SiFive to Integrate Nvidia NVLink into RISC-V Chips

SiFive Adopts Nvidia's High-Speed NVLink

SiFive, a leading provider of RISC-V chip blueprints, has announced a partnership to integrate Nvidia's NVLink technology. This marks the first time the high-speed interconnect standard will be available for the RISC-V architecture, positioning it as a stronger competitor to established designs from Arm and Intel.

Implications for the AI Chip Market

The collaboration is crucial for the AI data center sector, where Nvidia's NVLink enables rapid communication between thousands of chips processing vast amounts of data. By adopting this technology, customers will be able to connect RISC-V based CPUs to Nvidia's leading AI chips with the same high-speed performance as existing solutions.

Future Outlook and Timeline

According to SiFive CEO Patrick Little, products incorporating the integrated technology are not expected to reach the market until 2027 or later. The agreement represents a long-term, multi-generational commitment from both companies to advance the RISC-V ecosystem within high-performance computing. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Summary

This strategic collaboration strengthens the RISC-V ecosystem by providing a high-performance alternative for AI hardware developers. It allows for the creation of systems where RISC-V CPUs can communicate with Nvidia GPUs at speeds competitive with incumbent architectures, signaling a significant step for open-standard hardware in the AI space.

FAQ

Q: What is the significance of this SiFive-Nvidia deal?
A: It allows RISC-V based CPUs to connect to Nvidia's AI chips at high speeds, making the architecture a more viable competitor in the AI data center market.

Q: When will products with this technology be available?
A: Chip designs featuring the integrated NVLink technology are not expected to be market-ready until 2027 or later.

Source: Investing.com