Dell PowerEdge R740xd 24SFF Rack Server – GPU Ready Build (Refurbished)
2U Rack Server Pre-Configured for GPU Compute – Add Your Own GPU or Start CPU-Only
This fully configured Dell PowerEdge R740xd ships with the GPU Enablement Kit and cabling already installed, so it's ready to accept a GPU whenever you are — no GPU included, which keeps the price down if you already have your own card, want to shop GPUs separately, or plan to run it CPU-only for now.
Key Specifications:
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Server Model: Dell PowerEdge R740xd 24SFF (24x 2.5" Small Form Factor bays)
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Processors: 2x Intel Xeon Silver 4210R (2.4GHz base, 10 cores / 20 threads each) – 20 Cores / 40 Threads total
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Memory: 128GB DDR4 ECC Registered (expandable)
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GPU: None included – GPU Enablement Kit pre-installed, plus 1x Dell 8-Pin to 6/8-Pin GPU power cable, ready for the GPU of your choice
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Storage: 1x Dell 960GB 6G SATA 2.5" SSD
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RAID/Controller: PERC HBA330 (Non-RAID / Pass-Through)
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Networking: Intel X710 2x 10Gb SFP+ + I350 2x 1Gb Base-T rNDC
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Remote Management: iDRAC Enterprise (with dedicated management port)
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Power: 2x 1600W AC Hot-Plug Power Supplies (redundant)
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Cooling: High Performance Fan Kit
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Rails: Included Rail Kit
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Condition: Professionally refurbished and tested
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OS: No OS included (supports Windows Server, Linux, VMware ESXi, etc.)
Highlights:
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GPU Enablement Kit pre-installed – power cabling and airflow already in place, so adding a GPU later is plug-and-play
- Lowest-cost entry point into the R740xd GPU platform – ideal if you're sourcing your own GPU
- 24-bay 2.5" SFF chassis with room for storage expansion
- Strong dual-socket performance with 20 cores / 40 threads
- Enterprise remote management via iDRAC Enterprise
- High-bandwidth 10Gb SFP+ networking included
- Redundant 1600W power supplies + high-performance cooling for 24/7 reliability
Perfect For:
- Buyers who already own a GPU and just need a compatible, GPU-ready host
- CPU-only virtualization, file/storage, or general compute workloads today, with the option to add GPU compute later
- Budget-conscious AI/ML or rendering builds where you plan to source GPUs separately
- Lab, dev, and test environments
This server has been fully tested and is ready to deploy. Ships with all necessary power cables, rails, and bezel (where applicable).
Note: This is a refurbished unit in excellent cosmetic and functional condition. Minor signs of previous rack use may be present.
Compare Our R740xd Builds:
All three configurations below share the same base platform (24SFF chassis, 2x Intel Xeon Silver 4210R, 128GB RAM, PERC HBA330, Intel X710/I350 networking, iDRAC Enterprise) — they differ only in GPU configuration and price, so you can pick the compute level you need:
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R740xd – GPU Ready (No GPU Included) (this listing) – $2,995 – GPU Enablement Kit pre-installed, no GPU — bring your own or add one later.
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R740xd – Dual T4 Build – $4,693 – 2x NVIDIA Tesla T4 16GB (32GB total), slot-powered — no GPU power cables needed.
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R740xd – Dual V100 Build – $5,849 – 2x NVIDIA Tesla V100 32GB (64GB total) — best value for multi-GPU training and parallel workloads.
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R740xd – A40 Build – $10,959 – 1x NVIDIA A40 48GB — best single-GPU performance for AI inference and professional visualization.
Need a card for it? The NVIDIA A40 48GB is $5,490 refurbished or $6,495 new. Note that the A40 takes an 8-pin EPS-12V power input, and the cable included with this server is PCIe-style, so you will also need a Dell 4VPD3 EPS-12V GPU power cable. It isn't in the box, but we sell it for $47 (ships in about 7 days) — add one per A40 to your order. Want it ready to run with no parts to source? The R740xd A40 build ships with the A40 and its cable installed.
Need a custom configuration, more storage, or a specific GPU installed before it ships? Message us — we can build to your requirements.
