{"title":"Dell PowerEdge R730 Servers","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"552\" data-end=\"900\"\u003eThe Dell PowerEdge R730 is a proven and highly versatile 2U rack server designed to deliver reliable performance and exceptional value. Powered by Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 and v4 processors, the R730 remains a popular choice for businesses, IT professionals, and home lab users who need strong performance without the cost of newer-generation systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"902\" data-end=\"1258\"\u003eWith support for substantial DDR4 ECC memory, the PowerEdge R730 is well-suited for virtualization, database applications, and multi-application environments. Its flexible storage configurations—including both 2.5” (SFF) and 3.5” (LFF) drive options—allow you to tailor the system for performance, capacity, or a hybrid approach depending on your workload.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1260\" data-end=\"1579\"\u003eThe Dell PowerEdge R730 supports advanced RAID controllers such as the PERC H730 and H730p, providing reliable data protection and storage management. It also offers strong expandability, making it a great platform for businesses that need room to grow or for home lab users building a capable and flexible environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1581\" data-end=\"1739\"\u003eIntegrated iDRAC8 management enables remote monitoring, deployment, and maintenance, helping IT administrators manage systems efficiently and reduce downtime.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1741\" data-end=\"1997\"\u003eAt Wholesale Servers, all Dell PowerEdge R730 servers are fully tested, professionally refurbished, and built to order. Customize your configuration with the right CPUs, memory, storage, and RAID options to match your specific performance needs and budget.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1999\" data-end=\"2189\"\u003eIf you’re looking for a dependable, cost-effective server with a strong track record, the Dell R730 is a smart solution for SMBs, virtualization environments, and home lab enthusiasts alike.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"dell-poweredge-r730-8-bay-3-5-chassis","title":"Dell PowerEdge R730 8-Bay 3.5\" Drives [13th Gen]","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe refurbished Dell PowerEdge R730 8-Bay 3.5\" is the large-form-factor capacity member of Dell's 13th-generation 2U dual-socket family: eight 3.5\" hot-swap front bays built for bulk SAS and SATA storage. This is the R730 to buy when dollar-per-terabyte is the design driver and nearline SAS HDDs do the work, NAS nodes, backup targets, archive storage, file servers, and any role where capacity matters more than random IOPS.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe LFF chassis is a deliberate tradeoff: fewer bays than the SFF builds, but each one takes a large-capacity 3.5\" drive, so a single node holds far more raw capacity than an all-SSD chassis ever will. If your workload is storage-centric rather than VM-host-centric, this is the right chassis. If it is IOPS-centric, the SFF builds are the better tool, and we will say so at quote time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRefurbished here means rebuilt and proven. Every R730 we ship is assembled to your spec and runs a 12+ hour burn-in across every memory channel, every PCIe slot, and every drive bay, backed by a 180-day warranty with 1-Year, 2-Year, and 3-Year options that cover the period past Dell ProSupport. To talk through a capacity build, call 1-800-778-1545 or use the quote form on this page. Volume pricing applies at 5 units and above.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhen 8 LFF Bays Is the Right Choice\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe LFF chassis earns its place when storage economics, not compute, lead the decision:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDollar-per-terabyte is the driver. NL-SAS HDDs at 12 TB to 22 TB deliver bulk capacity at a fraction of the SAS SSD cost per terabyte.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIOPS demand is modest and throughput is sequential. Backup ingestion, file serving, and archive playback are sequential-dominant, which spinning disk handles well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFewer, denser nodes beat more SSD nodes on total cost for capacity-class workloads.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReach for a different chassis when IOPS lead instead: the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e for SSD-backed virtualization and databases, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-16-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 16-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e for dense flash, and the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730xd-12-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eR730xd 12-Bay 3.5\" + RFB\u003c\/a\u003e when eight LFF bays is not enough capacity per node. The 16-Bay is the primary R730 page if you want the full platform write-up alongside the dense-SSD framing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eStorage - 8 LFF Bays\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEight 3.5\" SAS\/SATA hot-swap front bays, built around enterprise NL-SAS HDDs as the volume drive. The capacity ceiling is the point: eight 22 TB drives is 176 TB raw in a single 2U node. Common builds we ship:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e8x 12 to 16 TB NL-SAS:\u003c\/strong\u003e the volume bulk-storage build, roughly 72 to 96 TB usable at RAID 6 with a hot spare. Strong for backup targets, file servers, and archive.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e8x 20 to 22 TB NL-SAS:\u003c\/strong\u003e maximum capacity per node, roughly 120 to 150 TB usable at RAID 6 with a hot spare, for deployments where per-node density reduces total node count.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e8x 8 to 10 TB NL-SAS:\u003c\/strong\u003e a lower-cost tier, around 48 to 60 TB usable, when the newest drives are over-provisioned for the need.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e8x 10K SAS (1.2 to 2.4 TB):\u003c\/strong\u003e a performance-and-capacity balance; the 2.4 TB 10K is a popular mainstream choice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2.5\" SSDs in 3.5\" adapter carriers:\u003c\/strong\u003e a way to add some flash when the LFF chassis is the constraint, though it is not cost-optimized against the SFF chassis for an all-flash tier.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRAID guidance for LFF capacity arrays\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRAID 6 is mandatory at modern NL-SAS capacities. A single-drive rebuild on a 16 TB to 22 TB drive under array load can run well past 24 hours, and RAID 5 leaves the array exposed to a second-drive failure across that window. We do not quote RAID 5 on large-capacity spinning-disk arrays. RAID 10 is the alternative when write performance leads and you can spend half the capacity to overhead; on eight large drives that is four drives usable with short rebuilds. RAID 60 buys little on only eight drives and reduces to RAID 6 efficiency, so we do not use it here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBoot Options on the LFF Chassis\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 has no BOSS card, that is a 14th-gen feature, so boot on a capacity chassis needs thought because every LFF bay is valuable:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIDSDM dual SD boot:\u003c\/strong\u003e the cleanest path for hypervisor-only nodes. It mirrors two SD cards internally and frees all eight large bays for data, which is the whole reason to buy the LFF chassis.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2x 2.5\" SSDs in 3.5\" adapter carriers, mirrored:\u003c\/strong\u003e appropriate when you want a full OS install rather than a hypervisor, at a smaller capacity and cost than dedicating big spinning drives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2x 3.5\" boot drives in RAID 1:\u003c\/strong\u003e possible, but spending two 16 TB bays to host a small OS is poor economics. We steer customers away from this unless there is a specific reason.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor most LFF deployments we specify IDSDM and keep all eight bays for capacity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eProcessors\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDual-socket LGA 2011-3, running Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 (Haswell-EP, 2014) or E5-2600 v4 (Broadwell-EP, 2016), drop-in compatible in the same sockets. Core counts run from 4 up to 22, with TDPs up to 145 W. Capacity-tier storage is rarely CPU-bound, so we size lower here than on a virtualization host:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eE5-2620 v4 (8C \/ 85 W) or E5-2640 v4 (10C \/ 90 W):\u003c\/strong\u003e usually sufficient for backup-target and file-server roles, and the lower TDP keeps the chassis cool and quiet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eE5-2650 v4 (12C):\u003c\/strong\u003e sensible when the node also runs dedup, compression, or a software-defined storage layer that wants more cores.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTop-bin 18C and 22C parts are rarely justified on a pure capacity node; spend the budget on drives instead.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCPUs above 120 W require the high-performance heatsink, which we ship on any build with a 135 W or hotter CPU, though most LFF builds never get near that. A single-socket configuration is viable for a lightweight NAS, but populating both sockets keeps all memory channels and PCIe lanes available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMemory\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e24 DDR4 DIMM slots, twelve per socket. The Grantley platform gives each E5-2600 v3\/v4 CPU four memory channels, so the slots populate at three DIMMs per channel (3 DPC). That is the architectural difference from the 14th-gen R740, which uses six channels at 2 DPC.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTypes:\u003c\/strong\u003e RDIMM and LRDIMM. No Optane PMem on this platform; that arrives with the 14th-gen R740.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCapacity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 768 GB with 32 GB RDIMMs, up to 1.5 TB with 64 GB LRDIMMs. 