In 2003, SGI launched the industry’s first large-scale X86 Direct Current (DC)-based servers and storage, optimized for both AC- and DC-based data centers alike.

Some of today’s most advanced data centers, along with legacy telco environments, already feature -48VDC input power and have the ability to bring that power very efficiently to DC-based servers and storage, simplifying the power conversions that lose efficiency even before power enters a given rack of systems

How Does It Work?
SGI Direct DC Racks contain interior bus bars that deliver -48VDC power to each resident SGI Eco-Logical™ half-depth, back-to-back mounted server or storage system. Inside each system, a high

efficiency -48VDC power supply achieves efficiency levels of up to 94.5% and MTBF ratings exceeding 2 million hours — a significant reliability increase over legacy AC power supply technologies.

Direct DC deployments provide the highest levels of efficiency we can deliver, yielding significant power savings for the data center. Available with optional dual feed support, such systems can accept an “A” and “B” feed for DC input circuit level redundancy.

High Voltage DC Distribution Option
SGI has partnered with Validus to provide a high voltage DC distribution option, simplifying the infrastructure typically required to distribute -48VDC at the data center level.

In this scenario, Validus deploys a sophisticated rectification module which converts utility line power to -575VDC and subsequently transfers the output power to one or more 120kW row-level power conversion units (PCU). PCUs then convert the voltage to a safe and usable -48VDC, routed via Validus Power Distribution Modules (PDM) in single- or dual-feed configurations directly to the DC bus bars located inside one or more SGI Direct DC racks.