Quebec Data Center Built In a Silo 113
1sockchuck writes "A supercomputing center in Quebec has transformed a huge concrete silo into the CLUMEQ Colossus, a data center filled with HPC clusters. The silo, which is 65 feet high with two-foot thick concrete walls, previously housed a Van de Graaf accelerator dating to the 1960s. It was redesigned to house three floors of server cabinets, arranged so cold air can flow from the outside of the facility through the racks and return via an interior 'hot core.' The construction and operation of the unique facility (PDF) are detailed in a presentation from CLUMEQ."
SHPEGS (Score:3, Interesting)
But, does it run... (Score:2, Interesting)
...on poutine?
Familiar Grounds (Score:1, Interesting)
That facility at the Vachon Pavillion, Université Laval in Québec city is were I spent most of my time while doing my degree in Engineering Physics. I'm glad that unused accelerator is now being revamped into something useful.
Now if only they can also find some money to paint the damn thing instead of letting it being barf-green mixed with rust....
Re:News for nerds... (Score:2, Interesting)
Because Quebec is a very sensible place to build a data center? The cheap hydroelectric power and cold weather 8 months of the year help reduce costs. It is relatively close to the US east coast and the bulk of the Canadian population.
Makes a fuck of a lot more sense than Texas in many ways, which is as hot as hell, and has expensive electricity. Not to mention its proximity to Mexico, which is always a worry.
The original use for the structure... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:What a waste of money (Score:3, Interesting)
I'll bite, where are all the old missile silos in Canada?