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As AI models grow in complexity, a physical "power wall" is emerging. For decades, engineers have delivered and managed power from a distance, relying on voltage regulators on the motherboard. But as GPUs and other AI accelerators consume ever more power, that separation creates electrical "friction," which wastes energy, generates heat, and slows the system's ability to respond to rapid changes in workload.

Integrated voltage regulators (IVRs) tackle this problem by integrating most of the DC-DC converter into a single chip, including inductors and capacitors required for stable, smooth power delivery. Thanks to this integration, these power ICs enable voltage regulation to move directly into the xPU, whether a CPU, GPU, TPU, or NPU. The result is a shorter path between the voltage regulator and the transistors powered by it.