We have a product which consists of a GUI program and all the hardware goes in a rack.
Our department bought a rackmount server for the first unit, but I dont think this is adequate for applications that use graphics (correct me if I'm wrong - we bought a Dell R710).
Could you tell me of a good rackmount workstation we could buy for our product? Also, would it be risky for us to build our own rackmount?
Have you looked at the Dell Precision R5400 Rack Workstation?
Options for Dual and Quad-core Xeon processors, up to 32GB of RAM, and a stack of high-end 3D graphics cards to choose from.
I have used the HP XW series workstations with their Rack Kit. Works fine and lots of options for graphics on the Workstation. I believe rack kits are available for current models. Workstations are very quiet if you are mounting them near people as well.
Also, Workstations of this type tend to be quite a bit shallower than servers, so they will often fit in shallower soundproof racks designed for A/V equipment.
You're right that a Server probably isn't the best fit, they don't typically have high-end graphics, they're more optimized for high reliability and fast I/O.
In the past, I've seen ads for companies that sell rack-mount workstations, but I can't find one right now. If you search for "rack mount workstation" many of the results are for industrial computer companies, and that's certainly an option: we've used products from CyberResearch for data acquisition applications, but you can get models with fewer industrial features.
Another option would be to roll your own - buy a 1 or 2U case, buy your preferred motherboard and video card, and so on. More work, but gives you total control over what your application is running on.
When we looked at something similar to go into an AV solution, we bought a good workstation, making sure it complied with ATX standards (many early Dell's back then didn't) and then transplanted it into a 4U rack case.
The reason we went this path was there were simply no rack-mounted computers with AGP back then.
These days with PCI-E being far more prevailant in servers, I don't see why you couldn't re-purpose a server that has the appropriate expansion slots (by installing a high-end graphics card, or whatever hardware is required). That's what Apple do with their Mac Pro's.
As far as building your own rackmount, it's no more risky than building your own whitebox PC. If all the computers in your office are whiteboxes, I don't see why you couldn't do it that way.
I used to do 3d animation for a living, before I made the move to IT, so the company I'm about to suggest tailors to that market but they are certified for many CAD/CAM applications as well.
Have a look at BoXX. All of their workstations are 19" tall and have an optional rackmount kits available. They make very nice monster workstations.
They also make a PCoIP workstation....I haven't used that product so I can't comment on how well it works.
Basically, all "server" rack systems have VGA out (except hardcore-UNIX stuff such as Sun servers), so there's no hard reason not to use them as "workstations".
However, there's a big cost difference between a Windows desktop OS and a server one. And (at least according to my experience with Dell), you will have a hard time running a desktop OS on most rack systems (lack of support and drivers).
I'm not aware of any big-vendor such as Dell, IBM, etc. offering rackable systems with a "desktop" server OS- or "desktop hardware".
You might want to consider building your own box from vendors such as Supermicro et al., which offer rack cases and parts.
Cray CX1. There is no substitute. Can be put under the desk with appropriate aviation ground crew ear protection or rackmounted as I have done with mine. I am using mine for CFD, but I have seen it used for video, weather and life sciences.
I'd also look at getting a nvidia tesla - not much off the shelf code, but if you need speed this is where its at...
