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Go to SolutionImpact of operating servers above the recommended temperature
Hello,
I would like to ask whether Dell has any official statement, documentation, or technical guidance regarding the impact of operating servers outside the recommended temperature range.
In our case:
The servers (PowerEdge R6515) were operating for approximately 16 hours.
The ambient temperature was around 60°C.
The servers did not shut down.
The logs reported: “The system inlet temperature is greater than the upper critical threshold.”
Could you please advise what impact such short-term operation may have on the servers and their components, particularly regarding:
Component lifetime and reliability.
Increased risk of component failure.
Any potential permanent damage or degradation.
Warranty or support implications.
Thank you.
(edited)
Dell-Ravi C
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Posted August 21st, 2026 02:28
HI
The reported ~60°C inlet temperature is significantly above the supported operating temperature range for the PowerEdge R6515.
Dell specifies an operating range of 10°C–35°C (A2) or 5°C–40°C (A3), depending on the system configuration. Operating above these limits can reduce thermal margin and may result in thermal throttling or accelerated component aging.
Since the system generated an inlet-temperature critical alert, we recommend restoring the ambient temperature to within the supported range and reviewing the iDRAC System Event Log for any additional thermal or hardware-related events.
For the complete specifications and thermal restrictions, please refer to Dell's
PowerEdge R6515 Technical Specifications:
https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/poweredge-r6515/per6515_ts_pub/technical-specifications?utm_source=chatgpt.com
A specific determination of permanent hardware impact cannot be made based solely on the reported temperature and 16-hour duration.
Dell-Ravi C
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Dell Technologies | Enterprise Support Services
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