Dell PowerEdge R740xd 24-Bay 2.5" NVMe Drives
Dell PowerEdge R740xd 24-Bay NVME
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Select up to 24 drives
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If you are planning to add-on a GPU, we recommend selecting the highest TDP power supply to ensure optimization
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Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0)
The Dell 14th Gen 2.0 Trusted Platform Module (TPM) enhances security with hardware-based encryption, secure authentication, and platform integrity, ensuring data protection for Dell 14th Gen servers.
Dell BOSS Card
Designed to be the operating system boot drive, Boot Optimized Storage Solution (BOSS) is a discrete PCIe card that supports up to two M.2 SSD drives
The R740xd 24-Bay NVMe is Dell's maximum-density native NVMe platform in the 14th-generation 2U lineup — twenty-four 2.5" hot-swap bays connected directly to the CPU's PCIe lanes via a purpose-built NVMe backplane. This is not a SAS/SATA backplane with NVMe cards retrofitted — every bay is native NVMe, every drive connects at full PCIe bandwidth without controller overhead. At 24 bays, this platform enables NVMe cluster configurations that are otherwise only achievable with dedicated all-flash array appliances, at enterprise server economics.
We deploy this configuration for the most demanding storage performance requirements in the R740 family: large vSAN all-flash deployments running vSAN ESA architecture, NVMe-oF disaggregated storage targets serving high-concurrency compute clusters, and database platforms where sub-100 microsecond latency across a large drive population is a measured SLA. If NVMe performance at scale is the requirement, this is the platform.
Important architectural note: Native NVMe at 24 bays requires significant PCIe bandwidth. The platform manages this through PCIe bifurcation across multiple root complexes — but additional PCIe expansion cards (NICs, HBAs, GPUs) compete for the same PCIe bandwidth budget. We validate PCIe lane allocation for every 24-bay NVMe configuration before quoting. Do not assume your preferred expansion card combination is automatically compatible — let the quote process verify it.
Processors
Dual 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable (Cascade Lake). For NVMe-intensive deployments, CPU selection is more critical than on spinning disk configurations — NVMe drives connect directly to CPU PCIe lanes and high-IOPS storage workloads consume CPU cycles for I/O completion processing that a SAS HBA would otherwise handle in hardware. Gold-tier processors with 20+ cores are our standard recommendation: Gold 6230 (20 cores, 125W), Gold 6248 (20 cores, 150W), or Platinum 8260 (24 cores, 165W) for maximum NVMe throughput capacity.
High-TDP heatsink and fan requirement for processors above 150W applies — the 24-bay NVMe configuration generates significant heat from drive activity and requires correct chassis thermal management.
Memory
24 DDR4 DIMM slots. For NVMe workloads at this scale, memory is a critical design variable. vSAN ESA with 24 NVMe drives has specific memory reservation requirements per disk group — calculate these before finalizing DIMM count. For NVMe-oF storage targets, the host memory stack that manages NVMe namespaces and fabric connections has meaningful overhead at 24-drive scale. We include memory sizing validation for every NVMe configuration we quote.
Optane PMem is supported and particularly interesting alongside NVMe storage: PMem in App Direct mode provides a persistent memory tier above NVMe SSDs — useful for database log volumes, write-ahead logs, and caching architectures that need durability without the latency of NVMe writes.
Storage — 24 Native NVMe Bays
Twenty-four U.2 NVMe SSDs on a purpose-built NVMe backplane. Drive selection has significant implications for performance, endurance, and cost:
- Mixed-use NVMe (1–3 DWPD): For vSAN cache tier drives, write-intensive database storage, and any configuration with sustained write workloads. Do not use read-intensive drives for cache tier or write-heavy workloads — the endurance mismatch causes premature wear that isn't always visible until drives begin failing.
- Read-intensive NVMe (0.1–1 DWPD): For vSAN capacity tier, read-dominant database storage, object storage capacity tiers, and any configuration where writes are infrequent. Lower cost per TB than mixed-use drives with equivalent read performance.
- Capacity NVMe (high capacity, read-intensive): Newer high-capacity NVMe SSDs (up to 15 TB per drive in enterprise U.2 format) enable 24-bay configurations approaching 360 TB raw — at NVMe latency. This is the configuration for deployments where both capacity and NVMe performance are requirements that previously required multiple separate appliances.
NVMe endurance assessment on refurbished units: Every NVMe drive in a refurbished configuration is assessed for remaining endurance using SMART data and vendor tooling. We do not ship drives with significant endurance consumption without full disclosure and pricing adjustment. This is a non-negotiable part of our NVMe refurbishment process.
