Dell PowerEdge R840 Rack Server | Features & Price

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Bottom line:

Dell EMC introduced this four-socket PowerEdge server for intensive artificial intelligence and machine learning environments. The R840 is particularly well suited for in-database analytics using ML capabilities. If your business leverages logistics chains and intensive database analytics, this unit could be for you.

To boost performance even higher, Dell Precision Optimizer uses ML technology to optimize individual application configurations, which significantly accelerates the R840’s in-database analytics performance.  

The Dell EMC PowerEdge R840 rack server turbocharge data analytics using a small footprint with a dense 2U design. This server helps to accelerate business insights and deliver consistent results for demanding applications.

The hardware is backed up by a 4-socket world record benchmark score on the two-tier SAP SD standard application benchmark. Its large memory capacity makes it ideal for data-intensive workloads, in-database analytics, high frequency trading, CPU virtualization, and workload acceleration.

A low starting price makes it attractive, but users will pay a lot more for a fully loaded version. That said, it’s a good candidate for demanding applications in enterprise environments.

Product description:

The Dell EMC PowerEdge R840 rack server offers a small footprint with high socket performance. The recent addition of up to 24 direct-attached NVMe drives maximizes performance and minimizes latency. That makes it a good choice for demanding workloads. A 3.5x faster response time is a big improvement on the previous generation. It has enough juice, too, for rapid data transfers via a fully integrated ultra-path interconnect (UPI).  

This Dell server has 62% more 2.5” drives than its previous version. It is the first PowerEdge 4 socket 2U Server to support 2 double width GPUs or 2 FPGAs to accelerate workloads and offer fully connected UPI crossbar CPUs to further speed performance.  It also offers up to 12 NVDIMMs.

Features:

Number of processors:

Up to two

Processors supported:

Up to four Intel Xeon Scalable processors

Cores per processor:

Up to 28

Maximum processor frequency/cache:

Intel Xeon Platinum 8180M Processor, 2.5GHz, 38.5MB

I/O expansion slots:

Up to 6 PCIe Gen3 slots, (4 x 16 slots or 2 x 16 + 4 x 8 slots)

Maximum memory/# slots/speed:

48 DDR4 DIMM slots, supports RDIMM /LRDIMM, up to 2666MT/s, 6 TB max

Maximum Persistent Memory:

Up to 12 NVDIMMs, 384GB Max

Storage controller:

Internal Controllers: PERC H730P, H740P, H330 Software RAID (SWRAID) S140

Boot Optimized Storage Subsystem: HWRAID 2 x M.2 SSDs 120GB or 240 GB

External PERC (RAID): H840

12Gbps SAS HBAs (non-RAID): External-12Gbps SAS HBA (non-RAID), Internal- HBA330 (non-RAID)

Support:

Dell’s ProSupport suite, and support tools such as SupportAssist and TechDirect offers:

• Priority access to ProSupport engineers 24×7.
• Automated support with SupportAssist.
• Designated Technology Service Manager.
• Same and next business day onsite support after remote diagnosis.

“Loading new firmware is easy via Dell OpenManage. Technical support has been very good. The self-service portal for requesting replacement parts is extremely easy to use and it is fast. For technical support tickets, the experience isn’t quite as good. There were some delays in communication,” said a Systems Architect at an insurance firm.

“You quickly log your support case and get support. The turnaround time is really fast,” said a Pre-sales Engineer at an managed services provider.

Key markets and use cases:

The R840 is designed to drive demanding, data-intensive workloads with powerful, four-socket performance and large memory. It delivers exceptional performance density for in-database analytics.

The R840 is ideal for data analytics, HPC like high frequency trading, CPU virtualization and workload acceleration.

Price:

Starting price is $8,549