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How oxide cuts data center power consumption in half

(oxide.computer)
195 points tosh | 6 comments | 21 Nov 24 18:12 UTC | HN request time: 0.213s | source | bottom
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unsnap_biceps ◴[21 Nov 24 20:29 UTC] No.42208296[source]▶
> When we started Oxide, the DC bus bar stood as one of the most glaring differences between the rack-scale machines at the hyperscalers and the rack-and-stack servers that the rest of the market was stuck with. That a relatively simple piece of copper was unavailable to commercial buyers

It seems that 0xide was founded in 2019 and Open Compute Project had been specifying dc bus bars for 6 years at that point. People could purchase racks if they wanted, but it seems like, by large, people didn't care enough to go whole hog in on it.

Wonder if the economics have changed or if it's still just neat but won't move the needle.

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1. zamalek ◴[21 Nov 24 20:43 UTC] No.42208453[source]▶
It's normally incredibly difficult for employees to disrupt at massive companies that would be the type which runs a data center. Disruption usually enters the corp in a sales deck, much like the one Oxide would have.

It's stupid, but that's why we all have jobs.

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2. hnthrowaway0328 ◴[21 Nov 24 21:38 UTC] No.42208938[source]▶
I think engineers should be more forceful to lead their own visions instead being led by accountants and lawyers.

After engineers have the power of implementation and de-implementstion. They need to step into dirty politics and bend other people's views.

It's either theirs or ours. Win-win is a fallacy.

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3. philipov ◴[21 Nov 24 21:49 UTC] No.42209035[source]▶
Let me know how that works out for you!
4. andrewjf ◴[21 Nov 24 22:19 UTC] No.42209273[source]▶
Being able to navigate this is what differentiates a very senior IC (principal, distinguished, etc) and random employees.
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5. orochimaaru ◴[21 Nov 24 23:27 UTC] No.42209742{3}[source]▶
Yes. I think as an engineer at this level you need to also have the patience to deal with the bean counters.

But as I’ve grown in my career I’ve actually found that line of thinking refreshing. Can you quantify benefit? If it requires too many assumptions it’s probably not worth it.

But then again there’s always the Vp or the svp who wants to “showcase his towers’ innovative spirit” and then there goes money that could be used for better things. The innovative spirit of the day is random Llm apps.

6. hinkley ◴[22 Nov 24 10:29 UTC] No.42212637[source]▶
Once the accountants are convinced the entire company is about them, there’s not much the engineers can do. They just starve you out by refusing to buy anything. It’s a big reason why open source is as successful as it is. It’s free so they can’t stop you with the checkbook.