Thermal Management Is Not an Afterthought

Modern AI hardware is dense and hot. A single 8-GPU server can draw 10-12kW. A full rack of GPU servers can exceed 80kW. Getting cooling and rack planning right isn't optional — it's the difference between infrastructure that runs reliably at full performance and infrastructure that throttles, fails, or burns out prematurely. This guide covers what you need to know before you deploy.

Understanding AI Hardware Power Density

• GPU Server Power Draw — Typical power consumption by GPU server configuration: 2-GPU (3-4kW), 4-GPU (5-7kW), 8-GPU (10-12kW). Planning for peak draw, not average.
• Rack Power Density — Standard data center racks are designed for 5-10kW. AI GPU racks routinely exceed 20-40kW. Understanding your facility's power capacity before you spec hardware.
• PDU Sizing — How to size PDUs for high-density GPU racks. Single-phase vs. three-phase, redundancy requirements, and circuit planning.

Airflow & Cooling Design

• Hot Aisle / Cold Aisle Containment — The fundamentals of data center airflow management and why it matters more for AI hardware than traditional IT equipment.
• CRAC/CRAH Sizing for AI Deployments — How to calculate cooling capacity requirements for GPU-dense deployments.
• In-Row Cooling — When in-row cooling is necessary and how to integrate it with existing data center infrastructure.
• Rear-Door Heat Exchangers — A practical solution for high-density racks in existing data center environments.

Liquid Cooling for High-Density AI

• Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) — When air cooling reaches its limits and liquid cooling becomes necessary. GPU TDP thresholds, facility requirements, and implementation considerations.
• Immersion Cooling — Single-phase and two-phase immersion cooling for extreme density deployments. Use cases, costs, and operational considerations.
• Rear-Door Liquid Cooling — A hybrid approach that works with standard rack infrastructure while handling high heat loads.

Rack Layout & Cable Management

• GPU Server Rack Layout — Optimal placement of GPU servers, networking equipment, and storage in a rack for airflow and cable management.
• Cable Management for High-Density Networking — Managing the cable density of 100G/400G networking in GPU racks. Structured cabling, patch panels, and cable routing.
• Rack Unit Planning — How to plan rack U allocation for GPU servers, top-of-rack switches, PDUs, and cable management panels.

Need Help Planning Your Deployment?

Cooling and rack planning is highly site-specific. Our team can review your facility constraints and help you design a deployment that works within your power and cooling envelope.

Deployment Readiness Service  |  Talk to an Expert  |  Browse Facility & Cooling Products