I’m deploying Frigate (camera NVR software) at work for our 100something security cams. We only buy Dell servers which is a shame because I would have probably went Supermicro in this instance. Anyway. I’m doing some research and it’s really unclear to me what Dell server I should go with if I intend to install a GPU in it.

I’m thinking I’ll probably go refurbished, like one generation or two old.

Should I go with a 4U server, and if I did, would that eliminate the need for a PCIe riser card?

Do I need a datacenter class GPU? I have read that many of the powerful consumer cards will simply be too large for the server case.

Right now I am testing with an R550 and there is only one available 8 pin on the power supply. How do I power a 12 pin on the GPU if all that is available?