Dell Precision Tower 7810 Upgrade Guide: RAM, Storage and CPU

Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · Written from this device's verified specifications

This guide covers adding memory and storage to the Dell Precision Tower 7810, with a short note on CPUs. The short answer: it takes registered ECC DDR4 only, has no M.2 slot on the board, and has drive bays for 3.5" and 2.5" SATA or SAS drives.

At a glance

  • 8 DIMM slots (4 per CPU), registered ECC DDR4 only; modules of 4, 8 and 16 GB are listed.
  • Slots 5-8 only work if the optional second CPU is installed.
  • Dell's documents disagree on maximum RAM: 128 GB in older manual copies, 256 GB in the current manual and spec sheet.
  • No onboard M.2 slot; NVMe needs Dell's Ultra-Speed Drive or Intel PCIe SSD cards.
  • Two internal bays take 3.5" SATA or 2.5" SATA/SAS drives; SAS needs an optional controller card.
DIMM slots (4 per CPU, DDR4 ECC RDIMM)8 × DDR4 DIMM · up to 128 GB total · 2400 MT/s · registered (RDIMM) · ECC
Internal 3.5" drive bays2 × HDD / SSD 3.5" / 2.5" (SATA / SAS)
External 5.25" bayHDD / SSD 3.5" / 2.5" (SATA)
8 × DIMM · DDR4up to 128 GB totalInternal 3.5" drive bays2 × HDD / SSD 3.5" / 2.5" (SATA / SAS)External 5.25" bayHDD / SSD 3.5" / 2.5" (SATA)
Schematic of the upgradeable slots (not to scale). Check the owner's manual for their exact positions.

Lifecycle and support

A current model: sold new and supported.

2014201620182020202220242026Today11 · Release · 2014
Filled dots: dates published by the manufacturer. Hollow dots: estimates from third-party sources.
MilestoneDate
Release
First available to buy.		 2014 Estimate Inferred from a Dell regulatory datasheet (model D01T, type D01T005) effective 2014-09-12. This is a compliance date, not a published launch date.
Source ↗

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

RAM: registered ECC DDR4 only

The 7810 has 8 full-size DIMM slots, four per CPU. The second bank of four only works if the optional second processor is installed, so a single-CPU machine has half the slots and half the memory bandwidth. Dell's manual lists 4, 8 and 16 GB modules and asks for at least 8 GB per CPU.

Only registered ECC DDR4 (RDIMM) works. Non-ECC and unbuffered modules are not supported, and the system halts with a "Non-ECC DIMMs are not supported on this system" error. RDIMMs and LRDIMMs can't be mixed, all populated channels must have identical configurations, and mixed speeds run at the slowest module's speed.

On maximum capacity, Dell's documents disagree. The current online manual and the spec sheet say 256 GB, while older manual copies say 128 GB. Eight 16 GB modules only add up to 128 GB, and 256 GB would need 32 GB modules, which Dell's module list doesn't include. Treat 128 GB as the safe ceiling. On speed, the manual says 2133 MT/s and the spec sheet says up to 2400 MT/s, which needs Xeon E5-2600 v4 CPUs.

Buying tips

  • Search for registered ECC DDR4 RDIMM, full-size DIMM, not SO-DIMM.
  • Buy matching modules so every populated channel has the same configuration.
  • Stick to 4, 8 or 16 GB modules, the sizes Dell lists.
  • Don't pay extra for 2400 MT/s modules unless your machine has v4 CPUs; v3 CPUs run memory at 2133.
  • Fill the first slots first; the BIOS warns about non-optimal population and says to use white-latch connectors before black-latch ones.

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Storage: drive bays, and NVMe only via add-in cards

There are two internal 3.5" bays. Each takes a 3.5" SATA drive or a 2.5" SAS or SATA drive, so a 2.5" SATA SSD fits. 2.5" SAS drives need an optional LSI controller card. Dell's documents state no drive thickness limit. The single external 5.25" bay takes a 3.5" SATA hard drive, or up to two 2.5" drives with Dell's optional adapter kit. It can alternatively hold a 5.25" device or the optional 19-in-1 card reader.

The board has no M.2 slot. For NVMe you need Dell's optional Ultra-Speed Drive Duo (half-height, x8, two M.2 SSDs) or Quad (full-height, x16, four M.2 SSDs, up to 4 x 1 TB listed), or an Intel PCIe SSD card (half-height, up to 2 x 1.2 TB). Dell doesn't document which M.2 lengths these cards accept. Generic PCIe adapters may work, but Dell doesn't confirm it.

These cards occupy PCIe slots, which graphics cards also want. The manual lists slots 2 and 4 as PCIe 3.0 x16, slot 1 as PCIe 3.0 x8, slot 5 as PCIe 2.0 x4, slot 3 as PCIe 2.0 x1 and slot 6 as legacy PCI.

