Recommended Free Tools
Data center modernization is a coordinated effort to update IT equipment and the power, cooling, airflow, and operating practices that support it. The right mix depends on workloads, rack density, climate, water availability, reliability needs, and the existing facility; replacing servers alone does not guarantee lower total energy use.
What data center modernization includes
A data center is a coupled system. Servers, storage, and networking consume electricity and release heat; electrical and cooling infrastructure must support their loads, while operators must keep the whole facility reliable. A change in one area can affect the others: more efficient IT may reduce power and heat, while denser equipment may require changes to power delivery, airflow, or cooling.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program (DOE/FEMP) covers IT equipment and its environmental conditions, airflow, cooling and electrical systems, heat recovery, and measurement in its Best Practices Guide for Energy-Efficient Data Center Design, dated July 26, 2024. It cautions that no single design is best for every facility. The guidance is intended for a range of scenarios; local codes, utility conditions, and facility requirements still govern a project.
How to plan a modernization
Start with the workload and the facility, not a preferred piece of equipment. DOE/FEMP’s guidance treats IT efficiency and environmental conditions as early considerations because they can affect mechanical and electrical systems downstream. A practical assessment should connect capacity needs to the infrastructure that can support them.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
- Define the objective. Establish what the facility needs to improve—such as capacity, efficiency, reliability, or support for denser workloads—and which requirements cannot be compromised.
- Assess current and expected loads. Consider workload, utilization, IT efficiency, required capacity, resilience, and rack density across compute, storage, and networking.
- Check infrastructure headroom. Evaluate electrical capacity, power distribution, rack layout, cooling approach, and operational constraints against the planned IT load.
- Compare site-specific options. Account for local climate and water conditions, lifecycle cost, and the cooling and power changes each option would require.
- Plan implementation and operations together. Include commissioning, maintenance procedures, and operator readiness in the project rather than treating them as post-installation tasks.
Modernizing compute, storage, and networking
Compute: fit equipment to the workload
Compare compute options by workload fit, required capacity, utilization, and IT equipment efficiency. A hardware refresh may change the electrical and cooling load, but it does not automatically reduce total facility energy: the result depends on the equipment, how it is used, and the infrastructure supporting it. There is no universally best server generation for every operator.
Storage: match capacity and performance to the application
DOE/FEMP’s storage acquisition guidance, updated in December 2024, recommends selecting ENERGY STAR-certified data-center storage to match the application. Capacity-optimizing approaches listed in that guidance include thin provisioning, data deduplication, compression, and delta snapshots. Avoiding unnecessary storage capacity can also reduce storage energy use, electrical-infrastructure losses, and the heat the facility must remove.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Storage media involve performance and cost trade-offs. DOE/FEMP notes that solid-state drives (SSDs) offer faster read and access speeds than conventional hard disk drives (HDDs), but cost more. That comparison does not make either type the right choice for every application; capacity, performance needs, and project economics matter.
Networking: account for its load without assuming a standard upgrade
Network equipment contributes to IT electricity use and heat, so include it when assessing electrical and cooling capacity. The guidance cited here does not establish a preferred topology, switch, or model-level upgrade. Network architecture decisions therefore need to be based on the facility’s actual requirements rather than a generic modernization prescription.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Cooling: manage airflow before adding equipment
Improve air management
DOE/FEMP recommends arranging racks to distinguish hot and cool zones and keeping warm exhaust air from mixing with cool supply air. Correcting that mixing can make better use of existing cooling capacity; simply adding cooling equipment without addressing airflow may miss a major part of the problem. A rack cabinet is one example of equipment used to organize IT gear, but the cited guidance does not establish a particular cabinet’s compatibility, load rating, or suitability for an enterprise installation.
Use economizing where the site permits
Air-side economizing uses suitable outdoor air in place of mechanical cooling when conditions allow. Whether it is appropriate depends on climate, outdoor-air quality, humidity tolerance, and control strategy. Water-side economizing can bypass or reduce chiller load when the system is configured for it. These are site- and system-dependent approaches, not guaranteed savings measures for every data center.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Consider liquid cooling for dense AI retrofits—but treat examples as scenarios
Higher-density AI equipment may prompt a cooling redesign. ASHRAE’s AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework describes hybrid retrofit systems that use direct-to-chip liquid cooling for processors alongside existing computer room air-conditioning or air-handling systems (CRAC/CRAH) to handle residual heat. Its guidance also addresses power transients, structural review, commissioning, and workforce readiness.
ASHRAE’s rack-density, power-spike, and equipment-weight figures describe scenarios in its framework; they are not universal thresholds or specifications. Whether liquid cooling is needed depends on the equipment and facility design. A retrofit assessment must also consider the existing cooling system, electrical capacity, structural constraints, commissioning, and the staff who will operate and maintain the new setup.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallBest Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Compare options using both facility and workload measures
For a meaningful comparison, use the same workload and capacity assumptions for each option. Consider the following factors together rather than treating any single efficiency score as a complete verdict.
- IT: workload fit, utilization, equipment efficiency, required capacity, and resilience.
- Facility: rack density, electrical headroom, airflow, cooling approach, and heat-management requirements.
- Site: local climate, outdoor-air quality, water conditions, and applicable requirements.
- Project: lifecycle cost, commissioning, maintenance procedures, and operator readiness.
DOE/FEMP defines power usage effectiveness (PUE) as total facility energy divided by IT equipment energy. Water usage effectiveness (WUE) is site water use divided by IT equipment energy, expressed in liters per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in its guidance. Both can help track facility performance, but neither by itself explains the value of the workloads delivered, resilience, or every environmental impact. Interpret them in context, including climate and water availability.
A storage cost figure—and what it does not mean
DOE/FEMP’s 2024 guidance gives an illustrative break-even premium of $525 in 2023 dollars above the less-efficient model for a specific 1,500-terabyte (TB) ENERGY STAR-certified data-center storage system: under the page’s assumptions, a more efficient system could cost that much extra and still save money. Those assumptions include U.S. federal electricity prices as of July 2024, a five-year product life, and efficiency data from December 2024. This is an example for that modeled system, not a current market price or a general estimate of storage-project savings.
Modernization includes ongoing operations
Power and cooling changes have to work as designed after installation. Commissioning, maintenance procedures, and training operators to handle new equipment are part of modernization, especially when a retrofit changes how cooling systems interact or introduces liquid cooling. Planning these operational requirements alongside the hardware and facility changes helps ensure the upgraded systems can be maintained and used as intended.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
