Data centers face growing challenges: rising energy costs, tightening sustainability mandates, and escalating performance demands driven by AI, analytics, and cloud workloads. Organizations must modernize infrastructure to reduce power consumption and operational costs without sacrificing throughput. This study evaluates the power-efficiency benefits of upgrading from 16th generation Dell™ PowerEdge™ servers to 17th generation PowerEdge models powered by Intel® Xeon® 6 processors.
For this study, commissioned by Dell Technologies, Prowess Consulting modeled four representative use cases using the Dell™ Enterprise Infrastructure Planning Tool (EIPT) under consistent performance conditions. Our objective was to isolate energy savings in the following areas: general compute, dense compute, edge/small and medium-sized business (SMB), and CPU-based AI inferencing. Key findings from the study include:
- Significant power reduction across all use cases:
- General compute: Up to 13% lower power draw, saving more than $237,000 annually for a one-third refresh of a 5,000-server fleet
- Dense compute: Up to 20% power reduction, saving more than $74,000 annually for a similar refresh
- Edge/SMB: Up to 42% power reduction, saving more than $79,000 annually
- CPU-based AI inferencing: Up to 33% power reduction, saving more than $170,000 annually
- Environmental impact: These efficiency gains translate into substantial CO2 reductions—up to 622 metric tons annually for AI-inferencing scenarios with a one-third fleet refresh.
- ISO-power advantage: In dense compute environments, 17th generation PowerEdge servers deliver double the core count within the same power envelope, which can enable workload consolidation without increasing energy consumption.
- Feature enhancements: Advanced telemetry, automation tools, and thermal design improvements in 17th generation PowerEdge servers further support cost containment, sustainability, and compliance goals.
Modernizing with 17th generation PowerEdge servers and Intel Xeon 6 processors can offer a path to lower operating expenses, reduced emissions, and future-ready performance. Business results from these findings indicate that organizations can achieve lower operating expenses (OpEx), better alignment to their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and regulatory mandates, and scalable performance.
TL;DR
Upgrading from 16th to 17th generation Dell™ PowerEdge™ servers powered by Intel® Xeon® 6 processors can cut power consumption significantly—up to 42% in edge/SMB deployments—while maintaining performance. Across four modeled use cases (general compute, dense compute, edge/SMB, and AI inferencing), annual savings range from $74K to $237K for partial fleet refreshes, with CO₂ reductions up to 622 metric tons. ISO-power analysis shows dense compute environments can double core counts without increasing power draw. Added benefits include advanced telemetry, automation, and thermal design improvements for sustainability and compliance. Explore Dell EIPT for planning details.
Evidence: See Executive Summary, Figures 1–4, and Appendix A in the source.
FAQ
Q: What is the main benefit of upgrading to 17th generation Dell™ PowerEdge™ servers?
A: The primary benefit is improved power efficiency without sacrificing performance. Upgrades can reduce power consumption by up to 42% in edge/SMB scenarios and 33% for AI inferencing workloads, lowering operating costs and emissions while supporting modern workloads.
Evidence: See Executive Summary and Appendix A.
Q: How much can organizations save annually by refreshing part of their server fleet?
A: Savings vary by use case. For a one-third refresh, general compute can save over $237,000 annually, dense compute about $74,000, edge/SMB $79,000, and AI inferencing $170,000. These figures assume $0.14/kWh energy cost.
Evidence: See Table A2 in Appendix A.
Q: What environmental impact does modernization deliver?
A: Efficiency gains translate into substantial CO₂ reductions—up to 622 metric tons annually for AI inferencing workloads. These improvements help organizations meet ESG and regulatory mandates.
Evidence: See Table A2 in Appendix A.
Q: Does higher efficiency mean lower performance?
A: No. Performance was held constant in all comparisons. In fact, ISO-power analysis shows dense compute environments can double core counts within the same power envelope, enabling workload consolidation without increasing energy use.
Evidence: See ISO-Power section.
Q: What additional features support cost and sustainability goals?
A: 17th generation PowerEdge servers include advanced telemetry for power monitoring, automation tools like iDRAC9 and OpenManage™ Enterprise, thermal design innovations, and enhanced security features. These capabilities improve efficiency, compliance, and operational agility.
Evidence: See Additional Features section.
Q: How were these results calculated?
A: The study used Dell™ Enterprise Infrastructure Planning Tool (EIPT) to model power, cooling, and emissions under consistent performance conditions. Assumptions included $0.14/kWh energy cost and 8,760 annual operating hours.
Evidence: See Appendix C for methodology.