Buying tips

  • For a simple speed boost, a 2.5" SATA SSD in an internal bay is the easiest route; check you have a mounting bracket or adapter for it.
  • Only buy a SAS drive if you also have, or plan to buy, a compatible controller card.
  • For NVMe, buy Dell's Ultra-Speed Drive card or an Intel PCIe SSD card, and check which M.2 SSD size it accepts before buying the SSD.
  • Count your free PCIe slots first if you also run a graphics card.
  • Adding drives, cards and GPUs can trigger a power supply warning; the machine ships with an 825 W or 685 W unit.

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How to upgrade

Before you start

  • Back up your data and note your current BIOS version.
  • Check what is already installed: how many CPUs, which RAM modules and which drives, so you know which slots and bays are free.
  • Have the Dell owner's manual for the 7810 to hand for exact disassembly instructions.
  • If you plan to fit a Xeon v4 CPU, update the BIOS first (see the FAQ).
  • Prepare a Phillips screwdriver and an anti-static wrist strap or mat.

Steps

  1. Back up and update
    Back up important files. If you are changing the CPU, flash the BIOS first with the old CPU still installed. Suspend BitLocker beforehand if you use it.
  2. Power off and unplug
    Shut the workstation down fully, unplug the power cable and any other cables, then hold the power button for a few seconds to discharge residual power.
  3. Ground yourself
    Work on a clean, flat surface and touch bare metal on the chassis before handling parts. Hold modules and cards by their edges.
  4. Open the case
    Remove the side cover following the owner's manual. Lay the machine on its side if that makes access easier.
  5. Install the part
    For RAM, fill the first slots first, using white-latch connectors before black-latch ones, and use identical modules in every populated channel. For drives, use a free bay and connect the data and power cables. For a PCIe SSD card, seat it fully in a suitable slot. Follow the manual for the exact release and fitting steps.
  6. Close up and reconnect
    Refit the cover, reconnect cables and power on.
  7. Check the BIOS sees it
    Enter BIOS setup and confirm the new memory total, drive or CPU is detected. If the BIOS warns about memory population, recheck the slot order and module matching.

Good to know

  • Dell's documents disagree on maximum RAM (128 GB versus 256 GB); only 128 GB is consistent with the listed 16 GB module size.
  • 2400 MT/s memory speed applies only with Xeon E5-2600 v4 CPUs; check your CPU model and BIOS version.
  • Dell doesn't document which M.2 lengths its NVMe cards accept, and generic PCIe adapters are not confirmed as compatible.
  • Dell's documents don't state a drive thickness limit for the bays.
  • We couldn't find a per-model list of supported CPUs or a maximum CPU power figure; check Dell's support page before buying a CPU, especially for a dual-CPU build with a high-end graphics card on the 685 W power supply.
  • Dell's manual contains small typos, such as writing 3.25-inch where 3.5-inch is meant.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM can the Dell Precision Tower 7810 take?

With 8 slots and the 16 GB modules Dell lists, the safe maximum is 128 GB, and that needs two CPUs. The current Dell manual and spec sheet say 256 GB, but that would need 32 GB modules, which Dell's module list doesn't include. Older manual copies say 128 GB. With one CPU only four slots work.

Does the 7810 support non-ECC or desktop RAM?

No. It needs registered ECC DDR4 RDIMMs. Non-ECC and unbuffered desktop modules aren't supported, and the system will halt with an error if you fit them.

Does the Precision 7810 have an M.2 slot for NVMe SSDs?

Not on the board. NVMe is available through Dell's optional Ultra-Speed Drive Duo or Quad cards, or Intel PCIe SSD cards. Dell doesn't document the M.2 lengths these cards accept, so check before buying an SSD.

What speed does the memory run at?

Dell's manual says 2133 MT/s, while the spec sheet says up to 2400 MT/s. 2400 only applies with Xeon E5-2600 v4 CPUs; otherwise expect 2133.

Can I upgrade the CPU in a Precision 7810?

Yes, the CPUs are socketed. Dell's manual lists two LGA-2011 sockets without naming the variant; Xeon E5 v3 and v4 chips use LGA 2011-3. Dell's spec sheet lists E5-2600 v4 CPUs with up to 22 cores. A v4 CPU needs BIOS A12 or later (A25 is the latest listed), and you should flash it before swapping the CPU. A system with two CPUs halts on a processor type, speed or cache mismatch, so fit matching CPUs. Check Dell's support page or spec sheet for the full list of supported CPUs.

What kind of drives fit in the internal bays?

Each of the two internal bays takes a 3.5" SATA drive or a 2.5" SATA or SAS drive. SAS drives need an optional controller card. Dell doesn't state a drive thickness limit.

Official documents and references

This guide was written with AI assistance from the compatibility data PartsPrices verified against the manufacturer's documents. Always check your exact model and the owner's manual before buying or opening your computer.