ThinkSystem SR680a V3
Air-cooled 8-GPU AI training server with NVIDIA HGX H100 or H200 SXM.
The ThinkSystem SR680a V3 is a current model, shipping and fully supported by the vendor. Air-cooled 8-GPU AI training server with NVIDIA HGX H100 or H200 SXM.
Platform facts
| Vendor | Lenovo |
|---|---|
| Generation | V3 |
| Family | ThinkSystem |
| Form factor | 8U rack |
| Sockets | 2 |
| CPU | 5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable |
| DIMM slots | 32 |
| Memory | DDR5 RDIMM, up to 4 TB |
| Storage | Up to 16x 2.5-inch hot-swap NVMe, M.2 boot |
| Management | XClarity Controller 2 (XCC2) |
| Released | 2024 |
| Status | current |
Field notes
Draws well over 10 kW under load, so it needs multiple 200 to 240 V feeds and serious airflow; most small data rooms cannot host it. Firmware via XCC2 plus NVIDIA HGX firmware bundles, and keep the NIC firmware in step for RDMA fabrics. Supported on Ubuntu LTS and RHEL 9 with the NVIDIA stack. If you only need inference, an SR650 V3 with PCIe GPUs is far cheaper to run.
What we do with the ThinkSystem SR680a V3
- Specification and procurement of ThinkSystem servers
- Rack installation, XCC setup and UEFI/firmware baseline
- Memory, NVMe and RAID upgrades with qualified parts
- Out-of-warranty repair and spare sourcing for System x and ThinkServer
- OS and hypervisor installs
- Lenovo support case handling and refresh planning
Related models
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Is Lenovo a good alternative to Dell?
Yes. ThinkSystem servers are equally reliable, often priced sharply, and XClarity management is mature. We support both and recommend whichever fits the existing fleet.
Can you still service System x servers?
Yes. System x M5 and X6 systems are legacy but parts are available and we keep them running while planning a replacement.
Can the ThinkSystem SR680a V3 run a current operating system?
Check the field notes above. As a rule, current models are certified for Windows Server 2022/2025, ESXi 8 and RHEL 9; legacy models usually stop at Windows Server 2019 or ESXi 7 and may need Proxmox or an older Linux to stay useful.
Need a hand with this?
Tell us what you are running and what is slowing you down. You get a straight assessment and a plan, with no obligation. Support desk is staffed 24/7.