ASUS has unveiled the ExpertCenter Pro ET900N G3, a groundbreaking desktop workstation that integrates NVIDIA's Grace Blackwell GB300 Ultra Superchip, traditionally reserved for server environments, into a desktop form factor. This innovation brings unprecedented AI computing power directly to the desktop, catering to professionals in AI development and high-performance computing.
Unprecedented Performance and Memory Capacity
At the heart of the ExpertCenter Pro ET900N G3 is the NVIDIA GB300 Ultra Superchip, which combines a Grace CPU with a Blackwell Ultra GPU. This integration delivers up to 20 petaFLOPS of FP4 performance, positioning it well beyond the capabilities of even the most advanced gaming or creator setups. The system boasts a substantial 784 GB of unified memory, comprising 288 GB of HBM3E on the GPU and 496 GB of LPDDR5X for the Grace CPU. This extensive memory pool is specifically designed to handle demanding workloads such as large language models and complex scientific simulations. (asus.com)
Advanced Connectivity and Expandability
The ExpertCenter Pro ET900N G3 is equipped with a ConnectX-8 SuperNIC, providing 800 Gb/s networking capabilities. This high-speed connectivity is essential for seamless integration into AI clusters and for managing data-intensive tasks. The system also features three PCIe x16 slots for additional GPUs or accelerators and three M.2 SSD slots, offering significant expandability. Power requirements are robustly supported with dedicated 12V-2×6 GPU connectors, allowing the system to handle up to 1,800W for graphics alone. (tomshardware.com)
Software and Usability
Preloaded with NVIDIA's DGX OS, a customized Ubuntu build optimized for AI workloads, the ExpertCenter Pro ET900N G3 ensures compatibility with NVIDIA's comprehensive software stack, including CUDA and TensorRT. This setup facilitates efficient development and deployment of AI applications. Despite its server-grade capabilities, the workstation maintains a desktop form factor, eliminating the need for rack installation or specialized cooling solutions, thus making high-performance AI computing more accessible. (techradar.com)
Market Position and Pricing
Targeted at AI laboratories and research teams requiring server-level performance in a desktop configuration, the ExpertCenter Pro ET900N G3 is expected to be priced above $30,000. This positions it as a premium solution for organizations seeking top-tier AI computing power without the infrastructure demands of traditional server setups.
Conclusion
The ASUS ExpertCenter Pro ET900N G3 represents a significant advancement in desktop computing, bringing server-grade AI performance to a more accessible form factor. Its combination of NVIDIA's cutting-edge hardware, extensive memory capacity, and high-speed connectivity makes it a formidable tool for professionals engaged in AI development and high-performance computing tasks.
Source: Windows Report ASUS Turns NVIDIA’s Grace Blackwell Superchip Into a Desktop AI Beast
