IT Pro’s 2018 review describes the Dell EMC PowerEdge R940 as a powerful, expandable 3U server available in two- or four-socket configurations. Its standout appeal was packing four Xeon Scalable processors, extensive memory capacity and substantial expansion options into a relatively compact chassis. Those strengths matter most when a workload can use many sockets and the specific server is configured to match it; the model name alone does not tell you what hardware a used unit includes.
This is a review of the system and configurations Dave Mitchell covered on 27 February 2018—not a current assessment of Dell support, prices, stock or performance against newer servers. Read the original IT Pro review.
What the PowerEdge R940 review found
IT Pro’s verdict was that the R940 combined four-socket Xeon Scalable density with room to expand for demanding enterprise applications. The reviewer highlighted its capacity, flexibility, expansion and iDRAC9 management. The article’s only listed drawback was that OpenManage Enterprise was still in development at the time—a 2018 observation, not a statement about its present status.
The review also relayed Dell’s comparison that the R940 offered 27% more cores than the R930, but explained that this used a four-by-22-core R930 baseline. Against four 24-core R930 processors, the increase was 17%. These are comparison figures discussed in the 2018 review, not results from a new benchmark.
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Two sockets or four: how the R940 expands
The R940 is a 3U rack server in Dell EMC’s 14th-generation PowerEdge family. The review describes both two-socket (2P) and four-socket (4P) configurations. In the 4P arrangement, a processor expansion module (PEM) sits above the main board and supplies the additional two CPU sockets and remaining memory slots. The reviewer said a 2P system could be upgraded with a PEM kit, with processors and memory purchased separately.
That upgrade path is not proof that every 2P unit can be converted with any PEM or that a kit is currently available. For a particular server, verify its exact configuration and compatible components before planning an upgrade.
Memory, PCIe and drive capacity
IT Pro’s review-era figures describe a maximum of 6TB of DDR4 memory across 48 DIMM sockets, support for up to 12 NVDIMM-N modules, and 13 PCIe expansion slots. The article also describes a chassis configuration with 24 small-form-factor (SFF) drive bays. These are configuration-dependent capacities reported by the reviewer, not a guarantee that a unit offered for sale has the slots, backplane or memory population needed to reach them.
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Drive-bay layout and NVMe
In the described 24-bay configuration, NVMe enablement covered bays 1–4 and 17–24. The review says an eight-drive passive backplane was available only on the 2P model. The reviewer’s own 4P system had a 24-drive active backplane with a SAS3 expander. Do not assume that a 4P R940 has that reviewed storage arrangement, or that all 24 bays support NVMe.
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The review lists an embedded PERC S140 and optional PERC 10 RAID controllers, including the H740P. It also describes Dell’s BOSS boot-optimized storage card, which has two M.2 SATA SSD slots and supports mirroring. These are options discussed in the review; the article does not establish that any particular controller or BOSS card is fitted to every R940.
Networking and power depend on configuration
The review describes network daughter-card choices including dual 10GbE SFP+ with dual 1GbE, dual 10GBase-T with 1GbE, quad 10GbE and dual 25GbE. It reports dual 1100W Platinum hot-plug power supplies in its tested configuration, and lists 1600W, 2000W and 2400W options for fully loaded systems. These component choices should be checked against the exact server rather than inferred from its model name.
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What the review’s power readings mean
IT Pro measured 145W at idle and a 510W peak with all CPUs under maximum load on its specific test system: four 3.6GHz Xeon Gold 5122 processors and 32GB of DDR4 memory. These measurements describe that configuration and test, not typical consumption or a general estimate for every R940. Actual demand depends on the installed processors, memory, drives, cards and workload.
Management features covered in the review
The review discusses iDRAC9’s HTML5 web interface for hardware inventory and performance graphs, as well as access to PERC configuration. It also notes System Lockdown, signed firmware packages and Quick Sync 2 mobile diagnostics. These are the management and security features described for the reviewed platform; confirm availability, licensing and firmware details for the specific system under consideration.
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What to verify before considering a used R940
Because the review describes multiple configurations and optional components, check the individual unit and its records—not just the R940 label. In particular, confirm:
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- Whether it is a 2P or 4P system, whether a PEM is installed, and the exact processor models.
- How many DIMMs are installed, their type and capacity, and whether the advertised memory configuration is supported by that unit.
- The backplane type, number of bays, drive caddies, SAS expander and which bays, if any, are NVMe-enabled.
- The installed RAID controller and BOSS card, if any, plus their included cables and drives.
- Which PCIe risers, network daughter card and power supplies are present.
- The iDRAC licensing and management functions available on that machine.
The 2018 review does not establish current Dell support or firmware lifecycle, compatible part numbers, used-market pricing, or present stock. Verify current documentation and support status with Dell or the seller before relying on them; the historical review is not a substitute for that check.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who the reviewed design may suit
The R940’s four-socket density and expansion potential are most relevant to enterprise workloads that can make practical use of multiple processors, substantial memory and extensive I/O in a 3U rack footprint. If your application cannot use the extra sockets, memory or expansion, those capabilities alone do not establish that a particular R940 is a good fit. A current comparison should weigh the needs of the workload against processor and core count, memory population, rack space, storage and PCIe layout, management and licensing, power and cooling, serviceability, and verified support lifecycle.
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