Data Centers
Ongoing coverage on Data Centers.
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Saturday Tech Bits
A Maryland citizens group is challenging a $2 billion grid upgrade bill attributed to out-of-state AI data centers. Additionally, the release of TheA1200, a retro computer emulating the Commodore Amiga, has been delayed by approximately six months due to global supply chain issues.
If you're wondering where all the storage is going, it's landed in this 245 TB data center SSD from Micron
Micron has released the 6600 ION SSD, a 245 TB solid-state drive designed for data centers to support AI, cloud, and enterprise workloads. This drive offers significantly higher storage capacity and requires fewer racks compared to traditional HDD deployments, potentially reducing power and floor space requirements. The article also touches on the current memory crisis driven by AI data centers consuming vast amounts of storage modules.
Kingston has just launched a massive 30.72TB Gen 5 SSD, and it's not for us storage-starved gamers
Kingston has launched a 30.72TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe U.2 SSD, the DC3000ME, designed for enterprise applications like AI and data centers, not for gamers. This drive boasts sequential read speeds of up to 14GB/s, significantly exceeding typical gaming SSD performance. While not intended for consumers, its release highlights the growing demand for high-capacity storage in professional environments, with potential implications for future consumer SSD pricing.
Intel Cancels Arc Celestial Gaming GPUs, Druid Future Uncertain | HappyGamer
Intel has reportedly cancelled its next-generation Arc Celestial gaming GPUs and cast doubt on the future of its Druid lineup. This strategic shift away from discrete gaming cards raises questions about Intel's commitment to the PC gaming market, potentially leaving NVIDIA and AMD to dominate without significant competition. The company may be prioritizing more profitable ventures like AI accelerators and data center hardware.
Maine governor vetoes bill temporarily banning large data centers in the state
Maine Governor Janet Mills has vetoed a bill that would have temporarily banned the construction of large data centers in the state until 2027. While she supported a moratorium, the governor wanted an exemption for an existing project. Mills plans to issue an executive order to create a data center coordination council and has signed a separate bill prohibiting data centers from state tax incentive programs.
Gas power projects for just 11 US data center 'campuses' could emit more greenhouse gases than entire…
New natural gas power projects linked to 11 US data center campuses could emit more greenhouse gases than Morocco in 2024. Microsoft, OpenAI, and Meta are among the companies whose projects face scrutiny over potential emissions, with some individual projects exceeding the yearly emissions of entire nations. While some companies argue these are theoretical maximums, even halved figures would still surpass Norway's 2024 emissions.
Monterey Park, California has banned any data centers within its city limits
Monterey Park, California has permanently banned the construction of new data centers, deeming them a public nuisance. This decision follows resident pushback against a proposed 250,000 square foot facility. Other regions, including New York and Maine, are considering similar legislation, while federal representatives have proposed a ban on new data centers until AI development and environmental security are better addressed.
A comet gets destroyed by the sun, data centers endanger the Potomac River, and more science news
This week in science news, a comet was observed exploding into dust as it made a close approach to the sun, and NASA and ESA shared images of the event. The nonprofit American Rivers named the Potomac River the most endangered in the US, citing sewage pollution from aging infrastructure and a surge in data center development. Additionally, the European Space Agency shared new images of Mars showing changes in volcanic ash distribution over the last 50 years.
A comet gets destroyed by the sun, data centers endanger the Potomac River, and more science stories
This week's science news includes NASA's images of a comet disintegrating as it approached the sun, American Rivers naming the Potomac River the most endangered in the US due to sewage pollution and data center development, and ESA sharing images showing changes in Martian volcanic ash deposits. The article also mentions a new PBS documentary on the Artemis program.
AI Yi-Yi!
Senator Bernie Sanders is leading a significant push with labor leaders for AI protections and a moratorium on data center construction. Meanwhile, Jensen Huang suggests that while AI may not directly replace jobs, it will likely alter job roles and responsibilities.
AI Yi-Yi!
Users are reporting performance degradation in Anthropic's AI model, Claude, leading to speculation that the company is 'nerfing' its capabilities. This comes amidst broader discussions about the impact of AI, including a report of a small town dealing with the implications of a $6 billion AI data center.
OpenAI 'pauses' its Stargate UK data center plan
OpenAI has paused its Stargate UK project, an AI infrastructure initiative with NVIDIA aimed at building sovereign computing capabilities in the United Kingdom. The company cited high energy costs and regulatory issues as reasons for the delay, stating that it will proceed when conditions are more favorable for long-term investment. OpenAI still sees significant potential for the UK's AI future and continues to explore the project.
Morning Tech Bits
Bain Capital's data center unit has reportedly removed a tenant suspected of smuggling Nvidia GPUs to China. The article also mentions updates for ExifTool and UniGetUI.
Morning Tech Bits
TSMC is reportedly converting its available 4nm production capacity to 3nm lines to meet demand. Separately, a new Google-funded data center is planned to be powered by a large gas plant.
RAM prices are technically dropping, but AI data centers will still keep them very high
Despite recent AI algorithm updates and market fluctuations, consumer RAM prices are not significantly dropping. Manufacturers are prioritizing business-to-business sales for AI data centers, which are experiencing surging demand and higher profit margins, leaving the consumer market as an afterthought.
AI Yi-Yi!
NVIDIA is working with energy leaders to develop AI data centers that can help fortify the power grid. These facilities can generate significant heat, warming surrounding areas by up to 9.1°C, which presents both challenges and opportunities for energy management.
Evening Tech Bits
Meta plans to fund seven new natural gas plants to power its largest data center. This initiative aims to provide energy for the company's expanding infrastructure.
Meta will fund seven new natural gas plants to power its biggest data center yet
Meta will fund seven new natural gas power plants and associated transmission lines to support its largest data center under construction in Louisiana. The company is also investing in renewable energy resources and exploring future nuclear power development. This move comes amid growing public concern over the environmental impact and rising electricity costs associated with AI data centers.
Senator Bernie Sanders announces bill to pause US data center construction: 'AI and robotics will impact our economy, our democracy, our privacy rights... even our very survival as human beings on this planet'
Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have introduced the AI Data Center Moratorium Act, proposing a pause on new data center construction in the US. The bill aims to establish national safeguards for AI development, addressing concerns about economic impact, privacy, misinformation, and environmental costs associated with AI's growing energy and water demands.
ARM announces AGI CPU, its first company-made chip
ARM has announced its first company-made chip, an AGI CPU designed specifically for AI data centers. This marks a significant development in ARM's strategy to provide hardware solutions for the growing artificial intelligence market.