NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs: B100 with 192GB HBM3e and B200 with 288GB

NVIDIA has been making waves in the GPU industry with its next-generation architecture, codenamed Blackwell. Set to be announced at GTC 2024, Blackwell promises significant advancements in high-performance computing (HPC) and gaming. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the details of the upcoming Blackwell GPUs, specifically the B100 and B200 variants.

What is Blackwell?

Blackwell is NVIDIA’s next-generation GPU architecture, designed to push the boundaries of performance, memory capacity, and efficiency. Unlike previous architectures, Blackwell will be used across both data-center and gaming segments, emphasizing NVIDIA’s commitment to unified GPU designs.

B100: The Dual-Die Monster

The B100, set to launch alongside the GTC 2024 keynote, features two dies based on TSMC’s CoWoS-L packaging technology. CoWoS (Chip-on-Wafer-On-Substrate-L) is an advanced 2.5D packaging technique that allows for larger processors. Here are the key details of the B100:

• Die Configuration: The B100 boasts two compute chiplets connected to 8 stacks of 8-Hi HBM3e memory, resulting in a whopping 192GB of memory capacity.
• Performance: While specific performance metrics are yet to be revealed, early reports suggest that the B100 is a performance monster.

B200: The 288GB Behemoth

Looking ahead, the B200 update will utilize 12-high stacks of memory, enabling even higher capacity. Although it’s not explicitly stated whether this memory is HBM3e or HBM4, the B200 is expected to offer a staggering 288GB of memory. This capacity places it in a league of its own, rivaling even AMD’s Instinct MI300 GPU.

Implications and Future Developments

The announcement of Blackwell before the second-generation Hopper GPU (GH200) is intriguing. It signals NVIDIA’s aggressive push towards innovation and its commitment to staying ahead in the GPU race. As we eagerly await more details during the GTC 2024 keynote, one thing is clear: Blackwell is set to redefine what’s possible in the world of GPUs.

In summary, NVIDIA’s Blackwell GPUs are poised to revolutionize the industry. With the B100 and B200 variants, NVIDIA is flexing its engineering muscles, promising unprecedented memory capacities and performance. As the GPU landscape evolves, Blackwell will undoubtedly be a name to watch out for.