The Dell PowerEdge 14th generation is the DDR4, Intel Xeon Scalable family that includes the R640, R740, R740xd, R440, R540 and the T440 and T640 towers. Choose the R640 for dense 1U compute, the R740 for 2U compute with room for expansion, the R740xd for drive-heavy storage, and the R440 or R540 when 16 memory slots are enough.
Why buyers still choose 14th generation PowerEdge
The 14th generation is widely deployed, so parts, spares and matching systems are easy to find. It runs 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors on DDR4 memory. That makes it a practical choice for three groups:
- Teams expanding an existing estate. Matching the model keeps firmware, management and spares consistent.
- Labs, test and disaster recovery sites. A refurbished 14th generation server gives two sockets and up to 3 TB of memory without the cost of a current platform.
- Buyers past OEM warranty. Out-of-warranty fleets are often kept running with refurbished spares.
If you need DDR5 memory, look at the 16th generation (for example the PowerEdge R660) instead.
The models at a glance
All figures below come from Dell technical guides and spec sheets held in our catalog.
| Model | Form factor | Sockets | Memory slots | Max memory | Front drive bays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R440 | 1U rack | 2 | 16 | 1 TB | Up to 10 x 2.5in |
| R540 | 2U rack | 2 | 16 | 1 TB | Up to 12 x 3.5in, plus 2 x 2.5in rear |
| R640 | 1U rack | 2 | 24 | 3 TB | Varies by chassis |
| R740 | 2U rack | 2 | 24 | 3 TB | Varies by chassis |
| R740xd | 2U rack | 2 | 24 | 3 TB | Up to 12 x 3.5in or 24 x 2.5in |
| R740xd2 | 2U rack | 2 | 16 | 1 TB | Storage-dense chassis |
| T440 | Tower (5U rackable) | 2 | 16 | 1 TB | Up to 8 x 3.5in or 16 x 2.5in |
| T640 | Tower | 2 | 24 | 3 TB | Varies by chassis |
Every model in the table uses DDR4 memory and 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors.
How to choose between them
R640: 1U, full memory
The R640 packs two sockets and 24 memory slots into 1U. It suits virtualization hosts, databases and application servers where rack space matters more than drive count. Its 24 slots match the R740, so a mixed R640 and R740 cluster can often use the same memory part numbers.
R740: 2U compute and expansion
The R740 has the same sockets and memory as the R640, in 2U. The extra height generally leaves more room for PCIe cards and cooling. Choose it when you need several network adapters or more drives than a 1U chassis holds.
R740xd: 2U storage
The R740xd keeps the R740 compute platform and adds a drive-focused front end: up to 12 x 3.5in or 24 x 2.5in hot-plug bays. It is the usual choice for software-defined storage, backup targets, file servers and hyperconverged nodes. If you need even more large drives in 2U, the R740xd2 is the storage-dense variant, with 16 memory slots and 5 expansion slots.
R440 and R540: lower cost, 16 slots
The R440 (1U) and R540 (2U) have two sockets and 16 memory slots, with up to 1 TB of memory. They suit branch servers, light virtualization and storage that does not need the full 24-slot platform. The R540 takes up to 12 x 3.5in front drives plus 2 x 2.5in rear drives, which makes it a lower-cost option for bulk storage.
T440 and T640: towers
The T440 and T640 are tower versions for offices without a rack. The T440 mirrors the 16-slot platform and supports up to 8 x 3.5in or 16 x 2.5in drives with 5 expansion slots. The T640 matches the 24-slot platform with up to 3 TB of memory. The T440 is listed as rackable (5U).
Single-socket options
For light workloads, the single-socket R340 (1U) and T340 (tower) use Intel Xeon E-2100 series processors (the R340 also takes E-2200) with 4 memory slots and up to 64 GB of memory.
Components for 14th generation servers
Dell support lists in our catalog name these parts for 14th generation models. Always confirm against your exact chassis.
| Part | Dell lists it for |
|---|---|
| BOSS boot controller card 403-BCHD | R240, R340, R440, R540, R640, R740, R740xd, T140 |
| Broadcom 57414 10/25GbE 2-port 540-BDHY | R440, R540, R640, R740, R740xd and later models |
| Intel X710-T2L 10GBASE-T 2-port 540-BCSC | R340, R440, R740, R740xd and later models |
| Intel E810 10/25GbE 4-port 540-BDDQ | R640, R740, R740xd and later models |
| 10GbE SFP+ LR transceiver 407-BBZV | R440, R540, R640, R740, R740xd, T440, T640 and others |
| 1100W DC power supply 5G4WK | R640, R740xd, R740xd2 and others |
| HBA355e external SAS HBA 405-AAZY | R440, R540 and later models |
For internal RAID, the PERC H740P is available as a mini card (405-AANL) and as an adapter (405-AAMX), both with 8 GB cache and 12Gb SAS/SATA. See our PERC RAID controller guide for how to pick between mini and adapter cards.
Refurbished buying checklist
A refurbished 14th generation server is only as good as its configuration. Check these points before you send a request.
- Chassis and drive backplane. The same model ships in several front-bay layouts. A 2.5in chassis cannot take 3.5in drives. State the bay count and size you need.
- Processors. Two sockets need two matching processors. Confirm the model, core count and power rating, as higher-wattage processors may need specific heatsinks and fans.
- Memory. Populate both processors evenly. Our server memory guide explains channels, ranks and mixing rules.
- Storage controller. Decide between a RAID controller (PERC) and a non-RAID HBA, and whether you need a BOSS card for a mirrored boot drive.
- Network. Note the onboard network option and any extra adapters, plus the optics or DAC cables for each port.
- Power supplies. Two hot-plug supplies give redundancy. Match the wattage to the processors, drives and cards you install.
- Rails and bezel. Ask for rails if the server goes into a rack. They are easy to forget and slow to source later.
- Firmware and management. Ask whether firmware is updated and which remote management license level is installed.
Condition matters most for drives. Read new vs refurbished vs used for what to ask about each part type.
How to request pricing
Send the model, chassis layout and the parts list as one RFQ. If you have a spreadsheet or a Dell configuration printout, attach it. If you need a model or option we do not list, use Source a Part. Browse all rack servers, tower servers or Dell products. We reply with pricing and availability within 1 business day.
FAQ
Is the R740xd the same server as the R740?
They share the same two-socket platform, 24 memory slots and 3 TB memory limit. The R740xd adds a storage-focused front end with up to 12 x 3.5in or 24 x 2.5in drive bays.
What memory does the R640 use?
The R640 uses DDR4 memory in 24 slots, with up to 3 TB in total. Match the type and rank of any modules already installed, and populate both processors evenly.
Should I choose the R440 or the R640?
Both are 1U two-socket servers. The R640 has 24 memory slots and up to 3 TB; the R440 has 16 slots and up to 1 TB. Choose the R640 for memory-heavy hosts and the R440 when 1 TB is enough.
Can I mix 14th generation and newer PowerEdge servers in one cluster?
Many hypervisors allow it, but processor features and memory types differ between generations. Check your hypervisor's compatibility rules before mixing, and keep each host's own parts consistent.
Can I order a 14th generation server with a custom configuration?
Yes. List the processors, memory, drives, controller, network and power supplies in your RFQ. Each line in your quote shows its condition and warranty.