Why Scaling AI Compute Performance Requires a New Power Architecture
The new generation of accelerated computing places higher demands on infrastructure, with the bottleneck being the power transmission efficiency from the grid to GPUs. 800 VDC provides direct DC power supply, reducing the number of conversion stages and increasing available power. NVIDIA, Google, and Microsoft jointly developed this architecture and released related specifications and reference designs. More than 80 device manufacturers are producing products according to this standard. Existing AC facilities do not need to be modified; NVIDIA MGX-compatible hybrid architecture power cabinets will be delivered in the second half of 2026, allowing connection to existing systems and providing 800 VDC within the cabinets. Row-level power centers are expected to be available in 2027, capable of supplying 2 megawatts per row; new facilities will use single-step conversion DC power cabinets for large-scale direct medium-voltage conversion. Open standards have facilitated the formation of supply chains, and NVIDIA DSX reference designs provide operators with a complete blueprint from power architecture to computing facilities.