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Ask HN: Which is better. A server farm somewhere hot or somewhere cold?
5 points
ed209
15 years ago
Two recent articles caught my eye today. Both about new server farms being built/upgraded.

One is somewhere hot (North Carolina, Apple) [1]

The other is somewhere cold (Sweden, Facebook) [2]

Hot, (assuming more solar energy available) benefits are increased power from a solar plant but the farm requires more cooling. Cold, requires less cooling therefore less energy.

It's interesting [to me at least] because it raises the question of efficiency. i.e. do you build something that requires loads of power - but who cares 'cos we got tonnes of renewable energy... or do you try an require a lot less energy even though hydroelectric is not damaging to the environment the more you produce.

[1] http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/10/apple-building-171-acre-solar-panel-farm-to-power-nc-data-center.ars

[2] http://www.techiespider.com/2011/10/27/facebook-build-server-farm-northern-sweden-arctic-circle/

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