HPC data centers are at the heart of the next generation of advanced computing. As top achievements in AI/ML or scientific computing multiply, these facilities ensure continuous and efficient operation for high-performance computing infrastructure.
The extreme nature of HPC workloads requires a high performance data center model designed to solve the key challenges that emerge from compute-intensive workloads, including those around power density and reliable data center cooling.
In this context, HPC data centers emerge as highly complex infrastructures where IT, power and cooling must not only be extremely advanced, but work as an integrated system where synergies are fostered.
In the article below, we take a look at some of the key aspects of integrated high-density data center design. This includes paying close attention to power distribution for HPC and thermal management solutions, which are allowing operators to handle compute-intensive workloads in cost-efficient, energy-saving ways.
What Is an HPC Data Center?
HPC data centers are data centers designed specifically to host high-performance computing infrastructure and its unique needs.
From climate modeling and drug discovery to financial analysis in real time, high-performance computing infrastructure is enabling a number of breakthroughs across disciplines. Capable of performing complex computing tasks with large volumes of data and at great speed, these systems depart from conventional computing in many ways.
From a system architecture point of view, HPC is characterized by relying on interconnected computing clusters working in parallel, thus harnessing the power of several systems. A complex approach involving extreme workloads for which HPC data centers emerge as a response.
Characteristics of HPC data centers
Dedicated to AI/ML, simulation, and scientific computing workloads
From Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning training to simulation operations for modeling and forecasting, complex computing tasks are pushing the limits on the type of workloads conventional data centers can support.
In turn, HPC data centers incorporate specialized hardware capable of handling and supporting such loads. Advanced equipment such as CPUs, GPUs and FPGAs represent the core of these specialized systems. Additionally, other technologies are implemented to guarantee optimal operation, including systems for low-latency data storage and management, as well as for high-speed data transfers, among others.
Power density and compute intensity
When compared to conventional facilities, HPC data centers are characterized by presenting larger rack densities and greater power consumption per rack. In other words, HPC data centers must be designed to meet the power needs required for the high computing intensity described above.
A look at power requirements for server racks dedicated to AI illustrates the escalation in needs: configurations reaching 100 kW per rack are increasingly the norm when it comes to AI training, with these numbers expected to rise beyond 200 kW per rack in the not so distant future.
In this context, a high performance data center must provide the right infrastructure to deliver sufficient power capacity, while also being reliable, safe and energy-efficient.
Additionally, considering the nature of compute-intensive workloads, power equipment must be designed for accommodating fluctuating, dynamic workloads. A requirement that is paired with being ready to work in synergy with specialized cooling solutions.
This combination of factors results in a number of design challenges related to power densities in HPC data centers, as seen below in this article.
Thermal management
Adequate thermal management is critical for any high performance data center, as the infrastructure must deal with exceptionally intense heat densities.
In order to do so, HPC data centers incorporate advanced cooling approaches like liquid cooling systems, immersion cooling technology and chilled-water cooling loops. Below in this article we analyze each of these approaches and their capacities to ensure proper temperature control while maintaining energy efficiency.
The unique demands of HPC workloads
- Hardware. Integrated hardware architectures where advanced equipment (such CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs and TPUs) works synergistically and in low-latency configurations.
- Power infrastructure. A robust electric infrastructure that can handle the required power densities while also tackling the volatility of HPC workloads and potential inefficiencies in power distribution. As seen below in the article, to counteract these challenges, HPC data centers can base their strategies in offering a larger distribution capacity, outstanding redundancy and relying on long-term energetic planning.
- Data center cooling. Robust cooling solutions must be implemented capable of handling the heat generated by extreme workloads, considering how underperforming cooling can lead to downtime or a reduction in operational efficiency. At the same time, cooling in HPC data centers must not overlook the need to remain cost-efficient and reduce energy consumption. The ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.9 guidelines can be mentioned as a foundation for high-density data center design in this regard.
- Energy efficiency. A focus on architectures and solutions that generate energy efficiencies and put sustainability at the forefront. Building from institutions like The Green Grid, a number of strategies are available today for achieving this, from advanced cooling solutions to relying on renewable energies.
- Redundancy. The need for advanced redundancy planning, which includes incorporating monitoring systems to avoid downtime, as well as having disaster recovery plans.
- Scalability. Capacities to escalate as computing needs increase dynamically.
How are HPC data centers cooled down? A closer look at cooling challenges and solutions
Cooling solutions for HPC data centers must rise up to meet the unique challenges posed by compute-intensive workloads. In fact, in many ways, thermal management solutions must be regarded as a fundamental pillar of these installations, around which the rest of systems must be structured.
Briefly put, two important matters should be taken into account when designing cooling for any high performance data center:
- First, that these solutions will need to handle thermal loads that will be not only extremely high but also volatile;
- Secondly, that windows for cooling system failure in this environment are increasingly narrow, which means solutions must be designed for high performance and redundancy.
In light of this, the following thermal management solutions stand out for their capacity to operate efficiently under such circumstances:
- Liquid cooling systems: emerging as a key solution for HCP data centers, these solutions employ liquids to remove heat from IT equipment. Based on liquids’ higher cooling efficiency than air, this approach includes trending techniques for compute-intensive workloads like direct-to-chip cooling.
- Immersion cooling technology: this approach also involves using liquids’ high thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity. However, the technique is based on submerging systems in non-conductive liquids as a means to absorb heat.
Additional approaches for thermal management in HPC data centers include employing rear door heat exchangers, as well as chilled water cooling solutions specially designed for HPC, such as chilled-water cooling loops.
While these technologies represent a move away from conventional air-based cooling solutions, successful models today are incorporating hybrid approaches. Through these configurations, the more sophisticated solutions can take the lead where cooling needs exceed capacities for air-based cooling.
For instance, liquid cooling systems have been described as capable of “increasing energy savings and balancing performance with power requirements” in Ramakrishnan et al. (2025). More specifically, the paper describes an evaluation in which liquid cooling “greatly enhances GPU performance, increases efficiency by 2.7% in Gflops/s, cuts power usage by 12%, reduces execution times by up to 6.22%, and lowers chip temperatures by 20 °C compared to air cooling.”
Electrical and power infrastructure design fundamentals for HPC data centers
As mentioned above, electrical infrastructure in HPC data centers must deal with a number of unique issues: from volatile workloads that fluctuate dramatically to extreme power density needs, all while minimizing power distribution inefficiencies.
A combination of factors that a high performance data center can respond to via various strategies:
- An advanced power distribution capacity strategy that delivers electrical power through sophisticated equipment such as high-voltage Power Distribution Units (PDUs).
- Proactive, long-term energetic planning that ensures redundancy and minimizes the risk of overloads.
- High redundancy standards for equipment, including strategies such as generators and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS).
- Smart power management systems and strategies that allow for increasing energy efficiency while balancing loads based on data intelligence.
ARANER’s approach to HPC Data Center Cooling
At ARANER, we understand cooling solutions as a key foundation for successful HPC data centers, with sophisticated thermal management solutions taking the lead in meeting these facilities’ needs.
At the same time, a successful high performance data center integrates this vision to meet computing performance while also putting factors like cost-efficiencies and sustainability at the forefront.
As such, our approach to HPC data centers involves the following thermal solutions and perspectives:
- High-efficiency cooling systems such as liquid cooling systems and immersion cooling technology.
- Thermal Energy Storage (TES) solutions for activating economic savings and improving sustainability. Capable of storing cooling energy for later use, TES solutions represent a key addition for facilities hosting power-intensive workloads, smoothing peak cooling demand and charging thermal storage during low-cost or low-load periods.
- Personalized solutions for HPC data centers, including the possibility of implementing hybrid models, smart management solutions and modular and scalable infrastructures for maximizing each project’s potential.
Conclusion: why a purpose-built architecture is the path for HPC data centers
Above, the article has presented how high-performance computing infrastructure and GPU-based workloads represent unique challenges that go beyond solving computational concerns. On the contrary, these compute-intensive workloads can only thrive in ecosystems enabled by solutions such as power distribution for HPC and sophisticated cooling solutions.
In this context, high-density data center design must be understood not only for its role in guaranteeing uninterrupted computing performance: it is also crucial for ensuring costs and energy consumption can be optimized.
An advanced approach in this field involves facilities’ design moving away from “one-size-fits-all”, rigid perspectives. Instead, integrated frameworks emerge where cooling and power infrastructure are both understood in themselves and as part of a wider system, and where interdependencies are taken care of.
A sophisticated view that ultimately enables the optimized performance needed for successful HPC data centers, considering the multilayered architecture of facilities.
Want to learn more about strategies to optimize high performance data centers? At ARANER, we help operators take data center thermal management efficiency to the next level.
Discover our data center cooling solutions, download our data center reference ebook and get in touch with us to speak to our team about how we can help you.
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