Research
Independent analysis and practical insight on the real infrastructure challenges of AI and high-performance computing.
Olds Research publishes occasional pieces (and even some big reports) that cut through the hype and focus on what actually matters for data center operators and organizations adopting AI at scale.
AI Infrastructure TCO: On-Premises vs Cloud
New Report — May 2026
I finally ran the detailed cost comparison I’ve wanted to see for years: a real, apples-to-apples TCO analysis of a production 248-GPU AI cluster running on-premises versus AWS, Google Cloud, and Oracle Cloud.
Same workload. Same performance target. Real pricing. No spot instances. No vendor fluff.
If you're trying to decide whether to build or keep renting your AI infrastructure, this report gives you the actual numbers.
Unlocking 40-50% More Capacity in Existing Data Centers
January 16, 2026
This is a bold claim. These are big numbers. But we’ve done the work, we have the receipts, and we believe it.
When you combine four things — a thorough data center assessment, optimized power infrastructure, modern liquid cooling, and disciplined operational efficiency practices — many legacy environments can realistically unlock 40–50% more usable power and floor space for AI workloads.
First & Lasting SC25 Impression: It's a Liquid Cooled World Now
November 18, 2025
The first thing that struck me when I entered the show floor at SC25 is that it’s big. Very big. There were over 16,000 attendees, all of whom seemed intent on wandering into my path while I was power-walking from one corner of the massive exhibit hall to the exact opposite side for my next meeting.
There were 560 exhibitors — a conference record. Of those 560 exhibitors, at least 729 of them appeared to be pushing liquid cooling. Seriously.
AI Isn’t Replacing HPC – It IS HPC
November, 2025
In recent discussions with industry vendor sales and marketing teams, I’ve repeatedly heard that HPC demand is falling while AI system demand continues to surge. I’ve also seen articles suggesting that AI is displacing HPC. It isn't.
The Real Challenges of AI (and Why Most Data Centers Aren’t Ready)
August 13, 2025
The conversation around AI is everywhere. Most of it focuses on models and new applications. Very little of it talks about what it actually takes to run these workloads at scale. That's the problem...