First look at AMD's Helios
AMD has introduced Helios, its first rack-scale AI system, designed to compete with Nvidia. Microsoft plans to deploy Helios in its Azure data centers, and Meta, OpenAI, and Oracle have also signed deals. The system was developed and tested at a mega lab in Central Texas, specifically outside Austin.
Chip giant AMD is launching Helios, its first rack-scale system for AI, aiming to provide significant competition to Nvidia. Helios integrates 72 GPUs and 18 CPUs per rack, weighing 7,000 pounds and costing $5 million per unit.
The system was developed and tested at AMD's newest mega lab, a 130,000-square-foot facility located at a data center outside Austin, Texas. CNBC was given an exclusive first look inside the Helios system at this Central Texas lab.
Microsoft has announced plans to deploy AMD's Helios racks in its Azure data centers. Additionally, Meta, OpenAI, and Oracle have signed deals to begin deploying AMD's system later this year, providing AMD with crucial early commitments to establish its market presence against Nvidia's long-standing dominance and CUDA software ecosystem. AMD claims its debut system performs better, more efficiently, and is more customizable than Nvidia's latest offerings, Grace Blackwell and Vera Rubin.