半导体芯闻·2025-05-22 10:40Core Insights - Nvidia has announced the establishment of a consortium for 800V high-voltage direct current (DC) power distribution, which is a crucial step for supporting 1MW power processing racks starting in 2027 [1] - Upgrading to 800V can enhance end-to-end power efficiency by up to 5% and reduce maintenance costs by as much as 70% due to fewer power failures and lower labor costs [1] - The consortium includes major chip suppliers such as Infineon, MPS, Navitas, Rohm, STMicroelectronics, and Texas Instruments, as well as power module suppliers like Delta and Flex Power [1] Group 1: Technical Advantages - The use of industrial-grade rectifiers to convert 13.8 kV AC grid power directly to 800V DC minimizes energy loss typically incurred during multiple AC-DC and DC-DC conversion steps [2] - The 800V busbar allows for 85% more power transmission on the same size conductors, reducing copper demand by 45% due to lower current requirements and resistance losses [4] - The elimination of rack-level AC-DC conversion components frees up valuable space for more computing resources, enabling higher density configurations and improved cooling efficiency [5] Group 2: Industry Collaboration and Innovation - The consortium aims to accelerate the application of high-voltage DC architecture, which has faced challenges in technology and deployment in the past [5] - Infineon has developed a 12kW reference design using GaN and SiC devices with a baseline efficiency of approximately 98%, paving the way for new standards in power architecture for AI data centers [5] - Nexperia showcased an AI data center power system with an 8.5kW power supply, achieving 98% efficiency and a peak efficiency of 99.3% through its patented IntelliWeave technology [6] Group 3: Challenges and Considerations - Transitioning to an 800V high-voltage DC power system presents new challenges in safety, standards, and personnel training [7] - Nvidia and its partners are actively researching the capital and operational expenditures, as well as safety impacts of traditional transformer-based and solid-state transformer (SST) solutions [7] - The transition must include more isolation measures, with the need for circuit breakers that combine mechanical relays and semiconductor components for rapid response [7]