128 GB LRDIMMs go higher on v4 CPUs but are rare and pricey on the secondary market.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpeed by population:\u003c\/strong\u003e DDR4-2400 on v4 CPUs at one and two DIMMs per channel, stepping to 1866 MT\/s on RDIMMs at the third DIMM per channel. v3 CPUs top out at 2133 MT\/s.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a file or backup node, memory mostly serves filesystem cache, so 256 GB to 384 GB is a common sweet spot. Past 512 GB rarely improves a spinning-disk workload; the money is better spent on drives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eStorage Controllers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 runs the Dell PERC 13th-generation family from the integrated Mini Mono slot. For a capacity array the choice is straightforward:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H730P (2 GB cache, battery-backed):\u003c\/strong\u003e our default. The cache matters for write coalescing on parity arrays at large drive sizes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H730 (1 GB cache, battery-backed):\u003c\/strong\u003e a budget step down where write performance is not load-bearing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHBA330 (pass-through):\u003c\/strong\u003e the right call for ZFS, Ceph, or other software-defined storage where the application layer owns redundancy and wants raw disks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H830 (2 GB cache):\u003c\/strong\u003e for chaining an external SAS JBOD shelf when eight internal bays is not enough.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe do not quote the S130 software-RAID option for production. The 8 GB-cache H740P is a 14th-gen R740 part and does not run here, so H730P is the top of the cache ladder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNetworking and PCIe Expansion\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNetworking is handled by the Dell rNDC (Network Daughter Card), which does not consume a PCIe slot. The options on R730 units are 4x 1 GbE, 2x 10 GbE plus 2x 1 GbE, and 4x 10 GbE in SFP+ or BASE-T. For a backup target or file server, 10 GbE is the practical floor so ingestion is not network-bound, and a 25 GbE PCIe NIC is the upgrade for heavy backup windows.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 offers up to 7 PCIe Gen3 slots across three risers depending on riser configuration. On a capacity node that budget typically goes to a faster NIC and, where needed, an external SAS HBA for a JBOD shelf. The hard ceiling is Gen3: there are no Gen4 lanes on this platform.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGPU Support\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 platform supports GPU acceleration (up to two single-width 70 W cards or one double-width accelerator with the GPU riser, high-performance heatsinks, and higher-wattage PSUs), but a capacity-tier LFF node rarely needs one. If the workload genuinely pairs bulk storage with light acceleration, an NVIDIA T4 fits the envelope; for anything heavier, the SFF chassis with its easier thermal budget, or a 14th-gen platform, is the better host. Modern Ampere and Hopper cards are not supported on this platform.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eManagement - iDRAC8 Generation\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 uses iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller. For production we specify iDRAC8 Enterprise for full remote KVM with virtual media, a dedicated management NIC, and agent-free monitoring. iDRAC8 Express is the lighter tier for lab or single-unit use. A TPM 1.2 or 2.0 module is available for measured boot and compliance frameworks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe honest generational note is the same across the family: iDRAC8 predates Dell's Silicon Root of Trust, a 14th-gen iDRAC9 feature. If hardware-anchored firmware integrity is a hard requirement, that is a reason to step up to the R740.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePower and Cooling\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 takes Dell Common Form Factor hot-plug redundant PSUs in 495 W, 750 W (Platinum or Titanium), 1100 W, and 1600 W ratings, in a 1+1 pair. A spinning-disk capacity node draws modestly; eight 7.2K NL-SAS HDDs plus a low-TDP CPU pair sit well within a 750 W pair:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eConfiguration\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePSU recommendation\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEst. peak draw\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLight (single CPU, 8x NL-SAS, 1 GbE)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2x 495 W Platinum\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~230 W\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBalanced (dual E5-2640 v4, 8x NL-SAS, 10 GbE)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2x 750 W Platinum\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~360 W\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHeavy (dual mid-TDP CPU, full RAM, 8x NL-SAS plus SDS layer)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2x 750 W Platinum\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~480 W\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 750 W pair comfortably covers nearly every LFF capacity build. The larger PSUs are only relevant if the node also takes a GPU, which is uncommon on this chassis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePhysical Specs and Platform Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eForm factor:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2U rack chassis, roughly 684 mm deep without the bezel and about 715 mm with it. Budget additional depth for the optional cable management arm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePCIe expansion:\u003c\/strong\u003e up to 7 PCIe Gen3 slots across three risers depending on riser configuration, in a mix of full-height and low-profile.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eParts availability:\u003c\/strong\u003e excellent. The R730 is one of the most widely deployed 13th-gen platforms, so drives, PSUs, controllers, risers, and fans are plentiful on the secondary market. Dell ProSupport on 13th gen has reached end of service, so third-party maintenance is the standard production support path in 2026.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAccessories we recommend:\u003c\/strong\u003e the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r530-r540-r730-r730xd-r740-2u-b6-ready-rails-ii-sliding-rail-kit\"\u003e2U B6 ReadyRails II sliding rail kit\u003c\/a\u003e for tool-less mounting, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r530-r730-r730xd-security-bezel\"\u003e13th-gen 2U security bezel\u003c\/a\u003e for physical drive security, and the cable management arm for a shared rack rear.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlatform notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e CPU hot-plug is not supported. Hypervisor boot uses IDSDM rather than a BOSS card. Six hot-swap dual-rotor fans handle cooling; a spinning-disk node runs cooler and quieter than an SSD-dense build, though it is still datacenter-class.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Assessment\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere it excels:\u003c\/strong\u003e capacity-tier 13th-gen storage where the dollar-per-terabyte of nearline SAS HDDs is the point and the workload fits spinning-disk performance. NAS file servers, Veeam and Commvault backup targets, archive and long-term retention, log aggregation, and bulk capacity tiers where 60 to 150 TB usable per node hits the cost target are exactly what this chassis is for. Sized with a modest CPU and cache-friendly memory, it is an efficient, quiet, dependable storage node.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere to look instead:\u003c\/strong\u003e for SSD random IOPS, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e or the dense \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-16-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 16-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the right tool. For more than eight LFF bays per node, step to the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730xd-12-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eR730xd 12-Bay 3.5\" + RFB\u003c\/a\u003e. And for a four-plus year production horizon or iDRAC9 firmware integrity, the 14th-gen \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740-8-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eR740 8-Bay 3.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the step up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom line:\u003c\/strong\u003e the R730 8-Bay 3.5\" is the cost-correct 13th-gen capacity node for a team that needs bulk, dependable storage now and is buying on a two to three year horizon. It is proven, parts are everywhere, and a sensible spec puts the money in drives rather than compute. Buyers who need more density per node or longer platform currency should price the R730xd or the 14th-gen R740 first. At quote time we will show R730 and R740 8-Bay 3.5\" pricing side by side so the call is grounded in current cost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere the R730 8-Bay 3.5\" Fits in 2026\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 is two Dell generations back, with the 14th-gen R740 as its direct successor and the 15th-gen R750 and 16th-gen R760 ahead of it. That distance is what makes it attractive for a capacity tier, where raw storage cost matters more than the latest platform.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the generation before it: the 12th-generation R720 is end of life. We treat the R730 as the practical floor for a dependable refurbished 2U build today and do not stock or recommend the R720 for new capacity deployments, because parts support and platform currency have fallen too far.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStepping forward, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740-8-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eR740 8-Bay 3.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e brings DDR4-2933 memory, iDRAC9 with Silicon Root of Trust, the PERC H740P with 8 GB cache, and BOSS boot that keeps all front bays free without an SD module. For a capacity node you intend to run well past 2028, that is often worth the premium; for a two to three year horizon, the R730 delivers the same bulk capacity for materially less.