Dell PowerEdge R730 upgrade guide

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Memory (RAM)

What fits

The R730 has 24 DIMM sockets (288-pin DDR4), 12 per processor. Memory must be ECC registered: RDIMM (4 GB and 8 GB single-rank, 8/16/32/64 GB dual-rank) or LRDIMM (64 GB and 128 GB quad-rank). Desktop DDR4 UDIMMs will not work, and DDR3 from the R720 generation is unusable. All memory is in removable slots, none is soldered.

Limits

Maximum speed is 2400 MT/s. With one or two RDIMMs per memory channel you can run at 2400 MT/s; fill all three DIMMs per channel with RDIMMs and the speed drops to 1866 MT/s.

With both processors installed, the maximum is 3 TB (3,072 GB) using 24 x 128 GB LRDIMM. With only one processor, only 12 sockets are live, so the ceiling is 1.5 TB (1,536 GB) — half the board simply goes unused. If you stick to RDIMMs, the maximum is 768 GB with two CPUs or 384 GB with one. The minimum is 4 GB with one CPU and 8 GB with two (at least one DIMM per processor).

What to watch out for

Do not mix RDIMM and LRDIMM in the same system.

Population order matters. Per processor, fill the sockets with the white tabs first, then black, then green. This is the fastest way to get a stable configuration without guessing.

Dell's documents disagree on the top capacity. The spec sheet and the Owner's Manual describe 3 TB with 128 GB LRDIMMs, while an older generation-comparison matrix lists the R730 at 1.5 TB LRDIMM / 768 GB RDIMM, and the Technical Guide (v1.7) only lists LRDIMMs up to 32 GB per module. Treat the lower figures as older documentation: 3 TB requires 128 GB LRDIMMs on a current BIOS, and you should confirm the exact part numbers are supported for your system's service tag before buying large modules. Dell's manuals also disagree on how many LRDIMMs per channel are supported (the Owner's Manual table only shows one or two, the Technical Guide allows three), so keep LRDIMMs to two per channel if maximum speed matters to you.

Buying tips

Buy matched modules (same type, size and speed) and prefer a single vendor kit. Count the processors in the chassis before you buy — one CPU means half your DIMM sockets are dead. If you want full 2400 MT/s, buy DDR4-2400 and stay at one or two DIMMs per channel.

Kauftipps

• Check how many CPUs are installed before ordering DIMMs: one CPU = 12 usable sockets.
• Buy ECC registered DDR4 RDIMM or LRDIMM only; UDIMM/desktop memory will not work.
• Match modules in sets and stay at 2 DIMMs per channel if 2400 MT/s matters.

Storage (drives and bays)

What fits

The chassis ships in one of two layouts and the backplane is chosen at point of sale — it cannot be changed later. An 8 x 3.5" chassis cannot be turned into a 2.5" layout, and vice versa.

2.5" (SFF) chassis: 8 or 16 hot-plug bays, SAS/SATA/NL-SAS. Dell lists SATA and NL-SAS 7.2K drives, SAS 10K/15K drives, SATA SSDs from 60 GB to 800 GB, and SAS 12 Gb SSDs up to 1.6 TB. Documented chassis maximum: 29 TB (16 x 1.8 TB 10K SAS, roughly 28.8 TB).

3.5" (LFF) chassis: 8 hot-plug bays. Supported options are SATA 6 Gb 7.2K (1 to 8 TB), NL-SAS 6 Gb 7.2K (1 to 8 TB), SAS 6 Gb 10K (300 GB to 1.8 TB) and SAS 6 Gb 15K (300 GB / 600 GB), plus SATA SSDs. Documented chassis maximum: 64 TB (8 x 8 TB NL-SAS).

Limits and things to watch out for

Drives need Dell-compatible hot-plug caddies or carriers. Order the caddies with the drives, or make sure the used drives you buy include them.

There are no M.2 slots and no native NVMe U.2 bays in any documented R730 configuration. NVMe storage is only possible through PCIe add-in-card adapters (Dell lists a 500 GB / 800 GB PCIe SSD option), and those cards take up one of the up to 7 PCIe 3.0 expansion slots (there is also a dedicated PERC slot).

