Dell R640 Server

Dense 1U Compute With Enterprise Flexibility

The PowerEdge R640 delivers strong compute performance in a compact 1U chassis ideal for virtualization, databases, cloud infrastructure, and dense rack deployments.

R640 Storage Configurations

The R640 supports compact SFF and NVMe-capable configurations for virtualization, compute, and high-performance storage workloads.

R640 Vs Other Dell 14th Gen Servers

Built-To-Order Refurbished Enterprise Hardware

TekBoost helps businesses source reliable refurbished Dell PowerEdge servers with custom configurations, tested components, and knowledgeable support.

Dell PowerEdge R640 Specifications At A Glance

A quick reference for the R640's core platform capabilities. Exact configuration availability depends on chassis and processor selection.

Dell R640 Processor & CPU Support

The R640 supports up to two Intel Xeon Scalable processors from either the 1st Generation ("Skylake") or 2nd Generation ("Cascade Lake") family, with core counts ranging up to 28 per processor. The two generations should not be mixed within the same system. Because the R640 packs dual-socket compute into a 1U chassis, it's a common choice when rack space is limited but per-socket performance still matters — buyers running dense virtualization or compute-heavy workloads can select higher core-count processors without needing the extra rack unit a 2U platform requires.

Dell R640 Memory & DIMM Configuration

Each R640 has 24 DDR4 DIMM slots (12 per processor) supporting registered ECC memory (RDIMM or LRDIMM), with speeds up to 2933MT/s depending on the installed processor. Populated with LRDIMMs across both processors, the platform supports up to roughly 3TB of total memory — double the memory ceiling of its 13th Generation predecessor, the R630. For most virtualization and application workloads, a mid-capacity RDIMM configuration covers typical VM density; the LRDIMM ceiling matters most for memory-heavy hypervisor consolidation.

Dell R640 Drive Bay & Storage Options

The R640 is available with up to 10 front-accessible 2.5" drive bays (up to 8 of which can be NVMe-capable depending on backplane) or up to 4 front-accessible 3.5" bays for larger-capacity HDDs. Select chassis configurations add up to 2 additional rear-accessible 2.5" bays for boot drives or extra capacity. This is a smaller drive footprint than the storage-focused R740XD, which trades some of the R640's compute density for a much deeper drive bay count — the R640 is built for workloads where compute and memory density matter more than raw local storage capacity.

Dell R640 RAID & Storage Controller Options

Storage controller options on the R640 range from the PERC S140 software RAID controller (SATA drives only, no cache) up through the PERC H330 (hardware RAID, no cache), the PERC H730P (hardware RAID with 2GB cache), and the PERC H740P (hardware RAID with 8GB cache). For virtualization and database workloads where write performance matters, a cached controller like the H730P or H740P is typically worth the upgrade over the entry-level S140 or H330 options.

Dell R640 Networking, PCIe & GPU Considerations

The R640 accepts a network daughter card plus additional PCIe adapters, with daughter card options spanning 1GbE (Intel I350, Broadcom 5720), 10GbE (Intel X540/X550/X710, Broadcom 57412/57800S), and 25GbE (Mellanox ConnectX-4). PCIe expansion is more limited than on 2U platforms like the R740 — the R640 offers up to 3 PCIe Gen3 slots depending on riser configuration, enough for additional NICs, a Boss card, or HBAs, but with less room for large expansion cards. Dell's platform documentation for the R640 references support for low-profile, single-slot GPUs in select riser configurations; TekBoost's own R640 configurator does not currently list a GPU add-on, so buyers with a specific GPU requirement should confirm compatibility with the chassis and riser before ordering.

Dell R640 iDRAC9 Remote Management

The R640 includes Dell's iDRAC9 out-of-band management controller, a generation ahead of the iDRAC8 found on Dell's 13th Generation platforms including the R630. iDRAC9 gives administrators remote console, virtual media, monitoring, and firmware-update access independent of the installed OS. iDRAC9 ships in Express and Enterprise license tiers — Express covers basic remote management, while Enterprise adds full remote console and more granular configuration, useful when managing a rack of dense 1U compute nodes.

R640 Vs R630: Is The Newer Generation Worth It?

The R630 is the R640's direct 13th Generation predecessor, also built around a dual-socket 1U chassis but using Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3/v4 processors and iDRAC8 instead of the R640's Xeon Scalable processors and iDRAC9. Both platforms offer similar front-bay drive flexibility, but the R640 roughly doubles the maximum memory ceiling (up to 3TB versus the R630's 1.5TB) and adds 25GbE networking options that weren't available on the R630. The R630 remains a proven, lower-cost 1U platform on the refurbished market for buyers who don't need the newer processor family or the higher memory ceiling. Neither platform is universally better — the choice comes down to how much the newer generation's memory ceiling and processor performance matter for your workload versus budget.

R640 Vs R740: Density Or Balance?

The R640 and R740 share the same Xeon Scalable processor family, DDR4 memory architecture, and iDRAC9 management, but differ in chassis size and what that space is used for. The R640's 1U footprint fits twice as many servers in the same rack space as the 2U R740, making it the stronger choice for dense virtualization or compute clusters where rack space is at a premium. The R740 trades that density for more front drive bays, more PCIe expansion room, and more headroom for GPU or accelerator use. Choose the R640 when rack density and per-socket compute matter most; choose the R740 when the workload needs more local storage or expansion flexibility than a 1U chassis can provide.

R640 Lifecycle & Refurbished Buying Context

Dell does not publish a fixed end-of-life or end-of-support date for PowerEdge servers, but as a 14th Generation platform first released in 2017, the R640 is a mature, well-established compute platform with a large installed base and strong parts availability on the refurbished market. It remains a solid choice for virtualization, cloud infrastructure, and database workloads where rack density is a priority. Buyers who need the newest hypervisor certifications or the highest per-core performance should look at a 15th or 16th Generation platform instead; for most dense compute workloads, the R640's 1U footprint and Xeon Scalable performance still hold up well.

Dell PowerEdge R640 Questions