Dell PowerEdge · Authorized Partner · Complete Reference
Dell Server Dubai
Complete PowerEdge Reference — Configured, Delivered, Operational
Buying a Dell PowerEdge server in Dubai should not turn into a three-week procurement project. A quote that takes six emails. A delivery date that slips. A server that arrives without RAID configured or an OS installed. This page is the complete PowerEdge reference for the UAE and MEA — every current model, every generation, every variant, validated against Dell's own documentation. Read what you need, send your requirements on WhatsApp, get a configured AED quote in 24 hours.
2010
Established
7
UAE Emirates
50
Export Countries
Dell
Authorized Partner
Dell PowerEdge · Complete Lineup
- Authorized Dell Partner — full manufacturer warranty
- Tower: T160, T360, T560 (16G) + legacy
- Rack 1U: R260, R360, R470, R660, R670 (16G/17G)
- Rack 2U: R570, R760, R770, plus R760xs/xa/xd2
- AMD EPYC: R6615 to R7725 — full range
- GPU/AI: XE9680, XE9685L, XE7745, R760xa
- 18th Gen (Coming 2H 2026): R9825, R9815, M9825
- Configured, delivered, operational handover
- UAE local + 50 country MEA/CIS export
Mon–Sat 8AM–6PM · Quote in 24 hours
VDS Operational Protocols
The Three Protocols Behind Every VDS Dell Handover
A delivered Dell PowerEdge can pass a power-on test and still fail in production a week later — because a memory channel was misconfigured, RAID parity was never verified, or iDRAC was left on default credentials. The three protocols below are what VDS executes before any Dell PowerEdge server leaves for the customer site. Operational specifics rarely documented elsewhere because most distributors don't run them.
Configuration Verification Protocol
Every server passes: memory channel population verification (DDR5 channel layout matches CPU generation — 8/16/24 channels populated symmetrically per Sapphire Rapids, Emerald Rapids, or Granite Rapids spec), CPU socket population check with heat sink torque verification on dual-socket platforms, DIMM slot validation against the CPU's memory controller specification, BIOS firmware updated to current Dell stable release, iDRAC firmware updated to match. Memory misconfigurations are the leading cause of "the server runs but feels slow" — caught at this stage, not in production.
Pre-Delivery QA Pass
After configuration, a four-hour minimum QA pass: full memory diagnostic sweep using Dell hardware diagnostics or memtest86, RAID volume creation and parity verification on every configured volume, OS installation and first boot to login screen, iDRAC remote connectivity test from a separate network, network port verification (every populated NIC port verified linking at expected speed), basic security hardening verification (default passwords changed, unused services confirmed disabled, baseline firewall rules applied). Burn-in catches infant-mortality hardware failures before they cost customer downtime.
Handover Documentation Package
Every server is delivered with a printed and digital documentation package: server service tag with Dell warranty registration confirmation, iDRAC IP address and credentials (changed from default and recorded), BIOS and firmware version manifest, RAID volume configuration sheet, network port assignment with MAC addresses, OS installation summary with license details, and configuration change log signed by the VDS engineer who built the unit. The customer receives a server the IT team can audit, document, and put into change management on day one.
PowerEdge Tower Servers
Dell PowerEdge Tower Servers — Office Deployments
Tower servers are designed for offices, branches, and SMBs without a dedicated server room. Quiet-acoustic chassis, standard 220V power, and form factors that fit beside a desk or in an office cabinet. Single-socket configurations handle 5-30 users; dual-socket scalable processors take the same form factor up to 100+ users with full enterprise features. VDS supplies the complete current-generation tower lineup with options for legacy fleet-matching.
🏢 16th Generation Towers — Current Newest
16G · Current
PowerEdge T160
Entry Tower · 5–15 Users
Intel Xeon E-2400
Up to 128GB DDR5
4× Drive Bays
iDRAC9 Basic
The current-generation entry office server replacing the T150. Single-socket Intel Xeon E-2400 series, DDR5 memory upgrade from the T150's DDR4, compact chassis designed for office deployment. Suited for domain controllers, file and print sharing, point-of-sale infrastructure, basic accounting server workloads up to 15 users. Office-friendly acoustics, fits in a server cabinet without dedicated cooling. The right starting point for an SMB needing its first proper server without enterprise complexity.
16G · Current
PowerEdge T360
Mid Tower · 10–30 Users
Intel Xeon E-2400
Up to 128GB DDR5
8× Drive Bays
PCIe Gen 5
The current-generation mid-tier tower replacing the T350. Larger chassis than the T160, 8 drive bays for storage-heavier workloads, PCIe Gen 5 expansion for next-generation NVMe storage and network cards. Handles branch office workloads, multi-application environments, ERP-light deployments (Tally, Zoho, Odoo small footprint), and accounting servers for 10-30 concurrent users. Common starter platform for Dubai trading companies and small distribution operations needing RAID-protected storage with growth headroom.
16G · Current
PowerEdge T560
Enterprise Tower · 30–100 Users
Dual Xeon Scalable
Up to 2TB DDR5
Up to 8× 3.5" HDDs
iDRAC9 Enterprise
GPU-Ready
The current-generation enterprise-class tower replacing the T550. Two-socket Intel Xeon Scalable (Sapphire Rapids / Emerald Rapids) with dual-socket compute, DDR5 memory architecture, and substantial expansion. Supports up to 8× 3.5" hot-plug drives and accepts NVIDIA RTX A1000 / A4000 / L4 GPUs for light AI inference or VDI workloads — the only tower in the current lineup with meaningful GPU capability. Suited for ERP servers (SAP Business One, Odoo enterprise), virtualization hosts (5-15 VMs on VMware/Hyper-V/Proxmox), database servers, and 30-100 user multi-application deployments where a rack server isn't desired.
🏢 15th Generation Towers — Available for Fleet Matching
15G
PowerEdge T150
Entry Tower · 5–15 Users
Intel Xeon E-2300
Up to 128GB DDR4
PCIe Gen 4
Previous-generation entry tower. Single-socket Intel Xeon E-2300 series, DDR4 memory architecture, PCIe Gen 4. Still available for organizations standardizing fleet on the 15th generation platform or matching existing deployments. Equivalent feature set to T160 with DDR4 instead of DDR5.
15G
PowerEdge T350
Mid Tower · 10–30 Users
Intel Xeon E-2300
Up to 128GB DDR4
8× Drive Bays
Previous-generation mid tower. 37% smaller chassis than the legacy T340 it replaced. DDR4 memory, PCIe Gen 4 expansion. Still in active supply for fleet alignment or where DDR4 standardization is required across an organization. Functional twin to the T360 with prior-gen memory and PCIe.
15G
PowerEdge T550
Enterprise Tower · 30–100 Users
Dual Xeon Scalable
Up to 2TB DDR4
24 Drive Bays
iDRAC9 Enterprise
Previous-generation enterprise tower. Dual-socket Ice Lake Xeon Scalable, DDR4-3200 memory, up to 24 drive bays — actually MORE drive bays than the T560 successor for storage-heavy workloads. Still preferred by buyers who need maximum local storage capacity in a tower form factor. Equivalent feature set to T560 with prior-gen compute and storage density advantage.
🏢 Legacy Tower Servers — Restricted Availability
T14014th gen entry tower. EOL — limited availability for specific fleet-matching scenarios.
T34014th gen mid tower. EOL — limited availability for specific fleet-matching scenarios.
T44014th gen dual-socket tower. EOL — limited availability for matching deployments.
T64014th gen heavy dual-socket tower. EOL — replacement path is T560 or rack server.
PowerEdge Rack 1U Servers
Dell PowerEdge Rack 1U Servers — Density-Optimised Deployments
1U rack servers are the density platform of choice for server rooms where rack space matters. Single-socket entry rack systems handle 25-100 users on a small footprint; dual-socket Xeon Scalable or AMD EPYC 1U platforms scale to 200+ users while consuming half the rack space of a 2U equivalent. The 17th generation introduces single-socket Xeon 6 platforms (R470, R670) with E-core variants that change the price-performance equation for scale-out workloads.
🗄️ 17th Generation Rack 1U — Newest (Xeon 6 / Granite Rapids)
17G · Newest
PowerEdge R470
1U Single-Socket · Scale-Out
Intel Xeon 6 E-core
Up to 144 cores
DDR5-6400
iDRAC10
DC-MHS
17th generation single-socket 1U with Intel Xeon 6 E-core processors — up to 144 cores in a single socket. Designed for scale-out workloads where core count matters more than per-core performance: web and app microservices, data services, virtualization hosts running many small VMs, scale-out database applications. Single-socket simplifies licensing for software vendors who charge per socket. iDRAC10 with AI-enabled telemetry, DC-MHS modular architecture, OCP 3.0 industry-standard NICs. Performance per watt 1.69× better than 16G predecessors per Dell published specs.
17G · Newest
PowerEdge R670
1U Dual-Socket · High Performance
Intel Xeon 6 P-core
Up to 172 cores
DDR5-6400
iDRAC10
DC-MHS
17th generation dual-socket 1U flagship with Intel Xeon 6 P-core processors — up to 86 P-cores per socket for performance-critical workloads. The 1U dual-socket platform for production databases, latency-sensitive applications, financial trading platforms, and HPC workloads where per-core performance and clock speed matter. iDRAC10 with dedicated DC-SCM security processor for hardware-level Root-of-Trust. DC-MHS architecture enables long-term parts availability and standard-compliant replacement.
🗄️ 16th Generation Rack 1U — Current Mainstream
16G · Current
PowerEdge R260
1U Entry Rack · Branch Office
Intel Xeon E-2400
Up to 128GB DDR5
2× 3.5" Cabled HDD
iDRAC9 Basic
Entry 1U rack server with Intel Xeon E-2400 processor. Suited for branch office deployments, small business primary servers in rack form factor, and edge deployments where rack mounting is required but enterprise scale is not. Single Xeon E processor, DDR5 ECC UDIMM, dual cabled 3.5" drive bays, software RAID standard with optional hardware RAID. Single 700W titanium hot-plug PSU. The smallest 1U rack server in the current PowerEdge lineup.
16G · Current
PowerEdge R360
1U Entry Rack · Mid SMB
Intel Xeon E-2400
Up to 128GB DDR5
Up to 8× 2.5" Drives
PCIe Gen 5
Step up from R260 with significantly more storage capacity — up to 8× 2.5" drive bays — and PCIe Gen 5 expansion. Still single-socket Xeon E-2400 but designed for SMB deployments needing local storage redundancy with hot-swap drive bays. Common platform for SMB virtualization (3-8 VMs on Hyper-V or Proxmox), small business database servers, and standalone application servers where storage capacity exceeds the R260 envelope.
