Comino, known for its liquid-cooled servers, has finally released its new flagship for testing.
The Comino Grando server is designed to meet a broad spectrum of high-performance computing needs ranging from data analysis to gaming.
In an extensive test of Storage assessmentthe Grando Server, alongside a Grando Workstation variant, was subjected to a series of rigorous benchmarks including Blender 4.0, Luxmark, OctaneBench, Blackmagic RAW Speed Test, 7-zip compression and Y-Cruncher.
The server, equipped with six Nvidia RTX 4090s, AMD’s Threadripper PRO 5995WX CPU, 512GB DDR5 DRAM, a 2TB NVMe SSD and four 1600W PSUs, delivered impressive results, as you’d expect from those specs.
Grando Server features advanced liquid cooling, allowing these six Nvidia 4090 GPUs to be placed side by side, a setup that StorageReview’s Lyle Smith said would be impossible with air cooling.
GPU-powered performance systems are doing well
The main difference between the Grando Server and Grando Workstation lies in their GPU and CPU capabilities. With its higher core count, the Server model is well suited for parallel processing tasks. While still powerful, the workstation offers fewer cores and is better suited for balanced performance across applications.
The Grando workstation that Smith tested featured four Nvidia A100 professional GPUs, a Threadripper Pro 3975WX processor, 512 GB of DDR5 DRAM, and a 2 TB NVMe SSD.
In his review, Smith found the Comino Grando Server and Workstation to be “prime examples of GPU-powered performance systems done right.”
He said: “In terms of performance, the benchmark results paint a clear picture: Grando Server excels in GPU-intensive tests such as OctaneBench and Blender 4.0, highlighting its ability to power through high-end rendering tasks. With its tailored CPU-GPU balance, the Workstation version offers versatility for various professional applications. The speed and efficiency of both systems in managing large data sets, as demonstrated by the 7-zip Compression and Y-Cruncher benchmarks, underscore their ability to handle data-intensive operations, a critical advantage in today’s data-driven landscape .”
Storage assessment approved the Comino Grando systems so much that it rated them as one of the “Best of 2024” award winners.