Dell Technologies recently unveiled its latest generation of AI acceleration servers at the Dell Technologies World event in Las Vegas. These new servers are equipped with Nvidia’s Blackwell Ultra GPUs, boasting claims of delivering up to four times faster AI training capabilities than earlier models. This launch comes as organizations shift from experimental AI projects to large-scale implementations, increasing the demand for advanced computing infrastructure.
The new PowerEdge XE9780 and XE9785 servers are designed for traditional data centers, while the liquid-cooled XE9780L and XE9785L variants cater to whole-rack deployments. These systems can support configurations with up to 192 Nvidia Blackwell Ultra GPUs, expandable to 256 GPUs per Dell IR7000 rack. Michael Dell, the company’s chairman and CEO, emphasized the goal of making AI more accessible for businesses globally through the Dell AI Factory partnership with Nvidia.
Despite Dell’s ambitious plans, the company faces significant competition in the AI hardware space, particularly from Super Micro Computer. The absence of pricing details for these high-end servers may pose a barrier for organizations looking to invest, especially as the complexity of necessary cooling infrastructure could further drive up costs. With increasing competition and potential production challenges faced by rivals, Dell’s success will depend on competitive pricing and effective delivery of business value through its AI solutions.
Dell’s AI strategy encompasses not just server hardware, but also networking, storage, and software components. Recent enhancements to their networking portfolio and AI data management platforms demonstrate a commitment to comprehensive solutions for enterprises. The phased rollout timeline for the new servers throughout 2025 illustrates Dell’s strategic intent to support and expand its AI ecosystem, laying the foundation for meeting future market demands.