NVIDIA begins mass production of CPO switches for AI
NVIDIA has started mass production of its Spectrum-X Ethernet switches, marking the first production deployment of 200 Gbps per lane CPO technology.
Technology company NVIDIA has begun mass production of its Spectrum-X Ethernet optical switches. The company announced on August 14 that these represent the world's first mass-produced 200 Gbps per lane Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) Ethernet switch systems.
The switches are primarily intended for large-scale clusters used in AI training and inference. As AI data centers expand, efficient data transfer between densely packed GPUs is critical.
Traditional networking solutions involve separate optical modules plugged into the switch panel. Spectrum-X integrates the optical engine and the switch chip within the same module. This approach shortens electrical signal paths, reducing power consumption and heat, while improving reliability.
NVIDIA claims the new architecture can reduce power consumption by up to 80% and increase uninterrupted operation time for AI applications fivefold compared to traditional methods. The company has established a supply chain with partners including TSMC for silicon photonics, SPIL for packaging and testing, Lumentum and TFC for laser components, and Foxconn for system development. NVIDIA conducts final testing in its own facilities.