Cold Plate Cooling versus Immersion Cooling for Data Centers

You want cooling that works well, saves money, and is easy to use for your data center. Cold plate cooling is growing fast. It may grow by 16% each year for the next ten years. More people like it because it cools certain parts well. Immersion cooling cools everything more evenly. This makes it good for places with lots of heat. Both types can lower greenhouse gas emissions by at least 15%. But two-phase immersion cooling can lower them by 31% or more.

You will see a simple comparison of how hard, costly, or easy it is to upgrade each choice. This will help you pick what works best for you.

Key Takeaways

• Cold plate cooling cools certain hot parts. This helps with slow upgrades and saving money.
• Immersion cooling cools all hardware the same way. It stops hot spots and helps performance in crowded spaces.
• Both cooling types can lower greenhouse gas emissions a lot. Two-phase immersion cooling can cut emissions by over 31%.
• Cold plate cooling lets you upgrade a little at a time. Immersion cooling needs bigger changes all at once.
• Immersion cooling can save up to 95% on cooling power. This makes it a good choice for big data centers.
• Cold plate systems need regular checks for leaks and cleaning. Immersion cooling needs fewer checks.
• Both cooling systems help save energy and reuse heat. This supports sustainability goals.
• Picking the best cooling method depends on your data center’s needs. You should also think about future growth and your budget.

Overview

Cold Plate Cooling

Direct Contact

You use cold plate cooling by putting a metal plate on hot server parts. The plate takes heat from these parts. It moves the heat to a liquid coolant inside the plate. This method works well for CPUs, GPUs, and other hot chips. Cold plate cooling is used when you need to control temperature closely. It targets certain hardware. The system has pumps, tubes, and radiators. These parts make the setup more complex. You need to plan for these extra pieces when you build or change your data center.

Targeted Cooling

Cold plate cooling lets you cool only the parts that get hottest. You can upgrade your system slowly. You add cold plates to new servers when you need them. This helps you save money and avoid big costs at the start. You might see some temperature changes in different server areas. But the cooling still works well for tough jobs. Cold plate cooling is good for data centers that want better efficiency. You do not have to change everything at once.

Immersion Cooling

Full Submersion

Immersion cooling works in a different way. You put your servers into a bath of special coolant. The liquid covers all the hardware. It pulls heat away faster than air. This method is best for places with lots of computers close together. Old cooling methods may not work well here. You use less energy and can get a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) as low as 1.02. Immersion cooling lets you set up new systems fast. You can also use waste heat for other things.

Uniform Cooling

Immersion cooling gives you even temperatures everywhere in your servers. The coolant touches every part. You do not get hot spots. Your hardware stays safe and works well. You do not need pumps, tubes, or radiators. This makes the system simpler than cold plate cooling. You can lower starting costs by up to 60%. You can also cut cooling power use by 95%. Immersion cooling is great for data centers with lots of heat. It is also good for places that need quick setup.

Tip: If you want a simple system and even cooling, immersion cooling could be the best choice.

Comparison

Key Differences

When you look at cold plate cooling and immersion cooling, you notice they work in different ways. You also need different things to set them up.

• Complexity:
  Cold plate cooling needs metal plates, pumps, and tubes. You have to put these parts on each server. This can make things tricky, especially if you want to upgrade later. Immersion cooling is easier. You put your servers in a special liquid. You do not need extra parts like plates or tubes.

• Cost:
  Cold plate cooling lets you begin with a small setup. You can add more cooling plates as you get new servers. This helps you spend less money at first. Immersion cooling costs more at the start. You need to buy tanks and special coolant. Over time, immersion cooling can help you save money on energy bills, especially in big data centers.

• Incremental Upgrades:
  You can improve cold plate cooling step by step. You do not have to change everything at once. This makes it easy to upgrade as you grow. Immersion cooling does not work well for small changes. You need to change your setup more fully, which is hard if your data center is already running.

• Suitability for High-Density Environments:
  Immersion cooling is best when you have lots of servers close together. The liquid cools all parts at the same time, so you do not get hot spots. Cold plate cooling only cools the hottest parts. It may not cool every part the same in crowded setups.

Note: If you want a simple system for a new data center with many servers, immersion cooling might be better. If you want to upgrade slowly or keep your current system, cold plate cooling gives you more choices.

Similarities

Both cooling methods help you control heat in your data center. They use liquid to take heat away from your servers. You can use less energy and keep your hardware safe with either system.

