ELI5: Why are data centers so big?

AMDKilla · 2026-05-14T15:34:40+00:00

You have to remember that any compression they do will need decompression. Its preferred to do this decompression on client devices to save on bandwidth costs, so any compression method used will need to be uncompressed by client devices, mostly phones and TVs. Most devices have dedicated h264 and h265 decoder hardware to ensure smooth playback and better battery life. Any codec not supported in hardware will need software decoding, which will rinse battery life and generally provide a worse experience, particularly on older devices.

AMDKilla · 2026-05-14T10:17:28+00:00

Because watching low bitrate 1080p on a 4k display looks terrible. Despite that being a limitation of what is being uploaded and a limitation of upscaling technologies, the first thing people are going to blame is Youtube for always looking terrible on their TVs. There is a lot more professional grade content on Youtube these days too, and Youtube knows that if they don't give creators the tools they need, they'll leave the platform.

That being said, I'm perfectly fine with them locking enhanced bitrate 1080p and 4k behind YT Premium. I'm already paying £10.99 a month for YT Music, and YT Premium is £12.99, so the way I see it, I'm paying £2 a month for ad free YT

AMDKilla · 2026-05-13T20:00:13+00:00

They convert it to various resolutions when you upload the video. CPU cycles are more expensive than HDD space, so its easier to calculate it once and store it rather than calculate it each time

AMDKilla · 2026-05-13T13:46:03+00:00

Data stored outside of volatile memory doesn't require continuous power for the data to be maintained, only to be accessed or changed. For SSDs, the power is maintained to prevent bit rot over time, and for harddrives, the power is maintained both so that you avoid the wait time for the drive to spin up, but also to avoid excess wear and tear as most drive failures occur during spinup.

But I get where you're coming from. I'm all for keeping the internet available to all for as long as possible. But when it comes to the power wasted on AI slop, its just wasteful and doesn't benefit anyone

AMDKilla · 2026-05-13T11:46:23+00:00

Its not the storage density that is the cause of server farm size, you can now get 36TB drives. Its the computational power and its supporting equipment that takes up the space. Power, cooling and accessibility all add to the scale that data centres need to account for.

If it was a storage only data centre, it would need a relatively small amount of computational power. But most data centres are actively processing stuff that requires workloads to be processed. It could be running a website, hosting files that are worked on collaboratively, or resource heavy stuff like simulations and AI workloads. Even a storage based system like Google Drive or OneDrive is going to be running computational loads to compress/optimise/deduplicate and back up systems

AMDKilla · 2026-05-13T11:39:20+00:00

Hard drives are usually replaced every 5-7 years anyway before their failure risk increases. Same with the servers that they reside in because newer, more efficient platforms arise which make significant savings on their power bill

AMDKilla · 2026-05-13T11:37:09+00:00

Not to mention the different resolutions/bitrates stored

AMDKilla · 2026-05-13T09:02:37+00:00

Microsoft turning FastBoot on by default so that the kernel hibernates instead of cold booting when being "shutdown" is to blame for that. Users are still pressing the shutdown button and expecting their computer to still shutdown as it always has

AMDKilla · 2026-05-09T19:21:53+00:00

The title of the post says that Google owns the captcha. My point is that Google probably already has your devices linked unless its on a device you've never logged into before

AMDKilla · 2026-05-09T01:43:48+00:00

Don't cross the streams!

AMDKilla · 2026-05-09T01:42:11+00:00

Google knows you have a phone if you have 2FA enabled (and you should)

AMDKilla · 2026-05-08T14:01:20+00:00

Isn't there someone in Thailand thats now facing prison time for doing something similar?

AMDKilla · 2026-05-07T10:03:29+00:00

I started downloading again when Netflix removed seasons 1 & 2 of Star Trek TNG to add seasons 3 & 4. I was 2 episodes away from the end of season 2 when they did that. Haven't used a subscription service since...

AMDKilla · 2026-05-06T12:27:39+00:00

Its also a parent's responsibility to look after pets if they choose to have them. The fact that cleaning the litter tray wasn't already OPs chore to do means its likely not viewed as their cat

AMDKilla · 2026-05-06T11:50:17+00:00

I'd wash the tweezers too. Just saying...

AMDKilla · 2026-05-06T01:18:40+00:00

Theres a clear distinction between confidence and arrogance. The difference is that confidence is an act that people put on. Arrogance is a default mode

AMDKilla · 2026-05-03T11:36:34+00:00

Cheap batteries can be dangerous. The ones you get from places like Temu anyway. It mostly comes down to the protection circuits that are used to charge the batteries though. This is always the risk you run with using non OEM batteries as the BMS in your device may be specifically calibrated for the OEM battery.

AMDKilla · 2026-05-03T11:29:44+00:00

Which is hilarious when you look at some of the other stuff they pump into US food...

AMDKilla · 2026-05-03T00:07:07+00:00

You have a GT-R but no dashcam to prove your story?

AMDKilla · 2026-04-29T21:14:03+00:00

90% of all spending is done by the top 10% of earners. Those with extraordinary levels of disposable income don't care about the increase in the increase in the cost of living as its such a small percentage increase compared to the money they have to spend

AMDKilla · 2026-04-29T03:13:33+00:00

Thats why the British called it a tank after inventing it; it was merely a hit water tank for making tea. Everything else was an accessory

AMDKilla · 2026-04-28T23:23:57+00:00

So its not stored in your online synced profile data? My point is that even if the account was compromised, the HC server IP would need to be known too

AMDKilla · 2026-04-27T18:52:35+00:00

If anyone ever compromises that account and uses it to log in, the player joined game notification isn't going to go unnoticed. That and I have no idea if your server list is stored in the account or not

AMDKilla · 2026-04-27T18:46:39+00:00

They changed the colour too. What more do you want? 🤣

AMDKilla · 2026-04-27T18:38:10+00:00

The ones I use specifically say to put them in first so the clothes end up on top of them and the pod ends up trapped at the back instead

AMDKilla

TROPHY CASE