Gigabyte AI TOP ATOM Power Consumption
Our Gigabyte AI TOP ATOM came with a 240W Delta power adapter that terminated into a USB PD Type-C connector.
At idle, we were in the 36-37W range with the NIC connected. This is much higher than mobile-focused Arm CPUs and iGPUs. On the other hand, one should remember that this also includes the NVIDIA ConnectX-7 NIC. Removing the connection can save something like 18W, but you are likely going to have it connected if you scale up. Officially, this is a 240W box, but we saw peaks just under 200W, and the sustained load was generally in the 102-158W range, depending on what was running. There is probably room to increase power consumption from where we were, but overall this is a good result.
Final Words
While Gigabyte’s GB10 system is largely tethered to NVIDIA’s design specifications in terms of functionality and hardware configurations, Gigabyte has still managed to put together a cool black counterpart to NVIDIA’s flashy gold box.
Chassis colors aside, the biggest differentiator for Gigabyte at the moment is minimum configurations and pricing. While NVIDIA only sells its flagship DGX Spark in a 4TB storage configuration for $4699 (previously $3999), the pricing on Gigabyte’s systems has yet to fully catch up to those price increases. So at this (likely fleeting) moment, Gigabyte has an edge across the board: a 4TB system equal to a DGX Spark for just $4000, a cheaper PCIe Gen4 4TB configuration for $3900, and a 1TB configuration for around $3500.
4TB price increases aside, the 1TB configuration remains a particularly interesting offering. For curious developers who can find utility in a DGX Spark but may not need all of that storage space, the 1TB Gigabyte AI TOP ATOM offers a tantalizing and meaningfully cheaper option for stepping into NVIDIA’s Grace Blackwell ecosystem.
With the current price of DRAM and ConnectX-7 NICs, the 1TB model is like buying an ultra-fast Ubuntu-based Linux Arm mini-PC with an NVIDIA GPU for a few hundred dollars.
When we first saw NVIDIA roll out its partner GB10 systems, we were a bit skeptical of the vendors’ ability to differentiate. At a (currently) $700 lower price point and with great cooling, Spark-alike boxes such as the AI TOP ATOM have become a strong alternative to NVIDIA’s in-house design.
Where to Buy
If you wanted to find the Gigabyte AI TOP ATOM online, here are Amazon Affiliate links to the 4TB model and the 1TB model. Pricing is really volatile right now, as GB10 pricing is being adjusted to reflect DRAM price increases.
