Bolt Graphics successfully powers first Zeus GPU test chip

California-based startup Bolt Graphics has successfully powered its first Zeus project test chip, marking a significant milestone in the development of its high-performance GPU. The 12nm test chip, manufactured by TSMC, operated without functional complications and passed temperature tests ranging from minus 40 to 85 degrees Celsius.

The test chip demonstrated significant efficiency gains, consuming only 1.4 watts compared to the 35 watts required by the FPGA prototyping setup previously used. While the company stated that results exceeded internal expectations, it has not yet released specific performance benchmarks.

The Zeus architecture features dedicated hardware for electromagnetic simulation, intended to accelerate complex physical algorithms for applications such as radar sensors and camera lenses. CEO and founder Darwesh Singh noted that this hardware acceleration is a unique capability not currently offered by competitors.

Mass production of the final Zeus GPU, which will utilize TSMC’s N5P process and RISC-V processor cores, is not expected until 2028. To support its manufacturing partnerships, Bolt Graphics has also opened an office in Taipei. Additionally, reports indicate the company is seeking to raise approximately 100 million dollars at a valuation of around 700 million dollars.