Nvidia renames its Blackwell Ultra product series — we tell you why.
The step taken by Nvidia represents a strategic shift aimed at promoting CoWoS technology, analysts indicate.
Nvidia has decided to rebrand its Blackwell Ultra product line, which appears to be part of a strategy to promote its new B300 and GB300 ranges, both based on CoWoS-L technology. The B200 Ultra series will now be referred to as B300, while the GB200 Ultra will be known as GB300. Nvidia’s B300 series is expected to launch between the second and third quarters of 2025, with the B200 and GB200 starting to ship in the fourth quarter of 2024.
This shift in focus has long-term implications. Nvidia is refining the segmentation of its chips within the Blackwell series, aiming to meet the increasing performance demands of cloud service providers (CSPs), improve supply chain flexibility, and adapt to the cost and performance needs of server manufacturers. The B300A series, for example, is primarily designed for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Production is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2025, coinciding with a decline in shipping of the H200 series.
Furthermore, TrendForce noted that Nvidia originally intended to launch the B200A series specifically for server OEMs, but decided to switch to the B300A series during the design process, suggesting lower-than-expected demand for entry-level GPUs. This strategic product shift could have long-term consequences, as it seems to be a move aimed at AI models with greater revenue potential for 2025.
Regarding its NVL rack solutions, Nvidia is investing in performance optimization and liquid cooling in its NVL72 systems. Companies like AWS and Meta are being pushed to transition from NVL36 to NVL72.
Shipping trends anticipate that demand for Nvidia's high-end GPUs will increase significantly over the next year, with an expected total market share of around 50% in 2024, marking a notable 20% increase from the previous year. The Blackwell platform is projected to further drive this share to 65% in 2025.
Nvidia will play a key role in the demand for CoWoS technology, thanks to its Blackwell series, which is starting to gain popularity among companies. Demand for CoWoS is expected to increase by about 10% year over year. In this context, Nvidia is expected to focus on supplying the B300 and GB300 products to major CSPs in North America.
Simultaneously, an increase in HBM acquisition is anticipated, with projections that Nvidia will account for more than 70% of the global HBM market next year, representing a 10% annual increase. All models in the B300 series will come equipped with HBM3e 12hi, with production planned to begin in the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. However, this may take time, as this will be Nvidia's first mass production of a product with 12hi stacking, which could require at least two quarters to stabilize production yields.
