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Lenovo ThinkSystem SR685a V3

CurrentServers8U rack
Lenovo ThinkSystem SR685a V38U rack16 × SFF 2.5" bays

The Lenovo ThinkSystem SR685a V3 is an 8U accelerated AI supercomputing node powered by dual AMD EPYC 9004 Series processors and an 8-way NVIDIA HGX H100/H200 or AMD Instinct MI300X baseboard. Designed for AI research institutions and hyperscale clouds, it provides memory bandwidth and high compute density for multi-trillion parameter model training.

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Specifications

BrandLenovo
FamilyThinkSystem SR
Form factor8U rack
ReleasedMar 2024
ProcessorUp to 2x AMD EPYC 9004 series processors up to 128 cores each (up to 400W TDP)
Memory24x DDR5 DIMM slots (12 per CPU) supporting up to 3TB DDR5-4800 ECC RDIMM
Drive baysUp to 16x 2.5-inch hot-swap NVMe SSD bays (PCIe 5.0) plus dual M.2 boot storage
Gpu support8-way NVIDIA HGX H100/H200 SXM5 or 8-way AMD Instinct MI300X OAM baseboard
Network8x dedicated PCIe 5.0 x16 slots for 400Gb/s NDR InfiniBand or 400GbE adapters
Power supplyUp to 8x hot-swap 3000W Titanium power supplies (N+N redundancy)
ManagementLenovo XClarity Controller 2 (XCC2)

Compatible parts

SSDs

Works together

How the Lenovo ThinkSystem SR685a V3 connects to servers, storage and the network: 5 ways, with the parts and products on each path.

Fibre Channel SANiSCSI and NVMe/TCP over EthernetDirect-attached SASFile storage (NFS and SMB)GPU cluster fabric

Fibre Channel SAN

Match the speed: 16Gb and 32Gb FC HBAs, switches and array ports work together, and each generation also runs one or two speeds below its own (a 32Gb port runs at 16Gb and 8Gb).

Adapters for the server (check the fit list)

Switches

Storage

Optics

Fibre Channel SAN: how it fits together

iSCSI and NVMe/TCP over Ethernet

Keep the speed the same at all three points: a 25GbE server, a 25GbE switch port and a 25GbE array port. Mixed speeds work but the slowest link sets the pace.

Adapters for the server (check the fit list)

Switches

Storage

Optics

iSCSI and NVMe/TCP over Ethernet: how it fits together

Direct-attached SAS

12Gb SAS uses Mini-SAS HD (SFF-8644) connectors; older 6Gb gear uses Mini-SAS (SFF-8088). Adapter cables exist, but the link runs at the slower speed.

Adapters for the server (check the fit list)

Storage

Direct-attached SAS: how it fits together

File storage (NFS and SMB)

Front-end ports face the clients; back-end ports (on scale-out systems) connect the nodes to each other and need their own switch pair.

Adapters for the server (check the fit list)

Switches

Storage

Optics

File storage (NFS and SMB): how it fits together

GPU cluster fabric

InfiniBand adapters and switches must match the generation: HDR is 200Gb, NDR is 400Gb. VPI adapters such as ConnectX-6 and ConnectX-7 can run either InfiniBand or Ethernet.

GPUs

Adapters for the server (check the fit list)

Switches

GPU cluster fabric: how it fits together

Plan and size it

Check compatibility with Lenovo

Before you buy, confirm the exact configuration against the vendor's own lists: firmware levels, operating systems, adapters and optics that Lenovo has tested with the Lenovo ThinkSystem SR685a V3.

Equivalent models from other brands

FAQ

What baseboard GPU options are supported on the SR685a V3?

It supports both the 8-way NVIDIA HGX H100/H200 SXM5 baseboard and the 8-way AMD Instinct MI300X OAM platform.

What rack depth is required to house the SR685a V3?

Due to its 8U chassis depth and high airflow clearance requirements, a 1200mm deep rack enclosure is recommended.

Buying or selling ThinkSystem SR685a V3?

New, refurbished or used. Tell us the quantity and condition and we connect you with a vetted reseller in your region, usually within one working day.

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Sources