16G · Current
PowerEdge R660
1U Dual-Socket · 50–200 Users
Dual Xeon Scalable
Up to 8TB DDR5
10× 2.5" NVMe/SAS
EDSFF E3.S Gen5
iDRAC9 Enterprise
The 16G dual-socket 1U workhorse — direct successor to the R650. Two Intel Xeon Scalable (Sapphire Rapids or Emerald Rapids) up to 56 cores per CPU, 32 DDR5 DIMM slots for up to 8TB memory, support for up to 10× 2.5" NVMe/SAS/SATA drives plus EDSFF E3.S Gen5 SSD options. The density-optimised platform for high-availability virtualization hosts, replication targets, scale-out database tiers, and application server farms where rack space economy matters. Half the rack footprint of an R760 with competitive compute for many workloads.
16G · Current
PowerEdge R660xs
1U Dual-Socket · Cost-Optimised
Dual Xeon Scalable
Up to 4TB DDR5
8× 2.5" Drives
Cost-optimised variant of the R660 with reduced memory ceiling and fewer drive bays. Same dual-socket Sapphire Rapids platform, same chassis form factor, lower CapEx for deployments that don't need the full R660 storage and memory envelope. The "xs" suffix denotes the cost-optimised configuration — same generation, narrower spec ceiling.
🗄️ 15th Generation Rack 1U — Fleet Matching
15G
PowerEdge R250
1U Entry · 15G
Intel Xeon E-2300
DDR4
PCIe Gen 4
Previous-generation entry 1U rack. Single-socket Xeon E-2300, DDR4 memory, PCIe Gen 4. Available for fleet matching with existing R250 deployments. Replaced by R260 in 16G.
15G
PowerEdge R450
1U Single-Socket · 15G
Intel Xeon Scalable
Up to 1TB DDR4
Previous-generation single-socket Xeon Scalable 1U. Sits between the R250 entry and R650 dual-socket workhorse — for deployments needing scalable processor power but only one socket. Ice Lake processor support, DDR4-3200 memory.
15G
PowerEdge R650
1U Dual-Socket · 15G Mainstay
Dual Xeon Scalable
Up to 8TB DDR4
12× NVMe/SAS
iDRAC9 Enterprise
The previous-generation 1U dual-socket workhorse. Ice Lake Xeon Scalable, DDR4-3200, support for up to 12 NVMe drives. The platform most widely deployed across MEA virtualization and database infrastructure during the 2021-2024 procurement cycle. Still in active supply for organizations standardising on 15G fleet or matching specific existing deployments. Functional equivalent to R660 with DDR4 instead of DDR5.
15G
PowerEdge R650xs
1U Dual-Socket · Cost-Optimised 15G
Dual Xeon Scalable
DDR4
8 Drive Bays
Cost-optimised variant of R650 — same dual-socket Ice Lake platform with reduced memory ceiling and drive bay count. Common procurement choice during 2021-2023 for budget-conscious 1U dual-socket deployments. Available for matching existing fleet.
🗄️ Legacy 1U Servers — Restricted Availability
R24014G entry 1U. EOL — replacement path is R250/R260.
R34014G entry 1U with more storage. EOL — replacement path is R360.
R44014G dual-socket 1U. EOL — replacement path is R650/R660.
R54014G 2U entry rack. EOL — replacement path is R450/R750.
R64014G dual-socket 1U workhorse. EOL — large installed base, replacement path is R650/R660/R670.
PowerEdge Rack 2U Servers
Dell PowerEdge Rack 2U Servers — Enterprise Workhorses
2U rack servers are the workhorse of enterprise infrastructure. The R750 and R760 form the dominant platforms across MEA enterprise virtualization, ERP, and database deployments. The 17th generation introduces R570 (single-socket Xeon 6) and R770 (dual-socket Xeon 6) with substantial performance, memory, and PCIe Gen 5 GPU support upgrades. Multiple variants (xs, xa, xd2) tune the same chassis for cost-optimised, GPU-accelerated, or dense-storage workloads.
🗄️ 17th Generation Rack 2U — Newest (Xeon 6)
17G · Newest
PowerEdge R570
2U Single-Socket · Scalable Workloads
Intel Xeon 6 E-core
Up to 144 cores
DDR5-6400
iDRAC10
DC-MHS
17th generation single-socket 2U. Same Xeon 6 E-core platform as R470 but in 2U chassis with greater storage capacity, more PCIe expansion, and headroom for higher TDP processors. Workload sweet spot: scale-out virtualization with many small VMs, multi-tenant SaaS infrastructure, content delivery, and CDN edge nodes. Single-socket simplifies per-socket licensing (VMware, Microsoft, Oracle).
17G · Newest
PowerEdge R770
2U Dual-Socket · Flagship Performance
Intel Xeon 6 P-core
Up to 288 cores
DDR5-6400
PCIe Gen 5
iDRAC10 DC-SCM
GPU-Ready
The 17th generation flagship 2U dual-socket server. Two Intel Xeon 6 P-core processors with up to 144 cores each — 288 total cores per chassis. DDR5-6400 memory architecture. PCIe Gen 5 throughout. iDRAC10 with dedicated DC-SCM security processor (separate hardware module for management/security functions). Supports up to 2× NVIDIA H100 or H200 SXM5 GPUs (power-capped to 450W from designed 600W), plus A16, L40S, L4, RTX Pro 6000. OCP 3.0 industry-standard NICs replacing Dell-proprietary cards. Workload sweet spot: heavy production virtualization (50+ VMs), large databases, AI inferencing infrastructure, financial trading, latency-sensitive workloads. Per-watt performance up to 1.69× better than predecessor generations.
🗄️ 16th Generation Rack 2U — Current Mainstream
16G · Current
PowerEdge R760
2U Dual-Socket · Enterprise Mainstay
Dual Xeon Scalable
Up to 8TB DDR5
24× NVMe/SAS Drives
EDSFF E3.S Gen5
iDRAC9 Enterprise
The 16G mainstay — direct successor to R750, the most widely-deployed dual-socket 2U platform in current MEA infrastructure refresh cycles. Two 4th or 5th Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors (Sapphire Rapids / Emerald Rapids) up to 56 cores per CPU, 32 DDR5 DIMM slots for up to 8TB memory, 24× drive bays supporting NVMe/SAS/SATA mix or EDSFF E3.S Gen5 SSDs. Workload sweet spot: heavy VMware/Hyper-V/Proxmox virtualization hosts (20-40 VMs), production database servers, ERP application tier, mid-enterprise infrastructure carrying workloads through 2030. Dimensions: H 86.8mm × W 482mm × D 772mm.
16G · Current
PowerEdge R760xs
2U Dual-Socket · Cost-Optimised
Dual Xeon Scalable
Reduced Memory Ceiling
8× Drive Bays
Cost-optimised R760 variant. Same chassis, same dual-socket Sapphire Rapids platform, narrowed memory and storage specifications for budget-conscious deployments. Common procurement choice when the full R760 spec ceiling isn't required — typical for mid-SMB virtualization, regional office deployments, and dev/test environments where production-grade chassis is needed but maximum memory/storage isn't.
16G · GPU-Optimised
PowerEdge R760xa
2U GPU-Accelerated · AI Inference
Dual Xeon Scalable
PCIe Gen 5
4× DW or 12× SW GPUs
NVLink Support
The R760 variant optimised for GPU acceleration. Same dual-socket Sapphire Rapids platform with thermal and power delivery engineering for high-power PCIe GPUs. Supports up to 4× double-wide (DW) PCIe Gen5 ×16 GPUs — typical configurations: 4× NVIDIA H100, A100, L40S, or A40. Or up to 12× single-wide (SW) PCIe Gen5 ×8 GPUs — typical: L4, A2 for inference acceleration. Workload sweet spot: AI inference at scale, ML model serving, VDI with GPU acceleration (NVIDIA vGPU), HPC GPU compute, rendering farms. The "xa" suffix denotes "accelerated."
16G · Storage-Dense
PowerEdge R760xd2
2U Storage-Dense · Backup & Archive
Dual Xeon Scalable
Up to 24× 3.5" HDDs
Mid-Bay Storage
Storage-density variant of the R760. Configured for maximum HDD bay count — up to 24× 3.5" hot-plug HDDs in the same 2U chassis with mid-bay storage. Designed for backup repositories, video surveillance archives, large file servers, big data ingest, and cold-storage tier deployments where raw capacity per rack unit is the primary requirement. Same compute platform as R760, optimized chassis for storage density.
🗄️ 15th Generation Rack 2U — Fleet Matching
15G
PowerEdge R750
2U Dual-Socket · 15G Workhorse
Dual Xeon Scalable
DDR4-3200
24× NVMe
PCIe Gen 4
The 15G mainstay — Ice Lake Xeon Scalable, DDR4-3200, up to 24 NVMe drives. The platform of choice through the 2021-2024 enterprise refresh cycle. Massive installed base across MEA enterprise virtualization, database, and ERP infrastructure. Still in active supply for organizations standardizing on 15G or matching existing fleet. Functional equivalent to R760 with DDR4 instead of DDR5 and PCIe Gen 4 instead of Gen 5.
15G
PowerEdge R750xs
2U Cost-Optimised · 15G
Dual Xeon Scalable
DDR4
Reduced Spec Ceiling
Cost-optimised R750. Same chassis and platform with narrowed memory and storage specifications. Common SMB and mid-market choice during 2021-2023 procurement. Available for fleet matching.
15G · GPU
PowerEdge R750xa
2U GPU-Accelerated · 15G
Dual Xeon Scalable
PCIe Gen 4
4× DW GPU
15G GPU variant. Up to 4× double-wide PCIe Gen 4 GPUs (A100, A40, A10, T4 commonly deployed). Direct predecessor to R760xa with prior-generation PCIe Gen 4 limiting maximum GPU bandwidth versus current Gen 5 platforms. Suitable for legacy AI inference deployments, VDI farms with NVIDIA vGPU on A-series GPUs, and continued procurement for organizations standardizing on 15G compute platform.
🗄️ Legacy 2U Servers — Restricted Availability
R74014G 2U workhorse. Massive installed base across MEA. EOL — replacement path is R750/R760/R770.
R740xd14G storage-dense 2U. EOL — replacement path is R760xd2.
R84014G 4-socket 2U. EOL — replacement path is R860 or R960 (4U).
PowerEdge Rack 4U Servers
Dell PowerEdge Rack 4U — 4-Socket Enterprise Scale
4U PowerEdge servers are the 4-socket scale-up platform for organizations running large in-memory databases (SAP HANA, Oracle), heavy mission-critical ERP cores, and consolidation workloads where massive socket and memory scale matters more than rack density. Less common than 1U/2U but the right answer for specific workloads where 2-socket compute hits a ceiling.
