Maximize performance for demanding workloads The R840 delivers consistent, high performance results for data-intensive applications and data analytic
workloads. With powerful 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors and up to 112 cores, the R840 can quickly
turn analytics into insights to drive your business forward faster. Create an optimal configuration of NVMe,
SSD, HDD and GPU resources to address your most demanding workloads - all in a 2U chassis.
- Scale capacity and performance with up to 26 2.5” HDDs and SSDs, 62% more than the previous generation.
- Accelerate applications with up to 2 double-width GPUs or up to 2 FPGAs.
- Speed data transfers with a fully integrated ultra path interconnect across all four sockets.
- Eliminate bottlenecks with up to 48 DIMMs, including up to 24 DCPMMs or 12 NVDIMMs.
Automate everyday tasks with Dell EMC OpenManage The Dell EMC OpenManage portfolio helps deliver peak efficiency for PowerEdge server customers, delivering
intelligent, automated management of routine tasks. Combined with unique agent-free management capabilities, the
R840 is easy to manage, and by doing routine work automatically, you can free up time for higher-value projects.
- Unify monitoring and management of your IT infrastructure with OpenManage Enterprise.
- Utilize a variety of OpenManage integrations and connections to take advantage of your existing IT
management platform.
- Take advantage of QuickSync 2 capabilities and gain access to your servers easily through your phone or
tablet.
Safeguard your data center with built-in security Every PowerEdge server is made with a cyber-resilient architecture, delivering security into all parts of a
server’s life cycle. The R840 uses these new security features so you can reliably and securely deliver the
right data to where your customers are, no matter where they are. Dell EMC considers each part of system
security, from design to end of life, to ensure trust and deliver worry-free systems.
- Rely on a secure component supply chain to ensure protection from factory to the data center.
- Maintain data safety with cryptographically signed firmware packages and Secure Boot.
- Protect your server from malicious malware with iDRAC9 Server Lockdown mode (requires Enterprise or
Datacenter license)
- Wipe all data from storage media including hard drives, SSDs and system memory quickly and securely with
System Erase.
Power your business-critical workloads
The PowerEdge R840 accelerates business insights and delivers unprecedented performance density for your in-database
analytics. Deliver consistent results for demanding applications with powerful, four-socket performance and large
memory. Even as your workloads become more complex, OpenManage Enterprise simplifies management of your IT
infrastructure so you can focus on your business objectives. Integrated security and proven reliability helps ensure
maximum uptime in your enterprise data center.
Scale application performance for demanding data analytics workloads
The R840 offers versatile resources that allow you to meet changing business demands. Maximize performance and
minimize latency with direct-attached NVMe drives.
- Boost performance with up to four 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors and up to 112 processing cores
- Address large data sets with up to 48 DIMMs (24 of which can be DCPMMs) and up to 15.36TB of memory
- Scale capacity and performance with up to 26 2.5” HDDs/SSDs (up to 24 NVME drives)
- Accelerate applications with two doublewide GPUs or two FPGAs
- Speed data transfers with fully integrated ultra path interconnects (UPIs)
Drive Configuration Options
The Dell PowerEdge R840 has three backplane options with a few configurations possible. The system can support an 8 Bay configuration and a 24 Bay Configuration. In the 24 Bay, you have two different backplanes. One Backplane is a Universal SAS/SATA/NVMe with SAS/SATA Expander attached. The second option is an NVMe backplane that supports 24 NVMe Drives. Below are the configurations supported.
- Up to 24x 2.5" SAS/SATA
- Up to 24x 2.5" SAS/SATA + 2x 2.5" Rear Drives SAS/SATA
- Up to 12x 2.5" SAS/SATA + 12 SAS/SATA/NVMe
- Up to 8x 2.5" SAS/SATA/NVMe + 16 NVMe
- Up to 24x 2.5" NVMe
- Up to 8x 2.5" SAS/SATA
- Up to 8x 2.5" SATA
- For more information please view the "Supported drive options" in the Installation Manual below.
Cooling Options
Heat Sinks The heat sink absorbs the heat generated by the processor, and helps the processor to maintain its optimal temperature level. The heat sinks will change if you choose a GPU or not. With a GPU you must install the Low-Profile 1U Heat Sink. Otherwise, the Standard 2U Heat Sink will be used.
Fans The cooling fan assembly ensures that the key components of the server such as the processors, drives, and memory get adequate air circulation to keep them cool. The systems comes with 6 Hot-Swap Fans in a Fan vage that gets installed onto the system board. If you install a GPU you will need high-performance fans for cooling.
Memory Options
RDIMM/LRDIMM | Max: 6TB
Registered DIMM - Provides for higher capacity options and advanced RAS features. It is the most commonly used DIMM type,
and offers the best mix of frequency, capacity, and rank structure choices.
