NVIDIA's new cooling system uses water hotter than a hot tub
NVIDIA's Rubin-generation AI servers are cooled with liquid at 45°C, saving energy, water, and space while reducing noise levels.
It may seem counterintuitive, but NVIDIA's latest AI servers use a cooling liquid that is hotter than a typical hot tub. While a hot tub runs at around 38–40°C, NVIDIA's Rubin architecture pushes the coolant to 45°C (113°F). This is made possible by a fully liquid-cooled system that replaces traditional air cooling with fans and chillers.
Traditionally, cooling accounts for up to 40% of a data center's electricity bill. Raising chiller temperatures by just one degree cuts cooling energy costs by about 4%. At a 50-megawatt facility, that translates to roughly $4 million in annual savings. Conventional cooling towers consume about 2.6 million gallons of water per megawatt per year, while the new closed-loop system reduces water usage to nearly zero.
Beyond energy and water savings, the Rubin servers are quieter and more space-efficient. With no loud fans, data centers no longer require hearing protection. Additionally, a system that used to take up six rack units now fits in two. These innovations could significantly reduce the environmental impact and operational costs of data centers.
