Equation 1 · Part 5 · The Real Resource Footprint of Building Colossus
subscript
subscript
What this part means
The lower label selects a particular version, component, or indexed member of the quantity. For example, x₀ and xₜ can be values at different positions.
Its job in the formula
A subscript distinguishes a version, component, step, or member of a quantity. It does not automatically mean multiplication.
Full expression→subscript→Article meaning
The passage around this formula
The technical starting point is disclosed with unusual precision, because Nvidia had a marketing interest in disclosing it. In an October 2024 press release, Nvidia stated that Colossus connected up to 100,000 liquid-cooled H100 GPUs on a single RDMA fabric using its Spectrum-X Ethernet platform, built in 122 days from the first rack’s arrival, with only 19 days between first rack and the start of training, and quoted Musk calling it “the most powerful training system in the world” [ 4 ] . Nvidia’s own current H100 product page lists the SXM variant’s thermal design power at up to 700 watts, configurable [ 5 ] . That is enough to write a first, deliberately narrow equation — the power draw…
Learn the underlying idea
A subscript is a label attached below a symbol. It often selects a time step, component, category, or member of a sequence.
Open the illustrated subscripts: which member of a family? guide →
Sources cited in the surrounding passage
- [4] NVIDIA Ethernet Networking Accelerates World's Largest AI Supercomputer, Built by xAI ↗
- [5] H100 GPU ↗
- [7] Fury From Campaigners as Elon Musk's xAI Gets 150MW for Colossus Supercomputer in Memphis ↗
These citations provide research context; check each source for the exact claim it supports.