Dell PowerEdge T550 Tower Server - Options Available

PowerEdge T550 Tower Server Overview

The Dell PowerEdge T550 is an enterprise-class 5U tower server powered by 3rd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors. With dual-socket capability supporting up to 72 cores total, 1TB of memory, and advanced GPU acceleration options, the T550 delivers exceptional performance for virtualization, databases, analytics, and AI/ML workloads outside the traditional data center.

Dual-Socket Scalable Performance

The T550 supports up to two 3rd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors with up to 36 cores per socket, delivering combined processing power of up to 72 cores in a single tower server. With 16 DDR4 RDIMM slots supporting up to 1TB of registered ECC memory at speeds up to 3200 MT/s, the T550 handles the most demanding memory-intensive workloads including large databases, in-memory analytics, and virtualization hosting dozens of VMs.

Advanced GPU Acceleration

The T550 supports multiple GPU configurations for AI/ML training and inferencing:

• NVIDIA A2 - Entry-level Tensor Core GPU (16GB, 60W) for edge AI inferencing
• Up to 5x NVIDIA T4 - Single-width 70W GPUs ideal for AI inferencing, VDI, and rendering
• Up to 2x NVIDIA A40 - Double-wide 300W GPUs for AI training, data science, and professional visualization

Enterprise AI & Machine Learning Capabilities

With multi-GPU support and dual Xeon Scalable processors, the T550 addresses demanding AI/ML workloads:

• AI Model Training - Train neural networks locally with NVIDIA A40 GPUs and high-bandwidth memory
• Batch Inferencing - Deploy multiple models simultaneously across NVIDIA T4 GPUs for high-throughput predictions
• Data Analytics - Accelerate big data processing with GPU-accelerated analytics frameworks
• Deep Learning - Run TensorFlow, PyTorch, and other frameworks with CUDA acceleration
• Computer Vision - Process video streams for object detection, classification, and tracking
• Natural Language Processing - Deploy large language models for text analysis and generation
• Recommendation Systems - Real-time personalization with GPU-accelerated inference

Massive Storage Flexibility

The T550 offers unprecedented storage configurations for a tower server:

• Up to 8 x 2.5" drives - Maximum 120TB capacity
• Up to 16 x 2.5" drives - Maximum 240TB capacity
• Up to 24 x 2.5" drives - Maximum 360TB capacity
• Up to 8 x 3.5" drives - Maximum 120TB with larger HDDs
• Hybrid: 8 x 3.5" + 8 x 2.5" NVMe - Maximum 240TB with NVMe performance tier

RAID controller options include:

• PERC H345/H355 - Entry to mid-range hardware RAID
• PERC H745/H755/H755N - Advanced hardware RAID with cache and NVMe support
• PERC H840 - External RAID for additional storage enclosures
• Software RAID S150 - Cost-effective basic redundancy
• HBA355i/e - 12Gbps SAS HBA for non-RAID configurations
• BOSS-S2 - Boot Optimized Storage with 2 x M.2 NVMe SSDs for OS isolation

PCIe Gen 4 Expansion

The T550 features up to 6 PCIe Gen 4 slots plus an OCP 3.0 slot for maximum expansion flexibility. This accommodates multiple GPUs, high-speed network adapters, storage controllers, and other accelerators required for data-intensive workloads.

Management & Security

Every T550 includes iDRAC9 with comprehensive lifecycle management capabilities. Enterprise licensing provides advanced features including remote console, virtual media, automated updates, and integration with Dell OpenManage tools. The T550 integrates cyber-resilient architecture with silicon root of trust, secure boot, cryptographically signed firmware, TPM 2.0, and system lockdown capabilities for Zero Trust environments.

Office-Friendly Operation

Despite its enterprise-class performance and 5U form factor, the T550 maintains office-friendly acoustics through optimized thermal design and acoustic dampening. The new chassis design offers higher performance technologies in a quieter, more management-friendly enclosure suitable for deployment outside traditional data centers.

Ideal Workloads

• AI/ML model training and inferencing
• Large-scale virtualization (20-50 VMs)
• Enterprise databases (SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL)
• Business intelligence and analytics
• VDI with GPU acceleration
• 3D rendering and media production
• High-performance computing (HPC)
• Data science and machine learning pipelines
• Private cloud infrastructure
• Software development and CI/CD