Worst case scenario, you can resell it, install a Server OS on it, etc. and put it in your living room to show off :) The CaseLabs case looks cool, but you will have to do the same kind of homework on get compatible (and inter-compatible) parts for it.
Like I said, there is a good chance everything will install and run just fine ... you just have to be prepared for the unknown when venturing off the beaten path. If you have someone knowledgeable that can at least get you headed down a direction where there is some visibility for success, that would be helpful ... good luck!
First: Why do you want to install Windows 7 on a T620?
Second, if you decide to, just know up front that no client OS is supported on any Dell server, so it is up to you to find appropriate drivers (if they exist) and get it (and keep it) working on your own (and/or with our limited ability to help - not Dell's help, as they will not support this). Usually (not always), however, Server 2008 R2 drivers will work.
Cloud storage for 6 to 10TB will run you some serious cash over the course of 5 to 8 years (can easily expect a server like a T620 to last that long).
I do however agree that if you just want to stream video, I'd look for a different solution like a high end desktop (with room for a decent number of harddrives (cabled), or look for a NAS solution like a Drobo, QNAP or Synology. I'd look for something with 8 or more drive bays and then put in some 5400 or 7200rpm SATA drives (enterprise quality recommended). You get 6+ drives in a raid set, you can easily stream faster than what a 1Gbit connection can receive.
Thank you for your responses. I am trying to stream videos onto the cloud.So basically I need the machine to be strong enough to process these videos through FMLE and push them out for storage.
Hitachi makes 4TB drives currently. If you need no more than about 6 harddrives (1 for OS and the rest for the videos), you can get a full tower desktop and it'll be more than powerful enough.
The OP hasn't stated any up-time requirements and since servers are built with high reliability and up-time in mind, may be this was a consideration in choosing server grade h/w.
In my case, i liked the redundant power supplies, fans, raid, etc that my T610 provided though i could have used a desktop machine.
These days, i believe server redundancy can be handled in other ways, using virtualization on multiple desktop machines, etc, but i have yet to look into this and develop the required knowledge to configure such systems.No doubt others on these forums would know much more on this subject.
Thanks for the fast reply! I agree with you 100%, the only way to find out is, to try it myself! The biggest problem though is my wife, LOL. She just told me, not 5 min. ago, that I should stop wasting time and get something, that is proven to work! What I am probably going to do is, pay the guy I am going to buy a T5600 or T7600 from, to test it for me. He told me that he can install Windows 7 on a T620, but that he thinks is it not a good idea. He has never done it either, so how does he know?! After all, you can order the T620 with a major nvidia graphics card. Isnt that enough "proof" that Windows 7 will work?! (I might be talking out of my here, ha ha).
Anything is possible. It isn't supported, but that doesn't mean it won't work. The OP never returned for more help or to report his experience trying (if he tried at all). The ONLY way to know is to try.
Let us know where/when/if you run into issues, and we'll see if we can get through them.
I use daily with a Geforce Titan. It is awesome. You will need to mix and match drivers. Once you get the chipset driver installed, that will take care most of the missing devices. For all practical purposes the chipset is same as Precision, so check that. Also Server 2008 drivers would work.
My concern when I purchased it was the noise. It is very quite. Although it is practically a space heater (I have a 1100W supply).
I forgot to mention that if you do not buy the T620 with a GPU, you will need order the "GPU add on kit". Without it you can't power a dedicated GPU (such as TITAN or quadros), and to the best of my knowledge they don't sell it once the system is ordered. But I am sure there are 3rd parties out there.
As it is T620 will house up to three double space GPUs. However, the space is tight, so if you have another add-on cards, such as the PERC 810 raid controller, you cannot put two GPUs in the upper bays. And to use the lower bays, you need a two CPU setup.
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
0
November 8th, 2013 18:00
Worst case scenario, you can resell it, install a Server OS on it, etc. and put it in your living room to show off :) The CaseLabs case looks cool, but you will have to do the same kind of homework on get compatible (and inter-compatible) parts for it.
Like I said, there is a good chance everything will install and run just fine ... you just have to be prepared for the unknown when venturing off the beaten path. If you have someone knowledgeable that can at least get you headed down a direction where there is some visibility for success, that would be helpful ... good luck!
dellpoweruser
1 Rookie
•
3 Posts
0
April 10th, 2012 22:00
The thing is we aren't really doing server intensive stuff. We are streaming videos but not really server intensive.
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
0
April 10th, 2012 22:00
Official answer: No.
Unofficial answer: Probably.
First: Why do you want to install Windows 7 on a T620?
