DELL PowerEdge R730XD 2U rack server 2x E5-2650v3 10C 2.3GHz 16GB DDR4 H730 24x 2.5

Purpose-built storage density

The Dell PowerEdge R730XD is a 2U rack server designed for capacity-intensive workloads. Dual Intel Xeon E5-2650v3 processors deliver 20 physical cores and 40 threads at 2.3 GHz. Sixteen gigabytes of DDR4 memory and a Perc H730 RAID controller with 1 GB cache provide a balanced foundation for virtualisation, database or backup targets. Twenty-four hot-plug 2.5-inch bays support SAS or SATA drives up to a combined 52 TB.

Fit and alternatives

This chassis suits organisations that need maximum drive count in a 2U form factor with hardware RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 and 60. The included Matrox G200 graphics and four 1 GbE ports cover basic management and console access. Buyers who require more than 16 GB of installed memory, additional PCIe 3.0 slots beyond the six available, or 10 GbE networking without adding a daughter card should evaluate other platforms.

Deciding specification

The defining attribute is the 24-bay 2.5-inch hot-plug backplane paired with the H730 controller, which together determine how many drives can be addressed and which RAID levels are available. Confirm that your workload fits within the 52 TB raw capacity ceiling and that the dual 750 W redundant power supplies meet your facility’s power budget before committing.