Microsoft, Google Battle Over Energy Efficiency

1sockchuck writes "Microsoft and Google have opened a new front in their battle for global domination: data center energy efficiency. Just weeks after Google published data on the extreme efficiency of its previously secret data centers, Microsoft says it has achieved similar results with shipping containers (despite Google's patent) packed with up to 2,500 servers. The geeky benchmark for the battle is Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), a green data-center metric advanced by The Green Grid. Microsoft says its containers tested at a PUE of 1.22, while Google reported an average PUE of 1.21 for its data centers, which apparently are also now using containers."

Idle data centers?

[should_be_linear]

Given Live! search popularity, it is easy to be ahead of Google in this regard. They could as well turn the whole thing off and become rich.

Re:Why?

[weirdo557]

why stop at modular walls? what if they were to install the servers inside tubes, perhaps a series of them. a series of tubes that carries data... i'm off to the patent office!

Re:Containers

[ionix5891]

it takes a container full of servers to run Vista?

Re:Containers

[Emb3rz]

Joe the plumber can't afford to be green! Most small business owners making under $250,000 can't afford to be green! Won't somebody please think of the small business owners?!

Re:Containers

[Emb3rz]

You sir, have the economic intelligence of a bullfrog.

Excellent! Bullfrogs are green!

Re:Idle data centers?

[JCSoRocks]

Yeah... Live! search is proof that the whole, "If you build it they will come" mantra is a big lie. Curse you Kevin Costner!