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHonest Limitations\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEight LFF bays is the chassis ceiling.\u003c\/strong\u003e For more capacity per node, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730xd-12-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eR730xd 12-Bay 3.5\" + RFB\u003c\/a\u003e or the 24-bay variants are the next step.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpinning-disk IOPS is limited.\u003c\/strong\u003e Eight 7.2K NL-SAS drives deliver roughly 600 to 1200 random IOPS at the array level. Workloads needing more want SSD.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRebuild times on large drives are long.\u003c\/strong\u003e A 20 TB drive rebuild under load can exceed 36 hours. RAID 6 is mandatory and a hot spare is not optional.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrive failures are a statistical certainty over time.\u003c\/strong\u003e Enterprise NL-SAS runs roughly 1 to 3 percent annual failure rate; plan hot spares and prompt replacement into operations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBoot consumes bays or uses IDSDM.\u003c\/strong\u003e Dedicating two large bays to a small OS is poor economics; IDSDM is the right path for hypervisor nodes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e3.5\" SAS SSDs are poor economics.\u003c\/strong\u003e If flash is the tier, the 2.5\" chassis is the right pick rather than SSDs in LFF carriers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlatform constraints apply.\u003c\/strong\u003e iDRAC8 without Silicon Root of Trust, DDR4 2400 MT\/s, no BOSS, no Optane PMem, PERC H730P as the cache ceiling, PCIe Gen3, and Dell ProSupport at end of service. For any of these, the R740 is the answer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWorkload Fit\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRight for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eConsider alternatives for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNAS file servers, capacity-primary and cost-driven\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVirtualization needing SSD IOPS (use the R730 8-Bay 2.5\")\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBackup targets (Veeam, Commvault, NFS\/SMB)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMore than 8 LFF bays per node (use the R730xd 12-Bay)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eArchive and long-term retention\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProduction 4+ year storage (use the R740 or R750)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBulk file aggregation and capacity tiers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDatabase workloads needing fast random IOPS\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModest-CPU capacity nodes, quiet and efficient\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModern apps expecting SSD-class latency\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere to Look Instead\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSSD performance on the same platform:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e for general-purpose flash, or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-16-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 16-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e for dense SSD.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMore LFF capacity per node:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730xd-12-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eR730xd 12-Bay 3.5\" + RFB\u003c\/a\u003e, or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730xd-24-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730xd 24-Bay 2.5\" + RFB\u003c\/a\u003e for dense SFF.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1U companion:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r630-10-bay-chassis\"\u003eR630 10-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e when rack density beats expansion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCross-vendor equivalent:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hp-proliant-dl380-g9-12-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eHPE ProLiant DL380 Gen9 12-Bay 3.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e, the same Grantley-era LFF platform on HPE's side.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStep up a generation:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740-8-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eR740 8-Bay 3.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e for iDRAC9, H740P, DDR4-2933, BOSS boot, and a longer support horizon.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting hardware:\u003c\/strong\u003e the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r530-r540-r730-r730xd-r740-2u-b6-ready-rails-ii-sliding-rail-kit\"\u003e2U B6 ReadyRails II rail kit\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eReady to Configure?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTell us your workload, target capacity in raw and usable terabytes, backup software and retention window, CPU and memory sizing, boot preference (IDSDM or a mirrored pair), and quantity, and we will spec drive count, capacity per drive, and RAID level to hit the target with appropriate fault tolerance. Share your data growth rate and current catalog size and we will size for headroom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery Wholesale Servers R730 ships after a 12+ hour burn-in test covering every PCIe slot, every memory channel, and every drive bay, and carries a 180-day warranty with 1-Year, 2-Year, and 3-Year Premium options. Call 1-800-778-1545 or use the quote form on this page, and note that volume pricing applies at 5 units and above.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45951275008199,"sku":"BP-012030","price":306.03,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/4493\/0247\/files\/server-design-lab-dell-poweredge-r730-8-bay-35-drives-945983.png?v=1765539695"},{"product_id":"dell-poweredge-r730-16-bay-2-5-chassis","title":"Dell PowerEdge R730 16-Bay 2.5\" Drives [13th Gen]","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe refurbished Dell PowerEdge R730 16-Bay 2.5\" is the maximum small-form-factor density configuration of Dell's 13th-generation 2U dual-socket platform: sixteen 2.5\" hot-swap front bays in a single 2U chassis, built for dense SAS and SATA SSD deployments. Among the standard R730 chassis variants it carries the highest front-bay spindle count, and it is the build we reach for when a customer needs many fast drives per node without stepping up to the dedicated dense-storage R730xd.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn our deployments this is the R730 of choice for vSAN-class hyperconverged nodes at 13th-gen pricing, dense database hosts with substantial local SSD, and high-VM-density virtualization where spindle count drives IOPS scaling. The 16-bay backplane also unlocks something the 8-bay chassis cannot do: a dual PERC front configuration that splits the array across two controllers. We cover that in detail below, because it is the single biggest reason to choose this chassis over an 8-bay build.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRefurbished does not mean uncertain here. Every R730 we ship is rebuilt to the configuration you specify and runs a 12+ hour burn-in across every memory channel, every PCIe slot, and every drive bay before it leaves the bench, backed by a 180-day warranty with 1-Year, 2-Year, and 3-Year options available. To spec a build or talk through a dense-SSD layout, call 1-800-778-1545 or use the quote form on this page. Volume pricing applies at 5 units and above.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere the R730 16-Bay Fits in the Family\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 is Dell's 13th-generation 2U dual-socket workhorse, and the family splits cleanly by storage intent. This 16-Bay 2.5\" build is the high-density SFF member: sixteen hot-swap bays for an all-flash or SSD-heavy front, in the same chassis envelope as the lighter variants. If you do not need sixteen front bays, the lower-cost members of the family are usually the better spend, and we will tell you so at quote time rather than oversell the density.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNeed eight SFF bays, not sixteen? The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the lower-cost general-purpose build on the same platform.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuying for spinning-disk capacity rather than SSD IOPS? The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-8-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 8-Bay 3.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e takes large LFF NL-SAS drives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNeed more than sixteen SFF bays, or a rear flex bay for boot or hot spares? Step into the dense-storage line: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730xd-24-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730xd 24-Bay 2.5\" + RFB\u003c\/a\u003e for maximum SFF density, or the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730xd-12-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eR730xd 12-Bay 3.5\" + RFB\u003c\/a\u003e for dense LFF capacity with an SSD rear tier.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComparing across vendors? The HPE equivalent is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dl380-g9-2-5-16-bay-chassis\"\u003eHPE ProLiant DL380 Gen9 16-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e, the same Grantley-era 2U dual-socket platform on HPE's side.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe platform underneath every one of these is identical: dual Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 or v4 processors, 24 DDR4 DIMM slots, iDRAC8 management, and PCIe Gen3 expansion. What changes from build to build is the front-bay count, the drive form factor, and on this chassis specifically, the dual PERC option.