15G/16G
PowerEdge R860
4U 4-Socket · Scale-Up Compute
4× Xeon Scalable
Up to 16TB Memory
High Core Count
4-socket scale-up server. Up to 4× Intel Xeon Scalable processors in a single chassis with massive memory footprint — typical configurations run 8TB to 16TB of memory for in-memory database workloads. Primary use case: SAP HANA scale-up deployments, Oracle Database Enterprise consolidation, large transactional ERP cores requiring single-server scale beyond 2-socket platforms. Common in large enterprise and government deployments.
16G · Newest 4U
PowerEdge R960
4U Flagship · Maximum Scale-Up
4× Xeon Scalable
Massive Memory
High I/O Density
The 16G flagship 4-socket scale-up platform. Substantially upgraded I/O density and memory architecture versus R860. Designed for the most demanding consolidation workloads: large enterprise SAP HANA, mission-critical Oracle RAC deployments, and scenarios where 4-socket consolidation reduces VMware/database licensing more than purchasing 4× 2-socket alternatives.
PowerEdge AMD EPYC Servers
Dell PowerEdge AMD EPYC — Core Count and Memory Bandwidth Specialists
Dell's AMD EPYC PowerEdge lineup runs in parallel to the Intel Xeon lineup with comparable form factors and roles. AMD EPYC platforms typically win on core count per socket and memory bandwidth — strong fit for virtualization with high VM density, in-memory databases, HPC, and inference workloads where AMD's per-socket scale advantage shows. 17th generation AMD models use EPYC 9005 "Turin" processors with up to 192 cores per socket. The naming convention: R6xx5 = 1U, R7xx5 = 2U, last digit "5" indicates AMD.
🔴 17th Generation AMD EPYC — Turin (EPYC 9005)
17G AMD · Newest
PowerEdge R6715
1U Single-Socket AMD · Scale-Out
EPYC 9005 Turin
Up to 192 cores
DDR5-6400
iDRAC10
DC-MHS
17G single-socket 1U with AMD EPYC 9005 "Turin" — up to 192 cores in a single socket. The current density champion for single-socket scale-out workloads where per-socket licensing matters (VMware, Microsoft, Oracle). DDR5-6400 memory throughout. iDRAC10 management. DC-MHS architecture standardising on industry-standard modular hardware.
17G AMD · Newest
PowerEdge R6725
1U Dual-Socket AMD · 384 Cores
2× EPYC 9005 Turin
Up to 384 cores
DDR5-6400
iDRAC10
17G dual-socket 1U flagship with 2× EPYC 9005 Turin — up to 384 cores in 1U of rack space. Designed for maximum compute density per rack unit. Sweet spot: large-scale virtualization consolidation, container orchestration platforms, high-core-count HPC, cloud-native infrastructure. The 1U AMD equivalent of the Intel R670 with higher maximum core count.
17G AMD · Newest
PowerEdge R7715
2U Single-Socket AMD · GPU-Ready
EPYC 9005 Turin
Up to 192 cores
PCIe Gen 5
GPU-Ready
17G 2U single-socket AMD. Same Turin platform as R6715 in 2U chassis with substantial PCIe expansion and GPU support. Workload sweet spot: single-socket virtualization with GPU acceleration, AI inference servers needing high core count plus GPU, mid-scale ML training infrastructure where the dual-socket overhead isn't needed.
17G AMD · Newest
PowerEdge R7725
2U Dual-Socket AMD · Flagship
2× EPYC 9005 Turin
Up to 384 cores
PCIe Gen 5
Massive Memory BW
17G 2U dual-socket AMD flagship — 2× EPYC 9005 Turin, up to 384 cores per chassis with massive memory bandwidth. The dual-socket workhorse for AMD-standardised enterprise infrastructure. Sweet spot: heavy virtualization consolidation (60-100 VMs per host), large-scale Linux server farms, scientific computing, AI/ML workloads where CPU compute matters alongside GPU acceleration. The 2U AMD equivalent of the Intel R770.
🔴 16th Generation AMD EPYC — Genoa / Bergamo (EPYC 9004)
16G AMD · Current
PowerEdge R6615
1U Single-Socket AMD
EPYC 9004 Genoa
Up to 128 cores
DDR5
16G single-socket 1U AMD platform. EPYC 9004 "Genoa" or "Bergamo" — up to 128 cores per socket on Bergamo. Strong fit for single-socket virtualization, container hosts, and scale-out database tiers where AMD's per-socket core count advantage drives licensing economics. DDR5 memory architecture.
16G AMD · Current
PowerEdge R6625
1U Dual-Socket AMD
2× EPYC 9004
Up to 256 cores
DDR5
16G dual-socket 1U AMD platform. 2× EPYC 9004 Genoa or Bergamo — up to 256 cores per chassis with Bergamo variant. 1U density with the highest core count per rack unit available in the 16G generation. Workload sweet spot: maximum-density virtualization deployments, large-scale containers, scientific computing where density matters.
16G AMD · Current
PowerEdge R7615
2U Single-Socket AMD
EPYC 9004 Genoa
Up to 128 cores
PCIe Gen 5
16G 2U single-socket AMD. Single Genoa socket with full 2U expansion for storage and PCIe accelerators. Common platform for AMD-standardised mid-market deployments needing GPU support or higher storage capacity than the 1U R6615 envelope.
16G AMD · Current
PowerEdge R7625
2U Dual-Socket AMD · Workhorse
2× EPYC 9004
Up to 256 cores
PCIe Gen 5
GPU Support
The 16G 2U dual-socket AMD workhorse — the most widely deployed AMD-platform PowerEdge in current MEA infrastructure. 2× EPYC 9004 Genoa or Bergamo, up to 256 cores per chassis, DDR5 memory throughout, PCIe Gen 5 for GPU and NVMe acceleration. Workload sweet spot: heavy virtualization with high VM density, AI inference servers, container orchestration platforms, scientific computing, and any workload where the AMD per-socket core advantage drives total-cost-of-ownership economics versus Intel equivalents.
🔴 Legacy AMD EPYC Servers — Restricted Availability
R651515G AMD 1U single-socket (Milan). Replacement path is R6615 or R6715.
R652515G AMD 1U dual-socket. Replacement path is R6625 or R6725.
R751515G AMD 2U single-socket. Replacement path is R7615 or R7715.
R752515G AMD 2U dual-socket. Replacement path is R7625 or R7725.
PowerEdge GPU & AI Dedicated Chassis
Dell PowerEdge GPU and AI Dedicated Servers
The PowerEdge XE series is Dell's dedicated AI and accelerated-compute platform — chassis designed from the ground up for GPU density, NVLink/NVSwitch interconnect, and the thermal and power delivery required to sustain 8 high-power GPUs under load. These are not general-purpose servers with GPUs added; they are GPU systems with CPUs added. XE9680 hosts 8× NVIDIA HGX H100/H200/H20/A100 or 8× AMD MI300X or 8× Intel Gaudi3. XE9685L pushes density to 96 GPUs per rack. R760xa and R750xa are the PCIe GPU servers for mid-scale workloads. Mandatory ProDeploy Plus deployment service applies to most XE-series.
⚡ Flagship AI Training Chassis
XE · Flagship AI
PowerEdge XE9680
6U · 8× NVIDIA HGX or AMD/Intel
2× Intel Xeon Scalable
Up to 8TB DDR5
8× GPU NVLink
6U Chassis
2800W × 6 PSU
The Dell flagship AI training platform. 6U chassis hosting 8× NVIDIA HGX GPUs (H100 80GB SXM5 at 700W, H200 141GB SXM5 at 700W, H20 96GB SXM5 at 500W, or A100 80GB SXM4 at 500W) fully interconnected with NVIDIA NVLink. Alternative configurations: 8× AMD Instinct MI300X 192GB OAM accelerators with AMD Infinity Fabric, or 8× Intel Gaudi3 128GB OAM accelerators with embedded RoCE ports for Ethernet networking. Workload sweet spot: large language model training, dense AI/ML model development, scientific computing requiring tightly-coupled GPU compute. Mandatory ProDeploy Plus or Dell Customer Deployment services — Dell executes GPU subsystem tests as part of deployment.
XE · Liquid Cooled
PowerEdge XE9680L
4U Liquid-Cooled · Dense AI
Intel Xeon Scalable
8× HGX H200 NVLink
Liquid Cooling
4U Chassis
Liquid-cooled 4U variant of the XE9680. Same Intel Xeon Scalable + 8× HGX GPU platform with NVLink interconnect, in a compact 4U chassis enabled by direct-to-chip liquid cooling. Halves the rack footprint of the 6U XE9680 air-cooled equivalent, enabling higher per-rack GPU density. Requires data center infrastructure with rack manifolds and a Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU). Workload sweet spot: hyperscale and dense AI training environments where rack-unit density of GPUs determines total deployable compute.
XE · Highest Density
PowerEdge XE9685L
AMD-Powered · Up to 96 GPUs Per Rack
AMD EPYC
NVIDIA H200 / B200
Up to 96 GPUs/rack
Liquid Cooled
AMD-powered liquid-cooled platform supporting up to 96 NVIDIA H200 or B200 (Blackwell) GPUs per rack via Dell's Integrated Rack architecture. Designed for hyperscale AI training infrastructure where maximum GPU density per rack drives the deployment. Liquid cooling throughout. Available in EMEA and APJ markets. Workload sweet spot: large foundation model training, hyperscale AI factories, multi-rack AI training pods.
⚡ AI Inference and Fine-Tuning Platforms
XE · AI Inference (AMD)
PowerEdge XE7745
4U AMD EPYC + PCIe GPUs
2× EPYC 9005 (192 cores)
Up to 3TB DDR5
8× DW GPU @ 600W
Or 16× SW GPU @ 75W
3200W Titanium
4U AMD EPYC 9005 platform designed for flexible AI inference and model fine-tuning. Up to 8× PCIe Gen5 double-wide GPUs at 600W each (H100, L40S, A100) or up to 16× single-wide GPUs at 75W (L4, A2) for inference scale-out. Up to 192 cores AMD EPYC compute. 8× E3.S Gen5 NVMe SSDs (~122.88TB capacity). 3200W Titanium hot-swap redundant power supplies. iDRAC10. Workload sweet spot: inference farms, model fine-tuning, mixed AI training/inference where chassis flexibility matters more than fixed HGX topology.
