The
latest range of racks for computer rooms have dumped the use of fridges to
keep the servers chilly. Rackable Systems today announced a new type of
cabinet that likes the warm instead of cooling.
CloudRack C2 dumps
cooling and a power supply and allows the C2 to run normally at temperatures
almost double the usual rate. It also takes out the heat-generating power
supply that connects to every rack and connects everything directly to DC
power plugs. Instead of a power supply for each rack, the cabinet itself has
one very large AC to DC converter.
According to a press release, the
cabinet has 99 percent power efficiency because the DC power draw at each
rack is exactly what the rack needs at that time. The C2 cabinets can hold up
to 1,280 cores, or 320 processors.
The CloudRack C2 is thermally
optimised to allow datacenters to operate at up to 40 degrees Celsius and is
based on research that shows that datacenters can operate safely at higher
temperatures.
Because the rack is not paying for cooling systems it can
use less electricity. Of course you could also use the server room to bake
cakes.
More information can be found
here.