Dell Precision T3600 Review: Dell's New Enterprise
by Dustin Sklavos on April 23, 2012 7:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Systems
- Dell
- Precision
- Workstation
- Maximus
Introducing the Dell Precision T3600
As far as enterprise-class workstations go, we're at the point now where there are fundamentally two major competitors: an entrenched HP, and a very hungry Dell. We've had a couple of HP workstations in for review already (and more on the way), but today we're taking a look at one of the entries in Dell's substantially revamped Precision line.
Dell has completely rejiggered the designs of their Precision workstation towers. While the performance is going to be what you'd expect since HP and Dell are still fundamentally pulling from the same pool of high-performance hardware from Intel and NVIDIA, build and design are where Dell is really looking at distinguishing themselves from the competition with their new Precision line.
With all that said, though, that doesn't mean the underlying hardware isn't interesting. Intel's Sandy Bridge-E-based Xeon processors are on the market now, and NVIDIA continues to push Fermi for their high-end workstation graphics. Up until this point we've had mostly entry level cards in the workstations we've reviewed, so it's a nice change of pace to get a beefier machine in.
Dell Precision T3600 Specifications | |
Chassis | Dell Custom |
Processor |
Intel Xeon E5-2667 (6x2.9GHz + HTT, Turbo to 3.5GHz, 32nm, 15MB L3, 130W) |
Motherboard | Dell Custom with C600 Chipset |
Memory | 4x2GB Hynix ECC DDR3-1333 (max 4x16GB) |
Graphics |
NVIDIA Quadro 4000 (256 CUDA cores, 475MHz/950MHz/2.8GHz core/shaders/memory, 256-bit memory bus) |
Hard Drive(s) | 2x Samsung HD256GM 256GB 10K-RPM SAS HDDs in RAID 0 |
Optical Drive(s) | HL-DT-ST Slimline DVD-RAM |
Power Supply | Dell Custom 80 Plus Gold |
Networking | Intel 82579LM Gigabit Ethernet |
Audio |
Realtek ALC269 Speaker and mic/line-in jacks |
Front Side |
Optical drive 3x USB 2.0 1x USB 3.0 Headphone and mic jacks BIOS indicator lights |
Top | - |
Back Side |
Speaker and mic/line-in jacks Serial port 5x USB 2.0 1x USB 3.0 Ethernet jack PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports DVI-D (Quadro) 2x DisplayPort (Quadro) |
Operating System | Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1 |
Extras |
Externally removable, toolless 80 Plus Gold power supply USB 3.0 Toolless SAS drive bays Dell RMT technology Intel vPro |
Warranty | 3-year parts and 3-year on-site service |
Pricing |
Starting at: $1,099 Price as configured: $4,450 |
While Sandy Bridge-E didn't exactly set the enthusiast world on fire, in the workstation space it has a much more tangible impact. The Intel Xeon E5-2667 is a hex-core processor with 15MB of L3 cache, running at a nominal 2.9GHz but able to turbo up to 3.2GHz on all six cores or 3.5GHz on a single core. Attached to its integrated quad-channel memory controller are four sticks of 2GB Hynix DDR3-1333 ECC RAM for a total of 8GB, but this is one of the places where Dell leverages a feature unique to them called RMT, or Reliable Memory Technology.
Dell's RMT is impressive in that it works on top of the built-in error correction mechanisms inherent to ECC memory. Whenever there's a page fault, RMT will basically map where the bad page in the memory is and when the computer reboots it will prevent the system from using that page. As a result, the system maintains its uptime by working around the bad memory. Once there are seven or more faults in a single DIMM, the system will then suggest you replace that stick. Useful!
While our review system didn't come configured with SSDs, we did get a pair of Samsung 10,000-RPM hard drives running off of a SAS connection and configured in RAID 0. Dell offers a nice spread of storage options, starting at basic 7,200-RPM SATA hard drives and moving up to SSDs and 15K-RPM SAS drives.
