Can I put v4 processors in an R740?

No. The R740 uses the LGA 3647 socket, which is physically larger than the LGA 2011-3 socket used by v3/v4 processors.

Is the R740 always faster than the R730?

Generally, yes, but a high-end R730 with E5-2699 v4 (22-core) CPUs will outperform a low-end R740 with Bronze or Silver CPUs in multi-threaded tasks. The architectural benefits of the R740 (memory speed, AVX-512) only materialize with mid-to-high-tier Gold or Platinum chips.

Do R730 rails fit the R740?

No. The R730 uses "B6" ReadyRails, while the R740 uses "B11" or similar newer rail kits. The latching mechanisms are slightly different, and they are not interchangeable.

Can I move my RAM from an R730 to an R740?

Technically, both use DDR4. However, R730 memory is typically 2133MT/s or 2400MT/s. While it *might* physically fit and boot in an R740, it will slow down the R740's memory bus (which supports 2666MT/s or 2933MT/s) and may cause stability issues. It is best practice to use memory rated for the specific generation.

Which server is better for a home media server (Plex/Jellyfin)?

The R730 is often the better value for simple media streaming. It is cheaper, and the QuickSync capabilities of newer consumer CPUs are better for transcoding than the enterprise GPUs typically found in either of these servers. However, if using a GPU for transcoding (like a Quadro P2000), the R730 has ample PCIe space to handle it.

#Dell PowerEdge R730 vs. R740

The transition from the Dell PowerEdge 13th Generation (R730) to the 14th Generation (R740) represented a complete platform architecture overhaul rather than a simple speed bump. While the R730 remains a capable workhorse for homelabs and budget virtualization, the R740 introduced the fundamental technologies that define modern enterprise computing: the Scalable Processor family, native NVMe integration, and more modern management.

This guide analyzes the critical architectural differences that determine which server fits a specific workload.

#Processor Architecture: E5 vs. Scalable

The most defining difference is the processor socket. The R730 utilizes the LGA 2011-3 socket, while the R740 utilizes the LGA 3647 socket. They are physically incompatible.

#R730: Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 / v4

Architecture: Broadwell (v4) and Haswell (v3).
Core Counts: Up to 22 cores per CPU (E5-2699 v4).
Interconnect: QPI (QuickPath Interconnect).
Limitations: Fixed distinct memory controllers that limited memory bandwidth in high-core count scenarios compared to the mesh architecture of newer chips.

#R740: Intel Xeon Scalable (1st & 2nd Gen)

Architecture: Skylake-SP (1st Gen) and Cascade Lake-SP (2nd Gen).
Core Counts: Up to 28 cores per CPU (Platinum 8280).
Interconnect: UPI (Ultra Path Interconnect), offering significantly higher bandwidth between sockets.
Naming Change: Replaced the “E5” branding with Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers.
AVX-512: Introduced wider vector instructions, drastically improving performance for HPC and AI inference workloads compared to the AVX2 support in the R730.

#FAQs - Processors

Can I put v4 processors in an R740?: No. The R740 uses the LGA 3647 socket, which is physically larger than the LGA 2011-3 socket used by v3/v4 processors.
Is the R740 always faster than the R730?: Generally, yes, but a high-end R730 with E5-2699 v4 (22-core) CPUs will outperform a low-end R740 with Bronze or Silver CPUs in multi-threaded tasks. The architectural benefits of the R740 (memory speed, AVX-512) only materialize with mid-to-high-tier Gold or Platinum chips.

#Management: iDRAC8 vs. iDRAC9

For systems administrators, the management engine is the most tangible daily difference.

#iDRAC8 (R730)

Interface: Older web interface that often relies on Java or ActiveX plugins for the Virtual Console (KVM).
Responsiveness: Slower boot times and menu navigation.
HTML5: Later firmware updates (2.30.30.30+) added HTML5 virtual console support, but the core interface remains legacy code.

#iDRAC9 (R740)

Interface: Built entirely on HTML5. No Java plugins are required for any function.
Performance: Powered by a dedicated dual-core ARM processor embedded on the motherboard. The UI loads almost instantly.
Automation: Enhanced support for Redfish APIs and Zero-Touch provisioning.
Security: System Lockdown mode prevents configuration changes even by administrators until unlocked, a feature absent in iDRAC8.

#Storage and NVMe Support

While both generations support SAS and SATA SSDs, the R740 was designed during the rise of NVMe and M.2 technology.

#Boot Storage

R730: typically boots from SD cards (IDSDM) or requires burning two front drive bays for a RAID 1 OS volume.
R740: Introduced the BOSS-S1 (Boot Optimized Storage Solution) card. This PCIe card holds two M.2 SATA SSDs in hardware RAID 1, allowing the OS to be installed internally without using any front drive bays or unreliable SD cards.

#NVMe Scalability

R730: NVMe support was an “afterthought” requiring specific extender cards and limited backplanes (usually only 4 NVMe drives max in specific chassis). Bifurcation support is present but often requires manual BIOS tuning.
R740: Native PCIe bifurcation is standard. The motherboard and riser layouts were designed to support up to 12 NVMe drives (or 24 in the R740xd) with significantly less cabling complexity and better thermal management.

#GPU Acceleration

The R740 chassis is physically optimized for airflow to support higher-wattage accelerators.

R730: Supports up to 2 x 300W double-wide GPUs (e.g., NVIDIA Tesla K80).
R740: Supports up to 3 x 300W double-wide GPUs or 6 x 150W single-wide GPUs. This 50% increase in GPU density makes the R740 significantly better for VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) or Machine Learning clusters.

#FAQs - Hardware Differences

Do R730 rails fit the R740?: No. The R730 uses “B6” ReadyRails, while the R740 uses “B11” or similar newer rail kits. The latching mechanisms are slightly different, and they are not interchangeable.
Can I move my RAM from an R730 to an R740?: Technically, both use DDR4. However, R730 memory is typically 2133MT/s or 2400MT/s. While it might physically fit and boot in an R740, it will slow down the R740’s memory bus (which supports 2666MT/s or 2933MT/s) and may cause stability issues. It is best practice to use memory rated for the specific generation.
Which server is better for a home media server (Plex/Jellyfin)?: The R730 is often the better value for simple media streaming. It is cheaper, and the QuickSync capabilities of newer consumer CPUs are better for transcoding than the enterprise GPUs typically found in either of these servers. However, if using a GPU for transcoding (like a Quadro P2000), the R730 has ample PCIe space to handle it.