World Community Grid - View Thread - AMD Announces Zen 4 based Threadripper and Threadripper Pro CPUs up to 96 core, 192 thread

What I like about the large enterprise servers are the RAS (Reliability, Availability, Serviceability) features that you don't get in consumer desktop systems. I'm running a older Dell R7425 that has been in service for about 8 years now running 24x7x365. When a disk goes bad, a yellow alert light comes on, I order a new disk, pull the old one out and replace with the new one. Server never comes down. If there is an issue with memory, the hardware fences that section of memory and continues to run. Yes, system will have to come down to replace the DIMM but better than a hard fail and can be scheduled. Same thing with CPU sparing. Power supply goes bad, it's ok, they are hot swapable. Enterprise servers contain enterprise parts. They don't fail as easily. In 8 years, I have only replaced one disk and one power supply. Surprisingly, still running original fans. You can't really compare enterprise servers to desktop systems as they are designed and built for different environments and use cases...

Oh I understand...I was in IT and have built hundreds of home and enterprise hardware/systems since the early 90s. :) However, I would disagree with comparing all desktop computers with all server computers. No exaggeration but I have had numerous Dell and Lenovo desktops since 1998 that ran perfectly for 7+ years (24x7x365) and the only reason I got rid of them was the CPU or storage or PCI slots were just so old compared to a new pc. Typically the desktops I purchase are $800-$1200 so they not the el cheapo models. I would, however, argue that Compaq and HP desktops from the 90s and 2000s were terrible for reliability no matter what price point.

I don't disagree that desktop systems can be reliable. I have 6 right now that are over 5 years old and I'm still running a six core Phenom that was built in 2009 and it's still running 24x7x365. The point I was trying to covey (evidently not very well) is that servers are designed to be highly available and to have abilities to be fault tolerant to most hardware failures and are able to be repaired with no, or very minimal, downtime. Most desktop systems fail if a hardware issue arises (disk, memory, CPU, Power Supply) and yes, i agree it doesn't happen that often today. Thankfully.

Since ~1995 I've never shut my machine off.

I don't either. I'm somewhat convinced that leaving them on is better for their long term survival. I think it is good they tend to stay at a constant temperature instead of heating up and then being turned off and cool down and then heat back up again.