Dell PowerEdge R840 Servers

The Dell PowerEdge R840 is a powerful, 4-socket, 2U rack server engineered for demanding, data-intensive workloads requiring extreme compute density, massive memory capacity, and scalable storage. Purpose-built for real-time analytics, in-memory databases, machine learning, and enterprise-scale virtualization, the R840 provides the performance and configurability that mission-critical environments demand. With support for up to four Intel Xeon Scalable processors and expansive memory and I/O bandwidth, the R840 enables organizations to accelerate time-to-insight and drive data-driven outcomes. Designed with high availability, dense compute power, and simplified management in mind, it is an ideal solution for high-performance applications such as SAP HANA, SQL Server, and Oracle. Whether deployed in a private cloud, data warehouse, or analytics cluster, the R840 offers exceptional performance, agility, and reliability.

Performance

The Dell PowerEdge R840 supports up to four 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, each offering up to 28 cores (112 cores total), providing extreme parallelism for compute-heavy operations. With up to 48 DIMM slots and Intel Ultra Path Interconnect (UPI) for faster inter-CPU communication, it delivers top-tier performance for real-time transactional and analytical processing. The server supports Intel AVX-512 instructions, optimized for vector-intensive workloads like simulations, financial modeling, and machine learning. High CPU thermal design power (TDP) support (up to 205W per processor) ensures the R840 is optimized for sustained, peak performance. Its robust architecture delivers consistent compute output for large virtual machine clusters, ERP systems, and in-memory data platforms.

Memory and Scalability

The R840 features 48 DDR4 DIMM slots, supporting up to 6TB of memory using LRDIMMs or up to 3TB with RDIMMs, with speeds up to 2933 MT/s. This massive memory footprint is ideal for memory-bound workloads such as SAP HANA, where high-capacity, low-latency memory is crucial. The server supports NVDIMMs and Intel Optane Persistent Memory, extending usable capacity and ensuring data persistence during outages. The memory architecture is designed for large-scale virtualization, enabling consolidation of databases and applications on fewer systems. The ability to scale memory as data volume increases future-proofs the platform for evolving enterprise workloads.

Storage Flexibility

The Dell PowerEdge R840 provides multiple storage options to balance capacity, performance, and redundancy:

• Supports up to 24 x 2.5” SAS, SATA, or NVMe SSDs/HDDs
• Optional configurations with 12 NVMe drives for ultra-low latency and high throughput
• Boot-optimized storage subsystem (BOSS) for redundant M.2 drives
  

PERC RAID options (H740P, HBA330, or HBA355i) allow for advanced redundancy, while hot-swappable drive bays enable seamless maintenance. These capabilities make the R840 suitable for high-speed data warehousing, low-latency applications, and scalable virtual storage infrastructure. The system’s flexibility also supports tiered storage strategies to optimize performance and cost.

I/O and Expandability

The R840 offers excellent expandability with up to 6 PCIe Gen 3.0 slots, enabling integration of high-speed network adapters, NVMe expansion kits, and GPUs. It supports up to 2 full-height double-width GPUs (like NVIDIA Tesla), making it viable for AI training, deep learning, and HPC use cases. The server includes flexible I/O options with LOM, NDC (Network Daughter Card), and OCP NIC 3.0 form factors for up to 25GbE connectivity. For environments with high data transfer needs, this provides the bandwidth required to keep up with real-time demands. The modular I/O also allows IT to customize based on workload and budget constraints.

Virtualization and Workload Optimization

Designed to run a wide range of enterprise-class applications, the R840 excels in dense virtualization scenarios. Its high core density and memory capacity allow for hosting hundreds of VMs or containerized applications with low overhead. It's fully compatible with platforms like VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Red Hat Virtualization, supporting hyperconverged infrastructure deployments. The server’s performance profile also makes it suitable for database clustering, AI inferencing, and business intelligence workloads. Whether used in a core data center or private cloud, the R840 ensures workload consolidation without sacrificing performance.

Management and Automation

The Dell PowerEdge R840 comes standard with iDRAC9 with Lifecycle Controller, providing robust remote management and automation capabilities. Dell OpenManage Enterprise centralizes administration across multiple systems, streamlining updates, health monitoring, and configuration compliance. iDRAC’s RESTful API (Redfish) and scripting support allow for seamless integration into DevOps and IT automation workflows. Secure provisioning, firmware rollbacks, and proactive alerting help reduce human error and service disruptions. With zero-touch deployment and real-time telemetry, the R840 delivers a smarter, simpler operational experience for administrators.

Energy Efficiency

Despite its compute density, the R840 is engineered for power and thermal efficiency with support for high-efficiency Platinum-rated redundant power supplies (750W, 1100W, or 1600W). Smart cooling features dynamically adjust fan speeds based on real-time workload and thermal demands. Dell’s thermal-aware architecture and air shrouds optimize airflow within the 2U chassis, preventing hot spots. These efficiency features reduce power consumption and lower operational costs—critical in high-density environments. The server also supports power monitoring and capping through iDRAC9 for greater control over energy usage.

Reliability and Availability

The R840 is built for mission-critical uptime, featuring hot-swappable fans, drives, and power supplies, along with support for redundant hypervisor boot via BOSS or dual SD cards. Predictive failure analysis, fault-resilient memory, and embedded diagnostics proactively detect and alert on system anomalies. Secure Boot, BIOS recovery, and Dell’s Cyber Resilient Architecture enhance firmware integrity and protect against malicious code. Optional Dell ProSupport services provide 24x7 support, onsite assistance, and automated case creation via SupportAssist. These features make the R840 highly resilient for enterprise deployments where downtime is not an option.

Key Features at a Glance:

• Compute Power: Supports up to 4 Intel Xeon Scalable CPUs, up to 28 cores each (112 total)
• Memory Capacity: Up to 6TB DDR4 ECC memory across 48 DIMM slots, with Intel Optane support
• Storage Options: Up to 24 x 2.5” drives (SATA/SAS/NVMe); BOSS for boot optimization
• I/O Expandability: 6 PCIe Gen 3 slots; supports 2 GPUs or 25GbE networking
• Virtualization Ready: Ideal for dense VM hosting, SAP HANA, and analytics workloads
• Management Tools: iDRAC9, OpenManage Enterprise, REST APIs, secure remote management
• Energy Efficiency: Dynamic cooling, Platinum PSUs, and thermal-aware chassis design
• Reliability: Redundant power, fans, RAID, Secure Boot, fault-tolerant memory, and ProSupport options
  

Business Value

The Dell PowerEdge R840 delivers uncompromising performance and density for enterprises running large, complex, and mission-critical workloads. It combines massive compute power with memory-rich architecture and flexible I/O to support real-time analytics, AI inferencing, high-frequency trading, and in-memory databases. The R840’s efficient 2U footprint allows businesses to scale up infrastructure without expanding rack space or power usage. With advanced management, security, and availability features, it enables organizations to minimize risk, reduce downtime, and optimize IT operations. For any business pursuing insight at scale and performance without compromise, the R840 is a strategic data center investment.