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eStorage - 16 SFF Bays\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSixteen 2.5\" SAS\/SATA hot-swap front bays, fed by either a single PERC controller or, on this chassis, a dual PERC front configuration. The 16-Bay backplane is built for dense SSD as the volume use case. HDD configurations work but are uncommon at this drive count; if you are buying for spinning-disk capacity, the LFF chassis is the right call instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCommon configurations we build on the 16-Bay:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e16x 1.92 TB SAS SSD, dual PERC:\u003c\/strong\u003e the volume vSAN OSA layout. Two disk groups of one cache plus seven capacity each (15 drives, one spare), or three groups of one cache plus four capacity. vSAN-appropriate hardware design at 13th-gen pricing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e16x 3.84 TB SAS SSD, dual PERC:\u003c\/strong\u003e higher-capacity dense virtualization datastore. Roughly 50 TB usable at RAID 60 across two RAID 6 sets.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e16x 1.6 TB Mixed-Use SAS SSD:\u003c\/strong\u003e write-intensive density. Database transaction log aggregation, VDI write-cache pools, log retention with SSD-class endurance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e14 SSD data plus 2 SSD boot mirror:\u003c\/strong\u003e all-flash with front-bay boot when you would rather not depend on the internal SD module.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIDSDM boot plus 16 SSD data:\u003c\/strong\u003e hypervisor-only build with all sixteen bays free for data. Maximum spindle count for IOPS-density workloads.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe dual PERC advantage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 16-Bay backplane supports two PERC H730P controllers in a front-PERC layout, each fronting eight of the sixteen drives with its own 2 GB battery-backed cache. For sustained write-intensive workloads at high drive count, this is the reason to pick the 16-Bay over an 8-bay build. Splitting the array across two controllers gives you:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwice the controller cache (effective 4 GB across the pair) and write coalescing handled separately per eight-drive group.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMore PCIe bandwidth to the drives, since two slots feed the array instead of one.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFailure isolation: a controller fault takes out eight drives, not all sixteen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tradeoff is real and worth stating plainly. A single logical array cannot span all sixteen drives under dual PERC (each controller sees only its eight), you manage two arrays instead of one, and you spend two PCIe slots and a cost premium. For read-dominant light virtualization, a single H730P fronting all sixteen is fine and cheaper. For vSAN, dense SQL Server, or write-heavy application tiers, dual PERC is the configuration we recommend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoot deserves a note: the R730 has no BOSS card (that arrives with the 14th-gen R740). On this chassis you either dedicate a front bay or two to a boot mirror, or use the Internal Dual SD Module (IDSDM) to keep all sixteen bays free for data. For ESXi-only nodes we usually specify IDSDM.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eProcessors\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDual-socket LGA 2011-3, running Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 (Haswell-EP, 2014) or E5-2600 v4 (Broadwell-EP, 2016). The two generations are drop-in compatible in the same sockets, so secondary-market units arrive with either. Core counts run from 4 up to 22 (the E5-2699 v4), with TDPs up to 145 W.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a dense 16-SSD chassis we size CPU higher than we would on a light 8-bay build, because the drives can push more IOPS than a small core count can service:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eE5-2680 v4 (14C \/ 2.4 GHz \/ 120 W):\u003c\/strong\u003e the balanced workhorse and our default recommendation for most 16-Bay virtualization and database hosts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eE5-2697 v4 (18C) or E5-2699 v4 (22C):\u003c\/strong\u003e for high-IOPS vSAN nodes and consolidation hosts where core count is the constraint.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eE5-2620 v4 (8C):\u003c\/strong\u003e a budget floor, appropriate only for lighter storage targets where the SSDs are not the bottleneck.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFair warning on cooling: CPUs above 120 W require the high-performance heatsink, and we ship the HP heatsink on any build with a 135 W or hotter CPU. Running a top-bin part on the standard heatsink is a sustained-load stability risk, and it is one of the most common configuration errors we see on field-built 13th-gen units. A single-socket R730 is also possible but halves your memory channels and PCIe lanes; for a dense 16-bay build we recommend both sockets populated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMemory\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e24 DDR4 DIMM slots, twelve per socket. The Grantley platform gives each E5-2600 v3\/v4 CPU four memory channels, so the 24 slots populate at three DIMMs per channel (3 DPC). This is the architectural difference from the 14th-gen R740, which uses six channels at 2 DPC, and it matters for how speed behaves as you fill the board.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTypes:\u003c\/strong\u003e RDIMM and LRDIMM. No Optane PMem on this platform, that capability arrives with the 14th-gen R740.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCapacity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 768 GB with 32 GB RDIMMs across all 24 slots, up to 1.5 TB with 64 GB LRDIMMs. 128 GB LRDIMMs push higher on v4 CPUs but are expensive and uncommon on the secondary market, so we quote them only on request.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpeed by population:\u003c\/strong\u003e DDR4-2400 on v4 CPUs at one and two DIMMs per channel. Populating the third DIMM per channel steps the bus down (1866 MT\/s on RDIMMs), so the largest 24-DIMM builds trade some bandwidth for footprint. v3 CPUs top out at 2133 MT\/s.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a 16-SSD virtualization host, 512 GB to 1 TB is the typical sizing; VDI density commonly wants the full 1.5 TB. We will steer you away from overbuying speed-grade DIMMs that the CPU cannot clock anyway.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eStorage Controllers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 runs the Dell PERC 13th-generation controller family from the integrated Mini Mono slot, plus add-in controllers for the dual PERC front layout and external storage. Our recommendations by workload:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H730P (2 GB cache, battery-backed):\u003c\/strong\u003e the production default for write-intensive or transactional local storage, and the controller we pair in the dual PERC front configuration on this chassis.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H730 (1 GB cache, battery-backed):\u003c\/strong\u003e a defensible budget step down for read-heavy or modest-write arrays where the extra cache is not load-bearing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H330 (no cache):\u003c\/strong\u003e entry-tier hardware RAID for light workloads only.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHBA330 (pass-through):\u003c\/strong\u003e the right choice for software-defined storage stacks (vSAN, Storage Spaces Direct, Ceph, ZFS) that want raw disks, not a RAID controller in front of them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H830 (2 GB cache):\u003c\/strong\u003e for external SAS JBOD enclosures when local bays are not enough.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe do not quote the S130 software-RAID option for production. It is a chipset-level dev and test feature, and on a dense storage chassis it is the wrong answer. Note that the H730P is the top of the cache ladder here; the 8 GB-cache H740P is a 14th-gen R740 part and does not belong on this platform.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNetworking and PCIe Expansion\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNetworking is handled by the Dell rNDC (Network Daughter Card), a mezzanine slot that does not consume a PCIe slot. The rNDC options that show up on R730 units are:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4x 1 GbE: the legacy default, and a bottleneck for any flash-backed workload.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2x 10 GbE plus 2x 1 GbE: a common mixed-speed option.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4x 10 GbE (SFP+ or BASE-T): the practical floor for a 16-SSD chassis.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSixteen SSDs will saturate 1 GbE on any meaningful workload, so we treat 10 GbE as the minimum on this build and add a 25 GbE PCIe NIC when storage traffic justifies it. For PCIe expansion, the R730 offers up to 7 PCIe Gen3 slots across three risers depending on riser configuration, with a mix of full-height and low-profile slots. That budget covers the dual PERC pair, a high-speed NIC, and an HBA or accelerator with room to spare. The hard ceiling to remember is Gen3: there are no Gen4 lanes on this platform.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGPU Support\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 is one of the few 13th-gen 2U platforms with a real GPU envelope. With the GPU-enabling riser, high-performance heatsinks, and the higher-wattage PSUs, it supports up to two double-width 300 W accelerators or three single-width cards. Era-appropriate parts are the NVIDIA Tesla M60, M10, P40, and P100 for the double-width slots, and the single-width T4 for inference and VDI offload.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe constraint to plan around is thermal, not electrical. GPU configurations require the GPU air shroud and high-performance fan profile, and they want a controlled inlet temperature; a fully loaded 16-SSD chassis already runs warm, so a GPU build pushes cooling and PSU sizing to the top of the range. If GPU density is the primary goal rather than storage density, a 2U chassis with fewer drive bays leaves more thermal headroom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eManagement - iDRAC8 Generation\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 uses iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller. For production we specify iDRAC8 Enterprise: full remote KVM with virtual media, dedicated management NIC, and the automation hooks that make a fleet manageable. iDRAC8 Express is the lighter tier and is fine for lab or single-unit use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eiDRAC8 Enterprise:\u003c\/strong\u003e virtual console, virtual media, agent-free monitoring, OpenManage Enterprise integration, and remote firmware management through Lifecycle Controller.