faster and more powerful than previous models, have encountered overheating issues when installed in servers, causing concerns among customers who were relying on them to support their data centers.
The problem arises when multiple Blackwell chips are connected together in server racks designed to hold up to 72 chips. When the chips are stacked together in these racks, they overheat, creating a significant problem for companies that need these advanced processors to operate at full capacity. Sources familiar with the issue have revealed that Nvidia has been working with its suppliers to redesign the racks several times in an attempt to resolve the overheating problem.

Nvidia has yet to publicly name the suppliers involved in these efforts, but company insiders, as well as suppliers and customers familiar with the situation, have confirmed that the issue has been ongoing. Despite these setbacks, Nvidia remains optimistic, with a company spokesperson stating that the situation is part of the normal engineering process and that the company is working closely with top cloud service providers to solve the problem.

"We are working with leading cloud service providers as an integral part of our engineering team and process. The engineering iterations are normal and expected," a representative from Nvidia explained. This statement suggests that the company is committed to resolving the issue, but it also highlights the complexity of developing and fine-tuning such advanced technology.

The Blackwell chips were originally set to ship in the second quarter of the year. However, due to these delays, the release timeline has been pushed back, which may affect major customers like Meta Platforms, Alphabet (Google), and Microsoft. These companies were planning to use the chips in their data centers, where they would accelerate tasks such as providing responses from chatbots and handling large amounts of data at incredibly high speeds.

Nvidia’s Blackwell chip is a significant advancement over its predecessor. It combines two squares of silicon, each the size of previous chips, into a single component. This new design makes the Blackwell chip 30 times faster than earlier models, especially in tasks that require rapid data processing. For businesses like Meta, Google, and Microsoft, having these chips in place is critical to maintaining their data center operations and meeting the growing demand for AI-driven services.

Despite the overheating issue, Nvidia's team is working hard to get things back on track. The company’s approach, which includes redesigning the racks and collaborating closely with suppliers and customers, shows a proactive stance toward overcoming the challenges. However, the delay in production and the technical hurdles have left some customers worried about meeting their deadlines for setting up new data centers.

This delay underscores the challenges that even the most advanced tech companies face when pushing the boundaries of innovation. As Nvidia continues to address the overheating problem, customers are eagerly awaiting a resolution that will allow them to harness the power of Blackwell chips in their data centers.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

You may also like

EV Interest Dips Among Canadians for Third Year Straight

A recent AutoTrader survey reveals that interest in electric vehicles (EVs) among Canadians is steadily declining, despite a noticeable drop....

Nations Boost Digital Defences as Cyber Threats Grow

In a troubling sign of the times, hackers backed by Russia’s government infiltrated a water facility in the small Texas....

Google to Challenge Part of US Court's Ruling in Monopoly Case

Google, part of Alphabet Inc., has announced plans to appeal a portion of the recent court ruling in the ongoing....

Google Faces £5B UK Lawsuit Over Search Engine Control

Google is now facing a massive £5 billion lawsuit in the United Kingdom, accusing the tech giant of using its....

Meta CEO Zuckerberg eyed Instagram split in 2018, email reveals

According to an internal email revealed during an ongoing antitrust trial, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg considered splitting Instagram from Facebook....

Meta’s Monopoly Trial Begins: What’s at Stake for Instagram and WhatsApp

In a major legal showdown, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared in court on Monday as part of a historic antitrust....

 Future Legislation Must Address AI’s Role in News Compensation

As the media landscape evolves, researchers in Canada suggest future laws aimed at balancing the power between tech giants and....

Ireland Investigates Musk’s X Over AI Data Collection Practices

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) has launched a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s platform X, formerly known as Twitter, over....

Google Cuts Prices for U.S. Government to Compete with Microsoft

In a bold move to expand its presence in the public sector, Google is now offering deep discounts on its....

Alphabet Sticks to $75B Spending Plan Amid Tariff Concerns

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has confirmed its decision to invest a staggering $75 billion in 2025, mainly to....

TSMC Faces Over $1B Fine Over Huawei Chip Link: US Probe

Taiwan’s leading chipmaker, TSMC, may be hit with a fine of over $1 billion after a U.S. investigation revealed one....

Shopify CEO: AI Skills Now a Must for All Employees

Shopify is taking artificial intelligence more seriously than ever before. In a recent internal memo, CEO Tobi Lütke told employees....