Microsoft shows off two new chips for data processing, security at Ignite
- Amid a bevy of announcements at its annual Ignite conference, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) unveiled two new custom processors aimed at its data centers for increased security and speeding up artificial intelligence processes.
- The two new chips, known as Azure Integrated HSM (security) and the Azure Boost data processing unit, are designed to be installed inside Microsoft’s Azure data center infrastructure and work seamlessly with it. Microsoft said the DPU can run certain tasks, such as storing cloud data, at three times less power and four times better performance than current hardware.
- Microsoft’s DPU chip compete with existing offerings already in the marketplace, such as Nvidia’s (NVDA) Bluefield DPU lineup and AMD’s (AMD) Pensando DPU lineup.
- The announcement of the new chips come after Microsoft unveiled new AI-related processors at last year’s Ignite event, the Maia 100 and Cobalt 100.
- Microsoft shares fell 0.8% in early trading on Tuesday.