SiFive unveils BigSky RISC-V server capable of running NVIDIA CUDA

SiFive has introduced the BigSky SF-2U870, a rack-mountable 2U server designed to advance the development of professional server applications using the open RISC-V architecture. The platform is built on SiFive’s P870-D processor design, which supports the RVA23 profile and is compatible with operating systems such as Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.

A key technical milestone involves a collaboration with NVIDIA, where the BigSky server acts as a host system to run CUDA software. While the RISC-V processors handle the operating system and control functions, the CUDA kernels are executed on an attached NVIDIA GPU. This demonstration shows the ability to use a RISC-V host for modern AI workloads, a capability previously centered on x86 and Arm architectures.

At the Hot Chips 2026 conference, updates regarding RISC-V standards and adoption were also highlighted. The RISC-V project, which originated from UC Berkeley, has evolved into a global community-developed standard. The architecture utilizes a modular approach, consisting of base ISAs, extensions, and profiles to manage various processor implementations.