Refurbished PowerEdge R720 Server

Build Your Own - Custom Dell PowerEdge R720 8 Bay LFF 2U Server (3.5")

SKU: BYO R720 8B35

Was: $237.99

Was:

Now: $148.99

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Build Your Own - Custom Dell PowerEdge R720 16 Bay 2U Server (2.5")

SKU: BYO R720 16B

Was: $215.99

Was:

Now: $135.00

+ Free Shipping

Dell PowerEdge R720 and R720xd Servers – High-Performance, Scalable Solutions for Data-Intensive Workloads

The Dell PowerEdge R720 and R720xd are high-capacity, high-performance 2U rack servers designed to support demanding workloads and data-intensive applications. While both servers share similar core components and capabilities, the R720xd is specifically designed with expanded storage flexibility for applications that require even greater storage density. These servers offer powerful processing, extensive memory support, and versatile storage options, making them ideal for virtualization, database management, and high-performance computing. Below is a detailed overview of the Dell PowerEdge R720 and R720xd, covering their design, processing power, memory, storage, network connectivity, and management features.

Internal view of the Dell PowerEdge R720 Server

Design and Build

The Dell PowerEdge R720 and R720xd share a 2U form factor that balances performance, scalability, and storage capacity. The R720 is optimized for general-purpose high-performance computing, while the R720xd is specifically designed to maximize storage density with a larger drive bay configuration. Both models feature a durable, modular design for easy maintenance and upgrades, allowing for quick access to components and efficient serviceability. Advanced cooling and airflow ensure that the components remain at optimal operating temperatures, even during intense workloads, which contributes to enhanced system reliability and extended longevity in data center environments.

Processor and Performance

The PowerEdge R720 and R720xd are powered by Intel’s Xeon E5-2600 or E5-2600 v2 processors, supporting up to two CPUs with up to 12 cores each. This dual-socket architecture delivers substantial processing power, making both servers well-suited for multi-threaded applications, such as virtualization, data analytics, and enterprise databases. With clock speeds reaching up to 3.5 GHz, the Xeon E5 processors provide responsive data processing and reduced latency, ensuring smooth performance across a wide range of workloads. This combination of high core count and clock speed enables the R720 and R720xd to handle complex tasks efficiently, making them valuable assets for businesses with compute-intensive applications.

Memory

Both the R720 and R720xd support up to 768GB of DDR3 memory with speeds of up to 1866 MT/s, providing the necessary bandwidth for memory-intensive applications and large-scale virtual environments. This extensive memory capacity allows for smooth handling of multiple virtual machines, large databases, and in-memory computing applications, all with low latency and high efficiency. Additionally, ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory is included in both models, which enhances data integrity by detecting and correcting memory errors, ensuring stable, reliable operation. This large memory footprint makes the R720 and R720xd excellent choices for businesses requiring high availability and consistency in performance.

Storage Options and Flexibility

The Dell PowerEdge R720 and R720xd offer flexible storage configurations, with the R720 supporting up to 16 x 2.5-inch or 8 x 3.5-inch drives, and the R720xd accommodating up to 24 x 2.5-inch or 12 x 3.5-inch drives. The R720xd’s expanded drive capacity provides even more storage options, making it ideal for data-heavy applications and scenarios requiring large data storage with high access speeds. Both models support a mix of SSDs and HDDs, allowing businesses to balance between high capacity and high-speed storage to suit specific workload needs. The R720 and R720xd also support multiple RAID levels (RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60) via Dell’s PERC (PowerEdge RAID Controller) series, which provides data protection and improves overall storage performance. These extensive storage options make both servers suitable for applications such as databases, large-scale virtualization, and data warehousing.

Network Connectivity

The PowerEdge R720 and R720xd come with four embedded Gigabit Ethernet ports, providing reliable, high-speed network connectivity essential for distributed applications and virtualized environments. These ports support network redundancy, ensuring continuous access to critical applications even if one network path fails. Both models also support additional network interface cards, including 10GbE options, which deliver the high bandwidth necessary for data-intensive and network-heavy applications. This network flexibility ensures that the R720 and R720xd can be configured to meet specific connectivity needs, making them ideal for businesses requiring reliable and uninterrupted network access.

Advanced Manageability and Security

The Dell PowerEdge R720 and R720xd are equipped with iDRAC7 (Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller) with Lifecycle Controller, a comprehensive remote management tool that allows IT administrators to monitor, deploy, and troubleshoot the servers from any location. iDRAC7 simplifies the process of managing the servers by offering remote capabilities, which are particularly beneficial for businesses with distributed IT environments or limited on-site IT resources. Both servers also support TPM (Trusted Platform Module) for secure encryption and key management, providing an additional layer of security. This combination of advanced management and security features makes the R720 and R720xd reliable choices for safeguarding business-critical data and maintaining efficient operations.

Energy Efficiency

The PowerEdge R720 and R720xd are designed with energy efficiency in mind, featuring high-efficiency power supplies and optimized thermal management to reduce power consumption. Both models meet ENERGY STAR standards, which ensures that they deliver high performance while minimizing energy use. This energy-efficient design helps businesses cut operational costs over time, while supporting environmental sustainability goals. Efficient thermal design and intelligent cooling solutions allow the R720 and R720xd to maintain energy efficiency even during peak workloads, making them cost-effective and eco-conscious choices for growing businesses.

Use Cases and Applications

The Dell PowerEdge R720 and R720xd are versatile solutions capable of supporting a wide range of business applications. The R720 is well-suited for virtualization, database management, and general high-performance computing, while the R720xd, with its expanded storage capabilities, is ideal for data-intensive applications such as big data analytics, large-scale storage, and data archiving. Both servers are optimized for multi-tenant environments, enabling them to support cloud hosting, managed services, and enterprise applications with high storage and compute demands. The robust management and security features make the R720 and R720xd suitable for remote or distributed locations that require centralized administration and dependable security.

Conclusion

The Dell PowerEdge R720 and R720xd servers deliver powerful, scalable solutions for modern business workloads, with the R720 focusing on balanced performance and the R720xd providing additional storage capacity for data-centric environments. Both servers offer dual Intel Xeon processors, large memory capacity, flexible storage configurations, and advanced remote management, making them ideal for a variety of high-performance applications. Whether deployed in a data center or a remote office, the PowerEdge R720 and R720xd provide the reliability, scalability, and efficiency businesses need to confidently support today’s demanding applications and prepare for future growth.