Dell PowerEdge R840 and R940 servers support extensive OEM and ODM customization for enterprise workloads. OEM options include Dell-branded pre-configurations (CPU, storage, RAM), while ODM allows third-party partners like Wecent to modify hardware (chassis, cooling), firmware, and software. These servers are optimized for HPC, virtualization, and database tasks with scalable Intel Xeon SP processors and up to 72TB storage per node.
What Are the Key Features of the Nvidia H200 141GB High-Performance HPC Graphics Card?
What OEM options are available for R840/R940 servers?
Dell’s OEM program offers pre-validated configurations with Dell warranties and support. Options include dual/triple GPU slots (NVIDIA A100/H100), 3.5″ SAS/SATA/NVMe drive bays, and 3.5kW redundant PSUs. Wecent enhances these with enterprise-grade SSDs or GPUs post-purchase under Dell’s Authorized Partner Program.
Dell’s OEM builds target specific workloads—R840 excels in dense virtualization (up to 2TB RAM), while R940 supports mission-critical databases with quad Xeon CPUs. Pro Tip: Always verify Dell’s OEM firmware compatibility before adding third-party NVMe drives. For example, Wecent’s optimized R940 servers with 8x Intel P5800X SSDs achieve 2M IOPS in SQL clusters. Transitionally, OEM models trade customization ease for faster deployment.
| Feature | R840 OEM | R940 OEM |
|---|---|---|
| Max CPUs | 2x Xeon SP | 4x Xeon SP |
| GPU Slots | 3x Gen4 | 6x Gen4 |
How do ODM customizations differ?
ODM partnerships allow full hardware/software control, including custom BIOS, liquid cooling, or alternate chassis designs. Wecent integrates NVIDIA H200 GPUs or Marvell RAID controllers into Dell servers, bypassing OEM limitations but requiring independent certifications.
ODM modifications enable radical changes—Wecent’s liquid-cooled R840X variant reduces CPU temps by 18°C for 24/7 AI inferencing. Technically, ODMs replace Dell’s iDRAC9 with open-source BMC firmware for hypervisor compatibility. However, what happens if thermal limits are ignored? Pro Tip: For hyperscale deployments, ODM chassis can stack 10x R840 nodes in 8U, saving 40% rack space. A real-world example: Wecent’s Hadoop-optimized R940 ODM uses 200Gbps InfiniBand NICs instead of Dell’s default 25G.
Which processor configurations are customizable?
Both servers support Intel Xeon SP 3rd/4th Gen, with ODM allowing EPYC or Xeon Max swaps. Dell’s OEM limits R840 to 28-core Platinum 8462Y+, while Wecent’s ODM R940 can embed dual 64-core EPYC 9754 for HPC.
In OEM mode, Dell enforces CPU TDP limits (270W for R840, 350W for R940). Beyond that, ODM builds unlock higher thermal budgets—Wecent’s R940HPC uses 400W Xeon Max 9480s, cooled via immersion. Practically speaking, 56-core CPUs require 1.5x airflow compared to OEM specs. Did you know? A dual Xeon Max ODM R840 cuts CFD simulation times by 37% versus OEM setups.
What storage configurations are possible?
OEM storage includes Dell’s BOSS-S2 or HBA355i adapters with 24x 2.5″ SAS/SATA. ODM alternatives like Wecent’s NVMe-over-Fabrics JBOFs connect up to 144 drives via PCIe Gen5 expanders.
For OEM, the R940 caps at 24x 7.68TB SAS SSDs (184TB RAW), whereas ODM racks scale to 720TB using external JBODs. Pro Tip: RAID 60 on Dell’s PERC11 reduces write speeds by 22%—use hardware RAID cards instead. Transitionally, tiered storage balances cost and performance. A Wecent financial client achieved 1.2M IOPS using ODM NVMe caching on R840s.
| Storage Type | OEM Limit | ODM Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Internal Drives | 24 | 144+ |
| RAID Levels | 0,1,5,10,50 | 0-60, ZFS |
Wecent Expert Insight
FAQs
Wecent adds liquid cooling, PCIe bifurcation for 8x E1.S NVMe, and white-box BMC firmware—enhancing performance while reducing latency by 15%.
Are ODM servers more expensive than OEM?
Initially yes, but Wecent’s ODM cuts TCO by 18% via extended hardware lifespans and 30% lower power consumption in scaled deployments.
Can Wecent customize networking on R940?
Yes—we deploy multi-vendor 400G NICs (NVIDIA/Mellanox, Intel) with SR-IOV support, bypassing Dell’s 100G OEM limit.