Which controller you have matters. Internal options are the PERC S130 (software RAID), H330, H730 and H730P, plus the dedicated PERC slot; external options include the PERC H830 and a 12 Gbps SAS HBA. SAS support depends on the RAID/HBA card and the cabling and backplane, so check what is installed before buying SAS drives.

Dell's documents do not state a drive thickness limit for these bays. Confirm with Dell before buying unusually thick SSDs.

Buying tips

Identify your chassis layout (2.5" or 3.5") first. Match the interface to your controller: SATA SSDs are the simplest upgrade if you just want a faster boot or app drive. If you need NVMe, budget a PCIe slot for an AIC adapter.

Kauftipps

• Confirm the chassis layout before buying: 8 or 16 x 2.5", or 8 x 3.5".
• Order Dell-compatible hot-plug caddies with every drive.
• Check the installed PERC/HBA before buying SAS drives; SATA works on all listed controllers.

CPU (processors)

What fits

The R730 has two processor sockets. Dell's spec sheet and Technical Guide name the socket as LGA2011-3 (socket R3) and the supported families as Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 (Haswell-EP) and Xeon E5-2600 v4 (Broadwell-EP), on the Intel C610 chipset. The v4 generation scales up to 22 cores. If you see listings claiming other Xeon families or a different socket for this model, be careful: Dell's own documents support only the E5-2600 v3 and v4.

Limits and things to watch out for

Fit matching processors. The system is designed for a matched pair, and installing a second CPU also brings the second bank of 12 DIMM sockets to life — a common reason to upgrade.

A v4 (Broadwell-EP) processor needs a BIOS/foundation-level update first. Many second-hand R730s ship with an early BIOS that will only boot v3 (Haswell-EP) chips, so update the firmware while a v3 CPU is still installed, then swap.

Dell's documents here do not state a numeric maximum CPU TDP. Flagship parts in the E5-2699 v4 class are 145 W-class chips, but you should check Dell's validated processor list for your service tag to confirm the supported ceiling before buying a high-power SKU.

Buying tips

Buy a matched pair of the same model. Check the system's BIOS revision before you order v4 chips, and check Dell's validated CPU list for TDP support. If your main goal is more memory capacity, remember that adding a second CPU doubles your usable DIMM slots.

Kauftipps

• Buy a matched pair; a second CPU also activates the other 12 DIMM sockets.
• Update the BIOS before installing E5-2600 v4 chips — many systems ship with v3-only firmware.
• Check Dell's validated CPU list for your service tag before buying high-TDP SKUs.

So rüstest du auf

Bevor du startest

• Back up anything you care about. This applies to drives especially — a new disk or a controller change can wipe data.
• Power the server down and unplug it from the wall. The drive bays are hot-plug, so a drive swap usually does not require a full teardown, but back up first and know your RAID setup.
• Ground yourself against static before touching components or memory.
• Open the case. Dell's Owner's Manual for the R730 shows the exact disassembly steps for your chassis — use it rather than guessing at latches and screws.
• Install the new part: seat DIMMs firmly in the white-tabbed sockets first, slide drives into their hot-plug carriers, or fit the CPU in its socket.
• Close the case, reconnect power and start the server.
• Check that the BIOS/firmware sees the new part — memory total in the system setup, drives in the PERC/HBA utility, processors on the boot screen — and update the BIOS if anything is missing (for example, a v4 CPU).

Schritte

1. Memory upgrade outline
   Back up, shut down and unplug, ground yourself, open the case. Fill the white-tabbed sockets first (white, then black, then green) per processor, keeping to one type (all RDIMM or all LRDIMM) and no more than two modules per channel if speed matters. Close the case, power on and check that the BIOS shows the expected total.
2. Drive upgrade outline
   Back up first, then identify your chassis (2.5" or 3.5") and your RAID/HBA controller. Fit the drive in a Dell-compatible hot-plug carrier and slide it into a free bay; because the bays are hot-plug you often do not need to open the case at all, though you can if you prefer to work on a powered-off system. Ground yourself if the case is open, close it if you opened it, then confirm the controller and BIOS see the new disk and set up your RAID or volume as intended.
3. CPU upgrade outline
   Back up, power off and unplug, ground yourself and open the case. If you are going to an E5-2600 v4 chip, update the BIOS first while a v3 CPU is still fitted. Install a matched pair of Xeon E5-2600 v3 or v4 processors, close the case and boot; check the BIOS shows both processors and update firmware if anything is not detected. Adding the second CPU also activates the remaining DIMM sockets, so this is a good moment to add memory too.

