More than just a substrate, how AI is driving PCBs from passive components to become key decision-makers in system performance
In the past, PCBs were often viewed as relatively passive, cost-driven components within a system. However, in AI servers, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, this positioning is being radically overturned. For motherboards equipped with high-end GPUs and ASICs, the material quality of the PCB directly determines the upper limit of the system's computing performance. Selecting an Ultra Low Loss PCB, while representing only a small portion of the total system cost, ensures that the expensive chips above it can achieve 100% of their potential. Conversely, using inferior materials to save costs can lead to a "dimensionality reduction attack" on the entire high-performance computing system. Therefore, PCBs are no longer just connectors; they are now key decision-makers that actively influence overall performance, significantly elevating their position in the value chain and their profit margins.