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Frequently Asked Questions
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Other than High Performance Computing manufacture, what else does Sytronix do?Sytronix aims to be your one-stop-shop for high performance IT, meaning that not only do we manufacture computer hardware, we can also provide the infrastructure and connectivity required to run it at scale. This could include cooling systems, network installations, software setup and much more. Sytronix also offers consultancy, allowing you to draw on the knowledge of our industry professionals to ensure that your IT solutions are as efficient as possible for your company, project or workload. For more information about our additional services, please email sales@sytronix.co.uk or call us on +44 (0) 1257 822 030.
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What's the average lead time for a system after payment?All products that Sytronix manufactures are bespoke and made to order meaning that lead times differ between orders. All equipment is also put through an thorough testing phase before dispatch to ensure long term reliability. Below are the average lead times for different products: NAS servers - 5-7 working days Workstations - 7-14 working days CPU/GPU servers - 14-21 working days
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What are Sytronix's plans for the future?Sytronix has set it's sights on being one of the big names in the high performance computing industry and aims to continue developing new products that allow our customers to reach the pinnacle of IT performance, whilst also being affordable. Sytronix strives to be at the forefront of emerging technology for computer hardware and plans to expand it's scope towards all areas of datacentre equipment. Our main goal is to continue providing a fully bespoke experience for each customer, ensuring your hardware is fully suited to your requirements for no additional cost and to keep providing products with unbeatable computational performance for unheard of prices.
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What are your opening times?Mon - Fri 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturday CLOSED Sunday CLOSED
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Where do you ship to?We ship worldwide. If you wish to place an order from outside the UK, please email us at sales@sytronix.co.uk or call us on +44 (0) 1257 822 030.
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What's the difference between a workstation and a normal computer?Workstations are simply high performance desktop computers which are used for demanding tasks such as video editing, 3D design, engineering design or data science. Each different workload performed on a workstation requires different components within the system so Sytronix makes sure that every system we manufacture is fully optimised for the customers uses.
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Is there an alternative to buying workstations for all my staff?Yes! Sytronix manufactures virtualisation servers which are single machines that allow you to segment them into multiple virtual machines. This will save you vast amounts of money when compared to buying multiple individual workstations as it will avoid duplication of components unnecessarily (such as motherboards or cases), save significant amounts of money in energy costs, and create a higher density of computer power for the size, allowing you to fit more equipment into the space you have available.
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What are workstations good for?Workstations are ideal for demanding tasks such as video editing, 3D design, engineering design or data science. Some workloads are more demanding than others so Sytronix will configure your workstation so that it is neither under or over the specification you require.
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How do I customise and get quotes for specific configurations?Every system that Sytronix manufactures is different from the previous since we customise each machine to give the best performance for the workload the customer will be performing on it. For this reason, the best way to get a quote for a system is to email or call us and explain your system requirements and uses in as much detail as possible. This will allow our industry experts to create a system specification that will not only fulfil your current needs, but will ensure whatever we manufacture is scalable for your expected future developments. To get a quote for a system please email sales@sytronix.co.uk or call us on +44 (0) 1257 822 030.
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What warranty does my workstation have?All Sytronix workstations come with a 3 year warranty. After that 3 year period each component within the machine will revert to the manufacturer’s warranty which may be up to an additional 7 years.
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Do you offer any secondary equipment to accompany my systems (i.e. network switches, cables)?Yes, we can provide buying advice or purchase any additional equipment that will be required to run your systems at it's fully potential on your behalf. Any purchases of additional equipment such as networking hardware will nearly always be sold to you at cost, meaning Sytronix do not add anything to the price we buy the equipment for.
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What is a virtualisation server?Virtualisation servers are single machines that allow you to segment them into multiple virtual machines. These systems allow you to fluidly assign computer power to users as and when needed, ensuring maximum utilisation of the hardware at all times. An example of this would be a CGI studio where through the day there are staff working, but at night their workstations can often be left turned off. In this situation a virtualisation server would be ideal as once virtual workstations are shut down, you could reassign all the computer power to overnight rendering. And most importantly for 3D artists, there is no detectable latency when operating a virtual machine while on the same network as the virtualisation server. This will also save you vast amounts of money when compared to buying multiple individual workstations as it will avoid duplication of components unnecessarily (such as motherboards or cases), save significant amounts of money in energy costs, and create a higher density of computer power for the size, allowing you to fit more equipment into the space you have available.
