Discussion Bolt Graphics Zeus GPU

[marees]

Bolt Graphics unveils Zeus, a specialized GPU targeting path tracing, CAD, and HPC applications with expandable memory up to 384GB and integrated RISC-V cores. The company claims Zeus 4c delivers 13× RTX 5090 ray-tracing performance, while Zeus 1c provides 3.25× improvement. However, these claims rely entirely on internal simulations. Zeus trades traditional shader performance (10–20 TFLOPS versus RTX 5090’s 105 TFLOPS) for ray-tracing optimization. Developer kits arrive in 2026, with mass production in 2027, creating uncertainty about real-world performance versus ambitious projections.

An HPC accelerator / GPU with RISC-V. Why does that remind me of Larrabee that lead to Xeon Phi?

Vaporware at this point (dev kit by Q4'25), but worth following.

Bolt Graphics Zeus The New GPU Architecture with up to 2.25TB of Memory and 800GbE

The upcoming Bolt Graphics Zeus GPU architecture offers up to 6x 800GbE links and 2.2TB of memory on a 500W TDP GPU

www.servethehome.com

Bolt Graphics Zeus The New GPU Architecture with up to 2.25TB of Memory and 800GbE

The upcoming Bolt Graphics Zeus GPU architecture offers up to 6x 800GbE links and 2.2TB of memory on a 500W TDP GPU

www.servethehome.com

Bolt Graphics’ Zeus GPU technical overview

RISC-V intersection engines make for speed.

www.jonpeddie.com

 

[fastandfurious6]

big if true!

 

[regen1]

Creating Brad: A Blender-Based Pipeline - Bolt Graphics

Brad has evolved a lot since his first appearance. Matt is giving us the behind the scenes tour of how he used Blender to create Brad.

bolt.graphics

Bolt Graphics joins the Blender Development Fund as Corporate Patron — Blender

Bolt Graphics, the developer of an upcoming graphics processor joining the Blender Development Fund.

www.blender.org

 

[regen1]

 

[marees]

bolt graphics made a splash in CES 2026

https://twitter.com/x/status/2009977458557120872

Bolt Graphics claims 10x RTX 5090 path tracing performance, but proof is still pending​

Gamers, unfortunately, may not have a lot to look forward to​

According to FP64 math benchmarks published by Bolt Graphics, the entry-level Zeus 1C featuring a single processing unit can deliver up to 2.5 times the path tracing performance of an RTX 5090.

The card is equipped with 32GB of LPDDR5X memory offering 273GB/s of bandwidth and can be expanded with up to 128GB of DDR5 memory via two SO-DIMM modules at 80GB/s.

The dual-silicon Zeus 2C, with up to 128GB of LPDDR5X memory, is claimed to provide 5 times the path tracing performance of Nvidia's flagship GPU. Meanwhile, the quad-silicon Zeus 4C – designed as a server platform rather than a standalone card – could deliver up to ten times the performance.

Bolt has not released any rasterization or traditional rendering benchmarks, nor has it announced a precise launch date, though the company has previously stated that Zeus is expected to be available sometime in 2026.


At CES 2026, California-based GPU startup Bolt Graphics showcased its Zeus GPU platform, targeting gaming, CAD workloads, and HPC simulations. Originally announced a year ago, Zeus is built around an open-source RISC-V ISA command processor and promises up to 10x the path tracing performance of Nvidia's RTX 5090.

The prototype card on display at CES supports up to 384GB of combined LPDDR5X and DDR5 memory, including as much as 128GB of soldered VRAM. It also features up to four DDR5 SO-DIMM slots and an 800Gbps memory interface. Power consumption tops out at 225W, delivered through an 8-pin PCIe connector.

https://www.techspot.com/news/110869-bolt-graphics-claims-10x-rtx-5090-path-tracing.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

[ToTTenTranz]

I really want this to be real and to thrive, but when I go to their webpage and all they have in their "about us" page is a picture of their CEO who looks like he's under 30 and all it says about his work experience is how he used to work in data centers, I can't help but feel like this sounds a bit like a hoax.


Who's making the ASIC and where, at which process? Who worked on the architecture? Where are the papers about the architecture? Who is the driver team? Who's working on dev relations?

 

[adroc_thurston]

Who's making the ASIC and where, at which process? Who worked on the architecture? Where are the papers about the architecture? Who is the driver team? Who's working on dev relations?

It looks like a normal VC exit scam and can be safely ignored.

 

[fastandfurious6]

It's a very weak show claiming to have a card prototype but zero benchmarks zero proof

 

[regen1]

I really want this to be real and to thrive, but when I go to their webpage and all they have in their "about us" page is a picture of their CEO who looks like he's under 30 and all it says about his work experience is how he used to work in data centers, I can't help but feel like this sounds a bit like a hoax.


Who's making the ASIC and where, at which process? Who worked on the architecture? Where are the papers about the architecture? Who is the driver team? Who's working on dev relations?

Yeah, scant on details. All they have shown is a demo on an FPGA, right ?
Probably haven't taped out a test chip yet, may be in some time.
Their HPC claims too are somewhat iffy(comparison selections, etc.)
Interestingly their bandwidth is relatively low as well.

They didn't announce anything new at CES or did they?
Till something more concrete comes up there's not much to look forward to.

 

[MrMPFR]

March 2025: https://www.servethehome.com/bolt-g...ure-with-up-to-2-25tb-of-memory-and-800gbe/2/
"In terms of availability, early access to developer kits is scheduled for Q4 2025 and then scaling in Q4 2026."

August 2025: https://www.techpowerup.com/339561/...u-dev-kits-arrive-2026-for-gaming-hpc-and-cad
"Bolt Graphics notes that the developer kits are on track to arrive in 2026, with mass production set for 2027."

They keep moving the timeline. Ignore this.

 

[soresu]

March 2025: https://www.servethehome.com/bolt-g...ure-with-up-to-2-25tb-of-memory-and-800gbe/2/
"In terms of availability, early access to developer kits is scheduled for Q4 2025 and then scaling in Q4 2026."

August 2025: https://www.techpowerup.com/339561/...u-dev-kits-arrive-2026-for-gaming-hpc-and-cad
"Bolt Graphics notes that the developer kits are on track to arrive in 2026, with mass production set for 2027."

They keep moving the timeline. Ignore this.

BG's promises do carry a whiff of acquisition bait, but that being said it would be strange if the AI datacenter boom and associated component drought hadn't pushed the roadmaps of multiple IT start ups back by a year or more.