"Unused" Enterprise server for $880. Worth it?

High-Performance Computing Workstations & Servers
1

Hello,

I just found an offer on a Dell R720 2U Rack server, and I’m unsure if it’s worth the 880 USD he is asking for. According to him the server was bought 2013 to be used in an enterprise business system, but they never deployed it. Since then it’s just been standing around.

The specs are:
2x Intel Xeon E5-2650 2.00GHz, 20 M Cache, 8.0GT/s QPI, Turbo, 8 C, 95W, Max Mem 1600MHz
8x 8GB RDIMM, 1333 MT/s, Low Volt , Dual Rank, x4 Data Width
2x200gb Solid State Drive SATA Value MLC
2x Intel X520 10gb NIC
8x1gb I350-t NIC
DRAC Enterprise licens
PERC H710 Integrated RAID Cont roller, 512MB NV Cache
Dual, Hot-plug, Redundant Power Supply (1+1), 750W
ReadyRails Sliding Rails
DVD+/-RW, SATA, INTERNAL

If bought, I’m intending to install VMware ESXi on it and run VPN, Plex and NAS VMs for personal use.

Is this machine worth the 880 USD he is asking for? I mean, it has a total of 16 cores, 64GB of ram, 10 ethernet ports and 2x 200GB SSD.

What do you guys think?

1 Like
2

From what you have posted there, I'd say you would have a really hard time building a similar box to those specs. The only questions I have are: where are you going to put it, and do you think you'll get your full money's worth out of it?

  • AK
3

it's about what you can build it yourself for
however

if you were to spend the same amount of money and do it yourself you could opt for 4-port NICs and have more free PCIE lanes, or other minor upgrades
but would be mostly the same specs

so just depends really on what you want to do

4

I'm intending to put it in storage closet/shed in my house where I already have an old HP server, which would be assigned to act as a NAS or iSCSI-storage. I'm currently studying computer and network technology on a university level, so a capable home lab would be very beneficial for me.

I have been looking into buying/building a Hypervisor/NAS for quite some time, but when I put together a price example with a X99A, an i7-5820K, the same amount of ram (64GB) and no storage, I end up with a price tag of about 1,400 USD.

1 Like
5

well
as an example

$60 x2

$295

$40

$90

$48

$90

some case: $80

SSD: $100

total: Exact same lol. $870
that is if i haven't derped and forgot something
maybe a crappy GPU to throw in just to have one
so just depends on what you want.

6

The problem for me is that I live in Sweden, which unfortunately makes shipping much more expensive. I guess I could try to find the parts on ebay in Europe, but shipping would still be expensive.

7

I'd say go for it. The raid controller is a PERC and those work but they're meh and have limited RAID functionality. The info sheet (https://si.cdn.dell.com/sites/doccontent/shared-content/data-sheets/Documents/dell-perc-h710-spec-sheet.pdf) doesn't even show RAID 15 which is my favorite flavor and my older PERC cards did that at my old job. Maybe it's being antiquated for 50.

That said, you're also getting get hardware that's server grade, the fans are just giong to be loud as hell.

8

Loudness and temperature is not an issue, since it would be placed in a cooled, practically soundproof environment.

9

Well run with it.

The processors are a bit on the meh'er side but the system is solid and will do what you want to do with it no problem.

The RAID controller also supports SAS so that's a huge bonus.