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Do I need a CPU or GPU server?Different workloads require different hardware to achieve the best results so choosing between a CPU or GPU server will entirely depend on what tasks you wish to run on the system. CPU servers are commonly used for computational workloads that need to be mathematically accurate such as science/engineering simulations or CGI rendering. GPU servers can usually perform calculations substantially faster than CPUs, but aren't as mathematically precise. These systems are commonly used for artificial intelligence, deep learning or real-time rendering. Sytronix also manufactures virtualisation servers which allow you to perform both CPU and GPU workloads on one system simultaneously. For more information about virtualisation servers or for advise on which system will be right for your workload, please email sales@sytronix.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1257 822 030.
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How do I customise and get quotes for specific configurations?Every system that Sytronix manufactures is different from the previous since we customise each machine to give the best performance for the workload the customer will be performing on it. For this reason, the best way to get a quote for a system is to email or call us and explain your system requirements and uses in as much detail as possible. This will allow our industry experts to create a system specification that will not only fulfil your current needs, but will ensure whatever we manufacture is scalable for your expected future developments. To get a quote for a system please email sales@sytronix.co.uk or call us on +44 (0) 1257 822 030.
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Can you install and integrate systems into an already existing network?Yes you can. We can design systems to work with whatever physical or software infrastructure you have in place to ensure maximum compatibility. If you are unsure about the installation of and setup of your systems, Sytronix can provide this for you as part of a small installation fee.
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What warranty does my server have?All Sytronix servers come with a 3 year warranty. After that 3 year period each component within the machine will revert to the manufacturer’s warranty which may be up to an additional 7 years.
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What is a NAS machine?A NAS (Network Attached Storage) is a storage device that has many benefits over common storage solutions. NAS machines have the ability to automatically backup all of your data so you don’t have to worry about data loss, while providing performance over ethernet cables that can be better than drives physically in your computer, even if your NAS is hundreds of yards away from your computer. NAS machines also allow multiple users to connect to them simultaneously, allowing an entire office to access the same files which will speed up workflow and save money by avoiding purchasing storage for every individual computer in an office environment. Since Sytronix NAS machines have premium, high quality components they are also able to perform advanced tasks such as video compression, video rendering, running virtual machines, web hosting, CCTV recording and much more. For more information about NAS machines please call us on +44 (0) 1257 822 030
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Is a NAS right for me?NAS machines are essential pieces of equipment for anyone that values keeping their data secure, fast data transfer speeds, collaborative working or improving their data storage workflow. With so many other workflow improving and money saving use cases (such as website hosting, cloud storage, video compression/rendering etc.) nearly everyone can find some benefit by using a NAS machine. To find out more about how a NAS can benefit you, please call us on +44 (0) 1257 822 030
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How easy is a NAS to operate?Even though Sytronix NAS machines have the ability to perform very complex tasks, they are surprisingly simple to use and the basics are very easy to understand. The machines themselves simply need plugging into your router or a network switch and they’re ready to go! All Sytronix NAS machines ship with a licenced version of Unraid which is one of the most popular and feature packed NAS operating systems on the market. Unraid provide free tech support to all users so if you ever need assistance with the operating system, they can provide help and advice while you troubleshoot. Please be aware however that altering certain settings set by Sytronix during setup may void your warranty. If you would prefer more hands-on software and hardware tech support, Sytronix provide a tech support package to owners of their NAS machines for £25 per month. This support will take away the stress of having to troubleshoot yourself as our in-house experts will be able to resolve your issues remotely, or even in person. For more information about our tech support package, please call us on +44 (0) 1257 822 030
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What can a NAS do other than store data?Sytronix NAS machines are premium devices with high quality components, allowing you to do far more than just store data on your machine. You can use your NAS to perform tasks such as hosting your website, run virtual machines, compress or render video, cloud storage, host and stream video/images/music, record CCTV, host video game servers, run FTPs, mine cryptocurrency and much more. For more information about NAS machine functionality please call us on +44 (0) 1257 822 030
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What if I have technical issues? What support is available for me?Sytronix offers a software and hardware support package for £25 per month for owners of a Sytronix NAS that would like the security of being able to have us resolve your issues remotely, or even in person. Sytronix can also help subscribers of the support package with projects such as hosting a website or setting up cloud storage on your NAS for an additional one-time fee as and when required. Unraid (who manufacture the operating system used in Sytronix NAS machines) offers free tech support for users of their software and have a forum full of users who can help you troubleshoot issues you may be having which can be helpful for Sytronix customers who feel tech savvy enough to resolve technical issues themselves. Please be aware however that altering certain settings set by Sytronix during setup may void your warranty. For more information about the support package offered by Sytronix please call us on +44 (0) 1257 822 030.
