{"title":"Dell PowerEdge R840 Servers","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"570\" data-end=\"990\"\u003eThe Dell PowerEdge R840 is a high-performance 2U rack server designed for mission-critical workloads that demand extreme compute power, massive memory capacity, and enterprise-grade scalability. Featuring a 4-socket architecture with Intel Xeon Scalable processors, the R840 is built to handle the most demanding applications, including large databases, real-time analytics, ERP systems, and high-density virtualization.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"992\" data-end=\"1306\"\u003eWith support for substantial DDR4 ECC memory capacity, the PowerEdge R840 excels in memory-intensive environments where performance and reliability are essential. Its powerful architecture allows businesses to consolidate workloads, reduce latency, and improve overall efficiency across complex IT infrastructures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1308\" data-end=\"1628\"\u003eThe Dell PowerEdge R840 also offers flexible storage configurations with support for high-speed 2.5” (SFF) drives, including NVMe options for accelerated data access. Combined with advanced RAID controllers such as the PERC H730p and H740p, the R840 delivers both performance and data protection for critical operations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1630\" data-end=\"1929\"\u003eIntegrated iDRAC9 management provides full remote control over system monitoring, deployment, and maintenance, helping IT teams streamline operations and minimize downtime. This makes the R840 an excellent choice for enterprise environments that require high availability and centralized management.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1931\" data-end=\"2176\"\u003eAt Wholesale Servers, all Dell PowerEdge R840 servers are fully tested, professionally refurbished, and built to order. Customize your system with the right combination of CPUs, memory, storage, and RAID to meet your exact workload requirements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2178\" data-end=\"2396\"\u003eIf your business demands maximum performance, scalability, and memory capacity in a dense 2U platform, the Dell PowerEdge R840 is a powerful solution built for enterprise-grade workloads and advanced data environments.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"dell-poweredge-r840-8-bay-2-5-chassis","title":"Dell PowerEdge R840 8-Bay 2.5\" Drives [14th Gen]","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Dell PowerEdge R840 8-Bay 2.5\" is the 14th generation 4-socket 2U rack server: the scale-up platform in Dell's 14th gen lineup for workloads that have genuinely exhausted dual-socket compute and memory headroom. Built on the Intel Purley platform with 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable (Cascade Lake) processors, it carries up to four CPUs, up to 6 TB of memory across 96 DDR4 DIMM slots, eight 2.5\" SFF hot-swap bays, up to 8 PCIe Gen3 slots, iDRAC9 management with Silicon Root of Trust, and up to four Dell Flex Slot power supplies. This is the Dell answer for SAP HANA scale-up, Oracle large-instance databases, mission-critical virtualization at extreme VM density, and any application designed to scale vertically rather than horizontally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRefurbished and configured to order. The 8-Bay 2.5\" variant is the standard R840 configuration: maximum 4-socket compute paired with eight SFF bays for OS, application binaries, and hot dataset staging, with primary bulk storage expected on SAN, NFS, or distributed file systems. It is the right starting point for most 4-socket deployments where local storage is a supporting role rather than the main event.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo configure a build, call 1-800-778-1545 or use the quote form below. Every refurbished unit ships under our 180-day warranty with 12+ hour burn-in testing, and volume pricing starts at 5 units. R840 builds benefit from a design conversation early: workload architecture, SAP or Oracle licensing implications, power budget at 4-socket TDP, and thermal validation all matter before hardware selection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere the R840 Fits in the Family\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R840 is a fundamentally different platform from the dual-socket R640 and R740. Where the R740 tops out at 56 cores (28+28) and 1.5 TB of standard memory across 24 DIMM slots, the R840 carries up to 112 cores across four sockets and up to 6 TB of memory across 96 DIMM slots. It is the 14th gen platform for workloads that do not scale horizontally: the workloads where a single OS instance needs to see all the cores and all the memory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBe direct about the 4-socket decision: most enterprise workloads do not require 4-socket servers. The dual-socket R640 and R740 handle the vast majority of virtualization, database, and application serving workloads at materially lower cost and complexity. The R840 makes sense when one of the following is genuinely true:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA specific workload requires scale-up rather than scale-out.\u003c\/strong\u003e SAP HANA on a single certified server. Oracle Database Enterprise where licensing economics favor fewer sockets with more cores each. Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise where per-core licensing makes one high-core-count server cheaper than several smaller ones.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe application is not horizontally scalable.\u003c\/strong\u003e Legacy enterprise applications, in-memory analytics platforms, or single-instance databases that cannot be sharded across nodes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaximum single-chassis memory capacity is a genuine architectural requirement.\u003c\/strong\u003e 6 TB in a 2U chassis is meaningful when the working set has to fit in a single server's RAM.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePer-socket Oracle or SQL licensing creates the right economics.\u003c\/strong\u003e Oracle Database Enterprise charges per physical core; a 4-socket server with 4x 24-core CPUs licenses 96 cores under one server count. The same cores split across two dual-socket servers count as two servers. This is a discussion to have with your Oracle licensing team before committing to architecture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf the workload can distribute across multiple dual-socket nodes without licensing penalty or architectural friction, the R740 is almost always more cost-efficient. The R840 is a precision tool for scale-up requirements, not a default upgrade from the R740. When 8 SFF bays is not enough local storage alongside 4-socket compute, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r840-24-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR840 24-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the higher-density variant of this same platform.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eStorage - 8 SFF Bays\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEight 2.5\" SAS\/SATA hot-swap bays in the front of the chassis. The R840's primary differentiation is compute and memory scale-up, not storage density. Eight SFF bays is correctly sized for the common 4-socket workload pattern: OS, application binaries, and hot dataset staging, with primary data living on SAN, NFS, or a distributed file system. For workloads that need large local storage alongside 4-socket compute, the 24-Bay variant is the right starting point rather than this chassis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrive options span the full 14th gen SFF portfolio: SAS SSDs in mixed-use and read-intensive endurance tiers (480 GB through 7.68 TB), SATA SSDs for cost-optimized boot and OS roles, SAS HDDs at 10K and 15K for moderate-IOPS data, and self-encrypting drive (SED) variants for compliance-regulated deployments. Common R840 8-Bay storage profiles in production:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSAP HANA appliance.