According to Lenovo, servers equipped with Neptune technology can operate with up to 40% less power than air-cooled equivalents.
This could provide a pathway to stable performance without incurring higher cooling costs.
The growing thermal demands of AI
A considerable increase in AI workloads has led to a step-change in heat generation, pushing conventional air-based cooling systems toward their practical limits.
The IDC & Lenovo CIO Playbook 2025 highlights sustainability as a key priority for technology leaders, which includes lowering the energy expenditure associated with cooling.
Neptune Direct Water Cooling tackles this by circulating warm water directly to processors and memory modules to capture heat at its source.
Unlike chilled water systems that typically require coolant temperatures around 18°C, Neptune operates effectively with water temperatures up to approximately 45°C.
This design can eliminate the need for chillers and reduce reliance on air handling equipment, thereby increasing efficiency for high-density racks.