Chip densities have surpassed the limits of Moore’s Law when utilizing air cooling, tipping the scales in favor of liquid cooling. As data centers strive to select the right cooling systems for their operations, Microsoft is leading the pack having tried and tested numerous options, but what exactly have they discovered on their path to liquid cooling, and what comes next in their innovation journey?

This case study will paint a picture of how Microsoft advanced their cooling technology, and assess the factors that drove them, and which are driving the rest of the industry to start taking liquid cooling seriously. In particular this episode will contrast the benefits as well as the shortcomings of immersion versus cold plate technologies, and critique how efficient they are through the sustainability lens. Finally, this episode will consider what comes next, and explore how liquid cooling may evolve in the coming years.