\u003c\/strong\u003e A boot pair via BOSS, with the 8 front bays carrying mixed-use SAS SSDs in RAID 10 for HANA log and shared volumes. Primary HANA data volumes mirror to external storage; local SSDs handle log persistence and warm-data staging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOracle Database with ASM on SAN.\u003c\/strong\u003e BOSS for OS plus Oracle Grid Infrastructure binaries, front bays available for local Fast Recovery Area or archive log staging. Primary database storage on Fibre Channel or iSCSI SAN via an FC HBA in PCIe expansion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMission-critical VMware cluster node.\u003c\/strong\u003e BOSS for ESXi boot, front bays unused or populated as a vSAN cache tier. Primary VM storage on a shared SAN datastore. The R840's 4-socket compute drives high VM density per host with the storage layer abstracted by vSphere.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSQL Server Enterprise consolidation host.\u003c\/strong\u003e BOSS for OS, front bays carrying RAID 1 SSD pairs for tempdb and RAID 10 SAS SSDs for log files. Primary SQL data on SAN. Eight bays is sufficient for SQL's local-disk patterns when primary data is networked.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBoot Drives\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBOSS module for boot. Dual mirrored M.2 SATA SSDs on a dedicated PCIe card, hardware RAID 1, cold-swap. It keeps the OS off the front bays, frees all eight front bays for data storage, and provides hardware-mirrored boot redundancy without consuming a front bay or a RAID controller channel. On a platform where the 8-bay storage budget is already tight against scale-up workload patterns, dedicating two front bays to OS mirroring is wasteful. We include BOSS by default on R840 quotes unless you specify otherwise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eStorage Controllers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R840 8-Bay supports the 14th gen PERC family:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H740P (8 GB NV cache, battery-backed).\u003c\/strong\u003e The production storage default for write-intensive or transactional workloads where local storage matters. Full hardware RAID 0\/1\/5\/6\/10\/50\/60. Right pick for SQL Server log files or Oracle redo logs staged on local SSD.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H730P (2 GB cache, battery-backed).\u003c\/strong\u003e A solid general-purpose choice for mixed or read-heavy workloads where the larger H740P cache is not load-bearing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H330 (no cache, entry-tier hardware RAID).\u003c\/strong\u003e For light workloads where the storage layer is not a performance factor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHBA330 (pass-through HBA).\u003c\/strong\u003e For software-defined storage stacks (vSAN, Storage Spaces Direct, Ceph, ZFS). No hardware RAID; clean SAS pass-through. Right pick when the storage abstraction is the hypervisor or distributed file system, not the controller.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eS140 (software RAID via chipset).\u003c\/strong\u003e Acceptable for development and test only. We do not quote S140 for production data on a 4-socket platform.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe H740P NV cache is flash-backed rather than dependent on a battery wear item, which is one of the genuine 14th gen advantages over the 13th gen H730P lineage. For the full PERC controller reference shared across the 14th gen line, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR740 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e page covers the controller family in the dual-socket context.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eProcessors\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUp to four 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable (Cascade Lake-SP) processors in the LGA 3647 Purley platform. Up to 28 cores per CPU across four sockets is up to 112 cores and 224 threads maximum. TDP ranges from the Gold 5000 series through the Platinum 8000 series, roughly 85W to 205W per CPU. The 4-socket configuration uses Dell's CPU expansion design carrying sockets 3 and 4 plus their associated memory; production R840 deployments are almost always 4-socket, because a 2-socket build forfeits the platform's entire value proposition and the R740 does the same job for less.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCPU options we quote for production 4-socket builds:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGold 6230 (20 cores, 125W, DDR4-2933).\u003c\/strong\u003e The common production sweet spot: 80 cores total at 4-socket, a manageable thermal envelope, and balanced single-thread performance. Right pick for general 4-socket virtualization and database consolidation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGold 6248 (20 cores, 150W, DDR4-2933).\u003c\/strong\u003e Higher base frequency than the 6230 at a higher TDP. 80 cores total. Good fit for Oracle and SQL Server where single-thread performance matters within the per-core licensing model.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlatinum 8260 (24 cores, 165W, DDR4-2933).\u003c\/strong\u003e 96 cores total. Our standard maximum-performance specification when core count drives licensing economics.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlatinum 8280 (28 cores, 205W, DDR4-2933).\u003c\/strong\u003e 112 cores total, the maximum core count for the platform. 4x 205W in a 2U chassis is thermally aggressive and requires confirmation of inlet temperature spec and PSU sizing. We validate thermal headroom on every 8280-class quote.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHigh-TDP quad-socket builds require high-performance heatsinks and specific airflow configurations. For CPUs in the upper TDP range, we strongly recommend the high-performance heatsink option to maintain stability under sustained 4-socket loads. All four sockets must carry the same processor SKU; mixed-SKU population is not supported.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMemory\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e96 DDR4 DIMM slots: 24 per CPU socket, six channels per socket at 2 DIMMs per channel. Maximum capacity is 6 TB with 64 GB LRDIMMs across all 96 slots. For SAP HANA and large in-memory database deployments, this single-chassis memory capacity is the primary justification for the R840's cost premium over dual-socket alternatives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMemory speed follows standard Cascade Lake population rules: DDR4-2933 capable DIMMs run at full rated speed at 1 DIMM per channel on supported Gold and Platinum SKUs, and step down to DDR4-2666 at full 2 DPC population. This is the expected behavior, not a defect, and it is the right tradeoff for most workloads: the capacity gain from full population outweighs the one-bin speed reduction except on the most bandwidth-sensitive workloads. For maximum memory bandwidth on SAP HANA and similar bandwidth-bound workloads, populate at 1 DPC (48 DIMMs total, 12 per CPU) and accept the lower capacity ceiling. RDIMM and LRDIMM cannot be mixed, and balanced symmetric population across all four sockets is required for optimum performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOptane Persistent Memory is supported on the Cascade Lake L-series CPUs, which extends the effective memory ceiling well beyond the 6 TB LRDIMM limit for App Direct and Memory Mode deployments. This is the feature that lets a single R840 hold an in-memory dataset that previously required custom hardware. Confirm L-series CPU selection at quote time if PMem is part of the design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNetworking and PCIe Expansion\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDell Network Daughter Card (NDC) mezzanine for primary networking, the same architecture used across the 14th gen line. The NDC does not consume a PCIe expansion slot. NDC options include 4x 1 GbE, 2x 10 GbE plus 2x 1 GbE, 4x 10 GbE, and 2x 25 GbE, chosen by the network fabric the server connects into. Most R840 deployments standardize on 10 GbE or 25 GbE given the workload class.