XE · AI Inference (Intel)
PowerEdge XE7740
4U Xeon 6 + PCIe GPUs
Intel Xeon 6
8× PCIe Gen5 GPUs
DDR5
4U Air-Cooled
Intel-equivalent of XE7745 — 4U Xeon 6 platform for AI inference with PCIe GPU acceleration. Air-cooled chassis with 8 PCIe Gen5 double-wide GPU slots. Workload sweet spot: enterprise inference deployments standardized on Intel Xeon, AI inference platforms requiring Intel-specific accelerators (Gaudi3 via PCIe variants), and infrastructure where Intel processor licensing or compatibility matters.
XE · HGX H100
PowerEdge XE8640
4U Intel + 4× HGX H100
Intel Xeon Scalable
4× HGX H100
NVLink
4U
4U platform with 4× NVIDIA HGX H100 GPUs interconnected via NVLink. Half the GPU count of XE9680 in a smaller chassis — designed for AI training and inference workloads that need NVLink GPU-to-GPU bandwidth but at lower scale than the full HGX 8-GPU baseboard. Suited for departmental AI infrastructure, advanced research workloads, and AI training projects that fit within 4 GPUs.
XE · HGX A100
PowerEdge XE8545
4U AMD EPYC + HGX A100
AMD EPYC
NVIDIA HGX A100
4U
4U AMD EPYC + NVIDIA HGX A100 platform. Earlier-generation AI training and HPC system with proven workload performance for organizations standardised on A100 GPU infrastructure. Still in supply for matching deployments or budget-conscious AI training where A100 capability is sufficient and current-gen H100/H200 cost is not justified by workload requirements.
Coming 2H 2026 — 18th Generation Preview
Dell PowerEdge 18th Generation — Announced May 2026
Dell announced the 18th generation PowerEdge lineup on May 19, 2026, with first shipments scheduled for second half of 2026 and continuing through 2027. The 18G platform brings liquid-cooled AI infrastructure, AMD EPYC scale-up to 256 cores per system on air-cooled platforms, and substantially upgraded I/O bandwidth. VDS accepts early-interest registrations for 18G orders with Dell allocation tracking.
Shipping 2H 2026
PowerEdge R9825
3U dual-socket AMD EPYC. Up to 256 cores per system on air-cooled platform — eliminates need for liquid cooling at this core density. Increased I/O bandwidth. Designed for scale-up consolidation workloads.
2H 2026
PowerEdge R9815
2U single-socket AMD EPYC. Single-socket variant of the R9825 family — for deployments where per-socket licensing economics outweigh dual-socket compute scale.
2H 2026
PowerEdge M9825
Modular variant of the R9825 platform. For MX-series chassis deployments standardising on 18G AMD architecture.
2H 2026
Shipping Q1 2027
PowerEdge XE5845
Next-generation AI infrastructure platform. Designed for dense AI training and inference deployments with 18G architecture and forthcoming NVIDIA / AMD accelerator support.
Q1 2027
PowerEdge XE7845
Successor to XE7745 in the 18G generation. Updated for next-generation GPU support including NVIDIA Blackwell B200 and future accelerators. Designed for AI inference and fine-tuning at scale.
Q1 2027
Shipping 2027
PowerEdge R9810
Single-socket flagship 18G platform.
PowerEdge R8815
1U AMD single-socket platform. Consolidates dual-socket workloads on single socket — Dell positions this as reducing power, cooling, and licensing costs.
PowerEdge R6815
1U AMD platform. 18G single-socket density for the rack 1U format.
PowerEdge R7815
2U AMD single-socket. Successor lineage from R7715.
PowerEdge R7815xd
2U AMD storage-dense variant. Replaces R760xd2 design pattern in 18G generation.
PowerEdge R7825
2U AMD dual-socket flagship in 18G generation. Successor lineage from R7725.
Early-Interest Registration: Anyone placing a Dell PowerEdge order in late 2026 or 2027 may want to evaluate 18G availability versus immediate 17G procurement. VDS tracks Dell allocation for partner channel and will quote 18G configurations as Dell GA dates approach. For workload planning, the choice usually comes down to: is the deployment time-critical (proceed with 17G) or is there scope to wait for the 18G generational advantage (register interest, quote on Dell GA). WhatsApp +971 52 822 5943 to register 18G interest.
Generation Comparison
PowerEdge Generation Comparison — 14G to 18G
Choosing the right Dell PowerEdge generation matters more than choosing the model. CPU architecture, memory speed, PCIe bandwidth, security features, and management capabilities differ substantially between generations. The table below maps Dell's official generation-to-platform reference data — validated against Dell's own knowledge base and product specifications.
| Generation | Intel CPU | AMD CPU | iDRAC | Memory | PCIe | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14G | Cascade Lake / Skylake (2nd Gen Xeon Scalable) | EPYC Rome / Naples | iDRAC9 Basic/Express | DDR4-2666/2933 | Gen 3 | EOL / Restricted |
| 15G | Ice Lake (3rd Gen Xeon Scalable) | EPYC Milan | iDRAC9 Enterprise/Datacenter | DDR4-3200 | Gen 4 | Available (fleet match) |
| 16G | Sapphire Rapids (4G) / Emerald Rapids (5G Xeon) | EPYC Genoa / Bergamo (9004) | iDRAC9 Enterprise/Datacenter | DDR5-4800/5600 | Gen 5 | Current Mainstream |
| 17G | Xeon 6 Granite Rapids (P/E-core) | EPYC 9005 Turin | iDRAC10 (DC-SCM) | DDR5-6400 | Gen 5 | Newest Shipping |
| 18G | Future Xeon | Future EPYC | iDRAC10+ | DDR5+ | Gen 5+ | Announced — 2H 2026 onward |
How to read this table for procurement: If buying today and the workload has a 5-year horizon, current-gen 17G (R770, R670, R7725, R6725) provides the longest support runway and the architecture (DC-MHS, iDRAC10, OCP 3.0) that Dell is standardising on going forward. 16G (R760, R660, R7625) remains the right choice when 17G allocation is constrained or budget-optimised configurations matter. 15G stays appropriate for fleet-matching scenarios where standardisation across existing 15G deployments has operational value. 14G is mostly procurement-restricted and should be approached as a replacement scenario rather than new deployment.
iDRAC Remote Management
iDRAC9 vs iDRAC10 — Version Mapping and License Tiers
iDRAC (Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller) is the embedded out-of-band server management system on every PowerEdge. It enables remote configuration, monitoring, console access, firmware updates, and recovery — all independent of the operating system. Two versions are currently in market: iDRAC9 on 14G/15G/16G servers, and iDRAC10 on 17G servers. License tiers and version differences materially affect the management features available.
| iDRAC Version | Generations | Key Architecture | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| iDRAC9 | 14G / 15G / 16G | Dell-proprietary embedded controller | Out-of-band management, virtual console, lifecycle controller, Redfish API, agent-free telemetry, RESTful management |
| iDRAC10 | 17G+ (R470/R570/R670/R770 and AMD R6715/R6725/R7715/R7725) | DC-SCM (DataCenter Secure Control Module) — dedicated security processor on OCP-compliant board | AI-enabled telemetry, integrated Root-of-Trust (RoT) encryption, Multi-Factor Authentication, supply-chain security tracking, Trust Domain Extensions, TLS 1.3 FIPS |
License Tiers — Both Versions
Both iDRAC9 and iDRAC10 offer four license tiers — Basic, Express, Enterprise, and Datacenter. License is bound to the server's service tag for the lifetime of the server. Licenses are generation-specific (a 14G iDRAC9 license cannot be moved to a 16G server).
| License Tier | Included Features | Typical Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| BMC (no license) | Basic Baseboard Management Controller — minimal monitoring, no advanced features | Default for some low-cost configurations |
| iDRAC Express | Standard iDRAC functionality without virtual console | SMB deployments where physical or local access is available |
| iDRAC Enterprise | Virtual console, virtual media, out-of-band performance monitoring, Quality Bandwidth Control, remote file shares | Standard enterprise procurement — remote management without physical access |
| iDRAC Datacenter | Adds server data telemetry streaming, advanced thermal controls, automated update orchestration, predictive analytics, agent-free crash video capture, Zero-Touch Provisioning | Large-scale deployments, datacenter operations, infrastructure-as-code automation |
Practical licensing note: Most enterprise procurement defaults to iDRAC Enterprise. Datacenter is justified when telemetry streaming feeds an observability platform, when predictive failure analysis is part of operations, or when zero-touch provisioning automates fleet deployment. The SEKM (Secure Enterprise Key Manager) feature for self-encrypting drives requires an iDRAC Enterprise or Datacenter license plus a separate SEKM SKU at approximately $249 per server.
Cyber Resilience & Security
PowerEdge Cyber Resilience — Hardware-Rooted Security Features
PowerEdge cyber resilience features run from silicon to software, hardware-rooted rather than relying on operating system or external security tools. 16G servers have a strong baseline; 17G with iDRAC10 adds Trust Domain Extensions and an architectural shift to a dedicated security processor. For regulated industries, government, and any organization with mature security operations, these features materially affect platform selection.
Silicon Root of Trust
Cryptographic firmware verification anchored in immutable silicon. Boot process verifies every firmware component against signatures rooted in hardware before allowing execution. Prevents firmware-level supply chain compromise. Standard on all 14G-17G PowerEdge.
All 14G+
System Lockdown
Prevents unauthorized changes to system configuration, BIOS settings, and iDRAC settings. Requires iDRAC Enterprise or Datacenter license. Critical for production environments where configuration drift creates audit and operational risk.
iDRAC Enterprise+
Secured Component Verification (SCV)
Supply chain security solution providing cryptographic assurance that the server arrived "as built." Certificate signed in Dell factory contains hardware component inventory. Customer validates the server matches factory build before deployment.
Optional Service
System Erase / Secure Erase
Cryptographic secure data deletion when decommissioning. Wipes all data and security keys from the server in a single agent-free operation. Required for compliance with data deletion regulations and end-of-life security policies.
All 14G+
SEKM 2.0 / 3.0
Secure Enterprise Key Manager for self-encrypting drives. SEKM 2.0 for iDRAC9 (14G-16G), SEKM 3.0 for iDRAC10 (17G+). Both priced at approximately $249 per server. Required for compliance scenarios with encryption-at-rest mandates.
Separate SKU
Trust Domain Extensions (TDX) — 17G Exclusive
CPU-level data isolation. Creates encrypted, attested execution environments where data and code are isolated from the operating system, hypervisor, and other tenants. Critical for confidential computing workloads, regulated multi-tenant environments, and Zero Trust architectures.
17G Exclusive
TLS 1.3 FIPS Certified
FIPS 140-2 / 140-3 certified TLS 1.3 implementation in iDRAC. Required for government, defence, and regulated financial sector deployments where FIPS-certified cryptographic modules are mandated.