You can pick either method to make your data center work better. Both choices help you save energy and keep your servers safe.

Efficiency

Cooling Capacity

You need cooling that fits your data center’s needs. Cold plate cooling and immersion cooling are both strong choices. Each one works best in different cases.

• Cold plate cooling can cool up to 75 kW per rack. You put metal plates on CPUs and GPUs. These plates soak up heat and send it to a coolant. This way works well for racks with lots of power but not super crowded ones.
• Immersion cooling uses a special liquid that carries heat. You dip whole servers into this fluid. The liquid takes heat from every part. This system is best for high-performance computing and racks with very high power.

Cold plate cooling is used when you want to upgrade slowly. You add plates to new servers when you need them. Immersion cooling is better for cooling many servers packed close together. You get even cooling and no hot spots.

Tip: If your racks use more than 50 kW and you run AI or other tough jobs, immersion cooling is the most reliable way to remove heat.

Performance

Performance is important when your servers do hard work. You want a system that keeps your hardware safe and steady.

• Cold plate cooling uses metal plates that move heat well. You put these plates on the hottest parts, like CPUs and GPUs. The coolant takes away heat and keeps things cool. You get good performance for the parts you target.
• Immersion cooling dips all hardware in a safe liquid. The liquid touches every part, so there are no hot spots. This way works in single-phase or two-phase modes. You get steady temperatures everywhere, even when power goes up.

Both cooling methods help with high-performance computing. You see them more as AI and machine learning make servers hotter and more crowded. Cold plate cooling lets you control certain parts. Immersion cooling gives even performance for all parts.

• Cold plate cooling is best for slow upgrades and targeted cooling.
• Immersion cooling is great for crowded racks and full loads.

Note: Pick cold plate cooling if you want to upgrade bit by bit. Choose immersion cooling if you need steady performance for lots of servers at once.

Cost

Initial Cost

When you plan a data center upgrade, you need to look at the price of installing new cooling systems. Cold plate cooling and immersion cooling both cost more than traditional air cooling. You pay more up front, but you get benefits over time.

Cold plate systems require special plates, pumps, and tubing. You spend more at the start compared to air cooling. You also need to plan for extra equipment and installation. Immersion cooling needs tanks and special coolant. You pay for the liquid and the setup to submerge your servers.

• Cold plate systems have a greater initial installation cost than air-cooled systems.
• Liquid cooling equipment can be 40% to 60% more expensive to acquire and install than air cooling.
• You may see a reduction in data center construction costs by 15% to 30% when you use liquid cooling, because you need less space for air ducts and fans.

You should expect a larger up-front investment for both cold plate and immersion cooling. If you want to upgrade slowly, cold plate cooling lets you add plates as you expand. Immersion cooling works best when you install it for many servers at once.

Tip: If you want to save money in the long run, cold plate cooling often pays off within three to five years. Immersion cooling can also lower costs, but you need to commit to a bigger change at the start.

Operating Cost

After you install your cooling system, you need to think about how much it costs to run every year. Cold plate cooling and immersion cooling both help you save on electricity and maintenance.

Immersion cooling uses less energy than air cooling. You can save up to 39% on operating expenses each year. Cold plate cooling also lowers your electricity bills, especially when you target the hottest parts of your servers. You spend less on cooling power and maintenance.

• You reduce your energy use with both cold plate and immersion cooling.
• Immersion cooling offers the biggest savings in high-density environments.
• Cold plate cooling helps you save money as you upgrade your system over time.

You need to look at your data center’s size and needs. If you run many servers close together, immersion cooling gives you the best savings. If you want to upgrade step by step, cold plate cooling helps you control costs as you grow.

Note: You can lower your operating costs with either method. Immersion cooling gives you the biggest savings if you have a large, high-density data center. Cold plate cooling works well for gradual upgrades and targeted cooling.

Maintenance

Routine Tasks

You want a cooling system that is easy to take care of. Both cold plate cooling and immersion cooling need regular checks, but the jobs are not the same.

With cold plate cooling, you look for leaks in the tubes and pumps. You also check the plates for dust or dirt. You watch the coolant level and change the fluid when needed. Air bubbles can hurt cooling, so you look for those too. Sometimes, you clean or swap out filters. People often do this work when the data center is not busy to avoid stopping the servers.

Immersion cooling makes these jobs easier. You do not have to worry about pumps or tubes. You just check the coolant level and see if it is still good. If some fluid is gone or old, you add more. You clean the tank and take out any trash in the liquid. You also look at the tank seals to make sure there are no leaks. Most of the time, you just look things over and do simple cleaning.