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePCIe expansion is up to 8 PCIe Gen3 slots with all four CPUs populated, with the exact slot map depending on riser configuration. The slot budget is what makes the R840 viable for scale-up workloads that also need substantial I\/O: dual FC HBAs for redundant SAN connectivity, additional NICs for converged or storage networks, and a boot card all coexist. If your design needs more simultaneous high-bandwidth PCIe cards than the 2U R840 riser map can deliver, the 3U \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r940-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR940 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e provides more expansion slots within the same 4-socket platform family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGPU Support\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R840 supports selective GPU acceleration rather than primary GPU compute. The 2U chassis and 4-socket thermal budget accommodate a limited number of single-width accelerators in the right riser configuration, suitable for inference, VDI acceleration, or analytics offload alongside the CPU workload. It is not a GPU training platform: if dense double-width GPU compute is the primary workload, a purpose-built GPU platform is the right answer rather than a 4-socket scale-up server. The honest framing is that GPUs in an R840 ride alongside its CPU and memory workload, they are not the reason to buy the chassis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eManagement - iDRAC9 Generation\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eiDRAC9 Enterprise is the production management baseline, and on a 4-socket mission-critical platform it is rarely optional. It delivers remote KVM, virtual media mounting, predictive analytics, Active Health System telemetry, and full Lifecycle Controller firmware management with OpenManage Enterprise integration. We quote iDRAC9 Enterprise explicitly with any R840 build.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSilicon Root of Trust is standard: a hardware-anchored chain of trust that verifies iDRAC firmware, BIOS, and bootloader against cryptographic measurements. For SAP HANA, Oracle, and SQL Server deployments subject to compliance audit (SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, FedRAMP), Silicon Root of Trust provides documented platform-attestation evidence required in modern compliance frameworks. TPM 2.0 is supported and we recommend including it on every production build. NUMA topology visibility through iDRAC9 is meaningful on a 4-socket platform, where cross-socket memory access carries a latency penalty versus same-socket access; iDRAC9 surfaces the topology data and the workload (hypervisor NUMA scheduling, database affinity settings) does the actual placement. For SAP HANA and Oracle in particular, NUMA tuning is a standard part of production deployment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePower and Cooling\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDell Flex Slot power supplies, with the R840 supporting 2 or 4 PSUs depending on configuration. A fully loaded R840 with 4x Gold 6230 (125W each), 96 DIMMs, and 8 SSDs draws roughly 1,200 to 1,600W at sustained peak. With 4x Platinum 8280 at 205W each, the draw rises toward 1,800W sustained. PSU sizing recommendations by configuration:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2x 1100W Platinum (lower-TDP 4-socket).\u003c\/strong\u003e Adequate for 4x 125W Gold configurations with modest memory and storage. Provides redundancy at the low end of the TDP range.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2x 1600W Platinum (typical production).\u003c\/strong\u003e The standard production redundant configuration for most R840 builds. Provides full 1+1 redundancy across common CPU configurations including 165W Platinum.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e4x 1600W Platinum (maximum redundancy at high TDP).\u003c\/strong\u003e 2+2 redundancy for high-availability builds at 205W Platinum CPU configurations. Required when high availability and high TDP combine.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePower redundancy at 4-socket scale matters more than at dual-socket scale, because the workloads that justify an R840 (SAP HANA, Oracle, mission-critical SQL) are workloads where unplanned downtime carries documented cost. We recommend the redundant PSU configuration on every production R840 build. At 4-socket high TDP, the thermal envelope is real: confirm rack cooling and inlet temperature for the specific CPU SKU at quote time. We validate thermal and power configurations as part of every R840 quote.\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, the same external height as the R640 and R740 but substantially more complex internally to carry four sockets and 96 DIMM slots. Plan chassis depth and cable management arm clearance into the rack layout.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePCIe expansion:\u003c\/strong\u003e up to 8 PCIe Gen3 slots depending on riser configuration, with full-height and low-profile options across the riser map. The 4-socket population is what unlocks the full slot count.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eParts availability:\u003c\/strong\u003e strong. 14th gen launched in 2018 and shares its processor and memory ecosystem with the high-volume R640 and R740, so CPUs, DIMMs, PERC controllers, PSUs, and fans are abundant on the new and refurbished market. Dell ProSupport remains available on the platform.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAccessories we recommend:\u003c\/strong\u003e the BOSS boot card on every production build, and the Dell ReadyRails sliding rail kit for racking. The matching rail kit for this chassis is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r840-static-ready-rail-kit-b15-n1d5c-0n1dc\"\u003eDell PowerEdge R840 2U B15 Sliding Ready Rail Kit\u003c\/a\u003e, which we can include on the quote.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlatform notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e all four sockets must carry identical CPU SKUs; full 96-DIMM population steps memory speed down one bin; high-TDP CPUs require the high-performance heatsink option; and the cable management arm consumes rear clearance worth confirming against rack depth before deployment.\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 The R840 8-Bay is the right answer for genuine scale-up workloads in the 14th gen Dell family. SAP HANA scale-up appliances where the in-memory dataset has to fit in one server. Oracle Database Enterprise consolidation where per-core licensing economics favor fewer sockets carrying more cores. SQL Server Enterprise consolidation onto a single high-core-count license unit. Mission-critical virtualization at extreme VM density where one host with 112 cores and 6 TB of RAM replaces a rack of smaller nodes. These are the workloads where the 4-socket premium pays for itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere to look instead:\u003c\/strong\u003e If the workload distributes cleanly across dual-socket nodes, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR740 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e or the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r640-8-bay-build-your-own\"\u003eR640 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e delivers the same work at materially lower cost. If you need large local storage alongside 4-socket compute, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r840-24-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR840 24-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the right configuration. If multiple high-bandwidth PCIe cards have to coexist with 4-socket compute, the 3U \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r940-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR940 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e adds the expansion the 2U chassis cannot. HPE shops evaluating the equivalent 4-socket 2U platform should look at the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/server-design-lab-hpe-dl560-g10-8-bay-2-5-drives\"\u003eHPE