Dell is renowned worldwide for pushing the limits of technology and developing new tech for enterprises of all nations. As a top brand in the computing industry, they have developed a huge range of workstations and server computers to help operate digital businesses.
In 2022, after almost 40 years of selling computing tech, there’s an abundance of Dell Servers to choose from, and it can be difficult to know where to start.
In this article, we’ll be breaking down the different Dell servers that are commercially available to give you a clear picture of what they can do and if they are right for you.
Advice Before We Begin
When investing in server technology, considering refurbished parts or configuring a unique server machine to your needs is often useful. Refurbished parts are a great way to save money, and a custom machine is an excellent way to ensure your machine meets all your needs. Companies such as ETB Technologies offer all of that.
Always look at ways to cut costs when buying your tech!
The Dell PowerEdge R230 Rack Server
The entry-level server for Dell’s 13th generation rack servers, the R230 offers everything you could need as a small enterprise with adequate space to expand your server’s capability when needed.
This particular model of server comes with impressive hardware specifications, such as compatibility with four types of CPUs:
- Intel Xeon E3-1200 v6, Intel Celeron, Intel Pentium or the Intel Core i3 processor.
This flexibility for CPUs allows you to tailor the computing power of the R230 to your needs. This model also comes with up to 32GB of installed RAM, compatibility for SAS and SATA disk drives, and PERC9 PowerEdge RAID controllers – some of its more impressive features.
Of course, this server also comes with Dell OpenManage systems to streamline its operation.
With the asking price starting at around £172 for lower-end builds, the R230 is a solid choice for any small enterprise!
The Dell PowerEdge R640 Rack Server
If you are looking for a server that’ll pack a bit more punch, then the R640 rack server of Dell’s 14th-generation technology will do more than suffice. As a mid-level server machine, it can handle diverse workloads due to its impressive specifications.
This model of server can provide your operation with the following:
- A whole range of Intel Xeon processors, with Quad-Core options available, provide up to 24 cores of processing power (up to 3.60GHz of processor clock speed).
- DDR4-installed RAM configurations can give you up to 256GB of RAM.
- Excellent integration for hard drives, with compatibility for 2.5” and 3.5” drives, as well as SAS, SATA, and NVMe PCIe compatibility.
- Power supplies that can handle up to 1100W with hot-swap capabilities.
There are plenty of other considerations for these models, such as having the ability to use both Dell and PERC models of RAID controllers available, an onboard network daughter card with dual and quad port options (and much more).
With a price point starting at around £1,800 – these models are perfect for those enterprises looking to expand shortly and scale their operations.
The Dell PowerEdge T430 Tower Server
If a rack server isn’t what you need for your operation, then Dell has plenty of options regarding the provision of Tower servers. The T430 model, for example, is a mid-level server model from Dell’s 13th generation of tower server machines.
These servers have an impressive line-up of tech to offer any digital business, with some notable features being:
- Intel Xeon E5 processor options (up to 22 cores and 3.5 GHz clock speed)
- DDR4 memory options (up to 128GB of RAM)
- Both 2.5” and 3.5” options for hard drives (with SAS compatibility)
This tower server model from Dell also comes with iDRAC8 remote access that can help you manage and streamline workflows while providing quick access for any necessary troubleshooting.
With a price point starting at around £1,200 – it is a fair price point for the capabilities the machine can offer digital enterprises.
The Dell PowerEdge M630 Blade Server
The Dell M630 blade server is a mid-level blade server that can offer you a comprehensive range of tech for handling the kind of workloads you’d expect in a data centre. While this kind of server is more niche, it serves an important function for many digital enterprises.
From the M630, you can expect specifications such as:
- An extensive choice of Intel Xeon E5 processors (including v3 and v4 CPUs)
- Up to 22 cores and 3.5 GHz of processing power per CPU
- Up to 256GB of DDR4 RAM, model dependant
- H7320 SAS / SATA RAID controllers
And that doesn’t mention the Dell EMC Chassis Management, Remote Access Controller, iDRAC8 with lifecycle controller, zero-touch automated deployment, and many more excellent features.
For the lower entry-level M630, you can expect to spend around £300-400.