DELL PowerEdge R740xd 2U rack server 2x Xeon Platinum 8160 2.1GHz 24-core 256GB DDR4 24x 2.4TB SAS H730P

Storage-dense 2U server

The Dell PowerEdge R740xd is a 2U rackmount server built around two Intel Xeon Platinum 8160 processors, each running at 2.1 GHz with 24 cores. It ships with 256 GB of DDR4 2666 MHz registered ECC memory across eight 32 GB modules. A PERC H730P 2 GB controller with battery backup manages 24 front-accessible 2.4 TB 10K SAS drives in a 2.5 inch form factor. Dual 1100 W platinum power supplies, iDRAC9 Enterprise, quad-port networking with two 1 GbE and two 10 Gb SFP+ ports, plus rails and bezel complete the package.

Ideal for storage-heavy workloads

This configuration suits organisations deploying software-defined storage, virtual desktop infrastructure or high-capacity virtualisation clusters that benefit from 24 drive bays in 2U. The SAS backplane and 12 Gb/s controller set the throughput ceiling; buyers who need direct-attached PCIe flash or a different drive protocol should evaluate other platforms.

SAS backplane and 12 Gb/s controller

The 24-bay 2.5 inch SAS backplane paired with the H730P RAID controller defines the storage architecture, supporting RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 and 60 plus pass-through mode. All 24 bays are populated with 2.4 TB 10K drives, so any expansion requires drive replacement or an external enclosure.