Introduction
In the world of enterprise computing, few names are as well-known and respected as Dell PowerEdge. For over 25 years, the PowerEdge server line has been a mainstay in data centers around the globe, offering cutting-edge performance, rock-solid reliability, and unparalleled flexibility to meet the demands of businesses large and small.
Two of the most popular models in the current PowerEdge lineup are the R440 and R640 rack servers. Released in 2017 as part of Dell‘s 14th generation portfolio, these 1U powerhouses pack an incredible amount of processing, memory, storage and I/O capabilities into a slim, space-saving chassis.
While the R440 and R640 may look nearly identical at first glance, there are some key differences between them that make each one better suited for specific workloads and use cases. In this in-depth comparison, we‘ll take a closer look at the specs, features and capabilities of these two servers to help you determine which one is the best fit for your organization‘s needs.
PowerEdge R440 Specs and Features
First, let‘s examine the PowerEdge R440. This versatile server was designed for general purpose computing across a wide range of applications. It provides an excellent balance of performance, expandability and density in a 1U form factor.
At the heart of the R440 are two Intel Xeon Scalable processors from the Bronze, Silver or Gold tiers. With up to 24 cores per socket, the R440 offers ample processing power for demanding business applications, virtualization, databases and more. It supports up to 1TB of 2666 MT/s DDR4 memory across 16 DIMM slots, giving you plenty of capacity and bandwidth for memory-intensive workloads.
For storage, the R440 can accommodate either 4 LFF (3.5") or 10 SFF (2.5") hot-plug drives. Using high-capacity 3.5" drives, you can outfit the R440 with up to 48TB of raw internal storage. Or if you prefer the speed and performance of SSDs and NVMe drives, you can pack in up to 38.4TB using 10 SFF bays. The R440 also offers a range of RAID and HBA options to protect your data and optimize storage performance.
Networking is another strong suit of the R440, with two built-in 1GbE ports and support for an optional LOM riser with 2 x 1GbE or 2 x 10GbE. For even more I/O throughput, you can add a PCIe riser that enables up to 3 x PCIe 3.0 expansion slots. This gives you the flexibility to add NICs, HBAs, RAID controllers and other I/O cards as needed.
To keep all these components running smoothly, the R440 offers either a single or dual redundant power supply configuration. A single 550W power supply is standard, but you can upgrade to dual 450W, 550W or 750W hot-plug power supplies for added redundancy.
Finally, the R440 comes standard with the iDRAC9 remote management controller. This powerful tool lets you deploy, update, monitor and maintain the server from anywhere using a web browser or mobile app. With iDRAC9 Enterprise, you can even automate common management tasks to save time and eliminate human error.
PowerEdge R640 Specs and Features
Moving up the lineup, we have the PowerEdge R640. This high-performance server is geared more toward demanding enterprise workloads, data-intensive applications, databases and dense virtualization. It takes the expandability and performance of the R440 to new heights.
Like its smaller sibling, the R640 supports up to two Intel Xeon Scalable CPUs. But it ups the core count to 28 cores per socket, for a total of 56 threads. It also doubles the memory capacity, supporting up to 3TB of 2666 MT/s DDR4 memory in 24 DIMM slots. This gives you an incredible amount of computational power and memory bandwidth to handle even the most demanding workloads.
The R640 offers similar storage options as the R440, with a maximum of 10 x 2.5" SFF hot-plug drives. But its higher-wattage power supplies allow for a denser flash storage configuration. With dual 750W or 1100W power supplies, you can populate all 10 drive bays with NVMe SSDs for up to 64TB of blazing-fast, low-latency storage – perfect for database and analytics applications. The R640 also features a wider range of NVMe-optimized RAID and PERC options.
From a networking standpoint, the R640 comes with the same two onboard LOM options as the R440 – either 2 x 1GbE or 2 x 10GbE. But it also supports up to two additional PCIe risers, for a total of 4 x PCIe 3.0 expansion slots. This gives you even more flexibility to add high-speed NICs, FPGAs, GPUs and other specialized I/O cards.
As you would expect, the R640‘s higher performance and expandability requires more power. To accommodate this, it offers hot-plug power supplies in 495W, 750W, 1100W and 1600W options. With the 1600W Platinum efficiency power supplies, you can achieve an incredible power-to-performance ratio for the most demanding datacenter environments.