What "GPU Ready" Actually Means Here
"GPU ready" is a phrase used loosely on the secondary market, so here is exactly what is in this chassis. A datacenter GPU is passively cooled — no fan of its own — and Dell's installation guidance requires a specific set of parts before one will run reliably in an R740xd. All of them are installed and tested here:
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GPU enablement kit — the risers, GPU air shroud and mylar insulation that actually direct air across a passive card instead of around it (Dell 330-BBMO / 85CYN in the US, 490-BEIX / JKFGX in EMEA)
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Low-profile heat sinks in both CPU sockets — the standard heat sinks physically foul the GPU air shroud, and Dell requires both sockets populated. This is the step that most often stops a self-assembled build on the bench.
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High-performance fan kit — mandatory for any GPU configuration in this chassis, not a recommendation
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Dell 8-pin to 6/8-pin GPU power cable — required for any card drawing more than 75W. One is included; we can supply a second if you are installing two cards.
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2x 1600W power supplies — Dell sets an 1100W floor for GPU configurations. Most used R740xd chassis on the market ship with 750W units, which is not a redundant pair once a 300W card is in the system.
Buy the chassis and the kit separately and that is five line items, five condition claims and five return windows — plus the discovery that the seller quietly left one out. The full breakdown of what each part does and why: Putting a passive datacenter GPU in a PowerEdge R740xd
Which GPUs Fit
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Capacity: up to three double-width or six single-width accelerators. Dell requires all installed GPUs to be identical in type and model — no mixing to save money.
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Safe power envelope: cards up to 300W are the well-trodden path in this chassis — NVIDIA A40 48GB, RTX A6000, Tesla V100 32GB, A30, and similar passive double-width datacenter cards. Ask us before ordering a 350W+ card such as an L40S; we will check the riser and thermal fit rather than guess.
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Passive cards are the right kind. This chassis is built for front-to-back airflow across a bare heat sink. Consumer cards with axial fans are a poor fit in a 2U server — they fight the chassis air path rather than using it.
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Inlet temperature: 30°C maximum once a GPU is installed alongside 150W/8C, 165W/12C, 200W or 205W processors. A warm rack that was fine for a storage node may not be fine for a GPU node.
Already have a card and not sure it fits? Send us the model number — we would rather tell you it won't work than sell you a host that throttles it. We can also install a GPU you supply, or source and fit one before it ships.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is included in the GPU enablement kit?
Risers, GPU power cabling, the GPU air shroud and mylar insulation, plus the low-profile CPU heat sinks required to clear the shroud. Dell's part numbers are 330-BBMO (spare 85CYN) in the US and 490-BEIX (spare JKFGX) in EMEA — the same kit under two regional SKUs, which is why the two numbers are so often mistaken for a compatibility difference.
Which GPUs can I install?
Up to three double-width or six single-width cards, all identical in type and model. Cards up to 300W are the safe envelope — A40 48GB, RTX A6000, Tesla V100 32GB and similar passive double-width datacenter cards. Ask before ordering a 350W+ card.
Can I buy a GPU for it from you?
Yes. We sell the NVIDIA A40 48GB on its own ($5,490 refurbished, $6,495 new). The A40 needs a Dell 4VPD3 EPS-12V power cable, which isn't in the box with this server or the card; we sell the 4VPD3 cable for $47. If you want the card and cable already installed, choose the R740xd A40 build.
Can I use a consumer graphics card like an RTX 4090?
Physically sometimes, practically no. This chassis is designed for passively cooled cards in a front-to-back air path; axial-fan consumer cards fight that airflow, often exceed the slot envelope, and are not thermally validated in a 2U server.
Do I need a second power cable for a second GPU?
Yes. One Dell 8-pin to 6/8-pin GPU power cable is included; any card above 75W needs its own. Tell us how many cards you are installing and we will include the cables.
Can I run this CPU-only for now?
Yes. It is a fully functional dual-socket server with 20 cores / 40 threads, 128GB of ECC memory, 24 drive bays and 10GbE networking. The GPU readiness simply means you can add compute later without opening a parts hunt.
Does it come with an operating system?
No OS is included. The server supports Windows Server, Linux distributions, VMware ESXi and Proxmox. iDRAC Enterprise is licensed for remote installation and management.
Can I expand the storage?
Yes. The chassis has 24 x 2.5" SFF bays and ships with one 960GB SATA SSD, leaving 23 bays open. The PERC HBA330 runs in pass-through mode, which suits ZFS, Ceph and software-defined storage.
What condition is it in and what warranty applies?
Professionally refurbished, fully tested and burned in, in excellent cosmetic and functional condition with minor signs of previous rack use possible. Backed by the Resilient Tec lifetime warranty, reachable directly rather than through a manufacturer ticket queue.
Further Reading
