AI Server Buying Guide: How can businesses choose the most suitable AI server and avoid pitfalls? [Updated 2025]
2025AI ServerIt has become a core tool for enterprise digital transformation.Faced with the ever-increasing demand for AI computing power and the rapidly evolving market conditions,How can enterprises scientifically select high-performance and scalable AI servers? How can they avoid the risk of making expensive investments and falling into traps?This article takes the perspective of in-depth news reporting.This system provides an overview of global AI server market trends, including procurement processes, core parameters, comparisons between new and established brands, and tips for avoiding common pitfalls.It provides a one-stop guide for enterprise IT decision-making.
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Global AI Server Market Status and Trends (Latest 2025)
Industry News and Analysis
According to the latest data from DIGITIMESGlobal AI server shipments are projected to reach 1.81 million units by 2025, representing an annual growth rate of 401 million units.Equipped with high-frequency bandwidth memoryHigh-end AI serversThe number of units sold exceeding one million for the first time indicates an overall upgrade in the AI training and inference market. The procurement landscape is diverging.North American large cloud service companies(Such as Google, Microsoft, etc.) are the main forces expanding production.Enterprise-level procurement maintains a 20% ratio,Chinese cloud customersThe impact of export controls has led to a reduction in exports.

| years | Global shipments of AI servers | High-end AI server shipments | Main purchasing force | Enterprise customer ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1.3 million units | 700,000 units | North America, cloud | Approximately 20% |
| 2025 | 1.81 million units | 1 million units+ | North America, cloud | Approximately 20% |
Key areas of procurement:Computing clusters, dedicated AI chips (such as NVIDIA/AMD), high bandwidth/storage, modular expansion, and low-carbon energy saving (PUE).
Enterprise AI Server Selection Process and Key Considerations
1. Define business and AI application needs.
Differentiate your choices based on your needs. Mainstream applications are as follows:
- AI training:Requires high-performance GPUs and high-speed storage
- Inference/Cloud Services:Focus on I/O bandwidth and parallel performance
- Big Data/IoT/Video Processing:Values network throughput and system integration capabilities
2. Evaluate key hardware configuration parameters
| Key parameters | Selection Recommendations | Precautions |
|---|---|---|
| GPU/AI Accelerator | NVIDIA H100/H200, AMD MI300X | Supports PCIe Gen4/5, with ample bandwidth between GPUs. |
| CPU | Intel Xeon, AMD EPYC | Multi-core, high memory channel support |
| Memory | Minimum 512GB, large models 1TB and above | Supports ECC, DDR5/HBM preferred |
| storage | NVMe SSDs are the preferred choice, with hot and cold tiering. | RAID redundancy, secure backup |
| Network interface | 25GbE/100GbE/InfiniBand | Cluster interconnection adaptation |
| Power supply & heat dissipation | Dual-battery/intelligent PDU, air-cooled/liquid-cooled | AI high-density liquid cooling recommended |

3. Tips to avoid pitfalls
- Compatibility verification:Ensure the AI server is compatible with your existing IT environment and network/rack.
- Extended design:Sufficient PCIe slots/memory upgrades
- After-sales service and compliance:Prefer brands with local services/compliance guarantees
- TCO considerations:Focus on simultaneous procurement, energy consumption, operation and maintenance, and value-added services.
4. Channel and Mainstream Brand Overview
| Manufacturers/Products | Advantages and features | Recommended scenarios | Product Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA DGX/HGX | Extremely powerful computing capabilities and a complete ecosystem | LLM training and clustering | DGX |
| Huawei Atlas | High cost performance and domestic support | Reasoning, Edge | Atlas |
| Inspur NF5488A5/A60 | High GPU density, customizable | Private cloud | NF5488A5/A60 |
| Supermicro AS | International brand, flexible modules | Enterprise Data Center | Supermicro |
| Lenovo ThinkSystem | Flexible rack and energy-saving | Medium and large enterprises/research | ThinkSystem |
Common Misconceptions and Tips for Enterprise Selection
Blindly pursuing top-of-the-line GPUs leads to low business compatibility.
If the high-priced, top-spec H100/H200 is not required for AI training and is only used for inference or RAG knowledge bases,Long-term idleness wastes investment。
suggestion:Choose the top-of-the-line configuration only for strong AI training scenarios, and select the cost-effective solution for inference scenarios.

Ignoring hardware and software compatibility leads to deployment difficulties.
The lack of synchronization with the new GPU driver/AI framework may lead to performance not meeting expectations.
suggestion:Check the framework compatibility list in advance and prioritize mainstream brands with complete ecosystems.
Ignoring long-term energy consumption and operation and maintenance costs
After high-density deployment,Electricity and cooling costsIt far exceeds the investment in hardware.
suggestion:Choose brands with energy efficiency labels, intelligent energy control, and high-quality liquid cooling.
Blindly relying on self-construction and self-development carries high risks due to insufficient team experience.
Lack of delivery experience can lead to delays or frequent breakdowns.
suggestion:Choose the best end-to-end integrated services and mature brand solutions.
Ignoring data security and compliance
AI scenarios involve sensitive corporate data, posing a very high risk of non-compliance.
suggestion:Verify data isolation/encryption support, and prioritize compliant certified brands.
A quick comparison of mainstream AI server brands and models in 2025.
| Brand Series | Representative models | Applicable Scenarios | GPU type | Memory upper and lower limits | Network configuration | Maximum GPU | After-sales service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA DGX | H100/H200 | Large model training | H100/H200 | 1TB-2TB+ | 100GbE/IB | 8-16 calories | Global Original Manufacturers |
| wave | NF5488A5/A60 | Private cloud training/inference | A100/H100/H20 | 512GB-2TB | 25/100GbE/IB | 8-10 calories | China/Global |
| Supermicro | SYS series | Data Center | Multi-brand compatibility | 256GB-2TB | 10/25/100GbE | 4-8 calories | Global/Regional |
| Huawei Atlas | 900 series | AI inference | Ascend 910B | 512GB-1TB | 100GbE | 8 calories | Greater China |
| Lenovo ThinkSystem | SR670 V2 | High-performance training & inference | A100/H100 | 1TB+ | 100GbE | 8 calories | Global/Regional |

See details:NVIDIA DGX、wave
Further Reading and Practical Suggestions
- MLPerf BenchmarkAI computing power evaluation and selection tool
- AWS EC2 Cloud AI ServerOnline performance testing experience
- STMicroelectronics AI Server Tools
- First, do a small-scale Proof-of-Concept (POC).Verify, then gradually deploy to production.
- Business and AI teams collaborate closelyContinuously assess and adapt to requirements
- Multiple manufacturers bidding to avoid being locked into a single brand
- The internal IT team continues to improve its AI software and hardware maintenance capabilities.
- Reserve flexibility for smooth migration to public/hybrid cloud.
2025 is a crucial year for the rapid popularization of AI servers.Only by deeply understanding needs and calmly evaluating services and parameters can businesses succeed.Only then can we build a scalable and intelligent IT foundation and steadily step into the new landscape of the intelligent era!
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