HPE Cray XD670 vs Dell PowerEdge XE9680: 8-GPU AI Training Servers Compared
The HPE Cray XD670 and Dell PowerEdge XE9680 are both flagship 8-GPU servers built on the NVIDIA HGX platform for large-model AI training and deep learning. The Cray XD670 leans on HPE's supercomputing lineage with a dense 5U chassis, NDR/Slingshot fabric and Cray cluster tooling, while the XE9680 offers a broader accelerator menu and Dell's familiar iDRAC management. This comparison breaks down where each GPU server wins for enterprise LLM build-outs and rack-scale deep learning.
The short answer
Both are top-tier HGX nodes, so the choice turns on your fabric and operating model. Pick the HPE Cray XD670 when you are building a genuine AI/HPC cluster at scale: the 5U density, native NDR InfiniBand/Slingshot fabric and Cray Programming Environment plus HPE Performance Cluster Manager make it the cleaner foundation for hundreds of GPUs, and it slots into HPE GreenLake for consumption-based AI. Choose the Dell PowerEdge XE9680 when you want accelerator flexibility (NVIDIA H100/H200, AMD MI300X, or Intel Gaudi3 in one platform) and standardization on iDRAC9/OpenManage. For most federal and enterprise GenAI training programs that will grow into a fabric, the XD670 is the more strategic node.
HPE Cray XD670 vs Dell PowerEdge XE9680, head to head
Specifications side by side
- Form factor
- 5U rack (Apollo 6500 Gen11 lineage)
- 6U rack
- GPU options
- 8x NVIDIA HGX H100 or H200 SXM5
- 8x NVIDIA H100/H200 SXM, AMD MI300X, or Intel Gaudi3
- GPU interconnect
- NVIDIA NVLink (fully connected HGX baseboard)
- NVLink (NVIDIA) / Infinity Fabric (AMD) / on-OAM (Gaudi3)
- Max GPU memory (H200)
- 8x 141GB HBM3e
- 8x 141GB HBM3e (192GB on MI300X)
- CPUs
- 2x 5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable (up to 64 cores ea.)
- 2x 4th/5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable (up to 64 cores ea.)
- Memory
- Up to 32x DDR5-5600 DIMMs
- 32x DDR5 DIMMs, up to 4TB (5600 MT/s on 5th Gen)
- High-speed fabric
- 8x PCIe Gen5 HHHL slots: NDR IB, Slingshot 11, Ethernet
- PCIe Gen5 slots for NDR InfiniBand or RoCE Ethernet NICs
- Cooling
- Air-cooled; Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) option
- Air-cooled (XE9680); DLC via XE9680L for Blackwell B200
- Power supplies
- Redundant high-wattage PSUs (Titanium efficiency)
- Six PSUs, 19,200W total, 3+3 fault-tolerant redundant
- Management
- HPE iLO; HPE Performance Cluster Manager
- iDRAC9 with Lifecycle Controller, OpenManage Enterprise
- Primary use case
- Large-model AI training, deep learning, HPC clusters
- Generative AI training, inference, HPC, multi-accelerator AI
- Consumption model
- Purchase or HPE GreenLake for AI
- Purchase or Dell APEX
Where HPE Cray XD670 wins
- 5U chassis is one rack unit denser than the XE9680, improving GPUs-per-rack and data-center efficiency
- Native support for NDR InfiniBand and Cray Slingshot 11 makes it ideal for scaling into large training fabrics
- Cray Programming Environment and HPE Performance Cluster Manager bring true supercomputing tooling to enterprise AI
- Direct Liquid Cooling option supports sustained 700W-class GPU TDP with better power efficiency
- Integrates with HPE GreenLake for AI for consumption-based, on-prem private AI
Where Dell PowerEdge XE9680 wins
- Widest accelerator choice in one platform: NVIDIA H100/H200, AMD MI300X, or Intel Gaudi3 reduces vendor lock-in
- iDRAC9, Lifecycle Controller and OpenManage Enterprise are familiar to existing Dell-standardized data centers
- Massive 19,200W (3+3) power design delivers strong fault tolerance for always-on training jobs
- Backed by Dell Validated Designs for Generative AI and a broad global ProSupport footprint
- XE9680L variant adds direct liquid cooling and a path to NVIDIA Blackwell B200
Which one should you buy?
