DELL PowerEdge R540 2U 8x3.5" 2x Xeon Gold 5118 2.3GHz 128GB DDR4 H730P
2U rack server with dual 12-core Xeon Gold 5118 CPUs at 2.3 GHz, 128 GB DDR4, PERC H730P RAID controller, eight 3.5-inch drive trays, iDRAC9 Enterprise and redundant 750 W power supplies
- ProcessorIntel Xeon
- Installed RAM128 GB
- Installed SSDNo
- Processor core count12-Core Processor
- Operating systemNo
- Processor socketLGA 3647
- Dual 12-core Xeon Gold 5118 CPUs at 2.3 GHz with 3.2 GHz Turbo
- 128 GB DDR4 2666 MHz ECC registered memory across 16 slots
- PERC H730P 2 GB controller supporting RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60
- Eight 3.5-inch SAS/SATA drive trays for flexible storage capacity
- iDRAC9 Enterprise remote management with redundant 750 W platinum power supplies
Dual Xeon Gold 5118 2U Server
The Dell PowerEdge R540 is a 2U rack server equipped with two Intel Xeon Gold 5118 processors, each running at 2.3 GHz with twelve cores. It ships with 128 GB of DDR4 registered ECC memory installed across eight slots. The chassis provides eight 3.5-inch drive bays for SAS or SATA drives, managed by a PERC H730P controller with 2 GB cache. Integrated dual-port Gigabit Ethernet and iDRAC9 Enterprise remote management are included.
Sustained Multi-Threaded Workloads
Dual 12-core Xeon Gold 5118 CPUs deliver twenty-four threads at a 2.3 GHz base frequency, with turbo up to 3.2 GHz for burst demand. The 384 GB maximum memory capacity across sixteen DIMM slots allows large in-memory datasets to remain resident during extended runs. The H730P controller supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 and 60, maintaining consistent throughput for database or virtualization workloads without thermal throttling. Redundant 750 W platinum power supplies maintain operation if one unit fails.
Thermals, Noise and Power Draw
Redundant 750 W platinum-efficiency power supplies convert AC power with minimal waste heat under typical loads. Intelligent cooling adjusts fan speed to actual component temperatures rather than running at fixed high RPM. The 2U form factor provides sufficient airflow path for the dual-socket configuration without excessive acoustic output in a rack environment. iDRAC9 Enterprise monitors thermal sensors and power consumption remotely, enabling proactive fan-curve tuning.
How it compares
Measured against everything we stock in Rack & Tower Servers, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.
- Price $1,157.99
- Cheaper than about 69% of the 17,641 comparable items (median $1,910.99).
- Installed RAM 128 GB
- Typical for this category: the median of 15,103 items is 128 GB.
- Processor core count 12-Core Processor
- Lower than about 60% of the 7,955 comparable items (median 16).
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Specifications
| Product | |
|---|---|
| Brand name | DELL |
| Product line | PowerEdge R740 |
| Model name | R540 |
| Product type | Rack |
| Processor | |
| Processor | Intel Xeon |
| Processor core count | 12-Core Processor |
| Processor socket | LGA 3647 |
| Processor speed | 2.3 GHz |
| Installed CPUs | 2 |
| Max supported CPUs | 2 |
| Memory | |
| Installed RAM | 128 GB |
| Maximum RAM capacity | 384 GB |
| Memory slot count | 16 |
| Storage | |
| Installed SSD | No |
| Installed storage | None |
| Disk controller | Dell Perc H730P 2 GB Controller |
| Drive interface | SATA/SAS |
| Supported RAID levels | RAID 0/1/5/6/10/50/60 |
| Optical drive | 0 |
| Connectivity | |
| Network controller | Integrated Dell 2 × 1GbE Dual Port Ethernet Adapter |
| Ports & slots | |
| Network ports | 2 x Ports |
| Expansion card slots | 0 |
| Management interface | 0 |
| Power | |
| Hot-swap redundant PSU | Yes |
| Size & build | |
| Rack height | 2U |
| Software | |
| Operating system | No |
Questions about this item
How much power do the dual 750 Watt PSUs draw when the R540 runs at full load all day?
The redundant 750 Watt Platinum supplies share the load; each unit draws only what the two Xeon Gold 5118 CPUs, 128GB DDR4, H730P controller and eight drive trays require, so actual draw stays well below the 750 Watt rating per supply.
Which drives must I supply myself to populate the eight 3.5-inch trays?
You need 3.5-inch SAS or SATA hard drives or SSDs; the H730P controller supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 and 60, and the trays accept any standard 3.5-inch SAS/SATA device.
Will my existing DDR4 2666MHz ECC modules work in the 16 DIMM slots alongside the installed 128GB?
Yes, the 16 slots take registered DDR4 2666MHz ECC DIMMs; you can add matching modules up to the 384GB maximum, keeping the same speed and rank configuration for stability.
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