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Direct-to-chip liquid cooling
Cold plates take heat straight from the GPUs and CPUs, so the hottest parts are cooled by liquid rather than air. It is the usual route for dense GPU servers and rack scale systems, and one written quote can cover the systems and the cooling.
01
What it is
Metal cold plates sit on the GPUs and CPUs. Coolant flows through them, picks up the heat and carries it out of the server through manifolds in the rack to a coolant distribution unit.
The coolant distribution unit then moves the heat on to facility water, or to room air in a liquid-to-air unit.
02
Who it is for
- AI training clusters: dense training racks usually need liquid at the chip, with a CDU in the rack or row.
- Engineering and simulation: sustained load means sustained heat, and direct-to-chip suits clusters.
- Research and university labs where a cluster is planned.
- Data centres and colocation facilities that offer facility water.
How it works
- 01
Cold plates
Cold plates sit on the GPUs and CPUs in each server, in place of or alongside the usual heatsinks.
- 02
Manifolds
Coolant flows through hoses to manifolds in the rack, which feed and return each server.
- 03
CDU
A coolant distribution unit moves the heat on to facility water, or to room air in a liquid-to-air unit.
04
Where it fits
- Dense GPU servers where air cooling is at its limit.
- New builds and rooms that already have facility water.
- Rack scale systems designed for liquid from the start.
05
Things to check
- Facility water: available, or a liquid-to-air unit instead.
- Rack and server compatibility with cold plates and manifolds.
- Pipework routes, floor loading and leak detection.
- Maintenance access to quick disconnects and manifolds.
- Warranty position for liquid cooled configurations.
06
What we can supply
- Liquid cooled GPU server configurations.
- Cold plate kits where offered by the system manufacturer.
- Rack manifolds, hoses and quick disconnects.
- Coolant distribution units (see CDUs).
Specifications are provided with your quote, and datasheets are available on request. Stock and availability on application.
Related GPU systems. Multi GPU rack servers and rack scale GPU systems. See GPUs for the classes we quote for.
Images are illustrative and do not show specific products.
How we work
Five steps, whether the request is for GPU systems, cooling, or both. Each enquiry carries a reference from receipt, and nothing is agreed until a written quote is accepted.
- 01
Scoping
We confirm workload, configuration, quantity and site constraints before anything else.
- 02
Configuration and validation
We check the bill of materials, power, cooling and interconnect fit before quoting, and check the system against the cooling and power you have or plan.
- 03
Sourcing
We source the configuration and confirm details in the written quote.
- 04
Compliance and checks
Sanctions, export control, end use and know your customer checks before any quote is final.
- 05
Logistics and delivery
We arrange delivery to your site and confirm the terms in writing.
08
Related questions
C01What is direct-to-chip cooling?
Metal cold plates sit on the GPUs and CPUs. Coolant flows through them, picks up the heat and carries it out of the server through manifolds in the rack to a coolant distribution unit.
C02Do GPU servers need liquid cooling?
Not always. Many configurations are available air cooled. Denser nodes and rack scale systems are increasingly designed for liquid, and some are only offered that way. It depends on the configuration; we confirm this in the quote.
C03Can liquid cooling be added to an existing room?
Often, yes. Rear door heat exchangers fit standard racks, and liquid-to-air CDUs reject heat into the room without facility water. Direct-to-chip with facility water usually needs pipework and a plan for the room.
C04What does a CDU do?
A coolant distribution unit keeps the loop that runs through the servers separate from the facility loop, and controls flow, temperature and filtration. Units come as in-rack, in-row or liquid-to-air.
Q14Can you quote GPU systems and cooling together?
Yes. That is the point of offering both. Choose "GPU systems and cooling" on the contact form, tell us about the site, and one written quote covers the systems and the cooling equipment. See Cooling.
Related pages
Liquid cooling
Direct-to-chip, CDUs and rear door heat exchangers, for dense racks.
Coolant distribution units
Keep the facility loop and the server loop apart, and manage flow, temperature and filtration.
Rear door heat exchangers
A coil replaces the rack's rear door and takes the heat out of the air as it leaves.
GPU servers
GPU servers, rack scale GPU systems and PCIe GPUs.
Quote direct-to-chip liquid cooling with your GPU systems
One written quote can cover the systems and the cooling. Tell us about the site and we will scope both.