Akash Systems Delivers Diamond-Cooled GPU Servers
Akash Systems announced the delivery of the first-ever NVIDIA GPU servers cooled with synthetic diamond technology to NxtGen AI Pvt Ltd. The company claims its 'Akash Diamond Cooling' solution can increase GPU compute performance by approximately 15% in high-temperature data centers by eliminating thermal throttling. The innovation is designed as an additive to existing air and liquid cooling systems.
- The underlying technology, Gallium Nitride on Diamond (GaN-on-Diamond), was originally developed by Akash co-founder and CEO Felix Ejeckam for satellite radio communications, where the material's high thermal conductivity provides significant size, weight, and power advantages in the vacuum of space. - The deal with NxtGen AI is valued at $27 million and will see Akash Systems' servers deployed across data centers in India. NxtGen is described as India's largest sovereign cloud provider, positioning the partnership as a move to build out the country's domestic AI compute infrastructure. - Performance metrics indicate the diamond cooling system can lower GPU hotspot temperatures by 10-20°C beyond what existing advanced liquid cooling solutions achieve. This allows for a 50% reduction in GPU fan speed, translating to a 90% decrease in fan energy consumption and potentially doubling the server's operational lifespan. - Akash Systems is backed by venture capital firms including Khosla Ventures and Founders Fund. The company was also approved for up to $68 million in U.S. CHIPS and Science Act funding to support domestic semiconductor production. - The broader data center cooling market is projected to grow from approximately $26.31 billion in 2025 to $128.31 billion by 2033. This growth is largely driven by the adoption of AI, which creates high-density heat loads that are pushing the industry away from traditional air cooling and toward advanced liquid cooling solutions. - Synthetic diamond is five times more thermally conductive than copper, the next best material. Akash Systems' engineers developed a patented process to couple the diamond material directly to semiconductor chips to accelerate heat extraction.