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSecurity baseline:\u003c\/strong\u003e a TPM 1.2 or 2.0 module is available for measured boot and for compliance frameworks that require it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne honest generational note: iDRAC8 predates Dell's Silicon Root of Trust, which is a 14th-gen iDRAC9 feature. If hardware-anchored firmware integrity is a hard requirement for your environment, that is a reason to step up to the R740 rather than fight the platform.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePower and Cooling\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 takes Dell Common Form Factor hot-plug redundant PSUs in 495 W, 750 W (Platinum or Titanium), 1100 W, and 1600 W ratings, in a 1+1 redundant pair. PSU sizing matters more on this chassis than on the lighter builds, because sixteen active SSDs plus dual high-TDP CPUs plus a dual PERC pair add up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eConfiguration\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePSU recommendation\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEst. peak draw\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLight (low-TDP CPUs, partial RAM, fewer SSDs)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2x 495 W Platinum\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~320 W\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBalanced (dual E5-2680 v4, full RAM, 16 SAS SSD)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2x 750 W Platinum\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~520 W\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHeavy (dual E5-2699 v4, full RAM, 16 SSD plus GPU)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2x 1100 W or 1600 W\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~850 W\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a fully populated 16-Bay we treat 750 W as the practical floor and specify 1100 W when the build adds a GPU or top-bin CPUs. 750 W can be marginal on a maxed-out node, so we size up rather than run a PSU near its ceiling under sustained load.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePhysical Specs and Platform Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eForm factor:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2U rack chassis, roughly 684 mm deep without the bezel and about 715 mm with it. Budget additional depth for the optional cable management arm when planning rack and PDU clearance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePCIe expansion:\u003c\/strong\u003e up to 7 PCIe Gen3 slots across three risers depending on riser configuration, in a mix of full-height and low-profile. The riser you choose trades slot count against GPU and full-height card support.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eParts availability:\u003c\/strong\u003e excellent. The R730 is one of the most widely deployed 13th-gen platforms, so drives, PSUs, controllers, risers, and fans are plentiful on the secondary market. Dell ProSupport on 13th gen has reached end of service, so third-party maintenance is the standard production support path in 2026.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAccessories we recommend:\u003c\/strong\u003e the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r530-r540-r730-r730xd-r740-2u-b6-ready-rails-ii-sliding-rail-kit\"\u003e2U B6 ReadyRails II sliding rail kit\u003c\/a\u003e for tool-less mounting, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r530-r730-r730xd-security-bezel\"\u003e13th-gen 2U security bezel\u003c\/a\u003e for physical drive security, and the cable management arm when the rear of the rack is shared.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlatform notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e CPU hot-plug is not supported. Hypervisor boot uses IDSDM or a dedicated front-bay mirror, since there is no BOSS card on this platform. The dual PERC front layout requires the appropriate 16-bay backplane, which we configure at build time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Assessment\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere it excels:\u003c\/strong\u003e dense small-form-factor SSD deployment at 13th-gen acquisition cost. This is the R730 we put in front of customers building vSAN OSA hyperconverged nodes, dense SQL Server or PostgreSQL hosts with substantial local flash, and virtualization hosts where sixteen spindles enable strong IOPS scaling at 100-plus VM density. The dual PERC front configuration makes it genuinely good at sustained write-intensive workloads, which is not something the 8-bay variants can match.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere to look instead:\u003c\/strong\u003e if eight SSDs cover the requirement, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the lower-cost answer. For bulk spinning-disk capacity, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-8-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 8-Bay 3.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e or the LFF R730xd is the right tool. For more than sixteen SFF bays, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730xd-24-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730xd 24-Bay 2.5\" + RFB\u003c\/a\u003e is the platform. And for a production deployment planned to run four or more years, or one that needs iDRAC9 firmware integrity and the H740P's 8 GB cache, the 14th-gen \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740-16-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR740 16-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is worth the step up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom line:\u003c\/strong\u003e the R730 16-Bay 2.5\" is the right buy for a team that needs a dense, write-capable flash node now and is buying on a 13th-gen budget for a two to three year horizon. It is a proven, widely supported platform with plentiful parts, and the dual PERC option gives it a real performance edge in its class. Buyers chasing five-plus year currency, Gen4 NVMe, or hardware-anchored firmware integrity should price the 14th- or 15th-gen alternatives before committing. At quote time we will show R730 16-Bay pricing next to the R740 16-Bay so the cost-versus-longevity tradeoff is in front of you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere the R730 16-Bay Fits in 2026\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 is two Dell generations back: the 15th-gen R650 and R750 (Ice Lake-SP) and the 16th-gen R660 and R760 (Sapphire Rapids) sit ahead of it, and the 14th-gen R740 is its direct successor. That distance is exactly why it is attractive on price, and the platform is still a sound buy when the workload fits inside Gen3 SAS SSD performance and a two to three year support horizon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA word on the generation before it: the 12th-generation R720 that preceded the R730 is end of life. We treat the R730 as the practical floor for a dependable refurbished 2U build today and do not stock or recommend the R720 for new deployments, because parts support and platform currency have fallen too far. If you are weighing a step down for budget reasons, the honest answer is to stay on the R730 rather than reach back another generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStepping forward, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740-16-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR740 16-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e brings DDR4-2933 memory, iDRAC9 with Silicon Root of Trust, the PERC H740P with 8 GB cache, Optane PMem, and BOSS boot. For dense SFF storage you intend to run well past 2028, that is often the right call. For a node you will refresh inside three years, the R730 16-Bay delivers the same density for materially less money.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHonest Limitations\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSixteen SFF bays is the standard-R730 ceiling.\u003c\/strong\u003e For higher per-node SFF density, move to the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730xd-24-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730xd 24-Bay 2.5\" + RFB\u003c\/a\u003e within 13th gen, or the 14th-gen R740xd.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePCIe Gen3 and SAS SSD only.\u003c\/strong\u003e There are no Gen4 lanes and no front NVMe on this platform. For modern NVMe-class IOPS or vSAN ESA, the R730 is structurally limited; that is an R650 or R750 conversation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo BOSS card.\u003c\/strong\u003e Boot consumes a front bay or uses the internal SD module. Plan the boot device into the bay budget up front.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eiDRAC8, not iDRAC9.\u003c\/strong\u003e No Silicon Root of Trust. For firmware-integrity-sensitive environments, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740-16-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR740 16-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the answer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMemory speed steps down at full population.\u003c\/strong\u003e The third DIMM per channel drops RDIMM speed to 1866 MT\/s. Size for either maximum capacity or maximum bandwidth, not both.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDual PERC adds operational complexity.\u003c\/strong\u003e Two independent arrays rather than one. Capacity planning and monitoring tooling have to account for the split.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePower draw under sustained load is real.\u003c\/strong\u003e A maxed-out 16-SSD node with hot CPUs and a GPU can approach the high end of the PSU range. Size the supplies with headroom.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003evSAN HCL for 13th gen is in transition.\u003c\/strong\u003e VMware compatibility on E5-2600 v3\/v4 platforms is winding down. Confirm the vSAN HCL for your target vSphere version at quote time, and we will verify it with you.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSSD rebuild times are measured in hours.