Dell PowerEdge T440 Upgrade Guide: RAM, Storage and CPU

Lifecycle and support

No new BIOS, firmware or driver releases are planned, so a newer CPU may not be recognised. Support continues until Dec. 31, 2028 (estimate).

Dates not listed haven't been published by the manufacturer or a reliable third party.

RAM: registered ECC DDR4 only

The T440 has 16 full-size DIMM slots and no soldered memory. It takes only registered ECC DDR4 (1.2 V), either RDIMMs or LRDIMMs. Consumer, unbuffered and laptop SO-DIMM modules won't work. RDIMMs and LRDIMMs can't be mixed in the same server.

Module size depends on the type. RDIMMs go up to 32 GB each, which gives 512 GB with all 16 slots filled. LRDIMMs go up to 64 GB each, and 16 of them give the 1 TB maximum. Some sheets loosely say '1 TB RDIMM', but 1 TB needs LRDIMMs. The minimum is 8 GB on a dual-processor machine, with at least one module per processor.

Speed is set by the CPU as well as the memory. Supported speeds are 1866, 2133, 2400 and 2666 MT/s, and all memory runs at the highest speed that both the CPU and the DIMMs support. Platinum CPUs support up to 2666 MT/s, while Gold and Silver CPUs support up to 2400 MT/s. If you mix DIMM speeds, every channel drops to the slowest module.

CPU1 serves 10 of the slots and CPU2 serves 6. A single-CPU machine probably has only 10 usable slots, which would cap it at about 320 GB with 32 GB RDIMMs. Dell's documents don't state this outright, so confirm it in the owner's manual before buying a full set.

Buying tips

• Check the installed CPU first; it sets the memory speed.
• Buy 2666 MT/s RDIMMs or LRDIMMs, but only one type.
• Match modules where you can. A system may use at most two DIMM types, two capacities and two rank types.
• Fill the largest-capacity modules first, starting at slot A1. The second CPU mirrors the first.
• Aim for at least one module per CPU, and more if you want to use the extra memory channels.

Storage: SAS/SATA bays, optional BOSS and microSD

The front bays come in three configurations: 4 x 3.5 inch, 8 x 3.5 inch, or 16 x 2.5 inch, all SAS/SATA hot-plug, and your server has only one of them. The 2.5 inch layout is available only in the 16-bay chassis. Speeds are up to 12 Gbps for SAS and 6 Gbps for SATA. A compatible RAID or HBA controller is needed. Dell lists PERC H330, H730P, H740P, HBA330 and software RAID S140, and one comparison sheet also lists the H730.

The largest drives Dell lists are 16 TB for 3.5 inch SATA and SAS, 7.68 TB for 2.5 inch SATA SSDs, 3.84 TB for 2.5 inch SAS SSDs and 2.4 TB for 2.5 inch 10K SAS hard drives. Dell's documents don't give drive thickness limits (for example 7 mm vs 15 mm), so check the Installation and Service Manual before buying a 2.5 inch drive.

Dell's documents disagree on the maximum total capacity. The spec sheet says 128 TB with 8 x 3.5 inch drives or 61 TB with 16 x 2.5 inch drives, while a comparison sheet says 56 TB (4 x 3.5 inch), 96 TB (8 x 3.5 inch) and 122 TB (16 x 2.5 inch). They appear to assume different drive sizes, so treat them as examples rather than hard limits.

There are no NVMe drive bays. Fast NVMe storage would need a PCIe adapter card, and we haven't verified which cards work. The server has five PCIe Gen3 slots (x4, x4, x16, x8, x8) plus a dedicated storage-controller slot.

Two optional rear modules may also be present. The BOSS card is a PCIe card holding up to two M.2 SATA or PCIe x1 drives (80 mm or 110 mm) in hardware RAID 1. The drives are not hot-plug, and these are not motherboard M.2 slots. Dell lists 120 GB and 240 GB boot SSDs, and one sheet says 240 GB or 480 GB. The IDSDM/vFlash module takes microSD cards. IDSDM cards come in 16, 32 or 64 GB, while vFlash supports 16 GB only. Used units may lack either module.

Buying tips

• Count your bays and note 3.5 inch or 2.5 inch before buying a drive.
• Buy SAS or SATA drives only, and confirm your RAID/HBA controller supports them.
• For 2.5 inch drives, confirm the thickness your bays accept in the service manual.
• Don't expect NVMe speeds from the front bays.
• For a boot mirror, check that your unit actually has a BOSS card, and buy two matching M.2 drives.

