Leveraging GaN Products – How to Get Started

Oct. 8, 2018
This is the final entry in a four-part Data Center Frontier special report series that explores how Gallium Nitride, or GaN, is showing significant benefits for data center equipment refreshes. This post provides a primer for leveraging GaN products in your business, and how to get started improving power efficiency. 

This is the final entry in a four-part Data Center Frontier special report series that explores how Gallium Nitride, or GaN, is showing significant benefits for data center equipment refreshes. This post provides a primer for leveraging GaN products in your business, and how to get started improving power efficiency. 

Download the full report.

Foresight is invaluable to any forward-thinking strategic business leader, whether they operate in the data center industry or elsewhere. Pre-empting the capping out of silicon-driven power is an opportunity for data center leaders to design future-proofed facilities that maximize performance and output at every level. Consider that power supply efficiency — particularly when gained through the use of GaN — affects more than just the power supplies themselves. It also affects cooling and space efficiency as power density increases and cooling loads decrease.

Proving the technology’s viability, high-voltage GaN applications demonstrate the potential positive impact from OPEX to power output. The market will see more product manufacturers releasing servers, power supplies and other end equipment that leverage this semiconductor technology’s benefits. Related, as explained earlier, these manufacturers often source Transphorm, as it is currently the only high-voltage GaN manufacturer offering qualified, high-reliability third-generation transistors. Trusted Transphorm transistors deliver:

  • Bi-directional switch. Ability to use Bridgeless Totem-pole topology efficiently
  • Faster devices. Lower cross over switching losses
  • Lower capacitance. Reduced losses when charging and discharging devices
  • Less drive charge needed. Reduced gate drive requirements, which improves the circuit’s efficiency and ease of driveability

Manufacturers often source Transphorm, as it is currently the only high-voltage GaN manufacturer offering qualified, highreliability third-generation transistors.

In short, the new power semiconductor technology can translate to better data center performance and efficiency, as it reliably handles growing workloads.

The takeaway for data center and IT decision makers is simply this: During your next refresh cycle, consider a “bottoms up” approach. Explore whether supplies and other IT equipment you are vetting deploy GaN. Research what’s available to you. Ask the right questions of your suppliers.

While this is a niche area within the data center’s overall infrastructure and IT plan, making small changes at this level may impact decisions you make at more prominent levels. If you have more efficient main power sources, cooler supplies, smaller supplies, what changes can you make elsewhere to produce a higher performing, more competitive data center overall?

As you embark on your next refresh cycle, evaluate GaN as a technology that can make a real difference. Educate yourself, and start the conversation with your suppliers and colleagues.

This Data Center Frontier series, focused on data center efficiency and GaN products, also covered the following topics:

Download the full Data Center Frontier Special Report, “Optimizing Data Center Power Efficiency: How Forefront GaN Technologies Show Significant Benefits for Data Center Refreshes,” courtesy of  transphorm. 

And for further coverage, check out Data Center Frontier’s page dedicated to the GaN market that will provide the latest stats and info on the power conversion tool that has the potential to change the landscape of the modern data center.

About the Author

Bill Kleyman

Bill Kleyman is a veteran, enthusiastic technologist with experience in data center design, management and deployment. Bill is currently a freelance analyst, speaker, and author for some of our industry's leading publications.

Sponsored Recommendations

Guide to Environmental Sustainability Metrics for Data Centers

Unlock the power of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting in the data center industry with our comprehensive guide, proposing 28 key metrics across five categories...

The AI Disruption: Challenges and Guidance for Data Center Design

From large training clusters to small edge inference servers, AI is becoming a larger percentage of data center workloads. Learn more.

A better approach to boost data center capacity – Supply capacity agreements

Explore a transformative approach to data center capacity planning with insights on supply capacity agreements, addressing the impact of COVID-19, the AI race, and the evolving...

How Modernizing Aging Data Center Infrastructure Improves Sustainability

Explore the path to improved sustainability in data centers by modernizing aging infrastructure, uncovering challenges, three effective approaches, and specific examples outlined...

iStock, courtesy of AFL

Hyperscale: The AI Tsunami

AFL's Alan Keizer and Keith Sullivan explore how AI is driving change and creating challenges for data centers.

White Papers

Dcf Siemon Sp Cover 2022 02 28 17 26 36 232x300
Dcf Siemon Sp Cover 2022 02 28 17 26 36 232x300
Dcf Siemon Sp Cover 2022 02 28 17 26 36 232x300
Dcf Siemon Sp Cover 2022 02 28 17 26 36 232x300
Dcf Siemon Sp Cover 2022 02 28 17 26 36 232x300

The Journey to 400/800G has Begun

March 3, 2022
Siemon explains the factors data centers should consider when determining which path to 400G they should take.