The Definitive Guide toAI Data Centers
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GuideGlossaryTDP

TDP · Thermal Design Power

A vendor-defined thermal/design rating used to size a product's power and cooling envelope. Its definition and test basis vary by product; TDP is not necessarily measured sustained electrical input, typical workload draw, or maximum/peak power.

Use the vendor's named product definition and test basis. Keep TDP separate from measured sustained input, typical workload power, peak/transient limits, and the system-level rack design rating.

Also written as: Thermal Design Power

Current numbers

~132 kW nominal; ~155 kW peakper HPE GB300 NVL72 rack — 132 kW nominal TDP and approximately 155 kW peak electrical design power; HPE recommends provisioning busways for 192 kWas of 2026-05-04 · register ↗
~132–142 kW nominal; ~155 kW peakGB300 NVL72 rack TDP (to ~155 kW peak); ~90% heat to liquid, ~10% to airas of 2026-03 · register ↗
~1.5× TDPEDPp (electrical design power, peak) as the real sizing basis vs nameplate TDPas of 2026 · register ↗

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