DELL PowerEdge R730 2U rack server E5-2650 v3 10C 2.3GHz 64GB DDR4 2x 900GB SAS H730

Rack server for virtualization

The Dell PowerEdge R730 is a 2U rack server built around a single Intel Xeon E5-2650 v3 processor with ten cores at 2.3 GHz and 64 GB of DDR4 memory. It targets IT teams running virtual machines, databases or internal applications that benefit from 20 virtual threads and room for a second CPU. The chassis holds up to eight 2.5-inch hot-plug drives and includes a DVD-ROM drive. Redundant 750 W power supplies keep the system running if one unit fails.

Thermals noise and power

Dual redundant 750 W power supplies share the load and provide fail-over without shutting down the server. The 2U form factor allows front-to-rear airflow across the processors, memory and drive bays, so fan speeds stay moderate during typical workloads. Acoustic output is low enough for a standard server room, though it will be noticeable in a quiet office. Power draw scales with CPU utilisation and the number of installed drives.

Build quality and connectivity

The chassis uses tool-less drive carriers and a sliding rail design that simplifies rack mounting and component swaps. A PERC H730 controller with 1 GB cache manages SAS or SATA drives in RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 or 60. Networking starts with a four-port 1 GbE daughter card, while optional NDC modules can add 10 GbE links. Seven PCIe 3.0 slots plus a dedicated PERC slot give room for additional controllers or accelerators. Remote management runs through iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller.