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Proportion of each component of an AI server

Proportion of each component of an AI server

Proportion of each component of an AI server - MADIBA BAY OPTICS

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AI servers are dominated by GPUs and semiconductors, with supporting roles for CPUs, memory, storage, power, and cooling systems.

Hardware Breakdown

  1. GPU Board Assembly The GPU assembly is the defining component of an AI server, responsible for parallel processing and AI acceleration. In systems like the NVIDIA DGX A100, the GPU board assembly includes GPU substrates, NVSwitch modules, and supporting boards. This assembly represents the largest portion of PCB value, roughly 50–60% of the total hardware value, reflecting its critical role in AI computation .
  2. CPU Motherboard Assembly The CPU motherboard contains high-core-count CPUs, system memory, network adapters, and PCIe switches. While essential for orchestration and general computation, its relative value is smaller than the GPU assembly, typically 20–25% of the PCB value .
  3. Memory (RAM and HBM) AI servers use high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and large-capacity DRAM to feed GPUs efficiently. Memory is a significant cost driver, often 10–15% of the total server value, and is critical for maintaining throughput during AI workloads .
  4. Storage Storage includes NVMe SSDs or other high-speed drives, providing persistent data access. In DGX systems, internal storage can reach 30 TB, but in terms of value, storage typically accounts for 5–10% of the total system .
  5. Power Modules and Cooling Power supply units and advanced cooling solutions (air, liquid, or immersion) are essential for reliability and thermal management. These components collectively represent 5–10% of the server's value, with cooling directly impacting performance and longevity .
  6. Semiconductors Across the server, semiconductors—including CPUs, GPUs, AI accelerators, FPGAs, DPUs, and memory chips—constitute over 50% of the total capital expenditure of an AI server rack, highlighting their dominance in both cost and functionality .

Software and Networking Layers

While not a physical component, the software stack—including operating systems, ML frameworks, containerization, and orchestration tools—is critical for performance. Networking hardware, such as high-speed interconnects, ensures efficient data movement between GPUs and storage. These layers are essential for AI workloads but are not typically quantified in physical proportion terms .

Summary of Approximate Proportions by Value

ComponentApproximate Proportion of Value
GPU Board Assembly50–60%
CPU Motherboard Assembly20–25%
Memory (HBM/DRAM)10–15%
Storage (NVMe/SSD)5–10%
Power & Cooling5–10%
Semiconductors (overall)>50% of total server rack cost

This distribution emphasizes that GPUs and semiconductors dominate both the computational capability and cost structure of AI servers, while CPUs, memory, storage, and power/cooling support the high-performance AI workloads .

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