Home Contact EN
To the Top
Introduction
EDPP
EUTs
Models
Contact

How to Conduct EDPP Test for AI Server Power Supply and GPU?

The testing framework developed for AI infrastructure for validating their robustness and stability against the volatile and unpredictable GPUs workload in AI server.

AI Data Center Testing   Get in Contact

AI Data Center Sever Rack

Electrical Operation Pattern of AI Server and Challenges to Power Architecture

What Issues Face AI Data Centers?




AI infrastructures built for handling and supporting the workload forced by AI servers and their GPUs clusters typically confront the challenges of extremely volatile and unpredictable power characteristics, with an uncomparable consumption of hundreds of megawatt-hours of electricity in contrast to that of conventional data centers.

Training of LLMs Results in Intensively High-Power Workload

Training Large Language Models (LLMs) requires an intensively high-power workload due to the exponential scale of model parameters, the massive volume of training data, and the hardware-heavy nature of iterative mathematical computations.

The Inflow and Processing of User Queries Do not Follow any Fixed Pattern

Unpredictable user query inflows cause spiky, volatile workloads for AI servers. This fluctuation makes resource allocation difficult, leads to rapid power and heat swings, increases latency during sudden peaks, and drives up overall data center operating costs.

Power Architecture Should be Robust to Withstand the Dynamic AI Server and GPUs Current Draw

The hardware challenges that AI infrastructure faces

AI Data Center Power Testing Equipment

AI infrastructure that supports the GPUs cluster is not a one-way system. Nevertheless, various stages and facilities along the infrastructure are aligned and integrated to operate with each other for the smooth systematical operation. Power travels through a complex chain from grid to busbar and power supply and then through the VRMs to finally drive GPUs. If any single link among such a chain is not sufficiently robust, the dynamic current draw of GPUs will break the system.

To quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the surrounding and upstream facilities and devices' robustness, EDPP (Electrical Data Peak Processing) applies and acts as the contract as well as benchmarking that every single component along the same must align with.

Introduction to EDPP Test and Its Technical Implication for AI Servers

Testing framework developed for AI data center and infrastructure

EDPP as the abbreviation of Electrical Data Peak Processing defines the maximum input current the graphic systems may draw from the infrastructure's power sources [Aetina, Source]. Despite that EDPP is not an international regulatory law of testing or certification (such as CE or UL safety certifications), the framework, as introduced by NVIDIA, has turned out to be well-accepted and crucial design and testing standards for modern AI data cetner industry. EDPP testing framework is bound up with 4 distinct parameters.

load steps and amplitude for EDPP testing
Load Steps and Amplitude
Load Steps and Amplitude

While there is no specific maximum current draw defined for EDPP as it varies according to different processor models, EDPP testing defines the maximum transient or instantaneous current allowed and restrained over a specific duration.

time frame and windows for EDPP testing
Time Frame and Windows
Time Frame and Windows

The time frame specifies the window and duration for which the tested devices are allowed to sustain the peak amplitude, maximum current draw, or GPU power profile. The time frame is typically measured in microseconds (μs) or milliseconds (ms). For example, a specific testing use case may enforce 1,400W for exactly 2 ms.

current slew rate for EDPP testing
Current Slew Rate (di/dt)
Current Slew Rate (di/dt)

Slew rate is a metric that represents the dynamics and volatility by which the maximum current draw is triggered. In other words, it measures the rate of change of current and specifies how fast the GPU ramps its power demand from baseline to peak. Current slew rate for EDPP testing is measured in amps per microsecond as A/μs.

duty cycle and repetition rate for EDPP testing
Duty Cycle and Repetition Rate
Duty Cycle and Repetition Rate

Duty cycle and repetition rate define the frequency by which the peak power profile is repeated during a given EDPP testing time frame. For example, when a test application specifies a 10% duty cycle at 1kHz, the source is verified with peak power for a 100-microsecond time frame, followed by a 900-microsecond pause before the current draw is enforced again.

Testing Applications and Use Cases

EUTs among AI infrastructure that fall within the applications of EDPP Testing


For Validating Power Supply Capability against Transient Workload


Source robustness testing as a variant of EDPP is intended for validating upstream power delivery network, primarily the Power Supply Unit (PSU) and the Voltage Regulator Modules (VRMs) on the motherboard or graphics card.

The DC load simulator replicates artificially the transient power spikes which often pull multiplied power rating for microseconds to milliseconds for testing whether there would be a voltage to drop (droop) below safe ATX or PCIe specifications or whether the spikes trigger the PSU’s internal safety mechanisms, such as Over Current Protection (OCP) or Over Power Protection (OPP).

Power infrastructure stability and resilience testing with dc load simulator

For Testing GPU's internal telemetry, firmware, and PMICs


A GPU's power limit capability is validated with the same operating as the EUT in coordination with a programmable power source that simulates the power infrastructure. Test engineers and developers, by injecting software provoked load profiles that drives the GPU's current draw, validates whether the GPU can effectively monitor its own power draw and react fast enough to stay within its designated EDPP boundaries.

AI Data Center Power Testing Equipment
PRL
PRL DC Load Simulator

DC Load Simulator for EDPP Testing

Redefining EDPP validation. The ActionPower PRL breaks the boundary between linear and switch-mode loads, delivering microsecond transient response and massive power in one platform.

Consult an Expert for AI Server EDPP Testing

Product Inquiry

Specification-matching testing and simulation solutions need discussion of both parties. Actionpower welcomes you inquiry to study together with us about how we can automate your testing processes.

Send Inquiry

Trade Shows & Events

These are the upcoming events and places you can find ACTIONPOWER and talk with us face-to-face!

Check Events

Social Media

Follow us to keep updated of our innovations.

LinkedInTwitter
Quick Model Access

Smart Discovery

Access our Power Supply Wizard to find the right programmable power supply for your use cases and testing scenarios.

discover programmable power supply by filtering with current, voltage and power ranges
CONTACT US

Contact Us

Professionalism is what we care about. Why not email us with your technical requirements fully explained rather than submitting a simple message so that we revert more proactively with detailed solutions?

Subscribe to Newsletter

Thank you for subscribing!