How to upgrade

Before you start

• Check the installed CPU, since it sets memory speed, and note how many CPUs you have.
• Count your front bays and identify whether you have 4 x 3.5 inch, 8 x 3.5 inch or 16 x 2.5 inch.
• Check which RAID/HBA controller is installed.
• Check whether your unit has the optional BOSS card or IDSDM module.
• Download the Installation and Service Manual from Dell for the exact disassembly steps.
• Have an anti-static wrist strap and a clean work area ready.

Steps

1. Back up your data
   Back up anything important before you open the server or change any drives, especially if drives are in a RAID array.
2. Power off and unplug
   Shut the server down properly, then disconnect all power cables, including both cables on a redundant power supply setup.
3. Ground yourself
   Wear an anti-static strap or touch bare metal on the chassis before handling memory, drives or cards.
4. Open the case
   Follow the Installation and Service Manual for removing the cover and any shrouds. We don't cover the exact release steps here.
5. Install the part
   For memory, start with the largest modules in slot A1 and follow the population order in the manual, keeping CPU2's modules matching CPU1's. For drives, use the correct 3.5 inch or 2.5 inch carrier for your bay. For BOSS M.2 drives or microSD cards, follow the manual for the module.
6. Close up and reconnect
   Refit shrouds and the cover, reconnect the cables and power on.
7. Check that the system sees it
   Open the BIOS or system setup and confirm the memory total and speed. Check that new drives appear in your RAID or HBA controller utility. If something is missing, power off and reseat the part.

Good to know

• Dell's documents disagree on maximum storage capacity (128 TB, 96 TB, 61 TB or 122 TB depending on the sheet and configuration), so treat these as examples rather than limits.
• Dell's documents disagree on BOSS boot SSD sizes: 120/240 GB on the spec sheet, 240/480 GB on a comparison sheet.
• Dell's documents don't give drive thickness limits for the 2.5 inch bays; check the service manual.
• The spec sheet describes the processors as 2nd Generation Xeon Scalable with up to 16 cores, while other Dell pages say only 'Intel Xeon Scalable'. We have no confirmed list of compatible upgrade CPUs, so check the installed CPU and consult Dell's documentation before buying one.
• The 10-slot limit on a single-CPU machine is our reading of how the slots are split between CPUs, not a stated Dell figure.
• The BOSS card and IDSDM module are optional and may be missing on used units.
• NVMe via a PCIe adapter card is unverified for this server.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM can the Dell PowerEdge T440 take?

Up to 1 TB with 16 x 64 GB LRDIMMs, or up to 512 GB with 16 x 32 GB RDIMMs. A single-CPU machine probably has only 10 usable slots, but check the owner's manual.

What type of RAM does the T440 use?

Registered ECC DDR4 (RDIMM or LRDIMM) at 1.2 V, up to 2666 MT/s. Unbuffered, consumer and SO-DIMM memory won't work, and RDIMMs and LRDIMMs can't be mixed.

Why is my T440 memory running at 2400 MT/s?

Gold and Silver CPUs support memory only up to 2400 MT/s. Platinum CPUs support up to 2666 MT/s. Mixing DIMM speeds also drops all memory to the slowest module's speed.

Does the T440 support NVMe SSDs?

Dell doesn't describe any NVMe drive bays on the T440. The front bays are SAS/SATA only. An NVMe drive would need a PCIe adapter card, and we haven't verified which cards work.

What is the biggest drive the T440 supports?

Dell lists up to 16 TB for 3.5 inch SATA and SAS drives, and up to 7.68 TB for 2.5 inch SATA SSDs. Dell's documents disagree on the maximum total capacity, so use these as guides rather than limits.

Can I use an M.2 SSD in the T440?

Only through the optional BOSS card, which holds two M.2 boot drives in hardware RAID 1. There are no motherboard M.2 slots, and some units don't have the card.

Official documents and references

• Dell PowerEdge T440 memory specifications
  Slot count, module sizes and maximum memory
• PDF Dell EMC PowerEdge T440 Technical Guide
  Population rules, drive tables, BOSS, IDSDM and PCIe slots
• PDF PowerEdge T440 Spec Sheet
  Memory, drives, controllers and processor summary
• PowerEdge T440 Technical Specifications
  Official specification pages
• PowerEdge T440 Installation and Service Manual
  Exact installation and removal procedures
• PowerEdge T440 documentation resources
  Where to find the T440 manuals
• PDF T440 server generation comparison matrix
  Capacity and controller comparison with the T430