ProLiant DL560 Gen10 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom line:\u003c\/strong\u003e The R840 8-Bay is a purpose-built scale-up server, not a general-purpose enterprise box. Buy it when a specific workload genuinely needs four sockets, maximum single-chassis memory, or per-core licensing consolidation, and buy a dual-socket R740 for everything else. For the customer who has confirmed the scale-up requirement, the R840 8-Bay is the 14th gen Dell platform that delivers it in 2U at a refurbished price point well below the current-generation equivalent. This is the paragraph to put in the procurement justification: four sockets, up to 112 cores, up to 6 TB of memory, validated and burned in, under warranty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere the R840 Fits in 2026\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R840 is the 14th gen 4-socket platform, launched in 2018 on the Intel Purley architecture with Cascade Lake refresh in 2019. It sits two generations behind the 15th gen Ice Lake platforms and three behind the 16th gen Sapphire Rapids and Emerald Rapids platforms. Notably, Dell did not carry the 4-socket-in-2U envelope forward in the same form in later generations, which makes the R840 a distinctive answer for organizations that want 4-socket density in 2U specifically.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is specific to the R840 in 2026: the platform is mature, the workloads it serves have not fundamentally changed (SAP HANA still scales up, Oracle licensing economics still favor fewer sockets with more cores, SQL Server Enterprise per-core licensing still rewards consolidation), and the per-core acquisition cost is meaningfully lower than the current generation for the same workload envelope. For organizations adding 4-socket capacity to existing 14th gen estates where standardization reduces operational complexity, the R840 8-Bay delivers genuine production work at significantly reduced cost. It is not the newest platform and it is not obsolete; it is the correct tool for a specific scale-up pattern when budget is a meaningful design constraint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHonest Limitations\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e4-socket only makes sense for scale-up.\u003c\/strong\u003e A 2-socket R840 is technically supported but rarely the right call; if two sockets are sufficient, the R740 does the same job for less. Do not buy four sockets you will not use.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFull 96-DIMM population drops memory speed one bin.\u003c\/strong\u003e DDR4-2933 capable DIMMs run at DDR4-2666 at full 2 DPC. For HANA or bandwidth-sensitive workloads, populate at 1 DPC (48 DIMMs) for full speed and accept the lower capacity ceiling.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e8 SFF bays is not a storage-dense configuration.\u003c\/strong\u003e This chassis expects primary bulk data on SAN, NFS, or distributed storage. If you need high-density local SSD alongside 4-socket compute, move to the 24-Bay variant.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHigh-TDP 4-socket thermals require validation.\u003c\/strong\u003e 4x 205W Platinum in a 2U chassis is thermally aggressive. Confirm inlet temperature spec, rack cooling capacity, and PDU sizing before deployment. We validate thermal configurations on every quote.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNot a primary GPU compute platform.\u003c\/strong\u003e The PCIe slot map and thermal budget support selective acceleration, not dense GPU training. For GPU-first workloads, a purpose-built GPU platform is the right answer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e14th gen generational caveats apply.\u003c\/strong\u003e PCIe Gen3 rather than Gen4, a DDR4-2933 ceiling, and iDRAC9 rather than the newer management generation. These are expected for the platform's age and are not defects, but they are real if your requirement is current-generation I\/O bandwidth.\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\u003eThis server is right for\u003c\/th\u003e\n    \u003cth\u003eConsider alternatives for\u003c\/th\u003e\n  \u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e✅ SAP HANA scale-up appliances (verify certification)\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e❌ Workloads that scale across dual-socket nodes (use R740)\u003c\/td\u003e\n  \u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e✅ Oracle Database Enterprise large-instance consolidation\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e❌ General-purpose virtualization (use R640 or R740)\u003c\/td\u003e\n  \u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e✅ SQL Server Enterprise per-core consolidation\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e❌ High-density local storage need (use R840 24-Bay)\u003c\/td\u003e\n  \u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e✅ Mission-critical extreme VM density per host\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e❌ Many simultaneous PCIe cards (use R940 8-Bay)\u003c\/td\u003e\n  \u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e✅ In-memory analytics needing 4 to 6 TB single-server RAM\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e❌ Budget-conscious dual-socket-sufficient projects\u003c\/td\u003e\n  \u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e✅ Per-socket licensing economics (Oracle, SQL Server)\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e❌ Primary GPU compute workloads\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\u003eDual-socket is sufficient?\u003c\/strong\u003e The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR740 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the 2U dual-socket workhorse, and the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r640-8-bay-build-your-own\"\u003eR640 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the 1U dual-socket option. Both cost materially less than the R840 and handle most virtualization, database, and application workloads.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNeed high-density local storage with 4-socket compute?\u003c\/strong\u003e The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r840-24-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR840 24-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the same platform with three times the SFF bay count.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNeed more PCIe expansion than 2U allows?\u003c\/strong\u003e The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r940-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR940 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the 3U 4-socket platform with more slots, and the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r940-24-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR940 24-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e combines maximum expansion with maximum SFF storage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHPE shop at the same 4-socket 2U tier?\u003c\/strong\u003e The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/server-design-lab-hpe-dl560-g10-8-bay-2-5-drives\"\u003eHPE ProLiant DL560 Gen10 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the HPE counterpart, same generation and equivalent workload positioning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRacking the server?\u003c\/strong\u003e The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r840-static-ready-rail-kit-b15-n1d5c-0n1dc\"\u003eR840 2U B15 Sliding Ready Rail Kit\u003c\/a\u003e is the matching rail kit for this chassis.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eReady to Configure?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eR840 configurations start with a design conversation. Tell us the workload (SAP HANA, Oracle, SQL Server, virtualization, or in-memory analytics), the licensing context (per-core, per-socket, or ULA), the CPU and core target, the memory target including any Optane Persistent Memory requirement, the storage configuration (local SSD pattern plus external SAN or NFS), PSU redundancy preference, PCIe expansion requirements, and quantity. We respond within 24 hours with a validated configuration including thermal and power-budget confirmation. Every refurbished unit ships with the Wholesale Servers 180-day warranty and 12+ hour burn-in testing, and volume pricing starts at 5 units. Call 1-800-778-1545 or use the quote form below.