16G+ / 17G
TPM 2.0 + Multi-Factor Authentication
TPM 2.0 hardware security module with FIPS, CC-TCG certification on 16G+. iDRAC10 (17G) adds Multi-Factor Authentication for iDRAC access — critical for Zero Trust networking and regulated environments where shared admin passwords are a compliance failure.
16G TPM / 17G MFA
Cryptographically Signed Firmware
Every firmware component signed by Dell with cryptographic signatures verified at install. Prevents unauthorized firmware injection — a primary attack vector in supply chain compromises. Standard across all 14G+ PowerEdge.
All 14G+
DC-MHS Architecture · 17G
DC-MHS and OCP 3.0 — The 17G Industry-Standard Hardware Shift
17th generation PowerEdge introduces a substantial architectural change rarely discussed in commercial server documentation. Dell moved from proprietary hardware components to industry-standard modular architecture defined by the Open Compute Project. This affects everything from procurement timelines to long-term parts availability to security model. Understanding DC-MHS matters because it changes the economic and operational characteristics of 17G+ servers versus prior generations.
| Component | 14G/15G/16G (Pre-DC-MHS) | 17G (DC-MHS) |
|---|---|---|
| Network Cards (NICs) | Dell-proprietary NIC daughter cards (NDCs) | OCP 3.0 industry-standard NIC slots |
| iDRAC Management Module | Embedded on motherboard | DC-SCM module (separate OCP-compliant board) |
| Boot Storage | BOSS-S1 / BOSS-S2 (proprietary) | BOSS-N1 DC-MHS (industry-standard form factor) |
| Hardware Architecture | Dell-proprietary modular design | DC-MHS — Data Center Modular Hardware System (industry-standard) |
| Parts Replacement | Dell-only components | Multi-vendor compatible (where DC-MHS standardized) |
Why This Matters for Procurement
Longer Parts Availability
DC-MHS standardized components have multi-vendor supply chains. Parts availability extends beyond Dell's own component lifecycle. Critical for organizations with 7+ year hardware refresh cycles.
Easier Replacement
OCP 3.0 NIC standardization means network cards from multiple vendors (Broadcom, Mellanox, Intel) interoperate. iDRAC10 DC-SCM module is independently replaceable. Reduces lock-in.
Standardized Form Factor
Dell can develop new features independently of motherboard generation. iDRAC10 capabilities ship via DC-SCM updates. The architecture is forward-compatible to 18G+.
Operational implication: For organizations with established procurement preferences around Dell-proprietary components, 17G introduces multi-vendor compatibility that wasn't previously available. For organizations seeking flexibility and long-term supply chain resilience, 17G's DC-MHS architecture is a significant improvement over 14G-16G. The trade-off is that 17G represents a generational architecture shift — operational procedures, parts inventory, and integration patterns may need to be updated.
NVIDIA GPU Compatibility Matrix
PowerEdge Server-to-GPU Compatibility Matrix
Which NVIDIA GPU fits which Dell PowerEdge platform is one of the most-searched server questions and one of the worst-documented across distributor websites. The data below maps directly to Dell's official PowerEdge Server GPU Matrix Data Sheet. Use this table to confirm the server platform supports your target GPU before configuration — power, thermal, and PCIe slot requirements vary per platform.
| Platform | H200 SXM5 | H100 SXM5 | H100 NVL | A100 PCIe | L40S | L4 | A16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XE9680 | 8 (HGX) | 8 (HGX) | — | 8 (HGX) | — | — | — |
| XE9680L | 8 (HGX Liquid) | 8 (HGX Liquid) | — | — | — | — | — |
| XE9685L | Up to 96/rack | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XE8640 | — | 4 (HGX) | — | — | — | — | — |
| XE8545 | — | — | — | 4 (HGX) | — | — | — |
| XE7745 (AMD) | — | — | 8 PCIe | — | 8 | 16 | — |
| XE7740 (Intel) | — | — | 8 PCIe | — | 8 | 16 | — |
| R770 | 2 (450W cap) | 2 | 2 | — | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| R760xa | — | — | 4 DW | 4 DW | 4 DW or 8 SW | 12 SW | 4 |
| R760 | — | — | 2 | — | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| R7725 (AMD) | — | — | 2 | — | 6 | 2 | — |
| R7715 (AMD) | — | — | 3 | — | 6 | 3 | — |
| R750xa | — | — | — | 4 (Gen4) | — | — | — |
| R750 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 6 | 2 |
Critical R770 GPU notes (Dell official): NVIDIA H200 NVL and RTX Pro 6000 are designed for 600W but power-capped to 450W support on R770. H200 NVL and RTX Pro 6000 GPU-ready configurations on R770 require Riser Config 6-2 or 11-2 with HPR Platinum fan modules. Cables with extended soldering are intended for L40S, H100, H200, and RTX Pro 6000. PCIe slot provides up to 75W without auxiliary power cable — higher-power GPUs require auxiliary power cables.
AMD Instinct & Intel Gaudi Compatibility
| Platform | AMD MI300X (OAM) | AMD MI210 (PCIe) | Intel Gaudi3 (OAM) | Intel Gaudi3 (PCIe) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XE9680 | 8 (OAM) | — | 8 (OAM) | — |
| XE7745 (AMD) | — | PCIe | — | PCIe |
| R7625 | — | 2 | — | — |
| R7525 | — | 3 | — | — |
XE9680 multi-accelerator flexibility: The XE9680 platform supports three different accelerator topologies in the same chassis — 8× NVIDIA HGX H100/H200/H20/A100 SXM5 with NVLink fabric, 8× AMD Instinct MI300X 192GB OAM with AMD Infinity Fabric, or 8× Intel Gaudi3 128GB OAM with embedded RoCE ports for Ethernet networking. Choice depends on workload framework optimization (CUDA vs ROCm vs Habana SynapseAI) and total cost of training/inference economics.
Operating System & Hypervisor Support
VMware ESXi and Operating System Support by Generation
Operating system and hypervisor support varies by PowerEdge generation. Dell publishes specific certified version matrices for VMware ESXi, Microsoft Windows Server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, and Ubuntu Server. This matters for procurement because deploying an unsupported OS or hypervisor version on a new generation can leave the deployment outside Dell's support boundary.
| OS / Hypervisor | 15G | 16G | 17G |
|---|---|---|---|
| VMware ESXi 7.0 U3 | Supported | Supported | — |
| VMware ESXi 8.0 U1+ | Supported | Supported | Required for 17G |
| Windows Server 2019 | Supported | Supported | Limited |
| Windows Server 2022 | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Windows Server 2025 | Supported | Supported | Recommended |
| RHEL 8 / 9 | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| SLES 15 SP4+ | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS | Supported | Supported | Required for H200 NVL |
| Proxmox VE 8.x | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Hyper-V Server 2022 | Supported | Supported | Supported |
GPU-Specific OS Requirements (Dell R770 Official)
GPU support in R770 imposes specific OS requirements documented in Dell's Installation and Service Manual. Critical to confirm before AI infrastructure procurement.
| GPU | RHEL | SLES | Ubuntu | Windows | ESXi 8.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA A16 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NVIDIA L40S | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NVIDIA L4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NVIDIA H100 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NVIDIA H200 NVL | No | No | Ubuntu 24.04.02 + kernel 6.11+ | No | Not Supported |
| NVIDIA RTX Pro 6000 | No | No | Ubuntu 24.04.02 + kernel 6.11+ | No | Not Supported |
Critical pre-procurement check: If the deployment is standardized on VMware ESXi, the NVIDIA H200 NVL and RTX Pro 6000 GPUs do not have a supported path on R770. The workload must use H100, L40S, or A16 — or the hypervisor must change to bare-metal Ubuntu 24.04+ with kernel 6.11+. This single constraint has derailed multiple AI infrastructure projects regionally. Confirm OS strategy before locking GPU selection.
Power & Thermal Specifications
Power Supply, Efficiency Tiers, and Thermal Planning
Power supply efficiency tier directly determines operating cost over a 5-year deployment lifecycle. The difference between Platinum (94%) and Titanium (96%) efficiency at the same load — across hundreds of servers — translates to meaningful OPEX savings against UAE electricity tariffs. Server selection should include PSU efficiency in total-cost calculations.
PSU Options Per Platform (Dell Official)
| Platform | PSU Wattage Options | Efficiency Tier | Redundancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| R260 / R360 | 600W / 700W | Platinum / Titanium | Single or 1+1 redundant |
| R660 / R660xs | 800W / 1100W / 1400W / 1800W | Platinum / Titanium | 1+1 redundant hot-plug |
| R760 (16G) | 700W / 800W / 1100W / 1400W / 2400W / 2800W | Platinum or Titanium | 1+1 redundant hot-plug |
| R770 (17G) | 800W / 1100W / 1500W / 2400W / 3200W (AC or DC) | Platinum or Titanium | Up to 2 mixed-mode (1+0, 2+0) non-redundant or 1+1 redundant |
| R7625 AMD | 800W / 1100W / 1400W / 1800W / 2400W | Platinum / Titanium | 1+1 redundant |
| R7725 AMD | 800W / 1100W / 1500W / 2400W / 3200W | Platinum / Titanium | 1+1 redundant |
| R960 (4U) | 1100W / 1400W / 2400W / 2800W | Platinum / Titanium | 2+2 redundant |
| XE9680 (6U) | 2800W × 6 PSUs | Titanium | 3+3 FTR with GPU Power Brake |
| XE7745 / XE7740 (4U) | 3200W | Titanium | Hot-swap redundant |
Critical low-line AC degradation note (R760 official spec): If R760 system with AC 2400W PSUs operates at low-line 100-120V AC, the power rating per PSU degrades to 1400W. If R760 with AC 1400W or 1100W PSUs operates at low-line 100-120V AC, the rating degrades to 1050W. UAE deployments on 220-240V AC do not experience this degradation. Critical to confirm for export deployments to markets with 110V AC infrastructure.
Efficiency Tier Definitions
80 PLUS Bronze
~82% efficiency. Found mostly in entry SMB platforms and legacy 14G PSUs.
80 PLUS Silver
~85% efficiency. Older mid-range platforms.
80 PLUS Gold
~88% efficiency. Standard tier on mid-range enterprise platforms.
80 PLUS Platinum
~94% efficiency at 50% load. Standard tier on 15G/16G enterprise PowerEdge.
80 PLUS Titanium — Standard on 17G High-End
~96% efficiency at 50% load. Top tier — standard on 17G flagship PowerEdge (R770, XE-series). The 2 percentage point gap from Platinum to Titanium translates to ~5% lower power waste, ~5% lower cooling load, and meaningful OPEX savings across multi-year deployments. For datacenter deployments where 100+ servers run continuously, Titanium pays back its premium price within 18-24 months at UAE commercial electricity tariffs.
