Workstations are high-performance computers that are used for the most intensive computing tasks, such as creative design and engineering, computer modeling and analysis, and animation. They're employed by some of the most sophisticated and demanding users to do inspiring work. I was recently asked to redesign the Dell Precision™ workstation line from the ground up, because the design hadn't been modified for a couple of generations.
Typically, when beginning a computer design, you might think to first look at the size of the system, the material of the chassis, or the placement of the CPU. We actually started with the vents. While they might not initially seem significant, they're central to what high-performance computers are most essentially about -- the effective movement of cool air to keep the components, such as the high-end Intel® Xeon® processors, operating at peak performance. With this philosophy, we developed a patented front panel in the form of an extruded diamond design that's become the face of all our new fixed workstations.
Like many good designs, this diamond bezel looks simple but is deceptively challenging. The vent pattern wraps smoothly around the inside corner of the grill, maximizing airflow while visually hiding the interior components. Wrapping the diamond pattern around the curve of the chassis required changing the geometry on the inside, and it also required a patentable new tooling technology that allowed mold action on several unconventionally intersecting planes at the same time. The tooling for this part was the most complex ever created by Dell or its molding partners. The result was not only beautiful, but functional, because it enables better airflow into the system to cool the Xeon® processors and other components, which all lead to better performance while staying quieter.
While system performance was, of course, prominent in our mind during the design, we also recognized that end users need workstations that are easier to service, deploy, and use on a daily basis. Some great innovations came to life as a result of this design philosophy.
Deciding what to leave out was just as important as deciding what to put in, because our customers demand workstations that are serviceable and deployable; not 300-lb. behemoths. We could always increase performance by adding more hardware, but great design should deliver more with less. With our new design, we created a clean and clutter-free "split-interior" which separates areas more commonly accessed by users, such as memory and hard drives, from more service-accessed components, such as wiring harnesses and fans, simplifying tasks and reducing time required for service or upgrades. We also made it lighter than the previous generation.
Ultimately, we had the rare opportunity to design the products we get to use on a daily basis. We've been happy with the results and getting some recognition, as well. The Dell Precision Line won an iF Product Design Award in 2012 and Product of the Year from
Videomaker.
Intel, the Intel logo, Xeon, and Xeon Inside are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation in the US and/or other countries.
Nice look, but why wouldn't a wire screen work just as well and be cheaper to make since all that fancy plastic molding isn't needed any more. Unless this is some test run for next years fancy designed covers. Plus, you would be getting two birds with one stone. Cheaper and looks just as good with customer satisfaction bonus when they see it isn't just a plastic box and there is some metal in there.
If dirt is everyone's concern... why not do a thermal syphon radiator setup? No fans and no filter that never gets changed or even cleaned.
I noticed several comments about air filters. Adding a filter to the airflow of the system will likely diminish performance. These are architected very much like servers and other data center products with high performance chipsets efficient airflow designed to support the cooling solution. Any obstruction, even a filter, will likely impact the airflow, raising the temperature of the system and diminishing performance.
The internal layout of the systems were designed to make occasional cleaning much easier. Additionally, on the T7600 all of the hard drives can be removed from the front and the power supply can be removed (both tool-less) from the rear to help any with any additional cleaning or servicing needs.
Ah, so Dell have basically caught up to the case design produced by Apple for the G5 design years ago, but added a grill that will get covered in dust really quickly and be a pain to clean. I'm with Widefoot on this. I would like to see a stylish darker-than-mid grey vertically pleated, electrostatically treated plastic fibre filter on the front. It would be easily removable to facilitate cleaning and there would probably be a spare in the box with the unit for convenience. It would be very easy to design such a unit, wouldn't cost a fortune to manufacture or take a lot of effort to manufacture, unlike the metal grill described here. Okay, so this is a workstation class machine, and someone probably thought that engineers are likely to be using these - so lets put something techie in her so they appreciate the engineering... I would appreciate a high performance machine with the costs associated with manufacture put into a faster, more reliable machine that is easy to maintain and upgrade, not the aesthetics provided by a grill. Ship mine without the grill when I upgrade next - with a credit for doing so - I'll make a filter for the front myself using laser sintering. Actually, the way things are going, I will be going to Boxx or someone like that for my next machine. Dell customer support is becoming more and more difficult to work with and for a company under pressure in the market place, this is a great way to fail quicker. A fancy new design won't help success.
It's nice to look at, but with all the Dell Precision workstations I've used (more than a dozen) I've never seen an air filter to clean the incoming air. So boards and components get covered in dust, hair, insects, etc. Especially if your computer rests on a carpet. Adding insulation isn't going to help that Xeon processor...
So I'd have to tape some foam over that lovely cover, and put an additional draw fan at the back to return the airflow to a reasonable level. Now I'm at risk of upsetting the internal flow management, adding another power load, and losing the nice grill.
During the redesign would have been the perfect time to add the filter - maybe next time?
Technology can go a long way toward helping people at all levels in manufacturing, and this list of technologies and solutions can help the manufacturing industry.
The next time you're churning through simulation models, manipulating 3D designs in real-time, or rendering a beautiful photo-realistic image, take a moment to think about all the work that goes on behind the scenes and be glad you don't have to worry about it.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 3
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