FEATURE: STORAGE
Power and cooling deficiencies
Advancements in tech have put a heightened focus on power and cooling, with increasing pressure being placed on national infrastructure to facilitate the growth in demand that comes with things like AI and machine learning.
This consideration extends to businesses looking to expand or renew their existing hardware. Highperformance technology generates significant heat, requiring efficient cooling systems. Like storage, speed and memory, power and heat can be significant performance limiters. They are also factors that can be overlooked – especially when upgrading an existing system. However, without proper airflow management or a sufficient and consistent power supply, components may shut down to avoid overheating or be restricted from operating at the high end without disruption. Unchecked, this can create an unnecessary but nevertheless restrictive and frustrating, bottleneck.
Dodging bottlenecks without breaking your budget
Adding all these aspects up might seem costly, however, balancing your set up without breaking the bank is far from an impossibility. As businesses seek cost-effective options for technology upgrades, refurbished hardware presents an opportunity to enhance performance while reducing expenses. Many organisations overlook refurbished technology due to misconceptions about reliability, but professionally restored components offer enterprise-grade performance at a fraction of the cost. High-end refurbished servers and workstations deliver the same computational power as new systems while significantly reducing capital expenditure. Certified refurbished components undergo rigorous testing to ensure reliability and longevity, making them a viable option for businesses seeking to optimise performance without overspending.
Beyond cost savings, refurbished hardware supports sustainability initiatives by contributing to e-waste reduction and extending the life cycle of IT equipment – enabling companies to minimise their environmental impact while maintaining efficient infrastructure. Additionally, refurbished systems provide seamless upgradability, allowing businesses to scale efficiently without the expense of full system replacements. This flexibility makes refurbished hardware an attractive choice for companies looking to maintain highperformance computing while keeping costs and sustainability goals in check.
Getting the balance right
Essentially, avoiding the risk of a technology bottleneck is all about maintaining a balance. Upgrading one area without thinking about the knock-on impact will often lead to unforeseen circumstances. Taking a strategic view of your technology infrastructure is key, allowing you to plan changes in a way that has minimal unexpected impact on the wider system.
By embracing strategic component matching, highspeed storage solutions and the cost-effectiveness of refurbished technology, organisations can eliminate inefficiencies, boost productivity, and maximise return on investment. In an environment where technology evolves rapidly, future-proofing systems by overcoming bottlenecks is the key to sustained success. p
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