Analysis of Nvidia's GPU, CPU, and System Roadmap (2026-2028)

Key Product Launches

• Vera Rubin NVL144

  • Release: Second half of 2026
  • FP4 performance: 3.6 exaflops
  • FP8 performance: 1.2 exaflops
  • Includes Vera CPU with 88 custom cores and 176 threads
  • GPU: Rubin (successor to Blackwell) with 50 petaflops of FP4 performance
  • Memory: HBM4e at 4.6PBps
  • Interconnect: NVLink 6 (260TB/second)

• Rubin Ultra NVL576

  • Release: Second half of 2027
  • FP4 performance: 15 exaflops
  • FP8 performance: 5 exaflops
  • Includes 576 Rubin GPUs, 12,672 Vera CPU cores, and 72 Bluefield DPUs

• Feynman GPU

  • Release: 2028
  • Details limited; next-generation HBM memory paired with Vera CPUs

Performance Metrics

• Vera Rubin NVL144:

  • 3.6 exaflops FP4 (3x faster than predecessor)
  • 1.2 exaflops FP8
  • System power: 600 kilowatts, 2.5 million parts

• Rubin Ultra NVL576:

  • 15 exaflops FP4 (4x faster than Vera Rubin)
  • 5 exaflops FP8

Power Consumption and Efficiency

• Current systems:

  • Blackwell NVL72: 120 kilowatts (FP4)
  • Blackwell Ultra NVL72: Up to 135-140 kilowatts (estimates)

• Efficiency Focus:

  • FP4 reduces power consumption during inferencing.
  • Huang: "Revenues are power limited."

Competitive Dynamics

• Market Leadership:

  • Nvidia's roadmap positions it as a leader in AI and HPC systems.
  • Emphasis on extreme scale-up systems (e.g., 576 GPUs per rack).

• Partnerships:

  • Collaborations with Cisco (Secure AI Factory) and Dell (AI model prototyping).

Strategic Considerations

• Focus on FP4:

  • Reduces power consumption while maintaining performance.
  • Enables scalability for AI workloads.

• Long-Term Effects:

  • Rubin systems aim to significantly reduce costs compared to Hopper generation.
  • Sustainability and efficiency will likely drive future innovations.

Market Implications

• AI Growth Driver:

  • New GPUs enable faster reasoning models (100x more tokens generated).
  • Agentic AI adoption will be accelerated by these advancements.

• Data Center Economics:

  • Power consumption directly correlates with revenue potential.
  • Nvidia's focus on performance per watt positions it for sustained growth in the data center market.

Regulatory and Industry Impact

• No direct mention of regulatory impacts, but:
  • Sustainability concerns may influence future product development.
  • Higher power consumption could prompt stricter energy efficiency regulations.

Conclusion

Nvidia's roadmap underscores its commitment to advancing AI and HPC capabilities. The introduction of high-performance systems like Vera Rubin NVL144 and Rubin Ultra NVL576, coupled with a focus on efficiency (FP4), positions the company for sustained leadership in the AI market. Partnerships and ecosystem development will further reinforce its competitive edge.