Chip giant Nvidia (NVDA) and computer maker Dell Technologies (DELL) are combining forces to power the Department of Energy’s (DOE) next-generation supercomputer, called Doudna. Named after Nobel Prize-winning scientist Jennifer Doudna, the advanced supercomputer is schedule for launch in 2026. The announcement was made by Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory yesterday.
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The Doudna supercomputer will use Nvidia’s latest “Vera Rubin” chips and will be built into Dell’s advanced liquid-cooled servers. The supercomputer is designed to help roughly 11,000 researchers across the U.S. drive “scientific discovery, from chemistry to physics to biology.”
Here’s What Doudna Is Expected to Do
Typically, the DOE’s supercomputers enable scientists to carry out fundamental scientific research and are also used for designing and maintaining the U.S. nuclear weapons store. Doudna is designed to integrate simulation, data, and artificial intelligence (AI) into a single platform. Scientists across the U.S. will be able to seamlessly steam data into the system and analyze real-time results.
Doudna is expected to drive breakthroughs in fusion energy, materials science, accelerate drug discoveries, process real-time data from space, and support quantum workflows. The supercomputer is expected to be 10x faster in scientific output than its predecessor, Perlmutter, while using only 2x-3x more power.
Nvidia’s Crucial Role Amid Export Challenges
Nvidia’s involvement in this mission-critical project reflects the semiconductor giant’s valued expertise and its importance to the U.S. administration. The news about Doudna comes amid Nvidia’s ongoing struggle with chip exports to China. Recently, CEO Jensen Huang praised U.S. President Donald Trump for his “vision” to boost domestic manufacturing, while also criticizing the stringent chip export restrictions on Nvidia, which have cost the company billions of dollars in lost revenue.
The company has also drawn bipartisan criticism for its plan to open a research and development facility in Shanghai, with lawmakers citing national security concerns and warning of potential risks.
Which AI Stock Is Better: NVDA or DELL?
We used TipRanks’ Stock Comparison Tool to determine which of the two companies, Nvidia or Dell, is currently favored by analysts. Investors can choose to invest in either stock after thorough research.
Currently, both NVDA and DELL have earned analysts’ “Strong Buy” consensus rating, with NVDA stock offering higher upside potential compared to DELL.
