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What Is a Rack Mount and How Is It Different From a Tower Server

What Is a Rack Mount and How Is It Different From a Tower Server

Posted by Team Recompute on 26th Nov 2018

The right server must compute with your business. No matter what your business is, it's critical to choose the best server for your needs.

But without an IT consultant or a lot of research, how can you know which type of server is the right one?

Relax! We can help. When searching for servers, you'll likely choose between a rack mount vs. a tower server. The "best" one is the one that "serves" you best.

Here are a few differences between a refurbished rack mount and a tower server.

What is a Rack Server?

A rack mount server is a computer used as a server that fits into a rack.

You'll usually find a rack installed in a server room. The rack is independent of the server itself.

The rack is the frame holding multiple servers and other computer components.

What is a Tower Server?

On the smaller, more portable side is a tower server.

The server sits inside a cabinet. It looks like an old-model computer CPU that probably sat on your floor or desk before desktop computers became smaller.

A tower server is ideal for smaller offices. However, they can scale up as your business grows. Adding and connecting multiple tower servers increases your server capacity.

What's the Difference?

When considering function, there's not much difference between a rack or a tower server. Either server type can support your business needs.

The bigger consideration is your available storage space. A rack mount server requires considerable space for storage. The rack mounts to a wall. Slots in the rack hold servers and components.

This is most often what you think of when you have a "server room." It's usually a room with a wall of computers.

A tower server is bulky but takes up less space. You can store it in a room with other things. However, as you need more server capacity, a tower server is less convenient.

Adding multiple tower servers requires space for a keyboard, monitor, and a mouse for each server. To add another rack server, fill an empty slot in the rack with a new server.

Which is Better?

When comparing rack vs. tower, there's no real "best" in terms of performance.

Keeping a wall of rack servers at a cool temperature is more difficult than tower racks. Building a rack and keeping rack servers cool is typically more expensive than housing a tower rack or two.

A tower server is easier to cool and they're less expensive. But you'll find a limit to how many towers you can add as your needs grow

Choose a Refurbished Rack Mount Server

When you decide to go with a refurbished rack mount server, there are plenty of good options.

You can trust our stock of refurbished servers. We provide warranties on our products and ongoing support. Plus we offer a Best Price Guarantee on any purchase.

Save money but not quality on refurbished servers. Contact us today for server help with your business!