BOSS module: Mandatory. All 24 bays for NVMe data storage.
RAID / Storage Management
NVMe drives in this chassis connect directly to CPU PCIe lanes — traditional PERC RAID controllers do not manage NVMe backplane drives. Redundancy must be managed at the software layer:
- VMware vSAN ESA / OSA: vSAN manages NVMe drive redundancy through storage policies. HBA330 or equivalent pass-through for any SAS/SATA auxiliary drives — the NVMe backplane connects directly without a controller intermediary.
- Software RAID (ZFS, mdraid): For Linux-based NVMe-oF targets or object storage deployments managing redundancy at the software layer.
- NVMe-oF target software: SPDK, nvmet, or vendor-specific NVMe-oF target stacks manage drive access and fabric presentation for disaggregated storage architectures.
Networking
At 24 NVMe drives, the network is almost certainly the first bottleneck in any client-facing deployment. A single modern NVMe SSD can saturate a 10 GbE link — 24 drives simultaneously could generate throughput that exceeds 100 GbE if the workload pattern allows it. Our recommendations:
- Dual-port 25 GbE SFP28: Minimum viable for vSAN all-flash nodes in production deployments.
- Dual-port 100 GbE QSFP28: Our recommendation for NVMe-oF targets and high-concurrency vSAN clusters where network bandwidth must keep pace with storage performance.
- 200 Gb/s InfiniBand HDR: For NVMe-oF deployments requiring maximum fabric bandwidth and RDMA capability. Contact us for InfiniBand NIC availability and configuration at quote time.
Power Supplies
2x 1600W Platinum required for fully-populated 24-NVMe configurations. NVMe drives at 24-unit population draw approximately 150–240W steady-state (6–10W per drive depending on model and load state), plus CPU and memory draw. Total system draw at full load: 1000–1300W depending on CPU TDP selection. 1600W PSUs with redundant configuration provide appropriate headroom.
Our Assessment
The R740xd 24-Bay NVMe occupies a specific and compelling position in the market: enterprise server economics with dedicated all-flash appliance NVMe drive density. It is not a general-purpose server with NVMe bolted on — it is a purpose-built NVMe storage platform that also runs a full enterprise compute stack. The workloads that justify this configuration are specific and demanding: large-scale vSAN ESA deployments, NVMe-oF disaggregated storage in high-concurrency compute environments, and databases where latency at scale is a measured business requirement.
If your workload needs NVMe performance at 24-drive scale, this is the refurbished platform to evaluate. If you need fewer NVMe drives, the R640 10-Bay NVMe or R740xd at lower bay counts may provide a more cost-effective solution for your specific requirements.
Where to look instead:
- Fewer NVMe drives needed? → R640 10-Bay NVMe or R740xd at lower bay count
- Need SAS/SATA flexibility? → R740xd 24-Bay 2.5" SAS/SATA
- Need PCIe Gen4 NVMe? → R750xa (contact us for availability)
Workload Fit
| This server excels at | Consider alternatives for |
|---|---|
| ✅ VMware vSAN ESA all-flash at scale | ❌ Fewer than 12 NVMe drives needed |
| ✅ NVMe-oF disaggregated storage targets | ❌ Hardware RAID for all volumes |
| ✅ High-concurrency NVMe database platforms | ❌ PCIe Gen4 NVMe performance (use R750xa) |
| ✅ Sub-100μs latency at 24-drive scale | ❌ LFF capacity or SAS/SATA flexibility needed |
Ready to Configure?
24-bay NVMe configurations start with a design conversation — PCIe lane allocation, vSAN architecture (ESA vs. OSA), drive endurance selection, network fabric sizing, and power budget all require validation before hardware ships. Contact our account team with your NVMe workload requirements, target drive count, fabric architecture (vSAN, NVMe-oF, software RAID), and quantity. We return a validated configuration and formal pricing within 24 hours.
