Guides & Resources — Server Parts & Upgrades
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Front-End vs Back-End Networking for an AI Server: When an Intel X710 Is Enough and When You Need ConnectX
One inference server needs only a 10GbE front end, and an Intel X710 covers it. A back-end RDMA fabric on ConnectX matters only when a model or training job spans servers. Which card and cable fits each, and why 100G is the ceiling in a...
750W, 1100W or 1600W? Sizing Power Supplies for a GPU Server (Dell R740xd, HPE DL380 Gen10)
Dell requires 1100W-or-higher supplies for any GPU in an R740xd, and a 1600W supply delivers only 800W on a 120V outlet. How to size power supplies for one, two or three GPUs in a Dell R740xd or HPE DL380 Gen10, with worked examples and prices.
The Complete Parts List for Turning a Refurbished R740xd or DL380 Gen10 Into an AI Inference Server
A GPU alone doesn't make a refurbished server an AI box. The seven parts an R740xd or DL380 Gen10 inference build needs, from the GPU enablement kit to power, memory, boot, storage and network, with part numbers and prices.
How Much System RAM Does an On-Prem LLM Server Need? (And Why Your DDR4-3200 Runs at 2933)
System RAM for an on-prem LLM server: at least twice your GPU memory, spread across all twelve channels. Configurations and prices for A40 and V100 builds, why bandwidth matters for CPU offload, and why DDR4-3200 runs at 2933 or 2400 in an R740xd.
HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen10 Refurbished: Configurations, Prices and Which Build to Buy (2026)
Three refurbished HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen10 builds, from $1,730.75 to $4,519.50, and how to choose: processors, memory, Smart Array storage, GPU options, and how it compares with the Dell R640.
Why Your 200G ConnectX-6 Tops Out Near 100G in a Dell R740xd or R640 (PCIe Gen3 Explained)
A PCIe 3.0 x16 slot carries about 100-110 Gb/s of real traffic, so a 200G ConnectX-6 in an R740xd or R640 runs at half speed. The math, card-by-card effects, how to check your slot, and what to buy for Gen3, Gen4 and Gen5 servers.
2026 Server RAM Shortage: Upgrade Your Old Server's Memory, or Buy a Refurbished Server With It Installed?
128GB of DDR4 server memory now costs about half the price of a refurbished server that already has 128GB installed. When it still makes sense to upgrade the server you have, when buying the whole server is the better deal, and what to check before...
Dell PowerEdge R640 Refurbished: Configurations, Prices and Which Build to Buy (2026)
Three refurbished Dell PowerEdge R640 builds, from $1,569.75 to $3,990.50, and how to choose: processors, memory, RAID controller, storage, GPU options, and when an R740xd is the better buy.
16TB SAS Drive for Dell, HPE & Cisco Servers: Toshiba MG08SCA16TE vs Seagate Exos X16 vs WD Ultrastar — Which Should You Buy?
If you're replacing a failed drive or adding capacity to a Dell PowerEdge, HPE ProLiant, or Cisco UCS array, you don't need to buy the OEM-locked drive at three to six times the price. The Toshiba MG08SCA16TE is a 16TB, SAS 12Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 512e,...