Microsoft investing $678M into massive ‘Project Mountain’ data center in Iowa

By Russ Boswell Published June 24, 2013

Microsoft Intelligent Car Technology — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Microsoft’s quest to dominate the computer space will never cease. The company’s working to get a tight grip on the “online service” sector of the consumer tech marketplace. According to CNET, Microsoft is investing $678 million into the expansion of its West Des Moines, Iowa, office. This particular location is responsible for the production and creation of online services like Office 365 and Xbox Live. The Des Moines Register is reporting that Microsoft plans to use the upgrades to work on its cloud operations. Microsoft’s plan of attack, which its named “Project Mountain,” has already received tax benefits.

According to the Greater Des Moines Partnership, which is responsible for providing resources to businesses that are moving or expanding in the West Des Moines area, Microsoft’s office will house servers and networking equipment dedicated to bettering cloud services. This project is the result of years of planning between Microsoft, the state of Iowa, and the city of West Des Moines. Microsoft is expected to receive $20 million in tax incentives from the state.

Recommended Videos

It is no surprise that Microsoft’s attempting to beef up its cloud services, due to recent developments with its next-generation gaming console, the Xbox One. Microsoft revealed at E3 that the Xbox One would contain a variety of cloud services, many of which are tied to game saves, gamer tags, and the Xbox Live service in general. We could also see new developments in Microsoft’s tablet and mobile sector as a result of this substantial upgrade.

It’s also possible that this sudden interest in cloud computing is due to Microsoft rivals beefing up their own data centers. In 2009, Google opened a center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 2012, Google announced that it would be expanding the center, and brought the total cost of the endeavor up to $1.1 billion. Facebook also opened a number of data centers, including one in Altoona, Iowa. It will be interesting to see what types of cloud-based developments appear from Microsoft in the near future, and if the investment pays off for the company.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Russ Boswell is an aspiring video game and technology journalist from Colorado. He's been an avid gamer since he was old…

Computing

We now know why AMD chose to delay RDNA 4 — well, kind of

AMD announcing FSR 4 during CES 2025.

AMD hasn't been very forthcoming when it comes to information about its RX 9000 series GPUs, but we just got an update as to why the cards won't be available until sometime in March. The company cites software optimization and FSR 4 as the two reasons why it most likely decided to delay the launch of RDNA 4. But is that all there is to it, or is AMD waiting to see some of Nvidia's best graphics cards before pulling the trigger on the RX 9070 XT?

The update comes from David McAfee, AMD's vice president and general manager of the Ryzen CPU and Radeon graphics division. A couple of days ago, McAfee took to X (Twitter) to announce that AMD was excited to launch the RX 9000 series in March. This caused a bit of an uproar, with many enthusiasts wondering why AMD was choosing to wait so long.

Computing

What power supply do you need for the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080?

The RTX 5090 sitting on top of the RTX 4080.

Nvidia’s new RTX 50-series GPUs represent a leap forward in gaming and content creation, but they also push the boundaries of what’s expected from your power supply. The RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, will be the first two models available for purchase starting January 30, and are expected to deliver improved performance over its predecessors -- you can already see that in action in our RTX 5090 review.

However, with great power comes greater demands on your power supply. If you're planning to upgrade to either of these next-generation graphics cards, it’s crucial to know what kind of PSU (Power Supply Unit) you need. Ensuring your PSU meets or exceeds the recommended specifications is critical for avoiding crashes, ensuring system stability, and maintaining long-term reliability.

Computing

Gaming mouse goes up in flames, nearly causes apartment fire

A burned Gigabyte moue as posted by a user on Reddit

Think you have one of the best gaming mice? Think again. A Reddit user recently reported a concerning incident involving their Gigabyte M6880X gaming mouse, which allegedly caught fire spontaneously, filling their apartment with black smoke and causing significant property damage.

The user who goes by the unser name lommelinn, shared images showing the melted mouse, burn marks on the desk, and a destroyed mouse pad. They recounted discovering the device "burning with large flames," which they quickly extinguished. Despite their swift action, the room was left covered in black particles, affecting other equipment, including a modular synthesizer.