The Dell PowerEdge R840, R940, and R940xa servers each offer powerful processing, vast memory, and flexible storage designed for enterprise workloads. Choosing the right model depends on specific workload needs like data analytics, AI, or GPU acceleration, making these servers top choices for business-critical applications requiring reliability and scalability.
What are the main specifications of the Dell PowerEdge R840, R940, and R940xa servers?
The R840 is a 2U rack server supporting up to four Intel Xeon Scalable processors, 6TB DDR4 memory, and up to 26 drives, including 24 NVMe SSDs for fast storage. The 3U R940 offers similar processor and memory specs but supports larger storage configurations with up to 24 NVMe drives and advanced PCIe expansion. The R940xa, a 4U server, excels in GPU acceleration, supporting four double-width GPUs alongside up to 15.36TB memory and expansive storage up to 32 HDDs/SSDs. These specifications make each server tailored for specific enterprise needs.
How do the processors and core counts compare among these server models?
All three servers support up to four 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors with up to 28 cores each, delivering a total of up to 112 cores. The R840 and R940 maintain similar CPU capabilities focused on broad enterprise workloads, while the R940xa leverages these processors combined with specialized GPU and accelerator support for compute-intensive applications. This powerful CPU backbone ensures maximal multi-thread performance across diverse tasks.
What memory and storage configurations do these servers support?
Memory capacity maxes at 6TB DDR4 for the R840 and R940, with support for up to 48 DIMM slots. The R940xa pushes boundaries with up to 15.36TB including Intel Optane DC persistent memory, ideal for real-time analytics and in-memory databases. Storage options vary: the R840 supports up to 26 drives, mostly 2.5” NVMe SSDs; the R940 supports up to 24 NVMe with additional options; and the R940xa offers up to 32 SAS/SATA drives plus NVMe, providing massive internal storage for large data sets.
| Specification | R840 | R940 | R940xa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Processors | 4x Intel Xeon Scalable | 4x Intel Xeon Scalable | 4x Intel Xeon Scalable |
| Max Cores | Up to 112 cores total | Up to 112 cores total | Up to 112 cores total |
| Max Memory | 6TB DDR4 | 6TB DDR4 | 15.36TB DDR4 + Optane PMem |
| Max Drives | 26 (24 NVMe possible) | 24 NVMe, SAS, SATA | 32 SAS/SATA + 4 NVMe |
| Form Factor | 2U | 3U | 4U |
Which use cases and workloads are ideal for each server?
The R840 excels in data-intensive applications like analytics, machine learning, and virtualization within a dense 2U form factor. The R940 is optimized for mission-critical workloads such as ERP, in-memory databases (e.g., SAP HANA), and large-scale virtualization, offering enhanced storage and expansion capabilities. The R940xa is specially engineered for compute-intensive tasks involving GPU acceleration, AI, machine learning, and database acceleration, combining high CPU and GPU density to deliver rapid insights on complex data.
How do GPU and accelerator options differ between the R940 and R940xa?
The R940 supports up to two double-width GPUs or FPGAs, suitable for moderate acceleration needs. In contrast, the R940xa significantly enhances acceleration capacity by offering up to four double-width GPUs or eight single-width FPGAs, ideal for heavy GPU-accelerated workloads like AI training and inferencing. This makes the R940xa a preferred choice when GPU density and acceleration performance are critical to business operations.
How does the Dell OpenManage system enhance management of these servers?
Dell OpenManage streamlines server lifecycle management with intelligent automation and agent-free monitoring. It offers features like hardware health monitoring, firmware updates, and remote management via iDRAC, reducing IT overhead. This portfolio enables enterprises to maintain high server uptime, automate routine tasks, and gain deep insights into server performance across all PowerEdge models including R840, R940, and R940xa.
What security and reliability features are integrated into the R840, R940, and R940xa?
All three servers incorporate advanced security layers including silicon root of trust, secure boot, BIOS recovery, and system lockdowns to protect against firmware and software threats. Redundant hot-swappable power supplies and fans ensure continuous operation. Enterprise-grade ECC memory with persistent memory options and data resilience features minimize downtime and data loss, ensuring mission-critical workloads run securely and reliably.
Why should enterprises consider Wecent for purchasing these servers?
Wecent Technology stands as a reliable global partner for enterprise-class servers, delivering authentic, certified Dell PowerEdge models like the R840, R940, and R940xa. With over 8 years of expertise, Wecent ensures competitive pricing, professional support, and tailored IT infrastructure solutions. Their commitment to quality and customized service across Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America makes Wecent the trusted choice to empower business growth with efficient server deployments.
Wecent Expert Views
“Choosing between the Dell PowerEdge R840, R940, and R940xa hinges on aligning server capabilities with business workload demands. Wecent advises clients to evaluate their core processing needs, memory and storage scalability, and acceleration requirements. For intensive AI or database tasks, the R940xa’s GPU acceleration is unmatched. For versatile general-purpose data centers, the R840 and R940 deliver robust performance and manageability. Wecent’s role is to guide enterprises to the optimal solution by leveraging certified hardware, ensuring seamless integration and scalable growth—all backed by dedicated support for sustained success.”
Conclusion
Selecting the right Dell PowerEdge server depends on workload specifics: the R840 offers a compact powerhouse for data-intensive tasks; the R940 supports large enterprises with mission-critical application needs; and the R940xa is engineered for GPU-accelerated high-performance computing. Leveraging Dell OpenManage and security features ensures operational efficiency and protection. Partnering with Wecent guarantees trustworthy, certified hardware and expert guidance for scalable IT infrastructure. Invest wisely to future-proof your enterprise with these versatile, high-performance Dell servers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which server is best for AI and machine learning?
The PowerEdge R940xa is best suited due to its support for up to four double-width GPUs, boosting GPU-accelerated AI and machine learning workloads efficiently.
Can the R840 handle virtualized environments?
Yes, the R840’s powerful CPU and large memory capacity make it ideal for virtualization and data analytics tasks in dense 2U form factor.
What is the max memory capacity of the R940 server?
The R940 supports up to 6TB of DDR4 memory with 48 DIMM slots, allowing large memory deployments for mission-critical workloads.
How does Wecent support server deployment?
Wecent provides professional consultation, competitive pricing, certified hardware supply, and post-purchase support ensuring smooth server integration and operation.
Is GPU acceleration available on the R940 server?
Yes, the R940 supports up to two double-width GPUs or FPGAs for moderate acceleration needs.