DELL PowerEdge R730xd 24 Bay 2.5" 2U Rack Server 2x Xeon E5-2699 v4 2.2GHz 22 Core 512GB DDR4

Dual 22-core Xeon server for dense storage

The PowerEdge R730xd packs two Intel Xeon E5-2699 v4 processors at 2.2 GHz with 3.6 GHz turbo into a 2U rack chassis. Fifty-one-two gigabytes of DDR4 registered ECC memory across 16 modules supports virtualization, databases and high-performance computing nodes. Twenty-four hot-swap 2.5-inch trays accept SAS or SATA drives behind a PERC H730 controller with 1 GB cache. Quad-port networking adds two 1 GbE and two 10 Gb SFP+ links, while iDRAC8 Enterprise handles remote management. Dual 750-watt platinum supplies and rails complete the package.

Suits storage-heavy roles; not for GPU-heavy builds

This configuration targets databases, virtual desktop infrastructure and data-warehouse nodes that benefit from 24 front-accessible drive bays and high core counts. Workloads needing GPU acceleration or more than two sockets should look at alternative platforms. The fixed two-processor limit and lack of installed drives mean buyers must supply their own storage media. Rack depth and power infrastructure must also match the 2U form factor and redundant 750-watt supplies.

PERC H730 RAID controller decides drive topology

The H730 mini controller with battery-backed 1 GB cache manages RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 and 60 plus pass-through mode across all 24 bays. Its 12 Gb/s SAS/SATA interface sets the maximum throughput for any attached drives. Buyers planning all-flash arrays or specific RAID levels should verify the controller meets their performance and redundancy requirements before purchase.