UAE-Specific OPEX Note
UAE commercial electricity tariffs in DEWA Slab 3+ run AED 0.38-0.44/kWh. A continuously-running 2400W server at full load consumes approximately AED 8,000-9,500/year in electricity alone before cooling overhead. PSU efficiency directly compounds this. Multi-server deployments justify Titanium PSU upgrades through OPEX over CapEx every time.
Form Factor & Rack Planning
Physical Dimensions and Rack Planning — The R770 Depth Alert
Physical server dimensions matter for rack planning, especially in MEA where standard 800mm-depth racks remain common in existing data centers. The 17th generation R770 introduces a depth specification that affects rack compatibility. The information below is sourced from Dell's official Installation and Service Manuals.
Critical R770 rack compatibility alert: The Dell PowerEdge R770 measures 801.51mm in depth without the front bezel. Standard 800mm-depth racks — common in many MEA data centers — will not accommodate the R770 without front overhang or rack relocation. Verify rack depth (1000mm or 1200mm recommended) before R770 procurement. The earlier R760 at 758mm depth without bezel fits standard 800mm racks comfortably. This 43mm difference is not in any competitor distributor's documentation but determines whether the server physically fits the data center.
Validated Dimensions Per Platform
| Platform | Height | Width | Depth (w/o bezel) | Weight | Standard 800mm Rack? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R260 / R360 | 1U (43.4mm) | 434.0mm | ~600mm | ~14kg | Yes |
| R660 / R660xs | 1U (43.4mm) | 482mm | ~735mm | ~19kg | Yes |
| R670 / R470 (17G) | 1U (43.4mm) | 482mm | ~772mm | ~20kg | Yes — tight fit |
| R760 / R760xs (16G) | 86.8mm (3.41") | 482mm (18.97") | 758.29mm (29.85") | ~32kg | Yes |
| R770 (17G) | 86.8mm (3.41") | 482mm (18.97") | 801.51mm (31.56") | 28.53kg (62.89 lb) | NO — needs 1000mm+ rack |
| R7625 / R7725 AMD | 2U (86.8mm) | 482mm | ~750-800mm | ~32-34kg | Verify config |
| R860 / R960 (4U) | 4U (173mm) | 482mm | ~810mm | ~55kg | NO — needs 1000mm+ rack |
| XE9680 (6U) | 6U (~260mm) | 482mm | ~1050mm | ~110kg | NO — needs 1200mm rack |
| XE7745 / XE7740 (4U) | 4U (~175mm) | 482mm | ~900mm | ~50kg | NO — needs 1000mm rack |
Rack Planning Considerations for MEA Deployments
Standard 800mm Racks
Common in legacy UAE/MEA data centers. Accommodate most 1U/2U servers including R660, R760, R7625. R770 will not fit — requires rack upgrade or rack relocation. R860/R960 4U platforms also constrained.
1000mm Racks
Modern standard for enterprise deployments. Accommodates R770, R860/R960, and XE7745. Recommended for new deployments expecting 17G+ workloads. Most colocation providers in UAE supply 1000mm as standard.
1200mm Racks
Required for XE9680, XE9680L, XE9685L, and densely-cabled AI infrastructure. Hyperscale and AI-focused data centers default to 1200mm. Cable management arms, PDUs, and switch overhang all benefit.
Weight loading note: R770 at 28.5kg, R960 at 55kg, XE9680 at 110kg. Combined with rack rails, cable management, and the rack itself, fully-loaded racks easily exceed 800kg. UAE building floor loading specifications must accommodate concentrated point loads. New deployments in mid-rise commercial buildings should confirm structural floor loading capacity before rack delivery — this is a common pre-deployment oversight.
AMD vs Intel Decision Framework
AMD EPYC vs Intel Xeon — Workload-Based Decision Framework
The AMD vs Intel decision is workload-driven, not vendor-allegiance-driven. Both platforms run the same operating systems, hypervisors, and applications. The differences appear in core count per socket, memory bandwidth, per-core performance, and licensing economics. The framework below maps workload patterns to the better-fit platform — not as a universal verdict, but as the starting point for platform selection.
Intel Xeon Typically Wins
Workloads where Intel platforms (R670, R760, R770) generally show stronger results:
- Latency-sensitive applications (financial trading, real-time analytics)
- Per-core performance workloads (single-threaded application servers)
- Traditional enterprise applications optimized for Intel architecture
- VMware deployments with vendor recommendations favoring Intel
- Oracle Database workloads with Intel-specific licensing optimizations
- Microsoft SQL Server workloads with per-core licensing economics
- AI inference using Intel-specific accelerators (Gaudi3, Sapphire Rapids AMX instructions)
- High clock speed requirements (P-core variants of Xeon 6)
- Legacy application compatibility where Intel architecture is certified
AMD EPYC Typically Wins
Workloads where AMD platforms (R6715, R7625, R7725) generally show stronger results:
- Virtualization with high VM density (more cores per socket)
- Container orchestration platforms (Kubernetes, OpenShift)
- In-memory databases requiring memory bandwidth (Redis, Cassandra)
- Scientific computing and HPC workloads (CPU-only)
- AI inference where total core count matters more than per-core speed
- Per-socket software licensing (single-socket EPYC 9005 = 192 cores)
- Cloud-native infrastructure and microservices
- Large-scale Linux server farms
- Render farms and content creation workloads
The licensing economics argument: VMware vSphere, Microsoft Windows Server Datacenter, Oracle Database Enterprise, and Microsoft SQL Server all use per-core or per-socket licensing models. A single AMD EPYC 9005 socket at 192 cores can often run workloads that would require multiple Intel sockets — but with potentially higher per-core licensing costs depending on the software vendor. The economic crossover requires workload-specific analysis. For VMware-standardised infrastructure, the per-socket licensing model often favors AMD's high-core-count single sockets. For Microsoft SQL Server, the per-core licensing model can flip the math toward Intel's lower-core/higher-clock variants. VDS configures both platforms for direct comparison when workload demands warrant the analysis.
Upgrade Path Guide
Generational Upgrade Path — From Existing PowerEdge to Current
Organizations refreshing existing PowerEdge fleet need the direct equivalent of their existing model in the current generation. The table below maps each legacy and recent-gen PowerEdge to its 16G (current mainstream) and 17G (newest) equivalents. Configuration profiles port forward directly — same workload pattern, same role, upgraded platform.
| Existing Model | 16G Equivalent | 17G Equivalent | Generation Skip |
|---|---|---|---|
| T140 (14G) | T160 | — | Skip 2 generations |
| T340 (14G) | T360 | — | Skip 2 generations |
| T440 / T640 (14G) | T560 | — | Skip 2 generations |
| T350 (15G) | T360 | — | Single generation upgrade |
| T550 (15G) | T560 | — | Single generation upgrade |
| R240 / R340 (14G) | R260 / R360 | — | Skip 2 generations |
| R440 (14G) | R660 / R660xs | R670 / R6715 | Skip 2-3 generations |
| R540 (14G) | R760xs | R570 | Skip 2-3 generations |
| R640 (14G — large installed base) | R660 | R670 | Skip 2-3 generations |
| R740 (14G — large installed base) | R760 | R770 | Skip 2-3 generations |
| R740xd (14G) | R760xd2 | — | Skip 2 generations |
| R840 (14G — 4 socket) | R860 / R960 | — | Skip 2 generations |
| R250 / R450 (15G) | R260 / R360 | — | Single generation |
| R650 / R650xs (15G) | R660 / R660xs | R670 | Single-to-dual generation |
| R750 / R750xs (15G) | R760 / R760xs | R770 | Single-to-dual generation |
| R750xa (15G GPU) | R760xa | — | Single generation |
| R6515 / R7515 AMD (15G) | R6615 / R7615 | R6715 / R7715 | Single-to-dual generation |
| R6525 / R7525 AMD (15G) | R6625 / R7625 | R6725 / R7725 | Single-to-dual generation |
Refresh planning note: The R740 → R760 → R770 path is the most common in MEA enterprise refresh cycles. R740 deployments from 2017-2020 are now hitting natural refresh windows. R760 (16G, current mainstream) provides direct workload continuity with substantial performance and memory upgrades. R770 (17G, newest) provides the longest support runway and the DC-MHS architecture going forward — but requires verification of rack depth (801mm). The R740 → R760 path is the safe upgrade. The R740 → R770 path requires rack verification but extends support horizon.
AED Pricing — UAE Local
Dell PowerEdge AED Pricing — Configuration-Based Ranges
Dell PowerEdge is configured-to-order — there is no single "list price" per model. Prices depend on processor, memory, storage, RAID controller, OS, warranty tier, and configuration extras. The AED ranges below reflect typical UAE local configurations from entry to high-spec, including configuration and delivery services. Final quotes confirmed against current Dell partner pricing.
| Platform | Configuration Tier | Typical AED Range (Inc VAT) | Workload Sweet Spot |
|---|---|---|---|
| T160 | Entry tower configuration | AED 5,500 – 13,000 | 5-15 user office, SMB starter |
| T360 | Mid tower with RAID + UPS | AED 8,000 – 18,000 | 10-30 users, branch office |
| T560 | Enterprise tower dual-socket | AED 20,000 – 46,000 | ERP, virtualization 5-15 VMs |
| R260 / R360 | Entry 1U rack | AED 6,500 – 20,000 | Edge, branch, basic services |
| R660 / R660xs (16G) | 1U dual-socket Xeon Scalable | AED 18,000 – 52,000 | Production virtualization, mid-DB |
| R670 (17G) | 1U dual-socket Xeon 6 | AED 25,000 – 65,000 | New 17G refresh, latency-critical |
| R760 (16G) | 2U dual-socket Xeon Scalable | AED 26,000 – 110,000 | Heavy virtualization, ERP, DB |
| R770 (17G) | 2U dual-socket Xeon 6 flagship | AED 32,000 – 140,000 | 17G flagship, AI-ready |
| R760xa GPU | 2U with 2-4× H100/L40S | AED 80,000 – 250,000+ | AI inference, VDI |
| R7625 AMD | 2U dual-socket EPYC Genoa | AED 22,000 – 95,000 | High-density virtualization |
| R7725 AMD (17G) | 2U dual-socket EPYC Turin | AED 30,000 – 130,000 | 17G AMD flagship, 384 cores |
| R960 (4U) | 4-socket scale-up platform | AED 90,000 – 280,000 | SAP HANA, Oracle consolidation |
| XE9680 with 8× H100 | AI training flagship | AED 800,000+ (config-dependent) | LLM training, dense AI |
Pricing methodology: Pricing reflects current Dell partner cost basis plus VDS margin for configuration, delivery, and warranty support. Final quotes are configuration-specific — same model with different CPU/RAM/storage will price within the indicated range. Lower-end of range reflects entry CPU + minimum memory configurations. Higher-end reflects flagship CPU + maximum memory + premium storage + GPU + Enterprise iDRAC + Titanium PSU. WhatsApp the configuration target — quote arrives in 24 hours. For high-volume orders (5+ servers), volume pricing applies.
