DELL PowerEdge R740 2U Rack Server 2x Gold 6132 14C 64GB 2x 800GB SAS SSD H730P

Dell PowerEdge R740 2U rack server

The Dell PowerEdge R740 is a 2U rack server built for virtualisation, database and high-performance compute workloads. It ships with two Intel Gold 6132 processors, each running at 2.6 GHz with 14 cores and 19.25 MB cache. Memory is 64 GB DDR4 across four 16 GB modules at 2666 MT/s. Storage includes two 800 GB SAS SSDs managed by an H730P RAID controller. Remote management is handled by iDRAC9 Enterprise.

Upgrade from single-socket

Moving from a single-socket system or an earlier dual-socket generation adds a second 14-core processor, doubling thread count and cache. The jump is worth it when workloads exceed the memory or compute capacity of a single CPU, or when licensing is tied to socket count. The 1100 W redundant power supply supports the additional processor and up to eight PCIe Gen 3 expansion cards. Builders needing more than eight 2.5-inch drive bays or a different form factor should look elsewhere.

Capacity and headroom for mixed workloads

The 64 GB DDR4 configuration handles moderate virtualisation clusters, mid-size databases and container hosts with room for memory expansion. Two 800 GB SAS SSDs provide low-latency storage for OS, logs or hot data sets, while the H730P controller supports RAID levels for redundancy. Eight 2.5-inch bays allow additional SAS or SSD drives as capacity grows. Dual 10 GbE and dual 1 GbE ports give ample network headroom for east-west traffic. Workloads that outgrow 64 GB memory or eight drive bays will need a larger chassis or external storage.