PowerEdge R640
Mainstream 1U virtualization, database and vSAN node; the most common 14G box in the field.
The PowerEdge R640 is a previous-generation model, still supported and widely deployed. Mainstream 1U virtualization, database and vSAN node; the most common 14G box in the field.
Platform facts
| Vendor | Dell |
|---|---|
| Generation | 14G |
| Form factor | 1U rack |
| Sockets | 2 |
| CPU | 1st/2nd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable (Skylake-SP / Cascade Lake-SP) |
| DIMM slots | 24 |
| Memory | DDR4 RDIMM/LRDIMM, up to 3 TB; Optane PMem 100 on 2nd Gen |
| Storage | 10x 2.5-inch (up to 10 NVMe) or 8x 2.5-inch or 4x 3.5-inch; BOSS-S1 boot |
| RAID | PERC H330, H730P, H740P, H840; HBA330; BOSS-S1 |
| Management | iDRAC9 |
| Released | 2017 |
| Status | previous |
Field notes
Very reliable; typical faults are PSUs, the H740P battery and fans on high-ambient sites. Cascade Lake (2nd Gen) CPUs drop in after a BIOS update and are the cheap upgrade. NVMe backplanes need the matching riser and PCIe cables, so order the whole kit. Windows Server 2022 and ESXi 8.0 are supported; iDRAC9 6.x/7.x firmware still ships. Replace with an R660 or R6615.
Successor: PowerEdge R650.
What we do with the PowerEdge R640
- Specification and procurement of new PowerEdge servers, configured to order
- Rack, rail and cable installation, iDRAC setup and firmware baseline
- Memory, NVMe, PERC and NIC upgrades with qualified parts
- Out-of-warranty repair: PSU, fan, backplane, PERC battery and motherboard replacement
- OS and hypervisor installs: Windows Server, VMware, Proxmox, RHEL, Ubuntu
- ProSupport case handling and lifecycle refresh planning
Related models
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Do you work on PowerEdge servers you did not sell?
Yes. Most of our Dell work is on servers a business already owns, in or out of warranty.
Can you update firmware without downtime?
iDRAC and some component firmware update live. BIOS, PERC and NIC firmware need a reboot, which we schedule in a maintenance window.
Can the PowerEdge R640 run a current operating system?
Check the field notes above. As a rule, current models are certified for Windows Server 2022/2025, ESXi 8 and RHEL 9; legacy models usually stop at Windows Server 2019 or ESXi 7 and may need Proxmox or an older Linux to stay useful.
Need a hand with this?
Tell us what you are running and what is slowing you down. You get a straight assessment and a plan, with no obligation. Support desk is staffed 24/7.