Load Reduced DIMM - Provides maximum capacity beyond that of an RDIMM but at a higher power consumption. Uses a buffer
to reduce memory loading to a single load on all DDR signals, allowing for greater density.
PMems | Max: 12.28TB
DCPMM
(Intel Optane DC persistent memory):
(15.36TB max with PMem and LRDIMM) Provides a large memory capacity at an affordable price. Any application can take advantage of DCPMM in Memory Mode with
a compatible operating system. Unlock more performance and persistency when using an application that supports App Direct
Mode. DCPMM is used along with RDIMMs or LRDIMMs, and a maximum number of 6 DCPMMs can be used per CPU. This
persistent memory technology does not require a battery.
NVDIMMs | Max: 384GB Max
Non-Volatile DIMM - Provides a persistent memory solution with NAND and DRAM that maintains data in power loss, system
crash, or normal shutdown. This solution requires a battery as a power source for an AC loss condition. It can be used along with
RDIMMs
Storage Controller Options
Please view the "Expansion card installation guidelines" on the Tech Manual below to know what slots support each card.
| Performance level | Controller and description |
| Entry | S140 (SATA, NVMe)
SW RAID SATA |
| Value | HBA330 (Internal), HBA350i,12Gbps SAS HBA (External)
Memory: None x8 12 Gb SAS x8 PCIe 3.0, H330, 12Gbps SAS
HBA (External), HBA350, HBA355e (External) Memory: None
x8 12 Gb SAS x8 PCIe 3.0 |
| Value performance | H730P, Memory: 2 GB, NV 72-bit, 866 MHz, x8 12 Gb SAS, x8
PCIe 3.0, H750 |
| Premium performance | H740P, Memory: 4/8 GB, NV 72-bit |
Boot Options
BOSS 
The Boot Optimized Storage Subsystem (BOSS) is offered as a means of booting PowerEdge systems to a full operating system mode when:
- Target operating system is a full operating system and not hypervisor that may be supported best by IDSDM
- You do not want to trade off standard hot plug drive slots for operating system install
The RAID controller on the BOSS card has limited set of features. This RAID controller presents the M.2 SATA SSDs as either a
non-RAID volume or as a single RAID volume.
IDSDM 
The PowerEdge R840 system supports optional Internal Dual SD module (IDSDM) or vFlash module. In the latest generation of PowerEdge servers, IDSDM or vFlash module is combined into a single card module, and are available in these configurations:
- vFlash or
- vFlash and IDSDM
- Installed in Riser 1 x8
The IDSDM or vFlash module is located in a slot on the back of the system. The module supports three microSD cards;
two
cards for IDSDM and one card for vFlash. One IDSDM card slot is dedicated for redundancy
Internal USB An optional USB memory key installed inside your system can be used as a boot device, security key, or mass storage device. To
boot from the USB memory key, configure the USB memory key with a boot image and then specify the USB memory key in the
boot sequence in System Setup.
PCIe Riser Options
The Dell PowerEdge R840 has 4 different Riser options. Riser 1 x8 has an extra slot on the riser for the IDSDM. This is the only spot for the IDSDM to be installed.
- Riser 1 x8 has 2x 8xPCIe 3.0
- Riser 1 x16 has 1x 16xPCIe 3.0
- Riser 2 x8 has 2x 8xPCIe 3.0
- Riser 2 x16 has 1x 16xPCIe 3.0
| PCIe slot | Riser | Processor Connection | Height | Length | Slot Width |
| 1 | X8 PCIe Riser 1 | Processor 1 | Full height | Half length | x8 |
| 2 | X16 PCIe Riser 1 | Processor 1 | Full height | Full length | x16 |
| X8 PCIe Riser 1 | Processor 1 | Full height | Half length | x8 |
| 3 | Located on the system board | Processor 1 | Low Profile | Half length | x16 |
| 4 | Located on the system board | Processor 2 | Low Profile | Half length | x16 |
| 5 | X8 PCIe Riser 2 | Processor 2 | Full height | Half length | x8 |
| 6 | X16 PCIe Riser 2 | Processor 2 | Full height | Full length | x16 |
| X8 PCIe Riser 1 | Processor 1 | Full height | Half length | x8 |
GPU Rules and Restrictions
The Dell PowerEdge R840 can support up to 2x 300W DW GPUs or 2x FPGA's On x16 Risers. If you install the x8 Risers a GPU will not be supported. There are a good amount of rules for installing a GPU, please read them below.
- Only Supported in x16 Risers Slot 2 or Slot 6
- The processor must use the GPU kit low-profile heat sink
- If the GPU card is installed, you cannot install the 10 GbE NDC.
- High-performance fans and GPU air shroud must be installed
- LRDIMM 256 GB does not support GPU configuration
- PMem does not support GPU configurations
- All GPUs must be of the same type and model
- PSUs must be 1100 W or higher and set the PSU configuration
to non-redundant mode