Dell PowerEdge R740xd 24-Bay NVME
24-Bay NVME
Choose Processor
Clock Speed
1.80 GHz Up To 3.00 GHz
Core Count
8
Thread Count
16
Cache
11 MB
Clock Speed
2.10 GHz Up To 3.00 GHz
Core Count
8
Thread Count
16
Cache
11 MB
Clock Speed
2.60 GHz Up To 3.00 GHz
Core Count
4
Thread Count
8
Cache
8.25 MB
Clock Speed
2.20 GHz Up To 3.00 GHz
Core Count
10
Thread Count
20
Cache
13.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.10 GHz Up To 3.00 GHz
Core Count
12
Thread Count
24
Cache
16.50 MB
Clock Speed
2.10 GHz Up To 3.20 GHz
Core Count
8
Thread Count
16
Cache
11 MB
Clock Speed
2.20 GHz Up To 3.20 GHz
Core Count
10
Thread Count
20
Cache
13.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.40 GHz Up To 3.20 GHz
Core Count
10
Thread Count
20
Cache
13.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.20 GHz Up To 3.20 GHz
Core Count
12
Thread Count
24
Cache
16.50 MB
Clock Speed
2.40 GHz Up To 3.50 GHz
Core Count
12
Thread Count
24
Cache
16.50 MB
Clock Speed
2.50 GHz Up To 3.50 GHz
Core Count
8
Thread Count
16
Cache
11 MB
Clock Speed
2.10 GHz Up To 3.20 GHz
Core Count
16
Thread Count
32
Cache
22 MB
Clock Speed
2.40 GHz Up To 3.20 GHz
Core Count
10
Thread Count
20
Cache
13.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.30 GHz Up To 3.20 GHz
Core Count
12
Thread Count
24
Cache
16.50 MB
Clock Speed
2.20 GHz Up To 3.20 GHz
Core Count
14
Thread Count
28
Cache
19.25 MB
Clock Speed
2.60 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
12
Thread Count
24
Cache
19.25 MB
Clock Speed
3.40 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
6
Thread Count
12
Cache
19.25 MB
Clock Speed
2.10 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
16
Thread Count
32
Cache
22 MB
Clock Speed
2.60 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
14
Thread Count
28
Cache
19.25 MB
Clock Speed
3.20 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
8
Thread Count
16
Cache
24.75 MB
Clock Speed
3.00 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
12
Thread Count
24
Cache
24.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.00 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
20
Thread Count
40
Cache
27.50 MB
Clock Speed
2.30 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
18
Thread Count
36
Cache
24.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.60 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
16
Thread Count
32
Cache
22 MB
Clock Speed
3.50 GHz Up To 4.20 GHz
Core Count
8
Thread Count
16
Cache
24.75 MB
Clock Speed
3.20 GHz Up To 4.20 GHz
Core Count
12
Thread Count
24
Cache
24.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.40 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
20
Thread Count
40
Cache
27.50 MB
Clock Speed
2.70 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
18
Thread Count
36
Cache
24.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.10 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
22
Thread Count
44
Cache
30.25 MB
Clock Speed
3.00 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
18
Thread Count
36
Cache
24.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.70 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
12
Thread Count
24
Cache
19.25 MB
Clock Speed
2.10 GHz Up To 4.00 GHz
Core Count
26
Thread Count
52
Cache
35.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.10 GHz Up To 3.90 GHz
Core Count
20
Thread Count
40
Cache
27.50 MB
Clock Speed
2.60 GHz Up To 3.90 GHz
Core Count
18
Thread Count
36
Cache
24.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.10 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
22
Thread Count
44
Cache
30.25 MB
Clock Speed
2.80 GHz Up To 3.90 GHz
Core Count
16
Thread Count
32
Cache
22 MB
Clock Speed
3.10 GHz Up To 4.10 GHz
Core Count
20
Thread Count
40
Cache
35.75 MB
Clock Speed
3.60 GHz Up To 4.40 GHz
Core Count
8
Thread Count
16
Cache
24.75 MB
Clock Speed
3.40 GHz Up To 4.20 GHz
Core Count
16
Thread Count
32
Cache
24.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.50 GHz Up To 3.90 GHz
Core Count
20
Thread Count
40
Cache
27.50 MB
Clock Speed
3.00 GHz Up To 4.00 GHz
Core Count
24
Thread Count
48
Cache
35.75 MB
Clock Speed
3.90 GHz Up To 4.50 GHz
Core Count
8
Thread Count
16
Cache
35.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.70 GHz Up To 4.00 GHz
Core Count
28
Thread Count
56
Cache
38.50 MB
Clock Speed
3.10 GHz Up To 4.00 GHz
Core Count
18
Thread Count
36
Cache
24.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.10 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
24
Thread Count
48
Cache
35.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.00 GHz Up To 2.80 GHz
Core Count
16
Thread Count
32
Cache
22 MB
Clock Speed
2.10 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
24
Thread Count
48
Cache
33 MB
Clock Speed
2.00 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
26
Thread Count
52
Cache
35.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.70 GHz Up To 3.70 GHz
Core Count
24
Thread Count
48
Cache
33 MB
Clock Speed
2.50 GHz Up To 3.80 GHz
Core Count
28
Thread Count
56
Cache
38.50 MB
Clock Speed
2.40 GHz Up To 3.90 GHz