\u003c\/strong\u003e Faster than spinning disk, but a 4 TB SAS SSD rebuild under array load can run several hours. Allocate a hot spare at sixteen-drive density.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWorkload Fit\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRight for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eConsider alternatives for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003evSAN OSA hyperconverged nodes at 13th-gen pricing\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEight SSDs are enough (use the R730 8-Bay 2.5\" at lower cost)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDense SAS SSD virtualization hosts, 100-plus VMs\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003evSAN ESA or Gen4 NVMe (use R650 or newer)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSQL Server or PostgreSQL with substantial local SSD\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMore than sixteen SFF bays (use the R730xd 24-Bay)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWrite-intensive arrays using the dual PERC layout\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBulk LFF capacity (use the R730 8-Bay 3.5\" or LFF R730xd)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStorage-heavy converged compute\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFour-plus year horizons or iDRAC9 integrity (use the R740)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere to Look Instead\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLower cost, same platform:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e when eight SFF bays cover the workload.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpinning-disk capacity:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-8-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 8-Bay 3.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e for large LFF NL-SAS drives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaximum 13th-gen density:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730xd-24-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730xd 24-Bay 2.5\" + RFB\u003c\/a\u003e for 24-plus SFF bays, or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730xd-12-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eR730xd 12-Bay 3.5\" + RFB\u003c\/a\u003e for dense LFF with an SSD rear tier.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCross-vendor equivalent:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dl380-g9-2-5-16-bay-chassis\"\u003eHPE ProLiant DL380 Gen9 16-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e, the same Grantley-era 2U platform on HPE's side.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStep up a generation:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740-16-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR740 16-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e for iDRAC9, H740P 8 GB cache, DDR4-2933, and a longer support horizon.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting hardware:\u003c\/strong\u003e the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r530-r540-r730-r730xd-r740-2u-b6-ready-rails-ii-sliding-rail-kit\"\u003e2U B6 ReadyRails II rail kit\u003c\/a\u003e to rack any of the above.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eReady to Configure?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTell us the workload (vSAN, database, virtualization), your target SSD count and capacity, the RAID level, single or dual PERC, CPU and memory sizing, boot method, and networking speed, and we will build the quote around it. For vSAN specifically, share your cluster size, vSphere version, and any existing HCL constraints, and we will verify R730 16-Bay compatibility and size the cache and capacity tiers with you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery Wholesale Servers R730 ships after a 12+ hour burn-in test covering every PCIe slot, every memory channel, and every drive bay, and carries a 180-day warranty with 1-Year, 2-Year, and 3-Year Premium options. Call 1-800-778-1545 or use the quote form on this page, and note that volume pricing applies at 5 units and above.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45951275040967,"sku":"BP-012012","price":270.03,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/4493\/0247\/files\/1800x1200_70.png?v=1765539696"},{"product_id":"dell-poweredge-r730-8-bay-2-5-chassis","title":"Dell PowerEdge R730 8-Bay 2.5\" Drives [13th Gen]","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe refurbished Dell PowerEdge R730 8-Bay 2.5\" is the balanced, general-purpose member of Dell's 13th-generation 2U dual-socket family: eight 2.5\" hot-swap front bays paired with the full 2U budget of PCIe slots, GPU support, and power. It was one of the most widely deployed servers of its generation, and it is the R730 we recommend by default when the goal is a dependable virtualization or application host rather than maximum drive density.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe eight-bay front is the point of this build. Fewer active drives than the 16-Bay means lower power and thermal load, which leaves more headroom for a GPU, extra NICs, or a storage HBA in the 2U chassis. Against the 1U R630, the R730 gives you the slots and PSU range that 1U cannot. Against the 16-Bay, it gives you a lower cost of entry and an easier thermal budget. If you need many spindles per node, the 16-Bay is the better tool; for most everyday workloads, eight fast SFF bays is the right amount of storage and the rest of the chassis goes to expansion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRefurbished here means rebuilt and proven. Every R730 we ship is assembled to your spec and runs a 12+ hour burn-in across every memory channel, every PCIe slot, and every drive bay, and it carries a 180-day warranty with 1-Year, 2-Year, and 3-Year options that cover the period past Dell ProSupport. To talk through a build, call 1-800-778-1545 or use the quote form on this page. Volume pricing applies at 5 units and above.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhen 8 Bays Is the Right Default\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the chassis we reach for first on the R730 platform. Eight SFF bays cover the overwhelming majority of general-purpose virtualization, application-server, and infrastructure roles without paying for density you will not use. Where the 8-Bay earns its place over the rest of the family:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAgainst the high-density build, it costs less and runs cooler, freeing PCIe and thermal headroom for a GPU or extra adapters. If you need more spindles, move to the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-16-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 16-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e, the primary R730 page for dense-SSD configurations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAgainst the 1U platform, it adds up to 7 PCIe slots, GPU support, and higher-wattage PSUs. The 1U \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r630-10-bay-chassis\"\u003eR630 10-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the companion when rack-density is the design driver and you do not need expansion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIf your storage need is bulk spinning-disk capacity rather than SSD bays, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-8-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 8-Bay 3.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e takes large LFF NL-SAS drives instead.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe platform underneath is the same across the family: dual Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 or v4, 24 DDR4 DIMM slots, PERC 13th-gen RAID, iDRAC8, and PCIe Gen3. What this page changes is the framing: eight bays, single PERC by default, and a chassis with room to expand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eStorage - 8 SFF Bays\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEight 2.5\" SAS\/SATA hot-swap front bays, fed by a single PERC controller in the standard build. This is plenty of flash for a general-purpose host, and the single-controller layout keeps the configuration simple. Common builds we ship:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2 SSD boot mirror plus 6 SSD data:\u003c\/strong\u003e the volume production VM-host layout. A mirrored boot pair up front, the rest in a RAID 6 or RAID 10 data set.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIDSDM boot plus 8 SSD data:\u003c\/strong\u003e hypervisor-only build that keeps all eight bays for data. The R730 has no BOSS card, so IDSDM is how we free the front bays on ESXi nodes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e8x 1.92 TB SAS SSD:\u003c\/strong\u003e roughly 11 TB usable at RAID 6 with a hot spare. A strong, well-rounded virtualization datastore.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e8x 3.84 TB SAS SSD:\u003c\/strong\u003e a higher-capacity datastore, around 23 TB usable at RAID 6 with a hot spare.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMixed tier:\u003c\/strong\u003e a boot mirror, a few SAS SSDs for hot data, and a couple of SAS HDDs for cold or log data.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe front backplane is SAS and SATA only, with no native front-bay NVMe on this platform. If you want NVMe, it comes as a PCIe add-in card, which the 2U slot budget makes practical. For dense SSD beyond eight bays use the 16-Bay, and for spinning-disk capacity use the LFF 8-Bay 3.5\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eStorage Controllers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 runs the Dell PERC 13th-generation family from the integrated Mini Mono slot. On an eight-bay build a single controller fronts all eight drives, so controller choice is about cache and workload rather than splitting the array:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H730P (2 GB cache, battery-backed):\u003c\/strong\u003e our production default for write-intensive or transactional local storage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H730 (1 GB cache, battery-backed):\u003c\/strong\u003e a budget step down for read-heavy or modest-write arrays.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H330 (no cache):\u003c\/strong\u003e entry-tier hardware RAID for light workloads only.