Building a multi-rack LLM training cluster with InfiniBand or Slingshot
Pick HPE Cray XD670. The XD670's 5U density, native NDR/Slingshot fabric and Cray cluster management are purpose-built for scaling to hundreds of GPUs cleanly.
Standardizing AI nodes in an existing Dell/iDRAC-managed data center
Pick Dell PowerEdge XE9680. iDRAC9 and OpenManage Enterprise drop straight into existing Dell operations with no new management plane to learn.
Hedging against GPU supply or wanting AMD or Intel accelerators
Pick Dell PowerEdge XE9680. It is the only one of the two to offer NVIDIA, AMD MI300X and Intel Gaudi3 options in the same chassis.
On-prem private AI with consumption-based billing
Pick HPE Cray XD670. Pairing the XD670 with HPE GreenLake for AI delivers pay-as-you-grow economics with HPE-managed lifecycle for federal and enterprise teams.
Maximizing GPU density in a constrained or high-power-cost facility
Pick HPE Cray XD670. At 5U with a DLC option, it fits more accelerated compute per rack and improves performance per watt in dense deployments.
Frequently asked
What is the main difference between the HPE Cray XD670 and Dell PowerEdge XE9680?
Both are 8-GPU NVIDIA HGX servers for AI training. The HPE Cray XD670 is a denser 5U design with Cray supercomputing tooling and native NDR/Slingshot fabric, aimed at cluster scale. The Dell PowerEdge XE9680 is a 6U server with a broader accelerator menu (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and iDRAC9 management.
Which GPUs do the XD670 and XE9680 support for AI training?
The HPE Cray XD670 supports 8x NVIDIA HGX H100 or H200 SXM5 GPUs with full NVLink. The Dell PowerEdge XE9680 supports 8x NVIDIA H100/H200 SXM, plus AMD Instinct MI300X or Intel Gaudi3 accelerator options, giving it more multi-vendor flexibility.
Is the HPE Cray XD670 better for large-scale LLM clusters?
For genuine rack-scale training fabrics, yes. Its 5U density, native NDR InfiniBand and Slingshot 11 support, and the Cray Programming Environment plus HPE Performance Cluster Manager make it easier to scale to hundreds of GPUs as a coherent supercomputer.
Does the Dell XE9680 support NVIDIA Blackwell B200 GPUs?
The standard XE9680 ships with H100/H200 (and AMD/Intel options). NVIDIA Blackwell B200 support and direct liquid cooling come via the XE9680L variant rather than the base air-cooled XE9680, so confirm the exact model for B200 roadmaps.
How do management tools compare between the two GPU servers?
The XD670 uses HPE iLO for baseboard management and adds HPE Performance Cluster Manager and the Cray Programming Environment for HPC-style operations. The XE9680 uses Dell iDRAC9 with Lifecycle Controller and OpenManage Enterprise, which is familiar to Dell-standardized shops.
Can these AI servers be deployed with consumption-based billing?
Yes. The HPE Cray XD670 pairs with HPE GreenLake for AI for pay-as-you-grow on-prem private AI, while the Dell PowerEdge XE9680 can be consumed through Dell APEX. Both let you avoid large up-front capital outlay for GPU infrastructure.
Are the XD670 and XE9680 available on federal contract vehicles?
As an authorized HPE reseller serving federal, SLED and healthcare buyers, we can source the HPE Cray XD670 in TAA-compliant configurations through GPC, SAP, FAR and other vehicles. We can also help compare and source XE9680-class alternatives where appropriate for your procurement requirements.
Which server is more power and space efficient?
The HPE Cray XD670 is more space efficient at 5U versus the XE9680's 6U, and its Direct Liquid Cooling option improves performance per watt for sustained 700W-class GPUs. The XE9680's six-PSU 19,200W design prioritizes fault tolerance for continuous training workloads.
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