You’ve probably heard of it, and maybe you’ve even seen it featured on various YouTube channels. The Sphere in Las Vegas has been causing quite a stir on social media since its grand opening last year. Standing 112 meters tall with a circumference of 157 meters and an exterior display surface of 53,000 square meters, “The Sphere” is impossible to miss as you stroll down the Strip, the famous boulevard connecting numerous hotels and casinos in the heart of Vegas.
Behind the Scenes with Nvidia
Until recently, it was speculated but not confirmed that Nvidia’s technology powers this futuristic concert hall. On July 9, Nvidia officially detailed the technical setup used to drive both the gigantic exterior screen and the massive interior display of The Sphere in a blog post.
Massive Screens Require Massive Power
The Sphere boasts two incredible screens: the external “ExoSphere” and the internal “Media Plane.” The ExoSphere features approximately 1.2 million programmable LED modules, each containing 48 individual LEDs, making it the largest LED display setup in the world. Inside, the Media Plane spans nearly 15,000 square meters, offering a 16K resolution at 60 frames per second.
To manage this colossal 70,000 square meters of display space (both inside and outside), Nvidia relies on 150 A6000 graphics cards. Originally designed for data centers and supercomputers, these GPUs handle the internal 16 x 16K definition of the Media Plane and the 1.2 million LED modules on the exterior.
Nvidia goes further by using proprietary software and hardware solutions, including Nvidia BlueField DPUs, Nvidia ConnectX-6 Dx Ethernet NICs, Nvidia DOCA, and Nvidia Rivermax, to ensure seamless video streaming and synchronization of all display panels as a single cohesive unit.
Cutting-Edge Content Creation
The 16K/60 FPS content shown in The Sphere is actually captured in 18K native and uncompressed using a new camera named Big Sky. This advanced camera allows for native content display on the giant internal screen without needing to stitch together multiple lower-resolution streams.
Nvidia mentions that these contents are processed using Lenovo workstations powered by Nvidia A40 GPUs, and their production involves customized software tailored for The Sphere’s unique requirements. The tools used include Unreal Engine, Unity, Touch Designer, and Notch.
Addressing Power Consumption Concerns
While Nvidia highlights the technical marvels, it remains silent on the significant energy and environmental impact of The Sphere. Each Nvidia A6000 GPU has a thermal design power of about 300 watts, and the total consumption can reach around 45,000 watts, according to ExtremeTech. A few months ago, PCGamer estimated that The Sphere’s peak power consumption is about 28 million watts. This immense energy demand is not only due to its display needs but also because of the 167,000 individual speakers scattered throughout the venue, some of which are integrated into the 20,000 3D Audio seats in the stands.
Conclusion
The Sphere in Las Vegas is a testament to Nvidia’s technological prowess, showcasing the power and potential of advanced GPUs in creating immersive experiences. However, as we marvel at this technological wonder, it’s important to consider the environmental footprint such innovations leave behind.
My name is Noah and I’m a dedicated member of the “Jason Deegan” team. With my passion for technology, I strive to bring you the latest and most exciting news in the world of high-tech.