For this episode of the Data Center Frontier Show podcast, we welcome Mark Seymour, Distinguished Engineer with Cadence Design Systems, for a discussion of the big question on everyone’s mind right now in this industry: data center power demand and where it's going in the context of rapid digitalization and exponential growth of HPC and AI computing needs, and how that compares and contrasts, or even conflicts, with increasing environmental concerns and regulations.
The conversation also highlights the importance of digital twins for managing data center efficiency and the advantages of liquid cooling technology, and particularly immersion cooling, as a sustainable alternative to traditional methods. In the course of our interview, Seymour also emphasizes the data center industry's responsiveness to societal demands for sustainability, citing initiatives such as ubiquitous tree planting by project developers, and the need to adapt to new technological challenges.
Here's a timeline of the podcast's key moments:
2:59 - Seymour explains that AI is essentially high-performance computing, which is now required in many data centers that previously did not need it.
12:05 - Addressing the challenges and potential of immersion cooling technology: Emphasizing its growing acceptance, but also the need for confidence in its operation.
17:52 - Talk turns to the importance of digital twins in ultimately managing data center efficiency, with Seymour highlighting the necessity for understanding the interrelated behaviors of IT infrastructure and cooling systems.
24:18 - Discussion circles back to immersion cooling as a sustainable option for data centers, with Seymour expounding on its advantages over traditional cooling methods.
27:44 - Seymour elaborates on the improvements in compute efficiency per watt in modern systems, arguing that the data center industry is responding and adapting to societal demands, rather than being inherently unsustainable.
30:42 - Seymour acknowledges the industry's focus on sustainability and environmental impact, citing examples such Cadence's tree planting initiatives and the ongoing challenge of meeting new technological demands.
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