Gut zu wissen

• Dell's documents disagree on the R730's maximum memory: the current spec sheet and Owner's Manual describe 3 TB with 128 GB LRDIMMs, while older materials list 1.5 TB or 32 GB LRDIMM modules. Verify part numbers against your service tag.
• Dell's manuals disagree on how many LRDIMMs per channel are supported (one or two in the Owner's Manual table, up to three in the Technical Guide). Keep to two per channel if maximum speed matters.
• Dell's documents do not state a maximum CPU TDP or a drive thickness limit for the R730; check the validated CPU list and confirm with Dell before buying high-power chips or unusually thick SSDs.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

How much RAM can the Dell PowerEdge R730 take?

Up to 3 TB (3,072 GB) with two processors and 24 x 128 GB LRDIMMs, at up to 2400 MT/s. With only one processor installed, just 12 of the 24 sockets work, so the ceiling is 1.5 TB (1,536 GB). Using RDIMMs instead, the maximum is 768 GB with two CPUs or 384 GB with one. Note that some older Dell documents list 1.5 TB or 32 GB LRDIMMs as the limit — the current spec sheet and Owner's Manual describe 3 TB with 128 GB modules on a current BIOS.

Does the PowerEdge R730 support NVMe or M.2 drives?

No M.2 slots and no native NVMe U.2 bays are documented for the R730. NVMe is only possible through PCIe add-in-card adapters (Dell lists a 500 GB / 800 GB PCIe SSD option), which use one of the up to 7 PCIe 3.0 slots. Standard SATA and SAS SSDs fit the hot-plug bays.

Can I use desktop DDR4 memory in the R730?

No. The R730 requires ECC registered memory: DDR4 RDIMM or LRDIMM only. Desktop UDIMMs will not work, and DDR3 modules from the R720 era are unusable. Also don't mix RDIMM and LRDIMM in one system.

Does the R730 support Xeon E5-2600 v4 processors?

Yes, both E5-2600 v3 (Haswell-EP) and v4 (Broadwell-EP) fit the LGA2011-3 sockets, but a v4 chip needs a BIOS/foundation-level update first. Many second-hand servers ship with early firmware that only boots v3 processors, so update the BIOS before you swap.

Can I convert my 3.5" R730 to 2.5" bays?

No. The backplane is a point-of-sale choice and cannot be changed later. An 8 x 3.5" chassis stays 3.5", and an 8 or 16 x 2.5" chassis stays 2.5". Buy drives to match the layout you have.

What is the difference between the R730 and the R730xd?

They look similar but hold very different numbers of drives. The R730 offers 8 or 16 x 2.5" or 8 x 3.5" bays, while the xd offers up to 24 x 2.5" (plus 2 flex bays) or 16 x 3.5" plus 18 x 1.8" SSD options. Don't assume one model's density limits apply to the other — verify which machine you are buying parts for.

Offizielle Dokumente und Referenzen

• PDF Dell PowerEdge R730 spec sheet (PDF)
  Official specification sheet covering memory, storage, expansion and CPU options.
• PDF Dell PowerEdge R730 and R730xd Technical Guide v1.7 (PDF)
  Detailed technical reference for memory population, drive options and processors.
• Dell PowerEdge R730 Owner's Manual - Memory specifications
  Module types, capacities and speed rules.
• Dell PowerEdge R730 Owner's Manual - System memory
  Memory installation and population order, plus disassembly guidance for the chassis.
• Dell knowledge base - Supported memory configuration guide for PowerEdge servers
  Manufacturer guidance on supported memory configurations.
• PDF Dell server generation comparison matrix (PDF)
  Generation comparison that lists the R730's earlier published memory limits.