| 1 |
Cooling technology coverage |
Documented support for air cooling, direct-to-chip liquid cooling, or immersion cooling; identify which components each method serves. |
HPC systems have differing rack densities and thermal requirements; a method should be matched to the actual server design. |
| 2 |
Thermal design and capacity data |
Engineering calculations and test conditions for heat load, coolant flow, inlet temperature, pressure drop, and operating limits. |
Comparable, clearly stated test conditions help determine whether a system can manage the intended compute load. |
| 3 |
Cooling distribution and controls |
System diagrams and specifications for cooling distribution units (CDUs), pumps, heat exchangers, sensors, alarms, and control interfaces. |
These components govern coolant delivery, monitoring, and coordination between IT equipment and facility infrastructure. |
| 4 |
Compatibility and integration |
Compatibility matrix covering server interfaces, rack layouts, facility water loops, control protocols, and installation requirements. |
Integration gaps can add engineering work, delay commissioning, or limit maintainability. |
| 5 |
Energy-efficiency measurement |
Measured cooling-system power and test methodology; where available, facility-level PUE data with measurement boundaries and operating conditions disclosed. |
PUE is a facility-level ratio, not a standalone chiller or cooling-unit efficiency rating; context is necessary for fair comparison. |
| 6 |
Water use and heat rejection |
Cooling-tower or dry-cooler configuration, water-use data where applicable, and the operating assumptions behind any WUE figures. |
Water demand and heat-rejection design affect site suitability and operating costs; WUE values require a stated measurement boundary. |
| 7 |
Reliability and leak-risk management |
Reliability test reports, leak-detection design, isolation procedures, redundancy options, and documented maintenance intervals. |
Cooling faults can threaten compute availability; risk controls and service procedures should be evaluated alongside performance. |
| 8 |
Manufacturing and quality assurance |
Quality-management documentation, component traceability, production test records, and disclosed manufacturing and supply-chain arrangements. |
Documented quality controls support consistency across equipment batches and help assess supply continuity. |
| 9 |
Deployment and lifecycle support |
Commissioning scope, operator training, spare-parts policy, service coverage, warranty terms, and escalation procedures. |
HPC cooling requires ongoing operations support; lifecycle capability is distinct from initial equipment delivery. |
| 10 |
Total cost and project evidence |
Itemized capital and operating costs, stated assumptions, commissioning results, and reference deployments that can be independently checked. |
A consistent lifecycle-cost view and verifiable project evidence are more useful than unsupported performance claims or headline prices. |