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45951275237575,"sku":"BP-011940","price":2610.26,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/4493\/0247\/files\/server-design-lab-dell-poweredge-r840-8-bay-25-drives-556643.png?v=1765539695"},{"product_id":"dell-poweredge-r840-24-bay-2-5-chassis","title":"Dell PowerEdge R840 24-Bay 2.5\" Drives [14th Gen]","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Dell PowerEdge R840 24-Bay 2.5\" pairs the 14th generation 4-socket scale-up platform with maximum SFF storage density: twenty-four 2.5\" hot-swap bays in the 2U chassis alongside up to four 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable (Cascade Lake) processors, up to 6 TB of memory across 96 DDR4 DIMM slots, up to 8 PCIe Gen3 slots, iDRAC9 management with Silicon Root of Trust, and up to four Dell Flex Slot power supplies. This is a deliberately specialized configuration: 4-socket compute for scale-up workloads combined with 24-bay SFF storage for database, analytics, or HCI data that lives locally rather than on a SAN.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRefurbished and configured to order. This page focuses on what is specific to the 24-bay variant: when 24 SFF bays alongside 4-socket compute is the right tool, the bay-count-driven workload patterns, and the storage controller and power decisions that change at 24 bays. For the full R840 platform documentation, including the honest framing on when 4-socket compute is and is not the right call, the processor and memory architecture, and the cross-vendor reference, see the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r840-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR840 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e primary R840 page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo configure a build, call 1-800-778-1545 or use the quote form below. Every refurbished unit ships under our 180-day warranty with 12+ hour burn-in testing, and volume pricing starts at 5 units. The 24-bay configuration benefits from extra design discussion: 4-socket compute plus 24 SSDs in 2U is genuinely dense, and the architectural choices have downstream operational consequences worth getting right at quote time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhen 24 SFF Bays Is the Right Combination\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 24-Bay R840 is a deliberately narrow configuration. Most 4-socket workloads (SAP HANA, Oracle Database, mission-critical virtualization, SQL Server Enterprise) do not need 24 local SFF drives. They either use a SAN for primary storage or a smaller number of high-performance local SSDs alongside networked storage, which is exactly what the 8-Bay variant is built for. The 24-Bay earns its place only when both 4-socket compute and high-density local SSD storage are genuine requirements. The specific scenarios:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSAP HANA with a large local SSD persistence layer.\u003c\/strong\u003e HANA in-memory databases benefit from local SSD for log persistence and warm-data tiering rather than depending on SAN latency for log writes. 24 SFF bays alongside HANA-scale memory (up to 6 TB DDR4, more with Optane Persistent Memory on L-series CPUs) enables a complete in-memory plus fast-persistence architecture in a single chassis. The persistence layer fits in the chassis instead of crossing the SAN, which matters for HANA savepoint and log-replay latency.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOracle Database with local ASM diskgroups.\u003c\/strong\u003e Oracle RAC or large-instance Oracle where the design choice is local SSD storage rather than SAN. 24 SAS SSDs in ASM disk groups deliver high IOPS and predictable latency without the SAN dependency. Common when SAN is unavailable, undesirable for cost reasons, or when the database team has standardized on ASM-on-local-SSD.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSQL Server Enterprise with extensive tempdb and log staging on local SSD.\u003c\/strong\u003e Per-core SQL Server licensing economics already favor consolidation on 4-socket compute; pairing with 24 high-endurance SSDs lets the entire tempdb plus transaction log infrastructure live on local SAS rather than crossing the SAN. Datafile-on-SAN plus tempdb-and-logs-on-local-SSD is a documented Microsoft pattern for performance-sensitive SQL Server deployments.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHigh-density VMware vSAN ReadyNode at 4-socket scale.\u003c\/strong\u003e vSAN configurations at 24 SFF bays with 4-socket compute deliver high VM density per host. Fewer, larger HCI nodes reduce vSphere license count (which is per-CPU socket) and rack footprint. The 24-bay R840 is at the high end of the vSAN ReadyNode footprint and works well when the goal is consolidating to the fewest hosts possible.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-memory analytics with a large local hot-data tier.\u003c\/strong\u003e Analytics workloads (in-memory data grids, search hot-tiers) that need both maximum processing capacity (4-socket) and large local SSD datasets that do not fit entirely in DRAM but are too latency-sensitive for SAN. 24 SAS SSDs as a tiered hot-data layer behind in-memory analytics is a meaningful configuration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMicrosoft Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) at 4-socket scale.\u003c\/strong\u003e S2D requires HBA-mode storage and benefits from high drive counts per node for performance scaling. 24 SAS or NVMe SSDs in a 4-socket S2D node delivers a high-density HCI design with the per-node compute headroom to host many workloads.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf either the 4-socket compute or the 24-bay storage capacity is more than the workload actually needs, a different platform delivers better economics. The dual-socket \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740xd-24-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR740xd 24-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e covers high-density storage at lower cost; the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r840-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR840 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e covers 4-socket compute with modest local storage. Pay for both 4-socket and 24-bay only when both are genuine requirements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eStorage - 24 SFF Bays\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwenty-four 2.5\" SAS\/SATA hot-swap bays across the front of the chassis. With the full 24-bay backplane populated, the chassis is dedicated to drive density; plan boot onto BOSS rather than consuming front bays (see the boot subsection below). The 24-bay configuration is built for the workload pattern where primary data lives locally on SSD rather than on a SAN.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrive options span the full 14th gen SFF portfolio: SAS SSDs in mixed-use and read-intensive endurance tiers (480 GB through 7.68 TB), SATA SSDs for cost-optimized roles, SAS HDDs at 10K and 15K for moderate-IOPS data, NVMe SSDs in specific bay positions (see the NVMe section below), and self-encrypting drive variants for compliance-regulated deployments. Per-drive-type mixing is supported subject to controller capability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRAID guidance at 24 SFF bays: RAID 6 is appropriate for capacity-optimized SAS or SATA SSD pools where rebuild windows on individual drive failure need to be tolerated; RAID 10 is appropriate for write-intensive workloads where the 50 percent capacity overhead is acceptable in exchange for write performance and shorter rebuild windows; RAID 50 or RAID 60 across multiple sub-pools balances rebuild scope against usable capacity. We discuss RAID layout in every 24-Bay quote.