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHBA330 (pass-through):\u003c\/strong\u003e for software-defined storage stacks (vSAN, Storage Spaces Direct, Ceph, ZFS) that want raw disks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H830 (2 GB cache):\u003c\/strong\u003e for external SAS JBOD enclosures, which the 2U PCIe budget accommodates alongside production NICs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe do not quote the S130 software-RAID option for production; it is a chipset-level dev and test feature. The 8 GB-cache H740P is a 14th-gen R740 part and does not run on this platform, so H730P is the top of the cache ladder here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eProcessors\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDual-socket LGA 2011-3, running Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 (Haswell-EP, 2014) or E5-2600 v4 (Broadwell-EP, 2016), drop-in compatible in the same sockets. Core counts run from 4 up to 22, with TDPs up to 145 W. For a balanced 8-bay host we size to the workload rather than the drive count:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eE5-2640 v4 (10C) or E5-2650 v4 (12C):\u003c\/strong\u003e the sensible middle for general virtualization and app serving.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eE5-2680 v4 (14C \/ 2.4 GHz \/ 120 W):\u003c\/strong\u003e the workhorse when consolidation ratio matters, and our most common recommendation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eE5-2697 v4 (18C) or E5-2699 v4 (22C):\u003c\/strong\u003e for dense consolidation or compute-bound hosts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eE5-2620 v4 (8C):\u003c\/strong\u003e a budget floor for light infrastructure roles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFair warning on cooling: CPUs above 120 W require the high-performance heatsink, and we ship it on any build with a 135 W or hotter CPU. A single-socket R730 is possible but halves your memory channels and PCIe lanes, so for anything beyond a light role we recommend both sockets populated. The eight-bay chassis has a slightly easier thermal budget than the 16-bay, which helps when you pair a top-bin CPU with a GPU.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMemory\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e24 DDR4 DIMM slots, twelve per socket. The Grantley platform gives each E5-2600 v3\/v4 CPU four memory channels, so the slots populate at three DIMMs per channel (3 DPC). That is the architectural difference from the 14th-gen R740, which uses six channels at 2 DPC, and it shapes how speed behaves as the board fills.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTypes:\u003c\/strong\u003e RDIMM and LRDIMM. No Optane PMem on this platform; that arrives with the 14th-gen R740.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCapacity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 768 GB with 32 GB RDIMMs across all 24 slots, up to 1.5 TB with 64 GB LRDIMMs. 128 GB LRDIMMs go higher on v4 CPUs but are expensive and uncommon on the secondary market, so we quote them only on request.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpeed by population:\u003c\/strong\u003e DDR4-2400 on v4 CPUs at one and two DIMMs per channel. Filling the third DIMM per channel steps RDIMMs down to 1866 MT\/s, so the largest 24-DIMM builds trade some bandwidth for footprint. v3 CPUs top out at 2133 MT\/s.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a general-purpose 8-bay host, 128 GB to 384 GB is the typical range; consolidation hosts run higher. We will steer you away from buying speed-grade DIMMs the CPU cannot clock anyway.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNetworking and PCIe Expansion\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNetworking is handled by the Dell rNDC (Network Daughter Card), a mezzanine slot that does not consume a PCIe slot. The rNDC options that show up on R730 units are 4x 1 GbE, 2x 10 GbE plus 2x 1 GbE, and 4x 10 GbE in SFP+ or BASE-T. For a virtualization host we treat 10 GbE as the practical floor and add a 25 GbE PCIe NIC when traffic justifies it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePCIe expansion is the headline advantage of this 2U chassis over the 1U R630. The R730 offers up to 7 PCIe Gen3 slots across three risers depending on riser configuration, in a mix of full-height and low-profile. On an eight-bay build, where the storage controller needs only one slot, that budget is free for real expansion:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA high-speed primary NIC plus a second NIC for storage, backup, or DMZ separation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn external SAS HBA or H830 for a JBOD shelf.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA GPU alongside production networking (covered below).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePCIe NVMe add-in cards for a hot tier, since the front bays are SAS and SATA only.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA Fibre Channel HBA for SAN-attached deployments.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hard ceiling to remember is Gen3: there are no Gen4 lanes on this platform.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGPU Support\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 is one of the few 13th-gen 2U platforms with a real GPU envelope, and the eight-bay chassis is the better host for it than the 16-bay, because fewer drives means more thermal and power headroom for the card. With the GPU-enabling riser, high-performance heatsinks, and higher-wattage PSUs it supports up to two single-width 70 W cards (NVIDIA T4) or one double-width accelerator:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1x or 2x NVIDIA T4 (70 W single-width):\u003c\/strong\u003e inference, light VDI acceleration, and video transcode within the standard thermal envelope.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1x NVIDIA P40 or P100 (double-width):\u003c\/strong\u003e AI and ML at platform-appropriate scale.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1x NVIDIA M60 or M10:\u003c\/strong\u003e legacy VDI graphics acceleration for fleets standardized on these cards.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGPU builds consume PCIe slots and push PSU sizing up, typically to 1100 W. The constraint is thermal, not electrical, so we verify the GPU, riser, and PSU combination at quote time. Modern Ampere and Hopper cards are not supported on this platform; for current-generation GPU work the R740 or R750 are the right hosts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eManagement - iDRAC8 Generation\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 uses iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller. For production we specify iDRAC8 Enterprise for full remote KVM with virtual media, a dedicated management NIC, and agent-free monitoring. iDRAC8 Express is the lighter tier for lab or single-unit use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eiDRAC8 Enterprise:\u003c\/strong\u003e virtual console, virtual media, OpenManage Enterprise integration, and remote firmware management through Lifecycle Controller.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSecurity baseline:\u003c\/strong\u003e a TPM 1.2 or 2.0 module is available for measured boot and compliance frameworks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe honest generational note is the same across the family: iDRAC8 predates Dell's Silicon Root of Trust, which is a 14th-gen iDRAC9 feature. If hardware-anchored firmware integrity is a hard requirement, that is a reason to step up to the R740.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePower and Cooling\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 takes Dell Common Form Factor hot-plug redundant PSUs in 495 W, 750 W (Platinum or Titanium), 1100 W, and 1600 W ratings, in a 1+1 pair. An eight-bay build draws less than a loaded 16-bay, so PSU sizing is driven mostly by CPU choice and whether a GPU is present:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eConfiguration\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePSU recommendation\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEst. peak draw\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLight (single CPU, partial RAM, few SSDs)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2x 495 W Platinum\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~220 W\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBalanced (dual E5-2680 v4, 256 to 512 GB, 8 SSD, 10 GbE)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2x 750 W Platinum\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~420 W\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHeavy (dual high-TDP CPU, full RAM, 8 SSD plus one GPU)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2x 1100 W Platinum\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~750 W\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 750 W PSU covers most non-GPU production builds. Specify 1100 W for any GPU configuration or a fully loaded high-TDP, dense-memory node, and size up rather than run a supply near its ceiling under sustained load.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePhysical Specs and Platform Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eForm factor:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2U rack chassis, roughly 684 mm deep without the bezel and about 715 mm with it. Budget additional depth for the optional cable management arm when planning rack and PDU clearance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePCIe expansion:\u003c\/strong\u003e up to 7 PCIe Gen3 slots across three risers depending on riser configuration, in a mix of full-height and low-profile. The eight-bay build leaves most of that budget free for expansion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eParts availability:\u003c\/strong\u003e excellent. The R730 is one of the most widely deployed 13th-gen platforms, so drives, PSUs, controllers, risers, and fans are plentiful on the secondary market. Dell ProSupport on 13th gen has reached end of service, so third-party maintenance is the standard production support path in 2026.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAccessories we recommend:\u003c\/strong\u003e the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r530-r540-r730-r730xd-r740-2u-b6-ready-rails-ii-sliding-rail-kit\"\u003e2U B6 ReadyRails II sliding rail kit\u003c\/a\u003e for tool-less mounting, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r530-r730-r730xd-security-bezel\"\u003e13th-gen 2U security bezel\u003c\/a\u003e for physical drive security, and the cable management arm for a shared rack rear.