Maximize GPU cluster utilization and prevent AI job failures with software-driven fabrics that optimize communication across Ethernet, RoCE, or InfiniBand.
Intel Gaudi
Scale massive generative AI models efficiently with purpose-built accelerators designed for enterprises needing superior price-performance and linear scalability.
Price not published

About Intel Gaudi
Intel Gaudi represents a specialized line of AI accelerators developed by Habana Labs, an Intel company, designed to meet the rigorous demands of deep learning and generative AI. Unlike general-purpose graphics processors, the Gaudi architecture was built from the ground up specifically for high-performance training and inference. The product line has evolved through three generations—Gaudi, Gaudi 2, and Gaudi 3—each offering progressive improvements in compute power and efficiency. By focusing on the unique data patterns of neural networks, these processors aim to provide a more cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative for large-scale AI deployment in data centers. The technical foundation of the Intel Gaudi platform is its emphasis on massive scalability and integrated networking. Every accelerator includes 24 ports of 200 GbE integrated directly onto the silicon. This design choice allows for near-linear scalability across large clusters of chips, which is essential for training massive models like GPT-3. By using standard Ethernet rather than proprietary interconnects, Intel Gaudi offers a more flexible and cost-effective path for system scale-out. Complementing the hardware is the Intel Gaudi Software Suite, which includes tools designed to simplify the migration of models from other platforms, ensuring that developers can transition their workloads with minimal code adjustments. This hardware is primarily intended for enterprises, cloud service providers, and research institutions that handle large-scale AI workloads. It is particularly effective for organizations looking to reduce the total cost of ownership associated with training and deploying large language models or complex computer vision systems. Use cases span several critical industries: in healthcare, Gaudi can power rapid analysis of medical imaging like chest X-rays; in fintech, it supports automated loan and credit management; and in retail, it facilitates automatic inventory management and checkout-free technologies. What distinguishes Intel Gaudi from industry competitors is its proven price-performance ratio. Benchmarks have shown that Gaudi 2 is a viable alternative to high-end GPUs for training large-scale models. On cloud platforms like Amazon EC2, Gaudi instances have demonstrated up to a 40% improvement in price-performance. This combination of competitive performance, integrated high-speed networking, and significant cost savings makes it a strategic choice for businesses looking to scale their AI capabilities without the high costs often associated with traditional hardware paths.
Intel Gaudi pros & cons
Pros
- Integrated 24 200 GbE ports on every chip allow for massive scale-out without external network interface cards.
- Delivers up to 40% better price-performance on Amazon EC2 DL1 instances compared to alternative GPU-based instances.
- Validated by MLPerf benchmarks as a viable alternative to industry-leading H100 GPUs for training large models like GPT-3.
- Offers a comprehensive software suite designed to ease the migration of existing GPU-based models to the Gaudi platform.
Cons
- Hardware acquisition costs and direct purchase prices are not publicly listed, necessitating contact with sales teams for quotes.
- Optimizing performance requires using the specialized Intel Gaudi software suite, which involves a migration process for existing projects.
Intel Gaudi use cases
- AI researchers can use Gaudi 2 and 3 to train large language models like GPT-3 with competitive performance and lower costs.
- Healthcare providers can implement Gaudi-based systems to accelerate the time-sensitive analysis of medical imagery like X-rays and MRIs.
- Fintech developers can utilize the Gaudi platform to streamline high-volume operations such as credit management and loan processing.
- Cloud architects can deploy Gaudi instances via AWS to provide scalable and cost-effective deep learning compute to their end users.
- Autonomous vehicle engineers can leverage Gaudi high-throughput processing to handle the massive datasets required for safety-critical AI training.
Intel Gaudi features
- mlperf benchmarked performance
- multi-node scale-out networking
- third-generation gaudi 3 architecture
- gpu-to-gaudi migration tools
- production-grade inference support
- deep learning training optimization
- near-linear scalability
- integrated 24 200 gbe ports
Intel Gaudi pricing
Is Intel Gaudi free? No, Intel Gaudi doesn't offer a free plan.
Amazon EC2 DL1 Instances
Price varies
- Up to 40% better price-performance
- Access via AWS cloud environment
- Scalable instance configurations
- Deep learning training optimization
- Habana SDK integration
Intel Gaudi Accelerators
Price varies
- Gaudi 2 or Gaudi 3 hardware
- Integrated 24 200 GbE ports
- On-premises data center deployment
- Direct software suite support
- Full hardware warranty
Intel Gaudi FAQs
What is the main difference between Gaudi 2 and Gaudi 3?
Gaudi 2 is a second-generation accelerator for deep learning training and inference, while Gaudi 3 is the third-generation designed specifically for high-performance Gen AI enterprise applications. Gaudi 3 provides more advanced compute capabilities to handle the demands of the current large-scale era of AI.
Can I migrate my existing GPU-based models to Intel Gaudi?
Yes, the Intel Gaudi software suite is specifically optimized to ease the migration of existing GPU-based models to the Gaudi platform. It includes tools and libraries that lower the technical bar for building and migrating deep learning models while maintaining high performance.
How does Intel Gaudi achieve near-linear scalability?
Every Intel Gaudi accelerator has 24 integrated 200 GbE ports built directly onto the chip. This integrated networking allows for massive system scale-out that is both flexible and cost-effective without requiring external network interface cards.
Where can I access Intel Gaudi hardware for development?
Developers can access Gaudi performance through Amazon EC2 DL1 instances or via dedicated enterprise servers. There is also a comprehensive developer site, community forum, and a GitHub repository provided to support the build and migration process.
Ratings & reviews
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