Defining the Modern Data Center: Adapting to AI Demand

By Jimmy Sneed

The definition of a modern data center has evolved in recent years due to the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Unlike traditional data centers, primarily focused on data storage and management, modern data centers are complex facilities designed to support the intense computational demands of AI and other advanced technologies. This shift is driving changes in energy consumption, cooling methods, and overall infrastructure design.

THE MODERN DATA CENTER

A modern data center still serves the same fundamental purpose: collecting, storing, and managing data on servers. However, the capabilities of these servers have advanced, with processing power increasing exponentially. The AI revolution has also drastically increased the energy requirements of modern data centers. For example, a single AI-powered search query can consume ten times more energy than a traditional Google search.

With this leap in technology and surge in energy demand, traditional cooling methods, such as air circulation, are no longer sufficient in cooling today’s servers. Instead, modern data centers are turning to innovative cooling solutions to manage the heat generated in the facilities.

INNOVATIVE COOLING SOLUTIONS

One solution is liquid cooling. Chilled water or refrigerant is circulated directly to the servers or the chips inside to absorb and dissipate heat. This method ensures only the necessary components in a data center are cooled, which is far more efficient than cooling entire rooms. Additionally, some cutting-edge data centers are experimenting with submerging servers in mineral oil, which can directly absorb and transfer heat away from the equipment. Today, this technology is one of the most efficient in cooling, minimizing energy waste while maximizing server performance.

By embracing innovative cooling technologies and sustainable energy practices, modern data centers are evolving to support future digital infrastructure needs. For questions about modern data centers, please reach out to our team at jsneed@wbengineering.com. This page is also an available resource for learning more about our experience designing modern data centers.