Tim Wang's eLearning Blog

01/31/08

The Most Expensive Desktop Computer I Have Seen - Dell Poweredge 2900

Filed under: Hardware — timwang @ 01:25:36 pm

First of all, the title cheated, it's a server, but designed in a desktop layout. Our IT department recently received a new desktop server-Dell Poweredge 2900, for a department in the faculty. Since it is "the most expensive" desktop computer (It cost over $10K) I have encountered so far, therefore I better take a few pictures. I am so far quite impressed by Dell's Laptop quality but never knew they can build a high quality server box with such an efficient design. The Power Edge 2900 is one of the newest and most powerful desktop servers in the market today. A lockable panel in the front prevents access to the hard drives and a small on-box LCD panel with color variations provide quick summary of the server status. The Dell Poweredge 2900 has a similar height as a normal desktop and 1/3 longer than a regular desktop.
dell poweredge 2900 vs desktop

Dell Poweredge 2900 vs desktop

The desktop server provide amazingly flexible storage options: you can plug in up to 8 SAS or SATA hard drives in hot-swap carriers. An optional flex-bay can be inserted in the lower of the two spare 5.25in bays above, with its own backplane and interface.
dell poweredge 2900 front 8 SAS or SATA hard drives

Dell Poweredge 2900 front 8 SAS or SATA hard drives

There are six easily removable fans providing a good access of air through the interior front to back, for the purpose of cooling the monster down: 5050 Xeon processor mounted on it, both sockets have dedicated fans and the (max. up to 48GB) memory slots also have dedicated fans.
dell poweredge 2900 inside the box

Dell Poweredge 2900 inside the box

It’s got a dual 93w hot-swap power supplies in case of one breaks down.
dell poweredge 2900 dual power supplies

Dell Poweredge 2900 dual power supplies

Unfortunately, it is "too noisy" for anyone to hide it under the desk. Therefore, it still needs to go into a server room. But it certainly got the "Ferrari" look.


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