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBoot Drives\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBOSS module for boot. Dual mirrored M.2 SATA SSDs on a dedicated PCIe card, hardware RAID 1, cold-swap. At 24 bays this is strongly recommended rather than optional: consuming two front bays for OS boot mirroring wastes meaningful storage capacity in a configuration that exists specifically for high-density local SSD. BOSS keeps the OS off the front bays, frees all 24 bays for data, and provides hardware-mirrored boot redundancy without consuming a RAID controller channel. Standard on our 24-Bay R840 quotes unless you specify otherwise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eStorage Controllers at 24-Bay Scale\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 24 SFF bays the storage controller decision matters more than at 8 bays: controller capability, RAID overhead, and write-cache sizing become primary design factors rather than secondary considerations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H740P (8 GB NV cache, battery-backed).\u003c\/strong\u003e The standard production controller for the 24-Bay configuration. The 8 GB flash-backed write cache absorbs burst writes across the larger drive pool, and full hardware RAID 0\/1\/5\/6\/10\/50\/60 covers every layout discussed above. Right pick for traditional hardware RAID across 24 SAS SSDs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H730P (2 GB cache, battery-backed).\u003c\/strong\u003e Supported on the 24-bay configuration, but the 2 GB cache is smaller than ideal for 24 SSDs under heavy write load. Acceptable for primarily read-heavy or moderate-write workloads; for write-intensive workloads the H740P is the better default.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHBA330 (pass-through HBA).\u003c\/strong\u003e For software-defined storage workloads (vSAN, Storage Spaces Direct, Ceph, ZFS) at 24-bay scale. No hardware RAID; clean SAS pass-through to the software layer. Multiple HBAs or specific backplane configurations may be required to present all 24 bays to the storage stack; we spec the right combination at quote time based on backplane configuration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePERC H330 (no cache).\u003c\/strong\u003e Entry-tier hardware RAID. Not appropriate as the primary controller for 24 write-active SSDs; mentioned only for completeness.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe H740P NV cache is flash-backed rather than dependent on a battery wear item, which is one of the genuine 14th gen advantages over the 13th gen H730P lineage and matters most at this drive count where write-cache protection is effectively mandatory. The wrong controller choice at 24 bays produces measurable performance loss under load.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNVMe at 24 Bays\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R840 supports NVMe SSDs in specific front-bay positions with the right backplane and PCIe lane configuration. NVMe at high drive counts requires PCIe lane budget that competes with other expansion, so the NVMe-versus-SAS decision is made at the architecture level rather than as a drop-in choice. Common storage tiering patterns on the 24-Bay R840:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAll SAS SSD (24 bays).\u003c\/strong\u003e The simplest PCIe planning and the right answer for most production workloads. Modern SAS SSD per-drive performance is high enough that the NVMe step-up is not required for the majority of database, analytics, and HCI deployments.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMixed NVMe plus SAS\/SATA.\u003c\/strong\u003e A smaller number of NVMe drives as a high-bandwidth hot tier alongside bulk SAS\/SATA capacity. Appropriate when a specific portion of the dataset (database redo, HCI cache tier) genuinely needs NVMe latency and the rest does not.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor most production 24-Bay R840 workloads, all-SAS-SSD is the right answer: it simplifies PCIe planning meaningfully and delivers the IOPS the workload needs. If NVMe is a genuine workload requirement, we engineer the backplane, riser, and controller combination at quote time and confirm feasibility against the competing PCIe demand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eProcessors\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUp to four 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable (Cascade Lake-SP) processors in the LGA 3647 Purley platform: up to 28 cores per CPU, up to 112 cores and 224 threads across four sockets. TDP ranges from the Gold 5000 series through the Platinum 8000 series, roughly 85W to 205W per CPU. As on the 8-Bay, production 24-Bay deployments are almost always 4-socket; the platform's value is the scale-up compute. The common production CPU choices are the same across the R840 family: Gold 6230 (20 cores, 125W) for balanced 80-core consolidation, Platinum 8260 (24 cores, 165W) for 96-core maximum performance, and Platinum 8280 (28 cores, 205W) for the 112-core ceiling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne chassis-specific note: 24 active SSDs add meaningful thermal load alongside four high-TDP CPUs in 2U. On 205W Platinum builds paired with a full 24-drive backplane, confirm the high-performance heatsink option and validate inlet temperature, because the combined CPU and drive heat load is at the aggressive end of the 2U envelope. All four sockets must carry the same processor SKU; mixed-SKU population is not supported. For the full CPU SKU discussion shared across the platform, see the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r840-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR840 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMemory\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e96 DDR4 DIMM slots: 24 per CPU socket, six channels per socket at 2 DIMMs per channel. Maximum capacity is 6 TB with 64 GB LRDIMMs across all 96 slots, the same memory architecture as the rest of the R840 family. Memory speed follows standard Cascade Lake population rules: DDR4-2933 capable DIMMs run at full rated speed at 1 DPC on supported Gold and Platinum SKUs, stepping down to DDR4-2666 at full 2 DPC population. RDIMM and LRDIMM cannot be mixed, and balanced symmetric population across all four sockets is required for optimum performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the 24-Bay specifically, the memory configuration usually follows the storage-driven workload: SAP HANA builds size memory to the in-memory dataset and use the 24 bays for persistence, while Oracle and SQL builds size memory to the buffer pool and use the bays for datafiles, logs, and temp. Optane Persistent Memory is supported on the Cascade Lake L-series CPUs and is the right tool when the in-memory working set exceeds the 6 TB DRAM ceiling. Confirm L-series CPU selection at quote time if PMem is part of the design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNetworking and PCIe Expansion\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDell Network Daughter Card (NDC) mezzanine for primary networking, which does not consume a PCIe expansion slot. NDC options include 4x 1 GbE, 2x 10 GbE plus 2x 1 GbE, 4x 10 GbE, and 2x 25 GbE. Most 24-Bay R840 deployments standardize on 10 GbE or 25 GbE given the workload class and the local-storage architecture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePCIe expansion is up to 8 PCIe Gen3 slots with all four CPUs populated, depending on riser configuration. On the 24-Bay variant the PCIe budget is more contested than on the 8-Bay, because NVMe backplane lanes (when used), storage HBAs for software-defined storage, and FC HBAs for any SAN tier all draw on the same slot and lane budget. We map the PCIe allocation explicitly at quote time so the storage controller, NVMe lanes, and networking all fit. If the design needs more simultaneous high-bandwidth cards than the 2U riser map can deliver alongside 24 bays, the 3U \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r940-24-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR940 24-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e combines maximum SFF storage with more expansion slots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGPU Support\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs with the 8-Bay, the 24-Bay R840 supports selective GPU acceleration rather than primary GPU compute, and the 24-drive thermal load tightens the budget further. A limited number of single-width accelerators can ride alongside the CPU and storage workload for inference or analytics offload, but a full 24-drive backplane plus four high-TDP CPUs leaves little thermal and slot headroom for GPUs. If GPU compute is a primary requirement, a purpose-built GPU platform is the right answer rather than a storage-dense 4-socket scale-up server.