AI Data Centers Have A Power Hoarding Problem

Semiconductor Engineering examines the problem of 'stranded' power in AI data centers: some servers run at elevated voltage while backup capacity sits idle. Solutions include IP block power management, DVFS, and power-gating at the NoC level.

• Idle resources are the largest source of energy loss in systems
• Data center backup capacity remains unused during normal operation
• IP and NoC power management via AMBA LPI reduces chip power consumption
• DVFS and power-gating balance energy savings and wake-up time