Core Count
24
Thread Count
48
Cache
35.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.90 GHz Up To 3.90 GHz
Core Count
24
Thread Count
48
Cache
35.75 MB
Clock Speed
2.70 GHz Up To 4.00 GHz
Core Count
28
Thread Count
56
Cache
38.50 MB
Choose Storage
Condition
New
Capacity
1TB
Drive Type
NEW NVME U.2 SSDs
Condition
New
Capacity
2TB
Drive Type
NEW NVME U.2 SSDs
Condition
New
Capacity
4TB
Drive Type
NEW NVME U.2 SSDs
Condition
New
Capacity
8TB
Drive Type
NEW NVME U.2 SSDs
Choosing Memory for Your Dell PowerEdge R740xd
Fill all 24 slots. This is our standing recommendation on the R740xd and we push it hard. There are two benefits. The first is performance: full population at 2 DPC keeps all twelve memory channels working at maximum depth, and on memory-bandwidth-sensitive workloads it consistently outperforms a partial population running at higher clock. On a storage node the memory is not idle either; vSAN, Ceph, ZFS, and Storage Spaces Direct all lean on RAM for caching and metadata, and every one of them performs better with room to breathe. The second is cost per gigabyte: 24 smaller modules hit the same capacity for meaningfully less than 12 larger ones, and 768 GB as 24× 32 GB is the best cost per GB in the lineup. We know the instinct is to leave a few slots open for a later upgrade, and on paper that is sensible. In practice it rarely plays out well. One year from now you are hunting for DIMMs that match the rank and speed of what is already in the box, and a mismatch either clocks the whole server down or refuses to train. The server is in production by then, so adding memory means a maintenance window you have to schedule and justify. Buy the capacity now, in one matched set. 384 GB (24× 16 GB) for a backup target or archive node where storage, not compute, is the job 768 GB (24× 32 GB) is our default for a vSAN, Ceph, or Storage Spaces Direct node, and for any host mixing storage with real VM duty 1.5 TB (24× 64 GB) for dense consolidation on top of the storage role Past 1.5 TB you are into 128 GB LRDIMMs, which reach 3 TB but cost substantially more per GB. Most buyers are better served by a second node.
Choosing Your iDRAC License
The R740xd ships with iDRAC9 either way; the license determines what you can do with it remotely. The dividing line is the remote console. iDRAC9 Enterprise gives you full remote KVM and virtual media, meaning you can reach the server's screen, mount an ISO, and rebuild an OS from anywhere, even when the operating system is down. Express does not include the remote console, so any problem below the OS level means walking to the rack. Our recommendation: Enterprise, and on a storage node it is closer to mandatory than optional. An R740xd typically holds a cluster's data, sits in a datacenter or colo, and gets touched rarely; that is exactly the profile where remote console, virtual media, and automated firmware updates earn their keep. Enterprise also adds two-factor authentication and secure erase, and secure erase matters on a chassis that will retire holding two dozen drives of company data. Express is the right call only when the server sits down the hall and someone can physically reach it without ceremony. If you are deploying 5 or more units, take Enterprise on all of them. Fleet management without remote console access does not work in practice.
Choosing Your R740xd Power Supply
Every option here is a dual hot-swap redundant pair, so redundancy and serviceability are already handled. The only decision is wattage, and on the R740xd the drive count moves the math more than the CPUs do. A fully loaded spinning-disk chassis is the case to plan for: two dozen drives add hundreds of watts on their own, and spinning drives pull their peak current at spin-up, exactly when the server is also busiest bringing everything else online. 2x 750W covers moderate builds: mainstream CPUs with a partially populated backplane or an all-flash configuration, where per-drive draw is lower. 2x 1100W is our default for this chassis. A dual Gold build with a fully populated spinning-disk backplane lands comfortably inside it, with the 50 percent load target intact. 2x 1600W and above is for top-bin CPUs with every bay spinning, or any configuration adding GPUs to the storage role. Two rules of thumb from our deployments. Size for roughly 50 percent load at your expected peak: a PSU running at half capacity runs at peak efficiency, runs cooler, and lasts longer than one working near its limit. And when your build sits between two tiers, size up; the price step is small. Watch the estimated TDP counter at the bottom of the page as you add components to see where your build lands. One planning note: if more drives are coming later, size the PSU for the full backplane now. Drives arrive in twos and threes; a PSU swap is a second shipment.
Save Your Design
Click the Add to Quote button at the bottom of your screen to save your design as a draft order for future reference and to check for discounts, lead time, and availability. Most servers ship within 1-3 days.
