In the rapidly evolving landscape of the technology sector, Nvidia, a powerhouse in the industry, continues to establish a strong foothold, particularly in the sphere of high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. In the second quarter of calendar year 2023, the company marked a significant milestone by shipping a massive volume of H100 GPUs. To put this into perspective, market research firm Omdia has shared detailed insights into Nvidia’s recent accomplishment. Let’s delve into the specifics of Omdia’s revelations regarding Nvidia’s operations in the second quarter.

Analysing Nvidia’s H100 GPU Sales in Q2 2023

Omdia, a renowned analyst firm, has brought to light staggering data concerning Nvidia’s sales performance in the second quarter of calendar 2023. According to the firm’s estimates, Nvidia managed to sell a whopping 900 tons, which equals approximately 1.8 million pounds, of H100 compute GPUs. These GPUs are predominantly utilised in high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) domains.

To provide a clearer view of the volume, Omdia explains that an individual Nvidia H100 compute GPU, inclusive of the heatsink, weighs over 3 kilograms, or 6.6 pounds. Consequently, it can be inferred that Nvidia successfully shipped over 300 thousand units of H100 GPUs during this period.

A Detailed Breakdown of the H100’s Variants and Their Shipments

Nvidia’s H100 GPU lineup comprises three different form factors, each having distinct weights. Here is a meticulous analysis of the variants:

  1. H100 PCIe Card: This version of the GPU weighs about 1.2 kilograms. It represents one of the forms in which the H100 GPU is available to the consumers.
  2. H100 SXM Module: While the precise weight of this module remains currently undisclosed, it is noteworthy that an OAM module with a heatsink — which parallels the H100 SXM in size and thermal design power (TDP) — weighs around 2 kilograms.
  3. Projection of Shipment Composition: Omdia anticipates that about 80% of the H100 shipments are module-based while the remaining 20% are card-based. This distribution brings the average weight of a single H100 unit to approximately 1.84 kilograms.

Furthermore, the firm asserts that its estimate is based on the projected number of H100 units shipped in Q2. Consequently, the actual total weight might be slightly lesser than 900 tons. However, it is undeniable that Nvidia has distributed a considerable mass of H100s during this quarter.

Future Prospects and Global Demand Dynamics

Looking forward, Omdia envisages a steady pace in Nvidia’s H100 GPU sales, estimating the total annual shipment to touch around 3,600 tons, or 7.2 million pounds. This translates to roughly 1.2 million H100 units per annum, assuming the momentum maintains.

Despite these significant numbers, the global appetite for GPUs seems to be insatiable. It is reported that Nvidia’s AI GPUs are currently sold out for the remainder of the year. As a result, the company is expected to augment the rate of shipments in the upcoming year to meet the surging demand spurred by the burgeoning interest in generative AI.

Contextualising the 900 Ton Shipment

To offer a more tangible perspective on what a 900-ton shipment entails, here are several equivalents to consider:

  • It is approximately the combined weight of 4.5 Boeing 747s.
  • This amount equals the weight of 11 space shuttle orbiters.
  • It could also be visualised as the combined weight of 299 Ford F150-Lightnings.
  • On a lighter note, it is the cumulative weight of 32,727 Golden Retrievers.

Also Read: