Power Integrations unveils 1700V GaN auxiliary PSU for AI data centers - digitimes

Power Integrations has launched two ultra-thin, compact auxiliary power supply (PSU) reference designs specifically engineered for 800VDC AI data centers. This innovative product leverages 1700V galli... Read original →

Power Integrations’ 1700V GaN auxiliary PSU isn’t just a component upgrade—it signals a fundamental re-architecture of AI data center power delivery. Technically, it pressures GaN epitaxy and packaging suppliers to achieve higher breakdown voltages and thermal performance, while forcing liquid-cooling integrators like Nvidia to co-design power modules with tighter spatial and thermal constraints. Regulatory shifts—especially the EU’s upcoming Data Center Energy Efficiency Code and U.S. IRA green semiconductor incentives—now mandate such high-efficiency solutions, raising compliance barriers for smaller players. Competitors like Infineon and onsemi will likely retrofit 1200V SiC into 800VDC systems, but GaN’s superior light-load efficiency and footprint advantage create a generational gap. Within 18 months, we’ll see 'power subsystem convergence,' where main and auxiliary rails are co-optimized, accelerating GaN adoption across 48V–800V domains. Taiwanese and mainland Chinese power IC vendors lacking integrated high-voltage GaN capability risk exclusion from premium AI infrastructure supply chains.