Infineon Technologies AG has launched a roadmap for power systems to address the current future energy demands for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.
The roadmap includes semiconductor materials like silicon, silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) and builds on current systems like 3 kW system power supply unit (PSU) to 3.3 kW and then future energy demands like 8 kW and 12 kW PSU. Infineon said it will soon offer a 12 kW reference board that it claims will be the first PSU in the world to reach this power level.
Infineon’s 8 kW PSU combines all three relevant chip technologies of power switches in a configuration that ensures benchmark efficiency and power density. The PSU with a lower number of capacitors reduces volume and enables higher reliability in a compact system, the company said. The 8 kW PSU also supports AI racks with power levels of up to 300 kW and beyond.
Why is it needed
Infineon said a surge in server and data center applications has subsequently resulted in a surge in power demand. This means an evolution of PSUs to higher power levels — from 800 W to up to 5.5 kW and beyond — will be necessary.
High level processors and GPUs are needed for AI data centers and consume up to 1 kW per chip and will increase to 2 kW in the years to come, Infineon said.
