Numbers that sound exact but are not
A directory entry can look authoritative: a facility name, an operator, a megawatt figure, a status. Each of those fields hides questions. Used well, a listing is a starting point for a conversation. Used carelessly, it can send you down a dead end.
What "MW" can mean
Megawatts may describe the power the utility has agreed to deliver to the site, the capacity the building was designed for, the portion fitted out today, or the portion available to rent. These can differ enormously. A campus described as hundreds of megawatts may have only a small fraction free for a new customer. When you see a megawatt figure, ask which one it is.
Density and cooling
Total power says little about whether a facility can host GPUs. What matters is kilowatts per rack and how the heat is removed. Two sites with the same megawatts can be completely different for a dense deployment. If a listing does not show density and cooling, treat that as an open question.
Status and dates
- Operating usually means the building exists. It does not mean there is space available.
- Under construction means capacity may arrive, subject to the schedule holding.
- Proposed or announced means it is not built and may never be.
Availability dates deserve the most skepticism. Dates are estimates, and they move. A date that is a year out should be treated as a target, not a promise.
Who supplied the information
Entries may come from the operator, from public records and news reports, or from third-party datasets. Each has strengths and weaknesses, and none is updated daily. Information can be out of date or wrong. That is why we show sources and caution on our own directory, and why you should confirm any detail that matters directly with us or the operator.
A simple habit
Before you rely on a listing, write down the three facts your decision depends on, such as available power, rack density and ready date, and get each one confirmed in writing by the provider.
Explore the Global Data Center Directory, and read its notes on accuracy before relying on any listing.