Things to Consider Before Buying a GPU Server

It is a big decision to buy a Server for your enterprise. If you don’t know, you could end up making the wrong decision and paying too much price for it. In this guide we are going to discuss the factors that you should consider before buying a GPU server.

How do servers work and why is it important?

How do servers work?

It is a computer system which has higher computing power than regular computers. It provides data to other computers. It may be used to provide access to multiple services like files, websites, email, and other services.

Why is it important?

In this era of the internet, Servers are a key part of the internet and computer networks. They make it possible for us to access the resources and services we require, when we need them.

How to choose what type of server you need for your business

Nowadays, there are many different types of servers available and it can be a difficult task of choosing the correct one for your enterprise or business. First, you have to determine what type of workload your server has to handle. Now, you need to consider what type of operating system you have to run on your server. Finally, you come to the budget when choosing a server. More powerful servers will obviously cost more money, but they may be necessary for your business.

There are many different types of server available in the market. Among them GPU Server may be the best choice for your business however it totally depends on your needs and budget.

GPU(Graphical Processing Unit) Server

GPU server is a high level performing electronic circuit used in computing processes. As a professional point of view, a GPU server is used in industry to improve computing power in certain areas such as, Graphics rendering, deep learning, scientific computing, and videos. These are engineered in a way to deliver a high level performance. GPU server renders visuals on the system.

What is the Purpose of a GPU Server?

The GPU servers have several computer circuits to render images and graphics. These servers are engineered to support multiple processors to process multiple operations simultaneously. The processors split tasks into smaller tasks to execute them briskly. The best thing about a GPU server is, it has access to RAM, which allows processors to save data in the form of images.

What are the Main Components of a GPU Server?

The main components of a GPU server are the same as the other servers. Here’s the list given below of those components:

• Motherboard

• CPU/Processor

• RAM

• Hard drive

• Network

• Power supply

What Kinds of Applications or Workloads are GPU Servers Good for ?

GPU servers are mostly considered ideal to be used by small to large companies. A few of the applications or workloads handled by a GPU server include:

1. Rendering and Visualization

GPU server supports the rendering of high quality visuals and multi-streams. One GPU server unit is sufficient to render a task for which you would need 20 CPUs to complete this task.

2. Video Streaming

GPU is considered as an ideal server to make live broadcasts. Irrespective of the content you are streaming, It's extremely beneficial for those who work on heavy streaming workloads.

3. 3D Modelling

GPU is mandatory in 3D modelling or rendering software. Use of this by an engineer, architect, or product designer improves the experience when using CAD software while boosting productivity.

4. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Tasks related to artificial intelligence and deep training would be slow. Using GPUs designed to work efficiently with AI workloads will reduce the time it requires to train the bot from days to minutes.

5. Machine Learning(ML)

There are dedicated GPU servers that are used to train machine-learning models. Graphics processing units (GPUs) specially developed for accelerating graphics processing, can dramatically speed up computational processes for deep learning.

6. Deep Learning(DL)

Deep learning requires a great deal of speed and high performance and models learn more quickly when all operations are processed at once.

7. Big Data Manipulation

The performance of a GPU server offers companies and researchers to train bigger models, often to unlock big data value.

8. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

VDI has become most popular with people working remotely. GPU servers ensure that VDI apps function seamlessly to ensure smooth working remote operations for employees

The following factors can be considered before buying a GPU Server such as cost, cooling, memory, power, bandwidth, clock speed, cores, version, motherboard.

• Cost

It is the most important factor to keep in mind before buying or renting the GPU server since these are more expensive than CPUs, especially high-end models or according to your business needs. Better to compare the features of two to three models of GPU servers and choose the correct one which can handle the workloads of your business and fits your bill.

• Cooling

GPU produces a lot of heat. Furthermore, a cool GPU does not only improve your graphics card but also helps to improve the overall performance of a computer. Always ensure that there are cooling fans installed inside the server to dissipate the generated heat and keep the components working. GPU temperature can be reduced significantly after increasing the fan speed. The heat output is measured in terms of Thermal Design Power (TDP) value. Higher the TDP value, more the fans you would need to distribute the heat.

• Memory

The GPU servers come in different models with different storage capacities. The higher the memory, the easier it can render images at higher resolutions on the screen. Indeed, higher memory assures the optimal performance of the server. Concerned with its processing power, GPU memory works to produce visuals. Data storage, speed of data access, texture mapping, memory type, memory bandwidth, and other memory factors ultimately affect the performance.

• Power

The GPUs receive power through the cables with pins on them. The power supply to the graphic cards in the server must have 8-pin or 6-pin connectors. GPUs often have power connectors. These connectors enable the GPUs to receive the necessary power from the power supply unit to work properly. A stable power supply supplies power to all components and makes them function efficiently.

• Bandwidth

It is the amount of memory that a GPU can access at any point in time. The higher the bandwidth the server owns, the data can be transferred fast to the shader cores. This allows applications with rich graphics to run with more clarity. Apart from other components like CPU and RAM, its bandwidth also plays a significant role in the overall performance and display of online games. GPU bandwidth impacts gaming because what you see on the screen is directly manifested by the GPU resources.

• Clock speed(measured in MHz)

It has an impact on the latency, frame rate, and input lag. GPU holds the capability to read 64 bits of data in one go. GPUs having high clock speed can read more data at a time.

• Cores

GPU servers have around 32 cores per processor. Number of cores increase the processing power that is required to deliver high computing performance.

• Version

Having an enhanced version of GPU server accelerates graphics and supports intense workloads. It’s good to have the latest version of the GPU.

• Motherboard

You have to buy a CPU or motherboard that is integrated with graphics. The number of CPUs, RAM, and storage you want depends on the motherboard you choose.

Conclusion

Now, you might have known about the purpose of the GPU server and its applications, you can set up this server in the data center to handle different tasks. Without adding any external hardware, the server can handle powerful processing. It is space- and power-efficient.