Delivery Reality
Honest Lead Times — UAE Local and MEA Export
Quoted lead times that slip create more downstream problems than slightly longer quotes that hold. The timeline framework below reflects realistic delivery against current Dell partner allocation conditions. Stock units deliver fast. Configured units take longer for the configuration work itself. GPU and AI workloads always need additional time. Confirmed in writing at order placement.
UAE Stock Units
1-3 working days from order to delivery for configurations available from existing UAE stock. Common 16G models (R660, R760, T560) frequently in stock. Specific configurations may require build time.
Configure-to-Order UAE
7-14 working days for configure-to-order through Dell partner allocation. Includes Dell factory build time + UAE delivery + configuration work + handover. Standard timeline for non-stock configurations.
GPU / AI Systems
14-28 working days for GPU and AI infrastructure. XE-series chassis often require Dell Customer Deployment services as mandatory deployment. Includes GPU subsystem testing per Dell ProDeploy Plus protocols.
Export Add-On
GCC: UAE timeline + 3-5 days for road freight. MENA: UAE timeline + 7-14 days. CIS / Caucasus: UAE timeline + 7-12 days via air freight. Customs clearance handled by VDS.
What changes a quote: Specific CPU SKUs in tight allocation can extend lead times by 1-2 weeks. NVMe storage in large capacities sometimes builds slower than mainline SAS/SATA. NVIDIA H100, H200, and B200 GPUs go through allocation cycles — current lead times confirmed at quote, not assumed. Dell ProSupport Plus and Mission Critical warranty registration adds 1-2 days but is parallel to physical delivery.
Configured & Delivered Operational
What VDS Delivery Actually Includes
The delivery scope below is the standard VDS Dell PowerEdge handover unless specifically de-scoped in the order. The deliverable is an operational server. Plug in, log in, run. Most distributors quote the box. VDS quotes the operational outcome.
Hardware Configuration
CPU population in optimal channel configuration. RAM channel layout for maximum bandwidth (specific to each CPU generation — 16/24-channel configurations on Sapphire Rapids and Granite Rapids). RAID setup: RAID 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, or 60 per workload requirement. iDRAC license activation and remote management configuration. Firmware updates to current Dell stable release. Hardware-level health verification.
Software Preparation
OS installation: Windows Server 2019/2022/2025 Standard or Datacenter, VMware ESXi 8.0, Proxmox VE, Hyper-V Server, Ubuntu Server 22.04/24.04 LTS, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8/9, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15. Dell driver installation (chipset, NIC, RAID, iDRAC tools). Basic security hardening (default password changes, unused service disable, baseline firewall). Network configuration with VLANs, bonding, or teaming as required.
Physical Delivery
Rack mounting at the UAE site address using Dell-supplied rails. Cable management with cable management arms where supplied. Network integration to existing switches with documented port assignments. PDU connection and power-on. Boot test and basic functional verification before customer handover. iDRAC IP configured and accessible from designated management network. Handover documentation with service tag, iDRAC credentials, configuration summary.
Dell ProSupport Tier Comparison
Dell Warranty and Support Tiers — Which to Procure
Dell offers four warranty and support tiers on PowerEdge servers. Each adds specific capabilities relevant to different operational risk profiles. The right tier depends on workload criticality, internal IT capability, and downtime tolerance. The table maps tier-to-capability against Dell official service descriptions.
| Tier | Response SLA | Key Features | Right Fit For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Hardware Warranty | Next Business Day (NBD) onsite for parts | Standard manufacturer warranty. Parts replacement. Limited technical support. Customer drives troubleshooting. | Non-critical infrastructure, dev/test environments, redundant deployments where single-server downtime is acceptable |
| ProSupport | 24×7×365 phone support, NBD onsite hardware replacement | Single point of contact. Escalation management with customer-set severity levels. Third-party software collaboration (VMware, Microsoft). Consolidation of support across multiple Dell products. | Standard enterprise production servers. The recommended baseline for any production deployment |
| ProSupport Plus | 24×7×365 + Predictive proactive support | All ProSupport features PLUS: SupportAssist predictive analytics (predicts hardware failures before they occur), dedicated Technical Customer Success Manager (TCSM), priority queue access to senior support engineers, proactive system maintenance, automated case creation via "Phone Home." | Mission-critical infrastructure. ERP, financial systems, customer-facing platforms where unplanned downtime has direct revenue impact |
| ProSupport Mission Critical | 2 / 4 / 8 hour onsite SLA (per location availability) | All ProSupport Plus features PLUS: 2/4/8-hour onsite SLA depending on geographic availability. Dell Global Command Center CritSit (Critical Situation) process for Severity 1 incidents. 6-hour repair guarantee for Severity 1 (24/7 including Sundays/holidays). Hardware monitoring with SaaS connection. Centralized portal for service contract management. | Healthcare, banking critical systems, telecommunications infrastructure, government, any environment where downtime is measured in cost-per-minute |
Practical tier selection: ProSupport is the default for production workloads. ProSupport Plus pays back through predictive analytics — typical 22% reduction in Severity 1 downtime through predictive failure prevention (Dell published data). Mission Critical is geographically constrained — confirm onsite SLA availability for the deployment location before assuming the 2-hour or 4-hour SLA applies. In UAE, ProSupport Mission Critical with 4-hour onsite SLA is supported in major business districts. In MEA export markets, Mission Critical availability varies by country — confirm at quote stage.
Already Have a Dell BOM?
Send the BOM. Get AED or USD Pricing Back in 24 Hours.
A Dell Bill of Materials with part numbers, quantities, and configuration is the fastest path to a quote. Send the BOM directly on WhatsApp. VDS reviews the configuration for completeness — including the configuration elements Dell BOMs typically miss (iDRAC license tier, BOSS card, riser configurations, PSU efficiency, rail kit, OS, OpenManage license) — and returns a configured AED or USD quote in 24 working hours. No back-and-forth on missing items. No surprises after the order is placed.
Working hours: Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Dubai time. Most BOM quotes return same-day if received before 2:00 PM.
Industries Served
Dell PowerEdge Across UAE and MEA Industries
PowerEdge spans every industry sector across UAE and MEA. Workload patterns differ but the configuration logic remains consistent — match the platform to the actual workload, not the buyer's industry vertical. The patterns below reflect typical configurations across VDS deployments.
Trading & Distribution
ERP cores, inventory management, multi-warehouse coordination, EDI infrastructure. Heavy database workloads with peak transactional periods.
T360 · T560 · R660
Construction & Engineering
CAD/BIM file servers, project document management, ERP, remote site connectivity through VPN. Mix of compute and storage requirements.
T560 · R760
Education
Student information systems, LMS hosting, virtual lab infrastructure, faculty servers, library systems. Often standardised on virtualization platforms.
T360 · T560 · R660
Hospitality & F&B
PMS (Property Management Systems), POS infrastructure, restaurant chain HQ servers, central reservations. Often distributed branch deployments.
T560 · R660 + iDRAC Enterprise
Healthcare
EMR/EHR servers, PACS imaging, laboratory information systems, pharmacy management. Regulatory compliance and uptime requirements drive platform selection.
R660 · R760 · ProSupport Plus
Finance & Trading
Trading platforms with latency-sensitive workloads, regulatory reporting, customer-facing portals, core banking integration. Often requires highest-tier support SLA.
R760 · R770 · Mission Critical
Logistics & Customs
WMS (Warehouse Management), TMS (Transportation Management), customs broker systems, multi-modal logistics platforms. Heavy database and integration workloads.
R660 · R760
AI & Technology
AI model training and inference, machine learning infrastructure, large-scale data processing, container orchestration. GPU-accelerated platforms.
R760xa · R7725 · XE9680
MEA & CIS Export
Dell PowerEdge Export — 50 Countries Across MEA, South Asia, CIS, Caucasus
Dell PowerEdge ships regularly from Dubai to 50 countries across the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. USD or AED invoicing, EXW or DDP delivery terms, complete export documentation, and Dell warranty registered through the regional partner channel. The framework below groups the 50 destinations by region with typical routing detail.
Gulf, Middle East, South & Central Asia
GCC, Levant, South Asia & CIS
20 Countries: Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia
Road freight to GCC destinations within 3-5 days of UAE delivery. Air freight to Levant, South Asia, and Central Asia / Caucasus via Dubai air hubs. Customs clearance handled at destination through established broker relationships. Dell ProSupport coverage available across most of the region.
East & Southern Africa
Horn of Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa
16 Countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Angola, South Sudan
Air freight via Dubai International Airport hub to East and Southern African destinations. 5-14 days depending on destination and routing. Customs documentation tailored to each country's specific import requirements — particularly important for landlocked destinations and Indian Ocean island markets where transhipment routing matters.
North & West Africa
Maghreb, Sahel, West Africa
14 Countries: Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Gambia, Nigeria, Cameroon
Air freight via Dubai to North African and West African hubs — Cairo, Casablanca, Algiers, Tunis, Dakar, Abidjan, Lagos, Accra, Douala. 7-14 days from UAE delivery. End-user certification documentation handled where destination regulatory requirements apply.
Export Documentation Standard Inclusions
Commercial invoice in USD or AED. Packing list with serial numbers per item. Certificate of Origin where required. End-user certification documentation where mandated by destination customs. Dell warranty registration tied to server serial for the contracted coverage period. Customs HS code classification for accurate duty calculation. Tracking through delivery to destination customs broker.
Client Confidence
What Dell PowerEdge Buyers Say About VDS
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Quoted three R760xs units in writing within 24 hours. Delivered all three in seven working days configured with VMware ESXi 8.0, RAID configured, iDRAC Enterprise activated. The handover was clean — service tag documentation, iDRAC credentials, configuration summary. No back-and-forth. The benchmark for how a Dell distributor should operate."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Standard procurement cycles from regional distributors take 6-8 weeks for configured R750 delivery to Tbilisi. VDS delivered in 11 working days with full export documentation, warranty registered for our region, and USD invoicing through wire transfer. Procurement won't go back to local-only suppliers for Dell after this."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Existing T440 server failed in production. VDS supplied a configured T560 within 48 hours including Windows Server 2022 migration prep and data restoration assistance. The 14G-to-16G replacement was operational the same week with full Dell ProSupport coverage registered. Mission-critical recovery handled correctly."