Tip: Immersion cooling has fewer moving parts to fix. You spend less time fixing things and more time making sure your data center works well.

Reliability

You want your servers to work all the time. Reliability is very important for every data center. Cold plate cooling and immersion cooling are different in how reliable they are.

Cold plate cooling uses many parts like plates, pumps, and tubes. Each part can break. If a pump stops or a tube leaks, your servers can get too hot or stop working. You also need air cooling for some heat, which adds more risk.

Immersion cooling is simpler. You put your servers in a tank with special fluid. The fluid covers everything and keeps out dust and water. You do not need pumps or tubes for cooling. This makes it less likely something will break.

Cold plate cooling can break in more ways because it has more parts and needs air cooling for some heat, but immersion cooling is simpler and more reliable because it covers all the IT equipment in special fluid and keeps out dust and water.

Immersion cooling breaks down less often. Studies show:

• SPIC servers have about 50% fewer broken parts than air-cooled servers.

You get better uptime and fewer emergency fixes with immersion cooling. Cold plate cooling still works, but you have to watch for more problems. If you want the most reliable system and the least work, immersion cooling is the best choice.

Sustainability

Energy Use

You want your data center to use less energy. Both cold plate cooling and immersion cooling help with this. These systems use liquid to move heat away from servers. Liquid cooling works better than air cooling. This is true when you have many servers close together.

• Liquid cooling systems remove heat well in crowded racks.
• You can run high-performance systems fast and still save energy.

Cold plate cooling systems often reach a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) below 1.1. This means your data center uses much less energy for cooling. Air cooling usually has a PUE of 1.60. If you use higher flow rates in cold plate cooling, chip temperatures stay steady. But you also use more energy for the pumps.

Immersion cooling saves even more energy. You can cut electricity use for cooling by up to half. Immersion cooling also helps servers run faster and more reliably. You spend less on power and get more work done.

Tip: If you want the lowest energy use and best performance, immersion cooling gives the biggest savings. This is especially true in high-density data centers.

Heat Reuse

You can make your data center more sustainable by reusing heat. Both cold plate and immersion cooling help you capture and use this heat.

• Facility water temperatures in liquid cooling systems often reach 32°C (89.6°F). This warm water is easier to reuse than cooler air from traditional systems.
• You can use this heat for building heating, hot water, or even industrial processes.

Immersion cooling is great for heat reuse. The system lets you collect heat easily and use it in eco-friendly ways. You may also need less water for cooling, which helps the environment.

• Immersion cooling enables productive reuse of server heat.
• You lower your water use and reduce your impact on local resources.

Cold plate cooling works well for high-power chips. It lets you target specific heat sources. Immersion cooling covers all your hardware and meets the needs of high-density platforms. Both systems help you meet growing power and thermal demands. They also support your sustainability goals.

Note: If you want to reuse heat and save water, immersion cooling offers the most options. Cold plate cooling still supports heat reuse, but immersion cooling makes it easier and more efficient.

Risks

Hardware Compatibility

You have to make sure your servers work with liquid cooling. Cold plate cooling uses metal plates that touch CPUs and GPUs. Most new servers can use cold plate cooling. Some old servers may not fit the plates. You need to check the size and shape of your hardware first. Some servers have parts that block the plates. This can make it hard to reach the chips. You might need to buy special brackets or adapters.

Immersion cooling has its own problems. You put your whole server in a special fluid. Not every material works well with this fluid. Some plastics, seals, or glue can break or change shape. You should ask your hardware vendor if your servers are ready for immersion cooling. Many companies now make servers for immersion. But you should always check before you buy. You also need to think about warranty. Some server makers do not cover damage from immersion cooling.

Tip: Always talk to your hardware supplier before you switch to liquid cooling. Ask about compatibility and warranty coverage.

Fluid Issues

Immersion cooling uses special fluids to keep servers cool. These fluids have their own risks. You must handle these risks to keep your data center safe.

You might have trouble getting the fluid you need. Sometimes, the supply chain has problems. You should have good ways to buy fluid and backup plans. The quality of the fluid is important. Bad fluid can hurt cooling or damage your hardware. You need to test and watch your fluid often. Use sensors and checks to find problems early.

