Intel Gaudi 2 HL 2080 AI processor leaked
In addition to the most familiar CPU, Intel actually has many dedicated processing chips for different applications. A recent batch of leaked documents confirmed that Intel will launch a new generation of AI processors with powerful functions this year, called the Habana Gaudi 2 platform, to compete with Nvidia’s data center products for deep learning.
After Intel acquired Habana Labs in 2019, it has provided two series of products, called Gaudi for AI training, and Goya for AI inference. However, there is only information on the Gaudi 2 platform in the current document, which will replace the old Gaudi platform in the future. Ordinary users may not be familiar with this type of product, but in fact, Amazon’s AWS EC2DL1 instance is built using Intel’s Gaudi platform, and its performance per dollar is 40% higher than that of Nvidia-based instances.
Wccftech provided the first picture of the Gaudi 2 HL 2080 AI processor, showing that it is equipped with 6 HBM dies. If it is HBM2 type, then the total capacity will reach 48GB, and if it is HBM3 type, it may reach 96GB or more. In terms of power supply, it seems to be a 12+12-phase VRM design, which may have 50% more power than the previous generation. The previous generation of chips used TSMC’s 16nm process, and the Gaudi 2 HL 2080 AI processor will be manufactured using a more advanced process, although the specifics are unclear. It is said that it may be TSMC’s 7nm, Intel’s 10nm, or 7nm, and most speculations tend to be TSMC’s 7nm or Intel’s Intel 7 process.
Intel’s CEO Pat Gelsinger has previously hinted at a “very aggressive path” for its Habana AI arm:
Intel’s CEO Pat Gelsinger has previously hinted at a “very aggressive path” for its Habana AI arm:
‘We are playing offense, not defense’..
We also have, with our Habana product line [a specialized A.I. chipmaker Intel bought in 2019], unquestionably laid out a very aggressive path and our cloud partnership with [hotlink]Amazon[/hotlink] is a great demonstration of that. So clearly, I’d say the idea of CPUs is Intel’s provenance. We’re now building A.I. into that and we expect this to be an area where we are on the offense, not the defense going forward.
Clearly, Intel is taking the AI space seriously, competing with Nvidia for this part of the market with a tangible product roadmap.