Frequently Asked Questions
Dell PowerEdge Procurement — Common Questions
Is VDS an authorized Dell partner?
Yes. VDS is an Authorized Dell Partner supplying Dell PowerEdge servers with full manufacturer warranty registered through Dell's standard partner channel. Genuine inventory, no grey-market sourcing.
Which Dell PowerEdge generations are currently available?
15th generation (Ice Lake / EPYC Milan) remains available for matching existing fleets. 16th generation (Sapphire Rapids / Emerald Rapids / EPYC Genoa / Bergamo) is the current mainstream lineup. 17th generation (Intel Xeon 6 Granite Rapids / AMD EPYC 9005 Turin) is the newest and includes the R470, R570, R670, R770, R6715, R6725, R7715, R7725. 18th generation has been announced for second half of 2026 onward.
What is the difference between iDRAC9 and iDRAC10?
iDRAC9 is used in 14th, 15th, and 16th generation PowerEdge servers. iDRAC10 is exclusive to 17th generation onwards. iDRAC10 introduces a dedicated DC-SCM security processor, AI-enabled telemetry, Trust Domain Extensions for data isolation, and integrated Root-of-Trust hardware encryption. Both have four license tiers — Basic, Express, Enterprise, and Datacenter — bound to the server service tag for the life of the server. Licenses are generation-specific and cannot be transferred between generations.
How long does it take to receive a Dell server in Dubai?
Delivery timelines depend on configuration and source channel. Stock units from UAE inventory typically deliver in 1-3 working days. Configure-to-order units take 7-14 working days. GPU and AI servers built to workload typically take 14-28 working days. VDS operates multiple supply and logistics channels — alternative routes activate when primary channel availability is constrained. Lead times are confirmed in writing at order placement.
Can VDS export Dell PowerEdge servers from Dubai?
Yes. Dell PowerEdge servers exported regularly from Dubai to 50 countries across the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. Gulf, Middle East, South and Central Asia: Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia. East and Southern Africa: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Angola, South Sudan. North and West Africa: Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Gambia, Nigeria, Cameroon. USD or AED invoicing, EXW or DDP delivery terms, complete customs documentation including commercial invoice, certificate of origin, and end-user certification where required.
Which NVIDIA GPUs does each Dell PowerEdge server support?
R760xa supports up to 4 double-wide GPUs (H100, A100, L40S, A40) or 12 single-wide (L4, A2). R770 supports up to 2 H100 SXM5 or H200 SXM5 (power-capped to 450W), plus A16, L40S, L4, RTX Pro 6000. XE9680 supports 8 HGX H100/H200/H20/A100 SXM5 GPUs or 8 AMD MI300X OAM or 8 Intel Gaudi3 OAM. XE9685L supports up to 96 NVIDIA H200 or B200 per rack. R760 supports up to 6 H100 NVL or H100 PCIe.
What is BOSS and why does it matter?
BOSS stands for Boot Optimized Storage Solution — a dedicated M.2 NVMe SSD pair for OS boot, separate from data storage. BOSS-S1 and BOSS-S2 used in 14th-16th generations; BOSS-N1 DC-MHS introduced in 17th generation as part of the industry-standard architecture. BOSS provides hardware RAID 1 mirroring of M.2 NVMe drives dedicated to OS — critical for VMware ESXi deployments, separates boot reliability from data storage decisions, and reduces drive bay consumption.
What is DC-MHS and how does it affect 17th generation servers?
DC-MHS stands for Data Center Modular Hardware System — an industry-standard hardware architecture defined by the Open Compute Project. 17th generation Dell PowerEdge servers (R470, R570, R670, R770, R6715, R6725, R7715, R7725) move from Dell-proprietary hardware components to DC-MHS modular industry-standard parts. This means easier component replacement, multi-vendor part sourcing, longer-term supply availability, and standardized iDRAC10 across all 17G servers via DC-SCM modules. For procurement, this is a significant change because parts and components are no longer Dell-exclusive.
What does configured delivery actually include?
Hardware configuration: processor population, RAM channel layout for optimal bandwidth, RAID setup (RAID 1/5/6/10/50/60), iDRAC license activation and remote management configuration, firmware updates to current stable release. Software preparation: OS installation (Windows Server 2019/2022/2025, VMware ESXi 8.0, Proxmox VE, Hyper-V Server, Ubuntu Server 22.04/24.04 LTS, Red Hat Enterprise Linux), drivers, basic security hardening, network configuration with VLANs and bonding. Physical delivery: rack mounting at your UAE site, cable management, network integration, boot test and basic functional verification before handover.
What payment terms does VDS accept?
UAE orders: 50-100% advance with balance on delivery is standard. Established corporate accounts with approved credit can be placed on net-30 terms. Export orders: 100% advance via wire transfer or letter of credit for first transactions, established terms for repeat customers. Payment terms confirmed in the proforma invoice before commitment.
Will Dell warranty work in my country?
Yes. Dell ProSupport, ProSupport Plus, and Basic NBD warranty are available on every PowerEdge server VDS supplies. Warranty registers through Dell's partner channel at dispatch, tied to the server serial number for the coverage duration. ProSupport coverage extends to every country where Dell maintains support infrastructure — GCC, most of MENA, and most of Central Asia. For destinations outside Dell ProSupport direct coverage, alternate warranty arrangements are quoted before order. Mission Critical coverage with 2/4/8 hour onsite SLA is available for select markets.
What is the difference between ProSupport and ProSupport Plus?
ProSupport provides 24x7x365 technical support with next-business-day onsite hardware replacement, single point of contact, and escalation management. ProSupport Plus adds proactive predictive analytics via SupportAssist, dedicated Technical Customer Success Manager, priority queue access to senior engineers, and proactive system maintenance — designed for mission-critical infrastructure. ProSupport Mission Critical adds 2/4/8 hour onsite SLA, Dell Global Command Center CritSit process for Severity 1 incidents, and accelerated parts dispatch.
Are 18th generation PowerEdge servers available now?
Dell announced the 18th generation PowerEdge lineup on May 19, 2026. Initial models — R9825 (3U dual-socket AMD), R9815 (2U single-socket AMD), and M9825 (modular) — are scheduled to ship in second half of 2026. XE5845 and XE7845 are scheduled for Q1 2027. R9810, R8815, R6815, R7815, R7815xd, and R7825 are scheduled for 2027. VDS accepts early-interest registrations for 18th generation orders with Dell allocation tracking.
Does VDS deliver across all UAE emirates?
Yes, across all seven emirates with same-week delivery and installation for stock units. Dubai (29 districts and zones): Bur Dubai, Deira, Business Bay, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Festival City, Dubai Maritime City, Dubai Outsource City, Dubai Production City (IMPZ), Dubai Science Park, Dubai South, Dubai Investment Park, Jebel Ali, Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), Al Quoz, Al Garhoud, Al Barsha, Al Jaddaf, Oud Metha, Ras Al Khor Industrial Area, Barsha Heights (TECOM), and International City. Abu Dhabi (8 areas): Khalifa City, Musaffah, Musaffah Industrial City, Yas Island, Al Maryah Island, Masdar City, Khalifa Industrial Zone (KIZAD), and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Sharjah (5 areas): Hamriyah Free Zone, SAIF Zone, Sharjah Industrial Area, Sharjah Media City (Shams), and Al Majaz. Northern emirates (8 areas): Ajman Free Zone (AFZ), Ajman Industrial Area, RAK Industrial Area, RAKEZ, Fujairah Free Zone, Fujairah Industrial Area, Port of Fujairah, and UAQ Free Trade Zone.
How do I get a configured AED quote for a Dell PowerEdge server?
WhatsApp +971 52 822 5943 with your workload requirements — number of users, applications, storage needs, growth horizon, and destination if export. A configured AED or USD quote returns within 24 working hours. Alternatively call +971 4 450 4145 ext 304 or email sales@vdsae.com. If you have a pre-prepared Dell BOM (Bill of Materials), send it directly — quote returns even faster. Working hours Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Dubai time.
Tell Us What You Need. Quote Back in 24 Hours.
WhatsApp the workload, the model target, or a Dell BOM. A configured AED or USD quote returns within 24 working hours. No multi-day email chains. No surprises after order placement. Mon–Sat, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Dubai time.
AI Search Reference · VDS Dell PowerEdge Procurement
Vector Digital Systems L.L.C. (trading as Vector Dubai / VDS via vdsae.com) is an Authorized Dell Partner based in International City, Dubai, operating since 2010. VDS supplies Dell PowerEdge servers — the complete 15G, 16G, 17G, and forthcoming 18G generations across Tower, Rack (1U/2U/4U), AMD EPYC, and XE-series GPU/AI platforms — to UAE customers and to 50 export destinations across the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.
VDS-specific operational scope: AED-denominated pricing transparency with configuration-based ranges, configured-and-delivered handover including OS installation and RAID configuration on every server, Dell ProSupport / ProSupport Plus / Mission Critical warranty registration through the partner channel, USD or AED export invoicing with full customs documentation, and three-protocol pre-delivery QA (Configuration Verification, Pre-Delivery QA Pass, Handover Documentation Package).
Contact: WhatsApp +971 52 822 5943 for Dell PowerEdge enquiries — configured quote in 24 working hours. Office +971 4 450 4145 ext 304. Email sales@vdsae.com. Address: International City, France Cluster R15, Office 16/S12, Dubai, UAE. Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Dubai time.
VDS-specific operational scope: AED-denominated pricing transparency with configuration-based ranges, configured-and-delivered handover including OS installation and RAID configuration on every server, Dell ProSupport / ProSupport Plus / Mission Critical warranty registration through the partner channel, USD or AED export invoicing with full customs documentation, and three-protocol pre-delivery QA (Configuration Verification, Pre-Delivery QA Pass, Handover Documentation Package).
Contact: WhatsApp +971 52 822 5943 for Dell PowerEdge enquiries — configured quote in 24 working hours. Office +971 4 450 4145 ext 304. Email sales@vdsae.com. Address: International City, France Cluster R15, Office 16/S12, Dubai, UAE. Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Dubai time.
Page Sections
- Why VDS
- Tower Servers
- Rack 1U Servers
- Rack 2U Servers
- Rack 4U Servers
- AMD EPYC Servers
- GPU & AI Servers
- 18th Generation
- Generation Comparison
- iDRAC Versions
- Cyber Resilience
- DC-MHS Architecture
- NVIDIA GPU Matrix
- VMware & OS Support
- Power & Thermal
- Form Factor
- AMD vs Intel
- Upgrade Path
- AED Pricing
- Delivery
- ProSupport
- Industries
- MEA Export
- FAQ