Lenovo Thinksystem SR680a V3 GPU SR685a V3 rack SE360 V2 Is a Powerful 8U Server That Features Two AMD EPYC 9004 Processors and Eight High-performance GPUs
Here’s a detailed comparison table for the Lenovo ThinkSystem SR680a V3 (GPU Server), SR685a V3 (Rack Server), and ThinkEdge SE360 V2 (Edge Server):
| Feature | ThinkSystem SR680a V3 (GPU Server) | ThinkSystem SR685a V3 (High-Density Rack Server) | ThinkEdge SE360 V2 (Edge AI Server) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Server Type | GPU-Optimized (AI/HPC) | High-Density Rack Server | Edge AI & Inference Server |
| Form Factor | 3U | 4U | 1U Short Depth (Edge-Optimized) |
| Processors | 2x Intel® Xeon® Scalable (4th/5th Gen) | 2x AMD EPYC 9004 (up to 128C/256T) | 1x Intel® Xeon® D-2700 (Low-Power) |
| Max CPU Cores | Up to 120C/240T | Up to 128C/256T | Up to 20C/40T |
| Memory Capacity | Up to 4TB DDR5 (32 DIMMs) | Up to 6TB DDR5 (48 DIMMs) | Up to 1TB DDR4 (4 DIMMs) |
| GPU Support | Up to 4x GPUs (NVIDIA H100/A100) | Up to 8x GPUs (NVIDIA/AMD) | 1-2x GPUs (NVIDIA T4, L4) |
| Storage | 12x 2.5″ or 6x 3.5″ bays | 24x 2.5″ or 12x 3.5″ bays | 4x 2.5″ NVMe/SATA |
| PCIe Slots | 6x PCIe 5.0 (GPU-focused) | 10x PCIe 5.0 (High expandability) | 1x PCIe 4.0 x16 (Low-profile) |
| Networking | Dual 100GbE (NVIDIA ConnectX-7) | 200GbE/400GbE (High-speed fabric) | 4x 10/25GbE + 2x 1GbE (Edge-ready) |
| Use Case | AI Training, Rendering, HPC | Cloud, Virtualization, Big Data | Edge AI, IoT, Real-time Inference |
| Cooling & Power | High-efficiency cooling for GPUs | Redundant 2000W PSUs | Fanless/Passive Cooling (Wide Temp) |
| Ideal For | NVIDIA AI Workloads, CUDA Apps | Hyperscale, VMware, Database Clusters | Smart Factories, Retail, Telco Edge |
1. Lenovo ThinkSystem SR680a V3 – Balanced GPU Server
The ThinkSystem SR680a V3 is a 3U dual-socket GPU server optimized for AI training, rendering, and high-performance computing (HPC). It supports Intel Xeon Scalable (4th/5th Gen) processors, delivering strong CPU performance alongside up to 4x high-end GPUs (NVIDIA H100/A100).
Key Features:
- GPU-Optimized: Supports 4x PCIe 5.0 GPUs (NVIDIA/AMD) for AI and HPC workloads.
- High Memory Capacity: Up to 4TB DDR5 (32 DIMM slots) for large datasets.
- Flexible Storage: 12x 2.5″ or 6x 3.5″ bays (NVMe/SAS/SATA support).
- High-Speed Networking: Dual 100GbE/200GbE (NVIDIA ConnectX-7) for low-latency workloads.
- Efficient Cooling: Optimized airflow for sustained GPU performance.
Best For: Mid-range AI training, virtual workstations, and CUDA-accelerated applications.
2. Lenovo ThinkSystem SR685a V3 – High-Density Rack Server
The ThinkSystem SR685a V3 is a 4U powerhouse built for hyperscale computing, virtualization, and large-scale AI deployments. Featuring dual AMD EPYC 9004 CPUs (up to 128 cores/256 threads), it supports up to 8x GPUs, making it ideal for extreme parallel workloads.
Key Features:
- Massive GPU Support: 8x PCIe 5.0 GPUs (NVIDIA H100, AMD Instinct) for AI/ML and HPC.
- Extreme Memory Capacity: Up to 6TB DDR5 (48 DIMM slots) for big data and in-memory databases.
- High Storage Density: 24x 2.5″ or 12x 3.5″ bays (all-flash NVMe possible).
- Ultra-Fast Networking: 200GbE/400GbE support for high-throughput workloads.
- Redundant Power & Cooling: 2000W PSUs with hot-swap capabilities for 24/7 uptime.
Best For: Large-scale AI training, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise virtualization.
3. Lenovo ThinkEdge SE360 V2 – Compact Edge AI Server
The ThinkEdge SE360 V2 is a 1U short-depth edge server designed for real-time AI inference, IoT, and distributed computing. It features Intel Xeon D-2700 processors (low-power, high-efficiency) and supports 1-2x GPUs (NVIDIA T4/L4) for edge AI workloads.
Key Features:
- Edge-Optimized Form Factor: 1U, short-depth (ideal for space-constrained environments).
- Efficient AI Acceleration: Supports NVIDIA T4/L4 GPUs for edge AI and computer vision.
- Rugged & Reliable: Fanless/passive cooling options for harsh environments (-5°C to 55°C).
- Edge Networking: 4x 10/25GbE + 2x 1GbE ports for low-latency connectivity.
- Compact Storage: 4x 2.5″ NVMe/SATA drives for edge data processing.
Best For: Smart factories, retail analytics, telecom edge AI, and real-time inference.
Which Server Should You Choose?
- For GPU-Accelerated AI (Mid-Range) → SR680a V3 (4 GPUs, Intel Xeon, 3U)
- For Hyperscale & Extreme GPU Workloads → SR685a V3 (8 GPUs, AMD EPYC, 4U)
- For Edge AI & IoT Deployments → ThinkEdge SE360 V2 (Compact, rugged, low-power)
