Hydro cooling hosting for dense fleets.
Air-cooled containers are the standard at every Northwatt facility. Where density calls for it, the containers are hydro cooled. This page explains the difference and what it takes to host a hydro fleet.
Air, hydro and immersion, side by side
All three move the same heat; they differ in what carries it away from the chip and what that demands of the facility.
Fans on the machine, filtered airflow in the container
The rule. Simple to service, tolerant of dust when filters are maintained, limited by how much air can be pushed through a rack.
Water plates on the chips, a cooling loop in the container
Denser and quieter than air. The machine needs a hydro variant, the container needs a loop, a dry cooler and treated water, and the facility needs the capacity to run it.
Machines submerged in dielectric fluid
To be confirmed. Different hardware, different tanks, different handling. Whether and where we take immersion hardware is confirmed per order.
Density is a facility decision before it is a hardware decision.
- Capacity
- A hydro container carries more load per footprint than an air-cooled one
- Noise
- No fans on the machine, so the loudest part is the dry cooler outside
- Service
- Water plates instead of fans; leaks and water quality join the runbook
Four things we check before a hydro fleet is accepted
The hardware
A hydro variant from the manufacturer, not a converted air-cooled unit. Model and variant go on the quote.
The container
A hydro container with the loop, pumps and dry cooler for the load, at a facility that has or can add one.
The water
Treated water in a closed loop, monitored for quality, with the procedures for leaks and top-ups in the runbook.
The agreement
Hydro is confirmed per order: capacity, container and timeline are named in the service order, not assumed.
Hydro cooling FAQ
Question not listed?
Send it through the form. Every message is read and answered by an operator.
Talk to SalesYes, where density calls for it. Hydro containers are confirmed per order, because they depend on the facility's loop capacity. Send the model and quantity and we tell you what fits.
Plan on the manufacturer's hydro variant with water plates. A converted air-cooled unit carries its own risk and its warranty is usually gone; talk to us before you build a deployment around one.
That is confirmed per order and depends on the facility. Send the model and quantity and we tell you what fits.
The machine itself has no fans, so the loudest component is the dry cooler outside the container. How much that matters depends on the site.
Yes, in separate containers. Each cooling type has its own container and its own procedures.
Let's talk capacity.
Tell us your hardware and your timeline. We will tell you where it can run.