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eManagement - iDRAC9 Generation\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eiDRAC9 Enterprise is the production management baseline and rarely optional on a 4-socket mission-critical platform. It delivers remote KVM, virtual media mounting, predictive analytics, Active Health System telemetry, and full Lifecycle Controller firmware management with OpenManage Enterprise integration. Silicon Root of Trust is standard: a hardware-anchored chain of trust verifying iDRAC firmware, BIOS, and bootloader against cryptographic measurements, which provides the documented platform-attestation evidence required by SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and FedRAMP audits. TPM 2.0 is supported and recommended on every production build. On a 24-drive node, iDRAC9 drive-health telemetry and predictive failure alerting are particularly valuable, because the larger the drive population, the more the operational value of catching a degrading drive before it fails. NUMA topology visibility through iDRAC9 supports workload placement tuning across the four sockets, which is a standard part of SAP HANA and Oracle production deployment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePower and Cooling\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDell Flex Slot power supplies. A fully loaded R840 24-Bay with 4x Gold 6230 (125W each), 96 DIMMs, and 24 SAS SSDs draws roughly 1,500 to 2,000W at sustained peak; with 4x Platinum 8280 at 205W each and NVMe drives, the draw rises further. The 24 active drives add roughly 240W over the 8-Bay's storage draw, which pushes the platform firmly into the high-wattage tier. PSU sizing for this variant:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2x 1600W Platinum (minimum production redundancy).\u003c\/strong\u003e The floor for a production 24-Bay build. Provides 1+1 redundancy for lower-TDP 4-socket configurations with a full drive bay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e4x 1600W Platinum (typical for high-TDP 24-Bay).\u003c\/strong\u003e 2+2 redundancy, the standard choice when high TDP combines with production high availability. Most 24-Bay R840 builds at Platinum CPU tiers land here.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSingle-PSU operation is not appropriate for this variant: a 24-Bay R840 draws 1.5 to 2.0 kW sustained, which is not a production configuration on a single supply. Confirm rack power allocation and PDU circuit capacity before deployment. The thermal envelope is real at 24 drives plus four high-TDP CPUs in 2U; confirm rack cooling and inlet temperature for the specific CPU SKU and drive count. We validate thermal and power budgets, including PDU capacity, as part of every 24-Bay R840 quote.\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, the same external height as the 8-Bay but carrying a 24-drive backplane in the front. Plan chassis depth and cable management arm clearance into the rack layout.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePCIe expansion:\u003c\/strong\u003e up to 8 PCIe Gen3 slots depending on riser configuration, with the budget more contested than on the 8-Bay once NVMe lanes and storage HBAs are accounted for.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eParts availability:\u003c\/strong\u003e strong. 14th gen launched in 2018 and shares its processor, memory, controller, and PSU ecosystem with the high-volume R640 and R740, so component sourcing for both new and refurbished builds is abundant. Dell ProSupport remains available on the platform.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAccessories we recommend:\u003c\/strong\u003e the BOSS boot card on every production build (effectively mandatory at 24 bays to preserve drive capacity), and the Dell ReadyRails sliding rail kit for racking. The matching rail kit for this chassis is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r840-static-ready-rail-kit-b15-n1d5c-0n1dc\"\u003eDell PowerEdge R840 2U B15 Sliding Ready Rail Kit\u003c\/a\u003e, which we can include on the quote.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlatform notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e the full 24-bay backplane dedicates the chassis front to drives (boot belongs on BOSS); all four sockets must carry identical CPU SKUs; full 96-DIMM population steps memory speed down one bin; and 24 active drives plus high-TDP CPUs require thermal validation against rack inlet temperature.\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 The R840 24-Bay is the right answer for the narrow set of workloads that genuinely need both 4-socket scale-up compute and high-density local SSD in one chassis. SAP HANA with a large local SSD persistence layer that keeps log and savepoint traffic off the SAN. Oracle with local ASM diskgroups where the team has standardized on local SSD rather than SAN. SQL Server Enterprise with tempdb and transaction logs on local SSD behind SAN datafiles. High-density vSAN ReadyNode or Storage Spaces Direct consolidation where fewer, larger 4-socket nodes reduce per-socket licensing and rack footprint. These are the deployments where 4-socket plus 24 bays earns the premium.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere to look instead:\u003c\/strong\u003e If 8 SFF bays is enough alongside 4-socket compute, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r840-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR840 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the lower-cost configuration of the same platform. If dual-socket compute is sufficient with 24 bays, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740xd-24-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR740xd 24-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e delivers the storage density at materially lower cost. If you need 24 bays plus more PCIe expansion than the 2U chassis allows, the 3U \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r940-24-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR940 24-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the answer, and the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r940-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR940 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e covers the expansion-first case with fewer bays. HPE shops at the equivalent 4-socket 2U tier should look at the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/server-design-lab-hpe-dl560-g10-24-bay-2-5-drives\"\u003eHPE ProLiant DL560 Gen10 24-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom line:\u003c\/strong\u003e The R840 24-Bay is one of the most specialized configurations in the 14th gen Dell portfolio. Every component (the four sockets, the 24 bays, and the PCIe budget that serves them) needs to be justified by the workload; if any one of them is more than you need, a simpler configuration delivers better economics. For the customer who has confirmed both the 4-socket compute requirement and the high-density local SSD requirement, this is the chassis that delivers both in 2U, validated and burned in, under warranty, at a refurbished price point well below the current-generation equivalent. That is the configuration to put in the procurement justification, alongside the workload that requires it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere the R840 Fits in 2026\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe R840 is the 14th gen 4-socket platform, launched