It is important to care about the environment. You want to recycle your fluid and use closed-loop systems. This helps you make less waste and lose less fluid. You also need to follow local rules. Some places have strict laws about chemicals and waste. You must learn these rules and make sure your fluid supply follows them.

You must teach your staff how to handle fluids safely. Spills can hurt your equipment and the environment. Always keep fluids in safe containers and label them clearly. If you see leaks or the fluid changes color, act fast. Quick action keeps your servers safe and your data center running well.

Note: Good planning and regular checks help you avoid most fluid risks. You protect your investment and keep your data center efficient.

Flexibility

Server Types

You want your cooling to work with many server types. Cold plate cooling and immersion cooling fit different needs. Cold plate cooling uses metal plates on hot parts like CPUs and GPUs. This works for most high-density systems. It is easier to add to data centers you already have. You can cool certain parts without changing the whole server.

Immersion cooling puts whole servers in a heat transfer fluid. This cools everything evenly for tough jobs. You can fit more servers in less space. The fluid takes heat from every part. But all your equipment must work with the fluid. You may need special servers, cables, and connectors. Maintenance is harder because you must be careful when taking servers out of tanks.

Think about these things when picking your cooling:

• Cold plate cooling targets CPUs and GPUs in high-density racks.
• You use less fluid with cold plate cooling—less than 4 gallons for a 100kW rack.
• Immersion cooling needs over 100 gallons of fluid for the same rack size.
• Immersion cooling lets you fit more servers but needs special equipment.
• You must plan for big tanks and changes to your setup with immersion cooling.

Tip: If you want to upgrade your servers with small changes, cold plate cooling gives you more flexibility. Immersion cooling is best if you build a new high-density data center with hardware that works with the fluid.

Upgrades

You need cooling that lets your data center grow and change. Cold plate cooling and immersion cooling both let you upgrade in steps. You can start with a few racks and add more as you need. This makes it easier to use new cooling without stopping your work.

Both systems have modular designs. You can move from air cooling to liquid cooling step by step. You add cold plates to new servers when you get them. Immersion cooling lets you put tanks in for certain jobs and add more later. This saves money and makes setup faster.

Both methods help you work better. Liquid cooling can reach PUE values as low as 1.1. This means you save over 50% on energy compared to old cooling. You support high-density computing and make your data center stronger.

Note: If you want to grow your data center slowly, cold plate cooling makes upgrades easy. Immersion cooling gives you big energy savings but needs more planning and money for each upgrade.

Cold Plate Cooling Pros and Cons

Pros

Cold plate cooling gives you many good things for your data center. You can control how you cool your servers. You focus on the hottest parts, like CPUs and GPUs. This keeps them at safe temperatures. You can add more cooling when you need it. The system works with different server types and layouts.

Here are the main advantages:

Tip: You can upgrade your cooling system little by little. You do not have to change everything at once. This saves money and stops big problems.

Cons

Cold plate cooling has some problems too. The system has lots of parts like tubes, pipes, and connectors. More parts make things harder. You need to check for leaks and rust often. Leaks can hurt nearby equipment. Some cold plates have sealed channels. You cannot open them to fix problems inside. This makes fixing things harder.

You may also see these problems:

• Maintenance takes longer because you must check many parts.
• More plates and tubes mean leaks can happen more often.
• Some upgrades need you to stop servers, which can lower uptime.
• Not all servers fit cold plates well. You might need special brackets or adapters.

Note: Plan for regular checks and have a skilled team ready for repairs. This helps your data center work well.

Immersion Cooling Pros and Cons

Pros

Immersion cooling gives your data center many strong benefits. You can make your system work better and save money. This method is great for places with lots of servers. Air cooling cannot handle so much heat.

You also get these good things:

• You use about 50% less energy than air-cooled centers.
• You can make racks smaller and fit more servers. This is three times more than air cooling.
• You do not have to pick between saving energy and fitting more servers. Immersion cooling gives you both.
• You help the environment. You do not need water, and you can reuse almost all the heat.
• Your hardware stays safe from dust and wet air. The liquid covers everything, so your equipment lasts longer.

Tip: If you want a data center that saves money and helps the planet, immersion cooling is a great choice.

Cons

Immersion cooling has some problems you need to think about. You must plan for special gear, safety, and the environment.

