Nvidia Will Cool Servers with Hot Water

Nvidia is switching to an efficient liquid cooling technology that uses hot water for data center cooling in its new Rubin generation servers. Nvidia is introducing an unconventional method of using hot water for data center cooling in its new generation Rubin architecture servers. The coolant used in this system enters the system at around 45 degrees and exits at 55 degrees.

Using hot water allows heat transfer to occur efficiently, as the server chips operate at a higher temperature than the cooler. This design works with a closed-loop system that aims to reduce water consumption in data centers to almost zero. Nvidia's DSX reference design provides significant savings in energy costs by reducing the need for industrial cooling facilities.

It is estimated that more than 4 million dollars in energy and water cost savings can be achieved annually with this method in a 50 megawatt facility. The system uses a special coolant consisting of a mixture of 3 parts water and 1 part propylene glycol. This approach allows cooling units to operate with much lower power consumption while completely eliminating server fans.

Nvidia's method actually arises from a necessity that arises from the inadequacy of air cooling due to the high power density of the chips. The company makes liquid cooling a platform feature, enclosing all components in a closed loop. IBM implemented a similar technology using a 60-degree cooler in its prototype supercomputer at ETH Zurich 16 years ago.

Nvidia, on the other hand, scales this method by spreading it across an entire facility instead of a single machine. DSX stands out as a reference design that sets industrial standards and aims to reduce the environmental impact of data centers. Today, when cooling costs reach 40 percent of the total energy bill, this technology is seen as a critical step in terms of sustainability.

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