in 2018 on Intel Purley with a Cascade Lake refresh in 2019. It sits two generations behind the 15th gen Ice Lake platforms and three behind the 16th gen Sapphire Rapids and Emerald Rapids platforms, and Dell did not carry the 4-socket-in-2U envelope forward in the same form in later generations. For the 24-Bay variant specifically, that makes it a distinctive way to get 4-socket compute plus high-density local SSD in 2U at a mature, well-understood price point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is specific to this variant in 2026: the workloads it serves (HANA with local persistence, Oracle on local ASM, SQL consolidation, dense HCI) have not fundamentally changed, the component ecosystem is abundant, and the per-core and per-drive acquisition cost is meaningfully below the current generation for the same envelope. For organizations extending existing 14th gen estates with a storage-dense 4-socket node, the 24-Bay R840 delivers genuine production work at significantly reduced cost. It is not the newest platform and it is not obsolete; it is the correct tool for a specific storage-dense scale-up pattern when budget is a meaningful design constraint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHonest Limitations\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpecialized configuration, narrow fit.\u003c\/strong\u003e Buy the 24-Bay only when both 4-socket compute and high-density local SSD are genuine requirements. If either is more than the workload needs, the 8-Bay R840 or the dual-socket R740xd 24-Bay is the better-economics answer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStorage controller choice matters more at 24 bays.\u003c\/strong\u003e The H730P (2 GB cache) is supported but undersized for write-intensive workloads across 24 SSDs. The H740P (8 GB NV cache) is the standard recommendation; the wrong controller produces measurable performance loss under load.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNVMe at scale is PCIe-budget-limited.\u003c\/strong\u003e NVMe beyond a modest hot tier competes with storage HBAs, FC HBAs, and networking for the same PCIe lanes. We engineer this carefully at quote time; it is not a drop-in choice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSingle-PSU operation is not appropriate.\u003c\/strong\u003e The 24-Bay draws 1.5 to 2.0 kW sustained. Take redundant PSUs (2x or 4x 1600W) on every production build.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFull 96-DIMM population drops memory speed one bin.\u003c\/strong\u003e DDR4-2933 capable DIMMs run at DDR4-2666 at full 2 DPC. For HANA or bandwidth-sensitive workloads, populate at 1 DPC and accept the lower capacity ceiling.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e24 drives plus high-TDP CPUs require thermal validation.\u003c\/strong\u003e The combined heat load of a full backplane and four 205W Platinum CPUs in 2U is at the aggressive end of the envelope. Confirm inlet temperature, rack cooling, and PDU sizing before deployment.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e14th gen generational caveats apply.\u003c\/strong\u003e PCIe Gen3 rather than Gen4, a DDR4-2933 ceiling, and iDRAC9 rather than the newer management generation. Expected for the platform's age, not defects, but real if your requirement is current-generation I\/O bandwidth.\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\u003eThis server is right for\u003c\/th\u003e\n    \u003cth\u003eConsider alternatives for\u003c\/th\u003e\n  \u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e✅ SAP HANA with large local SSD persistence layer\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e❌ 8 SFF bays sufficient alongside 4-socket (use R840 8-Bay)\u003c\/td\u003e\n  \u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e✅ Oracle Database with local ASM diskgroups\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e❌ Dual-socket sufficient with 24 bays (use R740xd 24-Bay)\u003c\/td\u003e\n  \u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e✅ SQL Server Enterprise with local tempdb and logs\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e❌ SAN-only storage architecture (use R840 8-Bay)\u003c\/td\u003e\n  \u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e✅ High-density vSAN ReadyNode at 4-socket scale\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e❌ Need more PCIe expansion (use R940 24-Bay)\u003c\/td\u003e\n  \u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e✅ In-memory analytics with large local hot tier\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e❌ Budget-constrained projects\u003c\/td\u003e\n  \u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e✅ Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) at 4-socket scale\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e❌ Primary GPU compute workloads\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\u003e8 SFF bays sufficient alongside 4-socket compute?\u003c\/strong\u003e The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r840-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR840 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the same 4-socket platform at lower cost when the local storage requirement is modest.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDual-socket sufficient with 24 bays?\u003c\/strong\u003e The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r740xd-24-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR740xd 24-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e delivers 24-bay SFF capacity at the dual-socket tier for materially lower cost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNeed 24 bays plus more PCIe expansion?\u003c\/strong\u003e The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r940-24-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR940 24-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the 3U platform combining maximum SFF storage with more slots, and the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r940-8-bay-2-5-chassis\"\u003eR940 8-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e covers the expansion-first case with fewer bays.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHPE shop at the same 4-socket 2U tier?\u003c\/strong\u003e The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/server-design-lab-hpe-dl560-g10-24-bay-2-5-drives\"\u003eHPE ProLiant DL560 Gen10 24-Bay 2.5\"\u003c\/a\u003e is the HPE counterpart, same generation and equivalent positioning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRacking the server?\u003c\/strong\u003e The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dell-poweredge-r840-static-ready-rail-kit-b15-n1d5c-0n1dc\"\u003eR840 2U B15 Sliding Ready Rail Kit\u003c\/a\u003e is the matching rail kit for this chassis.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eReady to Configure?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e24-Bay R840 configurations are specialized enough that we recommend a design conversation before hardware selection. Tell us the workload (SAP HANA, Oracle, SQL Server, vSAN, analytics, or S2D), the licensing context, the CPU and core target, the memory target including any Optane Persistent Memory requirement, the storage architecture (drive type mix, RAID layout, NVMe requirement), controller preference, PSU redundancy preference, PCIe expansion requirements, and quantity. We respond within 24 hours with a validated configuration including thermal, power-budget, and PCIe-budget confirmation. Every refurbished unit ships with the Wholesale Servers 180-day warranty and 12+ hour burn-in testing, and volume pricing starts at 5 units. Call 1-800-778-1545 or use the quote form below.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45951275303111,"sku":"BP-011942","price":3600.36,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/4493\/0247\/files\/server-design-lab-dell-poweredge-r840-24-bay-25-drives-496897.png?v=1765539695"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/4493\/0247\/collections\/poweredge-r840-695287.jpg?v=1765540188","url":"https:\/\/wholesaleservers.com\/collections\/dell-poweredge-r840-servers.oembed","provider":"Wholesale Servers","version":"1.0","type":"link"}