Recommended Server Specs? June 2025

[bluecavalry]

Server Purpose: CCIE-EI Lab Exam Preparation

What do you think about the below setup? Are there better deals out there?

I believe this is a total of 44 cores.

• $2,058.94
  Dell PowerEdge R630 8-Bay 2.5-configured
  Processor: 2x Intel Xeon E5-2699 V4 - 2.20GHz 22 Cores (+$504.05)
  Heatsink: Standard Heatsink/Fan (+$0.00)
  Memory: 512GB 2400MHz DDR4 (8x 64GB) (+$733.34)
  RAID Controller: PERC H330 RAID Controller (+$27.00)
  Storage Drives: New Crucial 1TB SATA SSD (Qty: 4)
  Remote Access: iDRAC8 Enterprise License (+$54.00)
  Power Supply: 2x 495W R3 Power Supply (+$18.00)
  Network Card: Dell Broadcom 5720 4x 1Gb Ethernet (+$28.80)
  Operating System: NONE
  Warranty: Continue with 180 day limited warranty

[Uldis (UD)]

If to use it as Bare metal server for EVE then it is not bad

[bluecavalry]

If to use it as Bare metal server for EVE then it is not bad

Thanks Uldis. Any suggestions on memory or chassis? This is a custom build on Savemyserver.com

[Uldis (UD)]

Dell is OK, myself I am on Poweredge DELL 640

[bluecavalry]

Well, I have redone the quote using the r640 chassis, and the price went up $1500.
Gold 2x 22 core = 44 core, 512G RAM, 4x 1TB SSD

Feel like I am going down a rabbit hole. Trying to spec this for at least 3 year lab-work.
Best BANG-FOR-THE-BUCK server for a bare-metal EVE-NG my lab.

Is there a way for me to spec the best size server for CCIE-EI Lab prep? Recommended specs for CCIE-EI.
Number of Cores? Amount of Memory?

Appreciate your input. Thanks.