DELL
DELL PowerEdge R540 2U rack server 2× Xeon Gold 5118 2.3 GHz 12-core 256 GB DDR4 8× 4 TB SAS HBA330
2U rack server with dual 12-core Xeon Gold 5118 CPUs, 256 GB DDR4 ECC memory, eight 4 TB 7.2 K SAS drives on an HBA330 controller, dual 750 W platinum PSUs and iDRAC9 Enterprise remote management
- TypeRack
- Rack Height2U
- Redundant Hot-swap PowerYes
- CPU TypeIntel Xeon
- CPU Speed2.30 GHz
- CPU SocketLGA 3647
- Dual Xeon Gold 5118 processors provide 12 cores each at 2.3 GHz base with 3.2 GHz turbo
- 256 GB DDR4 2666 MHz registered ECC memory across 16 slots supports up to 1 TB capacity
- PERC HBA330 12 Gb/s SAS/SATA controller in pass-through mode manages eight drive bays
- Eight 4 TB 7.2 K SAS 3.5" enterprise drives deliver 32 TB raw storage capacity
- iDRAC 9 Enterprise enables remote management with dual 750 W 80+ Platinum hot-swap power supplies
Dell PowerEdge R540 2U Rack Server
The Dell PowerEdge R540 is a 2U rack server built for data-intensive workloads. It ships with dual Intel Xeon Gold 5118 processors, each offering 12 cores at 2.3 GHz with a 3.2 GHz turbo frequency. The system includes 256 GB of DDR4 2666 MHz registered ECC memory across eight 32 GB modules. Eight 3.5-inch 4 TB SAS hard drives running at 7.2K RPM provide 32 TB of raw storage capacity.
Suits Virtualization and Database Hosting
This configuration suits IT teams deploying virtualization clusters, database servers, or high-capacity file storage. The HBA330 controller operates in pass-through mode only, so buyers who need hardware RAID levels such as RAID 5 or RAID 6 should look at a PERC RAID card instead. The dual 750 W platinum power supplies and iDRAC9 Enterprise enable resilient remote management for lights-out operations.
12Gb/s SAS HBA330 Pass-Through Controller
The storage controller is a Dell PERC HBA330 providing 12 Gb/s SAS and SATA connectivity in pass-through mode. It presents each drive directly to the operating system without hardware RAID abstraction. This single specification determines whether the server fits software-defined storage stacks such as ZFS or vSAN, or whether a hardware RAID controller is required for the deployment.
Highlights
- Dual Xeon Gold 5118 processors provide 12 cores each at 2.3 GHz base with 3.2 GHz turbo
- 256 GB DDR4 2666 MHz registered ECC memory across 16 slots supports up to 1 TB capacity
- PERC HBA330 12 Gb/s SAS/SATA controller in pass-through mode manages eight drive bays
- Eight 4 TB 7.2 K SAS 3.5" enterprise drives deliver 32 TB raw storage capacity
- iDRAC 9 Enterprise enables remote management with dual 750 W 80+ Platinum hot-swap power supplies
Specifications
| Brand | DELL |
|---|---|
| Series | PowerEdge |
| Model | R540 |
| Type | Rack |
| Rack Height | 2U |
| Redundant Hot-swap Power | Yes |
| CPU Type | Intel Xeon |
| CPU Speed | 2.30 GHz |
| CPU Socket | LGA 3647 |
| Number of CPU Cores | 12-Core Processor |
| CPU Features | Gold 5118 |
| # of Processors Installed | 2 |
| MAX Processors | 2 |
| Installed Memory Size | 256GB |
| Memory Type | DDR4 |
| Max Memory Capacity | 1TB |
| Number of Memory Slots | 16 |
| Hard Drive (Installed) | 8 x 4TB 7.2K SAS |
| Storage Controller | Dell Perc HBA330 Controller |
| HDD Interface | SAS |
| SSD (Installed) | No |
| Raid Level | None |
| Ethernet Controller | 1x Dell EMC Integrated Dual Port Network Daughter Card - 2x 1 Gigabit RJ45 Ports, |
| Remote Management | Dell EMC 14G PowerEdge iDRAC 9 Enterprise License |
| LAN Ports | 2 x Ports |
| Management Port | RJ 45 |
| Operating System | No |
Questions about this item
Should I pick this 8-bay 2U server with 256 GB DDR4 or a smaller configuration for virtualization?
This unit ships with 256 GB across eight 32 GB DDR4 modules and leaves eight DIMM slots free for expansion up to 1 TB.
What does the 3.2 GHz turbo figure mean when the server runs a steady database workload?
Each Xeon Gold 5118 can boost from 2.3 GHz to 3.2 GHz under thermal headroom, giving short bursts of extra single-thread speed before settling at base clock.
How does the HBA330 controller affect the 12 Gb/s SAS drives in daily use?
The PERC HBA330 presents the eight 7.2K SAS disks in pass-through mode, so the 12 Gb/s link speed is available but RAID functions must be handled by software or the OS.
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