Finally, the R640 includes the same great iDRAC9 remote management capabilities as the R440. But it also takes them a step further with Quick Sync 2 – an innovative, wireless module that allows for handheld management of the server via a mobile app. Using Quick Sync 2, admins can quickly and securely monitor server status, configure settings, and remediate issues from anywhere in the data center using an Android or iOS device.
Comparing the PowerEdge R440 and R640
So how do these two servers stack up head-to-head? Let‘s take a closer look at some of the key differences:
Form Factor and Density
Both the R440 and R640 utilize a 1U rack form factor, making them ideal for space-constrained data centers. But the R640 offers slightly higher density, particularly when it comes to internal storage. With the R640, you can pack more SSD and NVMe drives into the same 1U footprint for higher storage performance and capacity.
Processing and Memory
The R640 offers higher maximum core counts (28 vs 24 per socket) and memory capacity (3TB vs 1TB) compared to the R440. This makes it better suited for heavily virtualized environments, large databases, and other compute-intensive applications. The R440 is no slouch, but the R640 simply offers more horsepower and headroom for the most demanding workloads.
Storage Options
Both servers offer support for up to 10 x 2.5" hot-plug drives, but the R640 is more flexible when it comes to high-performance flash storage. With higher-wattage power supplies, the R640 can support a denser configuration of SSD and NVMe drives for up to 64TB of low-latency storage. The R440 tops out at 38.4TB in a mixed drive configuration.
I/O and Expansion
The R640 offers more PCIe expansion capabilities than the R440, with support for up to 4 x PCIe 3.0 slots across two risers. This gives you more options for adding high-speed NICs, specialized accelerators, and other I/O devices. Both servers offer a good selection of NIC, HBA and RAID options.
Power and Cooling
To support its higher performance and expandability, the R640 offers higher-wattage power supply options than the R440. This allows you to achieve higher power efficiency and density, particularly with all-flash storage configurations. Both servers leverage Dell‘s advanced thermal design and cooling features to ensure optimal reliability and performance.
Management
Both servers include the excellent iDRAC9 remote management controller, allowing for easy deployment, updating, monitoring and maintenance from anywhere. But the R640 takes it a step further with Quick Sync 2 wireless management, letting you manage the server from a mobile device right in the data center.
Use Cases and Workloads
So which server is right for your organization? The answer depends on your specific applications and workloads. Here are some general guidelines:
Choose the PowerEdge R440 if you need:
- A versatile, general-purpose server for medium to large businesses
- A balance of performance, memory and storage for mainstream applications
- Flexible configurations for virtualization, software-defined storage, and more
- A scalable platform for smaller databases and data warehouses
Choose the PowerEdge R640 if you need:
- A high-performance server for demanding enterprise applications
- Maximum processing power and memory capacity for large databases and data warehouses
- Flexible all-flash storage options for low-latency, data-intensive applications
- A future-ready platform for data analytics, artificial intelligence and edge computing
- Higher power efficiency and density for space-constrained data centers
Pricing and Value
As you might expect, the higher performance and expandability of the R640 comes at a higher price point than the R440. Dell‘s website shows a starting price of $1,439 for the R440 and $1,769 for the R640, at the time of writing.
However, keep in mind that these are just the starting configurations. The price of each server can increase significantly as you add more processors, memory, storage and I/O options. And the gap in pricing will likely widen at the higher end of the range, as the R640 offers more room for growth.
That said, the R640 may actually offer better overall value for certain workloads. With its higher performance, expandability and efficiency, the R640 can potentially enable faster, more insightful data analytics, accelerate time-to-market for new products and services, and provide a longer, future-ready lifespan. So the higher upfront cost may be offset by greater business value and ROI in the long run.
Conclusion
In the battle of the PowerEdge R440 vs. R640, both servers offer compelling benefits for small to large enterprise data centers. The R440 is a highly capable, versatile platform for general business computing, while the R640 offers advanced performance and expandability for the most demanding data center workloads.
Choosing between them ultimately depends on your specific use case and budget. But you can feel confident in either server, knowing you have the world-class quality, reliability and support of Dell EMC behind it.
With over 25 years of experience and thousands of patents, Dell EMC has consistently set the bar for server innovation. The 14th generation PowerEdge servers are the culmination of that experience – offering unparalleled performance, automation, security and design to help you achieve your IT transformation goals.
Whether you choose the R440, R640 or another PowerEdge model, you can be sure you‘re getting the best server for your business.