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlatform notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e CPU hot-plug is not supported. Hypervisor boot uses IDSDM or a dedicated front-bay mirror, since there is no BOSS card. Six hot-swap dual-rotor fans handle the standard cooling envelope; this is a datacenter-class machine, not an office-deployable one.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Assessment\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere it excels:\u003c\/strong\u003e balanced, general-purpose 2U virtualization and application serving at 13th-gen cost. This is the R730 for dev and test infrastructure that wants a GPU or external storage, CI\/CD build clusters that need a storage HBA alongside fast networking, virtualization hosts where GPU-accelerated VDI is part of the mix, and converged compute where the 2U envelope supports a CPU, a GPU, and storage together. Eight SFF bays is the right amount of flash for these roles, and the freed PCIe and thermal headroom is what makes the chassis genuinely flexible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere to look instead:\u003c\/strong\u003e if 1U rack density is the design driver, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r630-10-bay-chassis\"\u003eR630 10-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the companion. For many spindles per node, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-16-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 16-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the dense-SSD answer. For bulk capacity, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-8-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 8-Bay 3.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e takes LFF drives. And for a four-plus year horizon, iDRAC9 firmware integrity, faster memory, or modern GPUs, the 14th-gen \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR740 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the step up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom line:\u003c\/strong\u003e the R730 8-Bay 2.5\" is the default 2U R730 for a team that wants a flexible, expandable virtualization or app host now and is buying on a 13th-gen budget for a two to three year horizon. It is proven, widely supported, and easy to source parts for, and the eight-bay layout puts the chassis budget where most workloads actually need it. Buyers chasing five-plus year currency, Gen4, or current-generation GPUs should price the R740 or R750 first. At quote time we will put R730 and R740 pricing side by side so the generational decision is grounded in current cost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere the R730 8-Bay Fits in 2026\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R730 is two Dell generations back: the 15th-gen R650 and R750 (Ice Lake-SP) and the 16th-gen R660 and R760 (Sapphire Rapids) sit ahead of it, with the 14th-gen R740 as the direct successor. That distance is what makes it attractive on price, and it remains a sound buy when the workload fits inside Gen3 expansion and a two to three year support horizon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the generation before it: the 12th-generation R720 is end of life. We treat the R730 as the practical floor for a dependable refurbished 2U build today and do not stock or recommend the R720 for new deployments, because parts support and platform currency have fallen too far. If budget is pushing you to look back a generation, the honest advice is to stay on the R730 rather than reach for the R720.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStepping forward, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR740 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e brings DDR4-2933 memory, iDRAC9 with Silicon Root of Trust, the PERC H740P with 8 GB cache, Optane PMem, BOSS boot, and support for modern GPUs. For a host you intend to run well past 2028, that is often the right call; for a node you will refresh inside three years, the R730 8-Bay delivers the same general-purpose capability for materially less.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHonest Limitations\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePCIe Gen3 and SAS\/SATA front bays only.\u003c\/strong\u003e No Gen4 lanes and no native front NVMe. For modern NVMe-class IOPS, this is an R650 or R750 conversation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eiDRAC8, not iDRAC9.\u003c\/strong\u003e No Silicon Root of Trust. For firmware-integrity-sensitive environments, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR740 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the answer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo BOSS card.\u003c\/strong\u003e Boot consumes a front bay or uses the internal SD module. Plan the boot device into the bay budget up front.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGPU support is generation-bound.\u003c\/strong\u003e The platform takes Turing, Pascal, and Volta cards (T4, P40, P100, M60), not Ampere or Hopper. For current GPU workloads it is the wrong host.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAt most two single-width or one double-width GPU.\u003c\/strong\u003e For denser multi-GPU compute, the R730 is undersized.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMemory speed steps down at full population.\u003c\/strong\u003e The third DIMM per channel drops RDIMMs to 1866 MT\/s. Size for either capacity or bandwidth, not both.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA loaded 2U is heavy.\u003c\/strong\u003e A full build with eight SSDs, hot CPUs, full memory, and a GPU is a two-person lift above shoulder height.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOS support is narrowing.\u003c\/strong\u003e Confirm OS compatibility for any deployment horizon past 2026.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWorkload Fit\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRight for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eConsider alternatives for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBalanced 2U virtualization and app serving\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1U rack density is the driver (use the R630 10-Bay)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDev\/test or VDI with a GPU (T4, P40)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModern Ampere or Hopper GPUs (use the R740 or R750)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCI\/CD clusters needing a storage HBA plus fast NIC\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMany spindles per node (use the R730 16-Bay)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eConverged compute with CPU, GPU, and storage in 2U\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBulk LFF capacity (use the R730 8-Bay 3.5\")\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCost-driven 13th-gen builds with parts availability\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFour-plus year horizons or iDRAC9 integrity (use the R740)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere to Look Instead\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDense SSD on the same platform:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-16-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 16-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e for many spindles and dual-PERC sustained writes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpinning-disk capacity:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730-8-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eR730 8-Bay 3.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e for large LFF NL-SAS drives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaximum 13th-gen storage density:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730xd-24-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR730xd 24-Bay 2.5\" + RFB\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r730xd-12-bay-3-5-chassis\"\u003eR730xd 12-Bay 3.5\" + RFB\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1U companion:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r630-10-bay-chassis\"\u003eR630 10-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e when density beats expansion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCross-vendor equivalent:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hp-proliant-dl380-g9-2-5-8-bay-server\"\u003eHPE ProLiant DL380 Gen9 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e, the same Grantley-era 2U platform on HPE's side.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStep up a generation:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR740 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e for iDRAC9, H740P, DDR4-2933, modern GPUs, and a longer support horizon.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting hardware:\u003c\/strong\u003e the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r530-r540-r730-r730xd-r740-2u-b6-ready-rails-ii-sliding-rail-kit\"\u003e2U B6 ReadyRails II rail kit\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eReady to Configure?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTell us your workload, target CPU, memory capacity, drive count and type, RAID level, GPU need (T4, P40, V100, or none), networking speed, and quantity, and we will build the quote around it. If you would like an R730 versus R740 8-Bay comparison at current secondary-market pricing, say so and we will return both with formal numbers so the generational call is informed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery Wholesale Servers R730 ships after a 12+ hour burn-in test covering every PCIe slot, every memory channel, and every drive bay, and carries a 180-day warranty with 1-Year, 2-Year, and 3-Year Premium options. Call 1-800-778-1545 or use the quote form on this page, and note that volume pricing applies at 5 units and above.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45951275073735,"sku":"BP-012011","price":234.02,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/4493\/0247\/files\/server-design-lab-dell-poweredge-r730-8-bay-25-drives-711594.png?v=1765539695"}],"url":"https:\/\/wholesaleservers.com\/collections\/dell-poweredge-r730-servers.oembed","provider":"Wholesale Servers","version":"1.0","type":"link"}