Nvidiais the undisputed leader in graphics processing technology. By 2027, the company aims to improve data center efficiency by raising the max number of GPU’s per system from 72 in 2020 to 576. This ambitious goal comes alongside a series of engineering challenges that both Nvidia and Broadcom have successfully navigated to ensure reliability and manufacturability of their systems. Point2 Technology is one of the most promising technologies in the space. They focus on new approaches to data transmission based on cutting-edge radio technologies, making them one of the most exciting competitors in the industry.
This partnership of minds serves as a reminder that engineering talent can be the catalyst for innovation. Each of these companies faced considerable challenges to successfully bundle their solutions tightly with premium processors. This engineering accomplishment is somewhat incidental, however, as data centers are constantly re-shaped to meet the newer, greater demands for processing power.
Point2 Technology was formed in 2014 by former industry veterans from Marvell, Nvidia and Samsung. Further, they have been on the cutting edge of implementing radio technology into data centers. With $55 million in venture funding, primarily from Molex—a company specializing in computer cables and connections—Point2 is poised to make significant strides in this domain.
Innovations in Data Transmission
Point2 Technology’s innovative e-Tube cable consists of eight slender polymer waveguides, each capable of transmitting 448 gigabits per second using two different frequencies: 90 GHz and 225 GHz. This breakthrough design reduces power use to just a third of what optical systems consume. It saves money while cutting down on latency, placing them at one-third and as low as one-thousandth the cost of conventional methods, respectively.
The e-Tube cables are designed to be very slimite, measuring just half the cross-section of a regular 32-gauge copper cable. It’s capable of reaching up to 20 times the physical distance as current copper systems. This combination of features makes it an attractive option for data centers looking to deploy highly efficient data transmission solutions. Last April, Point2 demonstrated their technology at the Optical Fiber Communications Conference. They recently showed a record-breaking four-meter transmission at a record-high frequency of 970 GHz.
According to one industry expert with deep knowledge of both companies, Point2 Technology and AttoTude are working hard to find solutions to make data transmission better. Their goal is to connect with existing technologies and at the same time explore new concepts. If so, the rivalry between these two companies may set a new pace for what is considered possible for data transfer speed across modern data centers.
The Competitive Landscape
AttoTude, another company in the space, grew out of founder and CEO Dave Welch’s advanced research into photonics. The firm focuses on advancing discrete elements including digital data originators and Terahertz-signal sources. With a few generations of waveguides experience already lived, AttoTude has made plays towards propelling the future of optical technology.
Welch emphasizes the advantages of their technology. “Customers love fiber. What they hate is the photonics,” he noted. Her sentiment captures a larger pain point that all data centers experience trying to do more with less while running hyper-complex optical networks. He argues that electronics have consistently demonstrated higher reliability than optical systems, indicating a potential shift in strategy for those involved in data transmission.
Both Point2 Technology and AttoTude claim their innovations can clearly go farther than copper. Welch estimates that “This waveguide will be capable of carrying data up to 20 meters.” This new capability has the potential to drive radically different data center architectures by allowing ICs to maintain signal integrity over much longer distances.
Overcoming Engineering Challenges
Nevertheless, companies like Nvidia and Broadcom are still up against some major engineering obstacles. All these challenges speak to the fundamental difficulties in scaling technology for next-gen data centers. As demand for processing power continues to grow at an exponential rate, old solutions won’t cut it. Don Barnetson, an industry veteran, explained the need for continuous innovation: “You start with passive copper, and you do everything you can to run in passive copper as long as you can.”
The move towards adopt liquid cooling solutions deepens this narrative. Barnetson added: “The whole reason people have moved to [liquid cooling] is so that they can continue [scaling up] in passive copper.” To achieve the higher densities and resulting performance that they are seeking, companies will have to overcome these engineering challenges.
Read as Nvidia takes big steps to fill its GPU portfolio. At the same time, Point2 Technology is breaking new ground with powerful radio solutions, complementary forces leading the charge toward ever-greener data center performance. As these technologies mature, they have the potential to fundamentally change how we move data over networks and through data centers.