Vertiv stock falls after Microsoft unveils advanced chip cooling system

Investing.com -- Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE: VRT) shares fell 7% Tuesday after Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) announced the successful testing of a new microfluidic cooling system for data center chips that could potentially disrupt the thermal management market.

Microsoft’s new cooling technology removes heat up to three times more efficiently than cold plates, an advanced cooling method currently used in data centers. The system uses microfluidics to bring liquid coolant directly inside silicon chips through tiny etched channels, addressing the growing challenge of heat management in power-intensive AI applications.

The announcement represents a potential competitive threat to Vertiv, which specializes in critical digital infrastructure solutions including cooling systems for data centers. As a major provider of thermal management technologies for the rapidly expanding AI infrastructure market, Vertiv could face pressure if Microsoft’s technology gains widespread adoption.

Microsoft’s lab tests showed their microfluidic solution reduced the maximum temperature rise inside a GPU by 65%, though results vary by chip type. The technology also promises to improve power usage effectiveness and reduce operational costs - key selling points for data center operators.

The tech giant indicated it plans to investigate incorporating microfluidic cooling into future generations of its first-party chips and will work with fabrication and silicon partners to bring the technology into production across its data centers.

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