NVIDIA is readying a scaled-down Blackwell AI accelerator called the B200A which is expected to target a wider market.
NVIDIA's Blackwell AI GPUs Are Right On-Track, B100 & B200 Accelerators To Drop Into Markets BY Q4 2024, B200A Brings Blackwell's AI Prowess To Even More Customers
NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture has become a victim of market rumors since multiple sources over the internet have reported that NVIDIA's next-gen AI products will see a delayed entry into the market, being pushed ahead by at least a quarter. However, TrendForce, one of the most reputable sources for market conditions out there, claims that NVIDIA's Blackwell is right on schedule and that the company's B100 and B200 AI GPUs are slated to enter the markets by the next quarter, presumably the Q4 2024.
TrendForce notes that Blackwell is currently in the early stages of shipping, which means that NVIDIA is sampling it out with customers, as disclosed previously.
This shows that the delay rumors swirling around the markets are overblown, & NVIDIA's Blackwell seems to be in the right place for now. Interestingly, TrendForce notes that Team Green initially plans on focusing on the production of the Blackwell AI accelerators, claiming that they are in high demand.
Another interesting fact noted by TrendForce is that NVIDIA plans to ship a relatively lower-end variant of the Blackwell AI GPUs called the B200A. It claims that it's a scaled-down model designed to cater to the larger part of the AI markets, which are enterprise clients and AI startups.
For specifications, the Blackwell B200A AI accelerator is expected to feature four HBM3E 12-Hi memory sites, with a total capacity rated at 144 GB. For comparison, the standard Blackwell chips come in 8-Hi and 8-Stack solutions, offering 144 GB and up to 288 GB capacities. Apart from this, the accelerator will employ air-cooling, allowing NVIDIA to ensure an adequate supply of the B200A to its customers.
In terms of Blackwell entering the mainstream markets, TrendForce says that the supply chain is expected to be filled with NVIDIA's next-gen AI products by 2025, with AI accelerators leading the way, followed by in-demand servers as well. By next year, Blackwell will account for 80% of NVIDIA's overall shipments, and ultimately, 2025 will prove to be a year for NVIDIA's next "gold rush," fueled by the AI hype.
About the author: Muhammad Zuhair is a hardware and technology reporter for Wccftech, specializing in the semiconductor industry and the complex interplay between technology, manufacturing, and geopolitics. His coverage focuses on the corporate strategies and technological roadmaps of industry giants like TSMC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and Intel. Zuhair's expertise lies in deconstructing complex topics such as fabrication nodes (e.g., 2nm process), the economic impact of policies like the CHIPS Act, and the strategic development of AI infrastructure from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel.
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