Tenstorrent's Liquid-Cooled AI Workstations Promise Affordable High-Performance Computing
Image Source: https://tenstorrent.com
Tenstorrent, an innovative AI and RISC-V processor startup, is making waves in the AI hardware market with its latest offerings. Led by renowned chip architect Jim Keller, the company recently launched the Wormhole series, featuring two powerful PCIe boards, n150s and n300s. These boards promise superior performance at a fraction of the cost of traditional GPUs, thanks to their flexible, scalable processors built with Tensix Cores.
Evolution of Tenstorrent's Hardware
The journey began in March 2024 with the launch of Grayskull, a RISC-V alternative to GPUs, which included the DevKits Grayskull e75 and Grayskull e150. Building on this foundation, Tenstorrent introduced Wormhole, which offers advanced computing solutions with Tensix Cores, network-on-chip, local cache, and “baby RISC-V” cores. With the n150s and n300s boards, Tenstorrent aims to provide high compute power with broad data precision format support, ideal for AI workloads.
Wormhole Workstations
Tenstorrent’s Wormhole workstations come in two configurations: the TT-LoudBox and the TT-QuietBox. The TT-LoudBox features two Intel Xeon 4309Y processors, 512GB of RAM, and four n300s cards in a 2x4 mesh, priced at $12,000. Meanwhile, the TT-QuietBox is powered by an AMD EPYC 8124P processor, 512GB of RAM, and four liquid-cooled n300s cards, available for $15,000. Both models offer 4TB of NVMe storage and dual 10 GbE copper Ethernet connections, making them suitable for diverse IT setups.
Performance and Cost Efficiency
The Wormhole boards, especially the n300s with its 128 Tensix cores, offer significant compute power for AI applications. Priced competitively, these workstations provide an alternative to traditional GPUs like Nvidia’s H100, making high-performance AI computing more accessible. ServeTheHome highlights that the eight ASICs in these developer boxes can be utilized for a single developer or partitioned to support multiple developers simultaneously, adding versatility to their appeal.
Liquid-Cooled Technology: Quiet and Efficient
The TT-QuietBox is designed for environments where noise reduction is crucial without compromising performance. Its liquid-cooled n300s cards ensure efficient thermal management, making it ideal for office or studio settings. This model’s combination of powerful processing and silent operation sets a new standard for AI workstations, catering to professionals who require high performance in a noise-sensitive environment.
Image Source: https://tenstorrent.com
From Wormhole to Blackhole
Tenstorrent’s innovation doesn’t stop with Wormhole. The company plans to transition its focus entirely to this series before introducing Blackhole next year, promising even more advanced AI hardware solutions. This forward-looking approach indicates Tenstorrent’s commitment to continuous improvement and its potential to disrupt the AI hardware market further.
