The Dell EMC PowerEdge R730XD 12×3.5″ Server

is a highly scalable and versatile 2U rack server designed for medium to large enterprises seeking advanced performance, storage density, and high availability. It is part of Dell’s renowned PowerEdge series and is engineered to efficiently handle demanding workloads, large-scale virtualization, and database-intensive applications. With its exceptional processing power and extensive storage options, the Dell EMC PowerEdge R730XD 12×3.5″ Server delivers the reliability and flexibility required for modern IT environments, including ERP applications, e-commerce platforms, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), high-performance computing (HPC), and data warehousing.

This server leverages dual Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 processors with multiple core options, ranging from 2 to 18 cores per CPU, allowing organizations to customize performance to their specific workloads. The Dell EMC PowerEdge R730XD 12×3.5″ Server also features 24 DDR4 DIMM slots with memory capacity of up to 768GB, supporting speeds up to 2133MT/s. Such memory scalability ensures that enterprises can efficiently manage memory-intensive applications, multi-tiered databases, and virtualized environments. The combination of high core counts, large memory footprint, and Intel QPI interconnects (6.4GT/s, 7.2GT/s, 8.0GT/s) enables the Dell EMC PowerEdge R730XD 12×3.5″ Server to deliver fast, reliable, and optimized processing for a wide range of workloads.

Key highlights of the Dell EMC PowerEdge R730XD 12×3.5″ Server architecture:

• Dual Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 processors with 2–18 cores per CPU.

• 24 DDR4 DIMM slots supporting up to 768GB of memory at 2133MT/s.

• Intel QPI interconnects for high-speed data transfer between CPUs.

• Ideal for ERP, virtualization, HPC, and database-intensive workloads.

• 2U rack form factor for high-density deployment in enterprise datacenters.

Storage Capacity and Flexibility

The Dell EMC PowerEdge R730XD 12×3.5″ Server is engineered to provide exceptional storage capacity and flexibility, making it suitable for applications requiring high-density, high-performance storage. The R730XD model supports up to 12 x 3.5” SAS, SATA, or NL-SAS drives, as well as SSDs, providing an optimized solution for large-scale storage requirements. Furthermore, with its ability to expand up to 26 x 2.5” drives or a combination of 3.5” and 2.5” drives, the Dell EMC PowerEdge R730XD 12×3.5″ Server ensures unmatched storage scalability for enterprises.

Maximum internal storage varies depending on drive configuration, allowing businesses to reach up to 99.6TB using high-capacity NL-SAS and SAS drives or SSDs. The R730XD also supports multiple RAID options, including PERC H330, H730, H730P, and external PERC H830 controllers. For non-RAID storage, 12Gb/s SAS HBAs provide high-speed connectivity and flexible configuration for demanding storage workloads. These features make the Dell EMC PowerEdge R730XD 12×3.5″ Server an ideal choice for enterprises that require a balance of performance, capacity, and redundancy to ensure data integrity and business continuity.

Storage and flexibility highlights:

• Supports up to 12 x 3.5” drives with SAS, SATA, NL-SAS, or SSD options.

• Scalable up to 26 x 2.5” drives or mixed drive configurations.

• Maximum internal storage up to 99.6TB depending on drive selection.

• Multiple RAID options: PERC H330, H730, H730P, and external H830.

• 12Gb/s SAS HBAs for non-RAID high-speed connectivity.

Virtualization and Workload Optimization

One of the standout features of the Dell EMC PowerEdge R730XD 12×3.5″ Server is its ability to handle virtualization and intensive workloads efficiently. With embedded hypervisor support, redundant high-speed networking, and scalable memory, the server provides a robust platform for dense virtualized environments. Whether implementing VMware vSphere ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, or Citrix XenServer, the Dell EMC PowerEdge R730XD 12×3.5″ Server delivers consistent, high-performance results for multiple virtual machines and mission-critical applications.

The server’s dense memory footprint, combined with extensive PCIe 3.0 expansion slots, allows organizations to optimize workloads and scale their IT infrastructure with minimal disruption. By leveraging the Dell EMC PowerEdge R730XD 12×3.5″ Server, IT teams can consolidate applications, improve CPU utilization, and maximize storage throughput for enterprise-scale virtualization. Its design supports high-density deployments while maintaining high availability and fault tolerance, ensuring that even the most demanding applications run without interruptions.

Virtualization and workload optimization features:

• Supports VMware vSphere ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Citrix XenServer.

• Redundant networking with embedded 1GbE, 10GbE, and NDC options.

• High memory capacity and dense storage support for virtualized workloads.

• Multiple PCIe 3.0 slots for expansion of storage, networking, or acceleration cards.

• Optimized for consolidation, high CPU utilization, and large-scale VDI deployments.

Intelligent Management and Automation

The Dell EMC PowerEdge R730XD 12×3.5″ Server includes advanced management tools to simplify deployment, maintenance, and monitoring. Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC8) with Lifecycle Controller provides deep system insights, automated configuration, and rapid deployment. This reduces manual intervention, lowers the risk of errors, and accelerates time to production.

Dell OpenManage Essentials and OpenManage Mobile offer centralized management capabilities, allowing administrators to monitor multiple servers, perform one-to-many OS deployments, and automate bare-metal provisioning. Intelligent power and cooling management features enhance energy efficiency while ensuring optimal performance. Enterprises using the Dell EMC PowerEdge R730XD 12×3.5″ Server benefit from proactive alerts, high availability configurations, and simplified lifecycle management, making it a reliable and cost-effective solution for modern datacenters.

Management and automation highlights:

• iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller for automated deployment and monitoring.

• Dell OpenManage Essentials and Mobile for centralized management.

• One-to-many OS deployment and bare-metal provisioning.

• Advanced power and cooling management for energy efficiency.

• Proactive alerts, high availability, and simplified lifecycle management.

Compatibility, Flexibility, and Enterprise Value

The Dell EMC PowerEdge R730XD 12×3.5″ Server supports a wide range of operating systems, including Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, 2012, and 2012 R2, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, and VMware ESX. Its 2U rack form factor, combined with ReadyRails sliding or static rails, enables easy tool-less deployment in 4-post or 2-post racks, providing flexibility for datacenter layouts.

With ECC memory, hot-plug drives, redundant power supplies, and redundant cooling, the Dell EMC PowerEdge R730XD 12×3.5″ Server ensures maximum uptime and operational reliability. Optional vFlash media, IDSDM support, and proactive system management further enhance the server’s versatility. Designed for scalability, performance, and enterprise-grade reliability, the Dell EMC PowerEdge R730XD 12×3.5″ Server provides an ideal solution for businesses looking to consolidate workloads, maximize infrastructure efficiency, and support growth in dynamic IT environments.

Enterprise value highlights:

• Supports multiple operating systems and virtualization options.

• 2U rack design with tool-less mounting rails for flexible deployment.

• ECC memory, hot-plug drives, redundant power, and cooling for high availability.

• Optional vFlash media and IDSDM for additional flexibility.

• Scalable, reliable, and versatile solution for enterprise workloads.

Check full specs and datasheet below: Technical Guide