• You need special hardware. Not all servers work with immersion cooling, so you may need to buy new ones.
• You must watch the environment closely. The cooling fluid can leak or spill. This can be dangerous and hurt your equipment.
• You may pay more for hardware and setup. Some vendors and warranties do not cover immersion cooling, so check with your suppliers.
• You need extra space for tanks and safe work areas. Moving and fixing servers in fluid takes more care.
• You must look out for health and safety problems. Some fluids make gases or use chemicals that do not have clear safety rules.
• You may face legal or environmental trouble. Some fluids have chemicals that can harm nature and cause legal issues for your company.
• You need to teach your team how to handle fluids safely and fix leaks or spills fast.

Note: Always check if your hardware works with immersion cooling and learn local rules before you start. Good planning helps you avoid mistakes and keeps your data center safe.

Considerations

Use Cases

You need to pick cooling that fits your data center’s needs. Cold plate cooling works well if you want to upgrade slowly or cool certain hot spots like CPUs and GPUs. You can add cold plates to new servers as you grow. This method is good for data centers that want better efficiency without big changes. Immersion cooling is best for places with lots of servers close together. It cools whole racks with even temperatures. This method helps with AI, machine learning, and other tough jobs. You can fit more servers in less space and use waste heat for other things. If you plan to build a new data center or run hard jobs, immersion cooling gives you the most benefits.

Tip: Pick cold plate cooling if you want slow upgrades and targeted cooling. Choose immersion cooling for new data centers and high-performance computing.

Compliance

You must follow rules when you set up liquid cooling. Local laws tell you how to handle coolants and get rid of waste. Some places need special permits for storing chemicals or recycling fluids. You should ask your hardware vendors about warranty coverage. Not all companies support immersion cooling, and some may limit coverage for cold plate systems. You should check environmental rules. Many coolants have chemicals that need safe handling. You must teach your staff to work with fluids and stop spills. You also need to write down your steps for checks and audits. Following the rules keeps your business safe and helps you avoid fines.

Note: Always check local laws and vendor rules before you start your cooling upgrade.

Implementation

You have many steps and challenges when you install cold plate or immersion cooling. You must plan how to connect new cooling with your old systems. Mixing liquid cooling with air cooling can waste energy. You need to make sure both systems work together. Liquid cooling makes things more complex. You must connect fluid lines and electrical cables. This makes setup harder and needs skilled workers. Material compatibility is important, especially for immersion cooling. Some server parts can break down in coolant. You should pick hardware that works with your fluid. Heat can be a problem. Immersion cooling uses buoyancy-driven flow, which may not work well with very high power. Cold plate cooling needs good coolant. Bad coolant can cause rust and deposits, making cooling worse. You must have backup plans for heat if something fails. Both methods need ways to handle shutdowns.

Tip: Work with skilled vendors and train your team before you start. Careful planning and regular checks help you avoid problems and keep your data center working well.

You should pick cold plate cooling if you want slow upgrades. It helps you control heat in certain spots. Immersion cooling is better for places with lots of servers. It saves space and is good for the environment. Think about how much heat your data center makes. Check if you need strong reliability and if you want to grow bigger later. Also, look at your goals for saving energy and helping the planet before you choose.

Always look at your energy use and make sure your system can grow. What you pick depends on your money, where you are, and your plans for the future.

FAQ

What is the main difference between cold plate cooling and immersion cooling?

Cold plate cooling cools only certain hot parts like CPUs and GPUs. Immersion cooling covers the whole server in fluid. This cools every part at the same time. You pick the method that fits your data center’s needs and upgrade plans.

Can you upgrade your data center in small steps with both methods?

You can add cold plates one by one as you grow. This lets you upgrade slowly. Immersion cooling needs bigger changes all at once. You must plan for new tanks and fluid before you begin.

Does immersion cooling require special hardware?

Yes, you need servers, cables, and connectors that work with the fluid. Always ask your hardware vendor before switching. Some regular equipment may not last in immersion cooling.

How do you maintain a cold plate cooling system?

You look for leaks and clean plates and filters. You check coolant levels and inspect pumps and tubes. Doing these checks often helps you avoid problems and keeps your system working well.

Is immersion cooling safe for the environment?

Immersion cooling can help save water and energy. You must recycle and handle the fluid the right way. Always follow local rules and use closed systems to make less waste.

Which method saves more energy?

Immersion cooling saves the most energy, especially in crowded data centers. You can cut cooling power use by up to 95%. Cold plate cooling also saves energy but works best for certain hot spots.

What should you consider before choosing a cooling method?

Think about your data center’s size and how you want to grow. Check if your hardware works with the cooling method. Follow local rules. Look at your budget and your goals for saving energy and helping the planet.