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How reliable are NAS machines?Sytronix only uses high quality components in their NAS machines and have a dedicated workforce ensuring the systems are built to be as reliable as possible for years to come. It’s rare that components in NAS machines fail, and in a situation where they do, Sytronix have engineered their products to reduce the risk of data loss as much as physically possible. Unraid software is also one of the most established and widely used NAS operating systems on the market and is trusted by tens of thousands of users across the globe. For more information about Unraid visit: www.unraid.net
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Will I need to upgrade my existing computer equipment or network to get the best performance out of my NAS?Sytronix NAS machines are compatible with all computers with an Ethernet port, however depending on the NAS you have purchased you may not be getting the best performance possible due to your existing hardware/network. As an example, a lot of Sytronix NAS machines support network speeds up to 10GbE which will require a 10GbE network card in your computer (if not built into your motherboard already) and a 10GbE network switch. If you have any questions relating to getting the most out of your NAS machine please call us on +44 (0) 1257 822 030.
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What operating system do your NAS machines use?All Sytronix NAS machines ship with a licenced copy of Unraid which is one of the leading operating systems for NAS machines. Unraid has advanced security features and additional functionality such as virtual machine support and a plethora of applications that will allow you to use your NAS machine to perform tasks from video compression to CCTV recording. To learn more about Unraid visit: www.unraid.net
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How secure is my data?Extremely! One of the main benefits of NAS machines is that they’re configured in a way that automatically backs up all your data to avoid data loss, even if a drive fails. Sytronix can configure your NAS to be as secure as you want so for more information, please call +44 (0) 1257 822 030.
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Can my NAS be hacked?All Sytronix NAS machines are configured in a way that reduces the risk of hacking to near impossible so it is advised to not alter any privacy or security settings that come stock with your machine. To further avoid data compromisation Sytronix recommends you password protect all folders that contain sensitive data and limit the number of users with access. It is also important to have anti-virus software and a firewall active on all computer equipment with access to the NAS. For more information about making your NAS more secure please call us on +44 (0) 1257 822 030.
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Will a NAS machine help me become more GDPR compliant?Yes! Not many people realise that they may be breaking GDPR laws by storing their data certain ways. Using a storage service that has servers outside your country (such as Google Drive or Dropbox) could land you a hefty fine as this breaks GDPR laws. Storing your data on your own NAS machine will mean all your data is stored securely and runs no risk of being sent or stored anywhere without your knowledge or permission.
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What do the NAS machine options on the Sytronix online store actually change?Sytronix believes that NAS users should have a machine that is custom built to their needs and they shouldn’t over pay for features they don’t require, which is why the online store has options available for selecting specific components. Below you will see a brief summary of what upgrading each component of a NAS will improve: HDD Capacity – Here you can select how much storage you want your NAS to have. Upgrading will allow you to store more data. If you select “no HDDs” you will receive a NAS with no storage or operating system that you will have to configure yourself. NVMEs – These are high speed drives that are used to cache data allowing for read/write speeds of up to 5x faster than standard drives. Selecting 2 NVMEs will allow you to create a larger cache pool or create a mirrored array which will prevent the loss of cache data in the event of an NVME drive failure. CPU – Upgrading the CPU will allow you to perform high performance tasks such as video compression or running multiple virtual machines. RAM – Selecting more RAM will speed up smaller file transfers and allow for more processes to be run by the NAS simultaneously, such as applications or virtual machines. GPU – Adding a GPU will give you a massive performance boost for certain tasks over using a CPU such as video compression and will allow you to render from video and 3D design software. If you are unsure what configuration would best suit your needs and would like expert opinions on the matter, please call Sytronix on +44 (0) 1257 822 030.
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Can I put my NAS in a different room from my computer equipment?Yes! As long as your NAS machine is connected to the same network as your computer equipment and you’re using high quality cabling, your NAS can be in a completely different room without any drop in performance. For more information about networking please call us on +44 (0) 1257 822 030.
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How can I avoid overheating my NAS?If you’re getting overheating warnings on Unraid you may need to move your NAS machine somewhere with more ventilation and air circulation. You should avoid obstructing the fans on your NAS machine or putting it in confined spaces.
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How loud are NAS machines?Sytronix offers a range of NAS machines which range from virtually silent, to a similar volume of a standard large desk fan. If low volume is of importance to you, please ring us on +44 (0) 1257 822 030 when you wish to place an order and we will make sure to customise your NAS to ensure low volume.
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How much power does a NAS machine draw?The power consumption will depend on the specification of the machine, however as an example a 108TB NAS with a mid-range CPU will draw around 120w on average, peaking at around 200w when performing demanding tasks (such as compressing video, reading and writing data and running multiple VMs simultaneously).
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What warranty does my NAS machine have?All Sytronix NAS machines come with a 3 year warranty. After that 3 year period each component within the machine will revert to the manufacturer’s warranty which may be up to an additional 7 years.
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