Second, if you decide to, just know up front that no client OS is supported on any Dell server, so it is up to you to find appropriate drivers (if they exist) and get it (and keep it) working on your own (and/or with our limited ability to help - not Dell's help, as they will not support this). Usually (not always), however, Server 2008 R2 drivers will work.
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
0
April 11th, 2012 10:00
So, why buy a server?
Dev Mgr
4 Operator
•
9.3K Posts
0
April 12th, 2012 19:00
Cloud storage for 6 to 10TB will run you some serious cash over the course of 5 to 8 years (can easily expect a server like a T620 to last that long).
I do however agree that if you just want to stream video, I'd look for a different solution like a high end desktop (with room for a decent number of harddrives (cabled), or look for a NAS solution like a Drobo, QNAP or Synology. I'd look for something with 8 or more drive bays and then put in some 5400 or 7200rpm SATA drives (enterprise quality recommended). You get 6+ drives in a raid set, you can easily stream faster than what a 1Gbit connection can receive.
dellpoweruser
1 Rookie
•
3 Posts
0
April 12th, 2012 22:00
Thank you for your responses. I am trying to stream videos onto the cloud.So basically I need the machine to be strong enough to process these videos through FMLE and push them out for storage.
Dev Mgr
4 Operator
•
9.3K Posts
0
April 13th, 2012 07:00
How much storage do you need though?
Hitachi makes 4TB drives currently. If you need no more than about 6 harddrives (1 for OS and the rest for the videos), you can get a full tower desktop and it'll be more than powerful enough.
skylarking
2 Intern
•
548 Posts
0
April 14th, 2012 01:00
The OP hasn't stated any up-time requirements and since servers are built with high reliability and up-time in mind, may be this was a consideration in choosing server grade h/w.
In my case, i liked the redundant power supplies, fans, raid, etc that my T610 provided though i could have used a desktop machine.
These days, i believe server redundancy can be handled in other ways, using virtualization on multiple desktop machines, etc, but i have yet to look into this and develop the required knowledge to configure such systems.No doubt others on these forums would know much more on this subject.
gunbuster
4 Posts
0
January 4th, 2013 12:00
Use a server OS: www.win2008r2workstation.com www.win2012workstation.com and "convert" it if you will be using it for mixed server/workstation use.
imaging
22 Posts
0
June 11th, 2013 00:00
I am kind of on the same boat now. Did you ever have any luck installing Win 7 on T620?
navissa
2 Intern
•
178 Posts
0
October 31st, 2013 20:00
Hi, I am wondering the same! Is it possible or not to install windows 7 on a T620???
thanks
navissa
2 Intern
•
178 Posts
0
October 31st, 2013 22:00
Hi,
Thanks for the fast reply! I agree with you 100%, the only way to find out is, to try it myself! The biggest problem though is my wife, LOL. She just told me, not 5 min. ago, that I should stop wasting time and get something, that is proven to work! What I am probably going to do is, pay the guy I am going to buy a T5600 or T7600 from, to test it for me. He told me that he can install Windows 7 on a T620, but that he thinks is it not a good idea. He has never done it either, so how does he know?! After all, you can order the T620 with a major nvidia graphics card. Isnt that enough "proof" that Windows 7 will work?! (I might be talking out of my here, ha ha).
thanks!
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
0
October 31st, 2013 22:00
Anything is possible. It isn't supported, but that doesn't mean it won't work. The OP never returned for more help or to report his experience trying (if he tried at all). The ONLY way to know is to try.
Let us know where/when/if you run into issues, and we'll see if we can get through them.
imaging
22 Posts
0
October 31st, 2013 22:00
I use daily with a Geforce Titan. It is awesome. You will need to mix and match drivers. Once you get the chipset driver installed, that will take care most of the missing devices. For all practical purposes the chipset is same as Precision, so check that. Also Server 2008 drivers would work.
My concern when I purchased it was the noise. It is very quite. Although it is practically a space heater (I have a 1100W supply).
imaging
22 Posts
0
October 31st, 2013 23:00
I forgot to mention that if you do not buy the T620 with a GPU, you will need order the "GPU add on kit". Without it you can't power a dedicated GPU (such as TITAN or quadros), and to the best of my knowledge they don't sell it once the system is ordered. But I am sure there are 3rd parties out there.
As it is T620 will house up to three double space GPUs. However, the space is tight, so if you have another add-on cards, such as the PERC 810 raid controller, you cannot put two GPUs in the upper bays. And to use the lower bays, you need a two CPU setup.