Handling workstation graphics processing duties is the NVIDIA Quadro 4000, essentially the third-fastest workstation GPU NVIDIA offers. It's interesting to note that their top three are all basically die-harvested GF100 parts, but they also have substantially lower peak wattage than desktop-class Fermi cards do. The Quadro 4000 is particularly interesting because it's a GF100 with basically half of its CUDA cores disabled, leaving it with just 256 CUDA cores at its disposal. Its memory bus has also been reduced to 256-bit from 384-bit, and all of its clocks are comparatively low: 475MHz base clock, 950MHz on the CUDA cores, and the 2GB of GDDR5 runs at just 2.8GHz. At the same time, making these reductions allows the Quadro 4000 to function with a single slot cooler and a TDP of just 142 watts. While it doesn't initially make sense to pare down a GF100 this much, keep in mind that the chip itself is far more efficient at double-precision math than any of the consumer Fermi derivatives: NVIDIA rates it for 243.2 gigaFLOPs in double-precision, half of its single-precision throughput. Compare this to Kepler's GK104 or even Fermi's GF104/GF114, both of which take a swan dive once double-precision calculation is required.
Finally, in a welcome change of pace from the last generation of Precision workstations, the T3600 comes with an 80 Plus Gold, 90% efficient power supply standard. In our review of the T1600 we chastised Dell for cheaping out on the power supply, so we're happy to see that problem resolved in the new generation of Precision towers.
Obviously all this workstation class hardware doesn't come cheap. While the base model T3600 starts out at $1100, as configured our test system costs roughly four times as much. Just looking at online prices (e.g. not what Dell actually charges for the various upgrades), $750 of that is for the Quadro 4000, while the Xeon E5-2667 "only" costs over $1500 online. Ouch! We couldn't find any prices for the Samsung SAS drives Dell uses, but 300GB SAS 10K-RPM drives generally go for $300 or more depending on features, and the SAS controller card adds to the price as well. In other words, the price of workstation class hardware quickly adds up, but there's the promise of better service, support, and reliability to go along with the cost.
26 Comments
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eanazag - Monday, April 23, 2012 - link
I'd like to see how their new cards compete in this all nVidia review. The only problem I see is I can't make sense of how many different series AMD has.http://www.amd.com/US/PRODUCTS/WORKSTATION/GRAPHIC...
thetuna - Monday, April 23, 2012 - link
One of us doesn't know what a page fault is...YaBaBom - Monday, April 23, 2012 - link
I like the Dell workstations, and administer a few of them. But I have to agree with cjcoats--the limited options for disk expansion--especially in the 7x00 series--are inexcusable.I wish they would take a queue from something like the Fractal Design Arc Midi that has 8 internal 3.5" bays.
bobj3832 - Monday, April 23, 2012 - link
The machine itself is nice but it is the custom power supply, custom drive brackets, etc. that I hate.We have a ton of Dell computers at work. The ability to change out the PSU quickly is great for an IT department IF they buy some extra power supplies and have them sitting in a closet. Unfortunately our IT dept doesn't. PSU blows and it will either be 2 days to get a new one FedEx'd or Dell is out of stock for the 3 year old computer PSU model. With regular ATX PSUs I can buy a new one at a local store and put it in in less than 5 minutes.
I also couldn't put a full length graphics card or double slot graphics card in some Dells at work.
A CPU fan died and I can't just replace it with an off the shelf model because it's enclosed in this giant custom Dell air vent.
Rant over.
killazys - Monday, April 23, 2012 - link
Hi, could someone elaborate exactly what testing is being dome with x264? What's the source clip, encoding settings, whether or not avisynth is being used, etc? Its interesting that the gpu is listed, because x264 encoding is purely software based unless you're using something like DGSource in Avisynth.killazys - Monday, April 23, 2012 - link
Done*. Please excuse me as I am posting from my phone.Rocket321 - Monday, April 23, 2012 - link
I've long been jealous of the enterprise/workstation Cases from both HP and Dell. They are designed for such ease of service and have good attention to airflow and ascetics. My HP z600 at work is great with the handle/latch side door, steel panels, etc. I wish an aftermarket case maker would copy some of this stuff!otherwise - Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - link
Agreed. I've been building computers for almost 20 years now, and the Z600 has to be the best designed case I've ever worked in.randinspace - Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - link
Is Dell hoping to bring up fond memories of the Playstation 2 or something?cjb110 - Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - link
The model name orientation suggests they designed it to be horizontal, but the logo on the mesh suggests vertical?Unless they have a rotatable logo like the PS3? :)
Interestingly at work we've just switched outsourcing from HP to IBM, and as part of that any new desktops and laptops are now all Dell. Not this class though, just the i3/i5 models. They definitely look nicer and don't scrimp on memory like the 1/2gb HP ones did.