The ESC4000A‑E12 is a 2U, single‑socket GPU‑optimized server from ASUS. It targets workloads such as AI training/inference, high‑performance computing (HPC), data analytics, virtualization, and enterprise infrastructure. With support for up to four dual‑slot GPUs, high‑performance AMD processors, and scalable storage/expansion options, it delivers powerful performance in a compact 2U footprint.
Key Features & Technical Architecture
CPU and Memory
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Supports one processor, AMD EPYC 9004 or 9005 series via Socket SP5 (LGA 6096).
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Uses a 12‑channel DDR5 memory architecture with up to 12 DIMM slots, reaching a total memory capacity up to 3 TB RDIMM (with DDR5‑4800 or 4400, also RDIMM 3DS).
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CPU TDP supports up to 400 W per socket, enabling high-core-count processors with significant compute throughput.
GPU & Expansion
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Supports up to four dual‑slot GPUs (active or passive), allowing for compact yet powerful GPU compute capacity.
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PCIe Gen 5 ready, multiple PCIe 5.0 x16 / x8 slots provide high bandwidth for GPUs, storage, networking, or other expansion cards.
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Able to support advanced GPU interconnects (e.g. NVIDIA NVLink) or DPU-based networking (e.g. NVIDIA BlueField) for scalable AI/HPC workloads.
Storage and I/O Flexibility
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Front‑panel hot‑swap bays: 6 drive bays (combination of 2.5" and 3.5"), allowing flexible configuration of SSD or HDD storage (NVMe, SATA or SAS as per configuration).
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For certain SKUs, storage configurations provide 2 x 2.5" + 4 x 3.5" hot‑swap bays, offering a balance between fast NVMe boot/storage and larger capacity drives.
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Rear I/O offers expansion flexibility: PCIe 5.0 slots or an optional OCP 3.0 networking module slot for high‑speed connectivity.
Power and Cooling
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Supports dual redundant 2600 W Titanium‑rated power supplies for stable, uninterrupted operation, critical for GPU‑heavy, high‑power workloads.
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Cooling design supports both air and liquid cooling. For GPU‑intensive workloads (e.g. NVIDIA A100 PCIe GPUs), the server is validated for liquid‑cooled solutions, enabling better thermal performance and energy efficiency.
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Internal layout includes separate airflow tunnels for CPU and GPU zones, optimizing thermal dissipation.
Management and Infrastructure Integration
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Built‑in remote management via ASUS ASMB11‑iKVM (with ASPEED AST2600) allows out‑of‑band control, beneficial for remote data‑center deployment and maintenance.
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Compatible with enterprise management software (e.g. ASUS Control Center) and supports hardware-level root-of-trust for secure infrastructure management.
Ideal Use Cases for ESC4000A‑E12
With its blend of GPU density, CPU power, memory capacity, and flexible storage/expansion, ESC4000A‑E12 fits a variety of demanding workloads:
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AI/ML training and inference clusters, up to four dual‑slot GPUs, make it ideal for neural‑network training, large-scale inference, and GPU‑accelerated workloads.
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High‑performance computing (HPC) tasks, large memory (up to 3 TB), PCIe Gen 5.0 bandwidth, and high-end CPU support make it well‑suited for scientific computing, simulations, and data analytics.
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Virtualization, VDI, and enterprise data‑center applications, combined CPU + GPU resources, allow consolidation of workloads, GPU‑accelerated virtualization, or mixed compute/storage tasks.
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Data‑center storage + compute convergence, with flexible hot‑swap storage bays and multiple expansion slots, it can act as a converged compute‑storage node.
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Scalable infrastructure for growth, modular design, redundant power, and remote management make it attractive for enterprise-grade deployments.
Why ESC4000A‑E12 Matters
In many data‑center and enterprise environments, there is a growing demand for servers that balance GPU compute, memory capacity, storage flexibility, and manageability — all while staying within a compact form factor. ESC4000A‑E12 delivers that balance: single‑socket simplicity, high memory bandwidth, multi‑GPU support, storage flexibility, and robust power/cooling.
This server gives IT teams the freedom to build powerful GPU‑ and CPU‑heavy nodes without resorting to large multi‑socket, multi‑rack solutions. For workloads ranging from AI to HPC to virtualization, it offers a versatile and future‑proof foundation.
Conclusion
ESC4000A-E12 stands out as a versatile 2U GPU server designed for demanding compute environments. Its powerful CPU/GPU configuration, PCIe 5.0 expansion, and robust management tools make it an excellent fit for AI, HPC, and enterprise workloads alike.
