Video Interview

Designing Rack-Level Power Infrastructure for High-Performance Environments

AI and high-performance computing are rapidly transforming data center design, driving rack power densities well beyond traditional design and operational limits.

In this video discussion, Calvin Nicholson, Senior Director of Product Management at Legrand, and Ben Leitch from Intelligent Data Centres explore the evolving requirements of rack-level power infrastructure to support AI-driven environments. Topics include the growing relevance of Open Compute Project (OCP) standards, evaluating AC versus DC architectures, and the practical challenges of delivering higher levels of power within increasingly denser rack footprints.

Key takeaways include:

• How AI workloads are driving higher rack power densities and shaping next-generation rack design strategies.
• The role of OCP and ORv3 standards in enabling adaptable, high-density rack architectures.
• Factors to consider when comparing AC versus DC power distribution approaches for high-voltage environments.
• Design challenges associated with supporting higher-current busbars, increased PDU deployment, and denser cable management.
• Actionable steps operators can take to ensure rack power infrastructure accommodates future AI hardware requirements.