Dell R720 vs R730 vs R740 — PowerEdge Generation Comparison
The PowerEdge R720 (2012-2015), R730 (2014-2017), and R740 (2017-2022) are the three most-deployed PowerEdge 2U server generations in the refurbished market. Each represents a major Intel architecture transition.
Quick Verdict
R740 is the current sweet spot for refurbished VMware/Hyper-V production. R730 is the budget-tier production pick. R720 is best for homelabs and dev/test where ESXi 7 (not 8) is acceptable.
Side-by-Side Spec Comparison
| Spec | Dell PowerEdge R720 + R730 | Dell PowerEdge R740 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Generation | R720: Xeon E5 v1/v2; R730: Xeon E5 v3/v4 | Xeon Scalable Gen 1/2 (Skylake/Cascade Lake) |
| Memory Type | R720: DDR3-1866; R730: DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2933 |
| Max Memory | R720: 768 GB; R730: 1.5 TB | 3 TB |
| Drive Bays | 8/16/24 SFF or 8/12 LFF | 8/16/24 SFF or 8/12 LFF |
| NVMe Support | No (R720), Limited (R730) | Native |
| iDRAC Version | R720: iDRAC 7; R730: iDRAC 8 | iDRAC 9 |
| ESXi 8.0 Support | No | Yes |
| Refurbished Price | R720: $400-700; R730: $700-1,000 | $1,800-3,200 |
Green-highlighted cells indicate the winner for that spec.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Dell PowerEdge should I buy?
For ESXi 8.0 production: R740. For ESXi 7.0 production or budget builds: R730. For homelab/learning: R720 (cheapest but limited to ESXi 7).
Can I run VMware ESXi 8.0 on R730?
No — VMware dropped R730 from the ESXi 8.0 HCL. R730 supports up to ESXi 7.0 U3. Stick with R740 or newer for ESXi 8.0.
Is R720 worth buying in 2026?
For homelab, dev/test, learning environments — yes, $400-700 makes it the cheapest "real enterprise" server. For production — no, the older architecture and OS support limits make R730 or R740 a better choice.
Our Recommendation
R740 for production. R730 for budget production or homelab. R720 only for homelabs and dev/test where modern OS support isn't required.
Need help deciding?
Email sales@prodisknetwork.com with your specific requirements. Our team will match you to the right product based on your workload, budget, and existing infrastructure.