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> and then the machines run directly from one leg to neutral (230v)

And then every machine has a switching power supply to convert this to low-voltage DC, and then probably random point-of-load converters in various places (DC -> AC -> DC again) for stuff like the CPU / GPU core, RAM, etc. Each of these stages may be ~95% efficient with optimal load, but the losses add up, and get a lot worse outside a narrow envelope.

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Yes, but it's not like any other layouts avoid those issues.

You could feed your servers off fat 12/24/48 volt supplies but with how much power a modern server can pull you're already converting in bulk even if you don't do that, limiting the potential advantages. For running CPU/GPU/RAM, there is no other option. When you need hundreds of amps at 1-2 volts, you convert that centimeters away if at all possible.

A datacenter using DC distribution is still using high voltages and stepping them down in layers. The hassle it avoids is in other aspects of power delivery.

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Really you're down for over an hour a year? Unscheduled?
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