How do Delta's 800 VDC power systems compare to Eaton's for AI workload efficiency?
Posted on: Oct 8, 2026 | Author: Justin
Delta vs Eaton 800 VDC for AI data centers: what each builds, where efficiency claims come from, and what to ask vendors before you buy.
Delta and Eaton both support the 800 VDC architecture that NVIDIA has proposed for AI data centers, but they supply different parts of the power chain. A direct efficiency ranking is not possible from public data yet. Delta has published efficiency figures for its hardware, while the Eaton sources I found describe reference designs without matching numbers.
What 800 VDC is
This high-voltage DC architecture feeds GPU racks at 800 volts DC instead of the usual AC and 48 to 54 V rack distribution. NVIDIA built it for racks of about 1 MW and beyond. Higher voltage means lower current, so it needs less copper, fewer conversion losses, and smaller busway for the same power. NVIDIA has stated it can move about 85% more power through the same conductor size, with up to a 5% gain in end-to-end power efficiency. These are NVIDIA's own figures.
What Delta has shown
- An 800 VDC in-row power rack rated at 660 kW, with up to 98% AC-DC efficiency and integrated battery backup
- A solid-state transformer that converts medium-voltage AC to 800 VDC, with Delta claiming up to 98.5% efficiency
- A 90 kW DC/DC power shelf and a prefabricated modular data center with liquid cooling
What Eaton has shown
Eaton has released a reference architecture for 800 VDC and a grid-to-chip platform built around NVIDIA's AI factory designs. Eaton is best known for UPS systems, switchgear, busway, and protection equipment.
Where each fits
| Area | Delta | Eaton |
|---|
| Strength | Power conversion, power shelves, cooling | Grid-side distribution, UPS, switchgear, protection |
| Published efficiency figures | Yes, vendor claims | Not found in sources reviewed |
| Typical role | Rack and row-level power | Facility-level distribution and protection |
What to ask vendors
- Measured end-to-end efficiency at 20%, 50%, and 100% load
- Fault protection and safety certification for 800 V DC
- Compatibility with your GPU platform and rack design
- Delivery dates, since volume deployment is expected to ramp through 2027
Vendor claims describe best-case results. Ask for third-party test data before you decide, and check for updates, as this area changes fast.
Comments (0)
No comment