Dell
Dell PowerEdge R720 Server: Dual Xeon E5-2690, 192GB RAM (Renewed)
★★★★★
192GB RAM0W
Dual Xeon E5-2690 processors and 192GB of RAM deliver enterprise-class compute power at a fraction of new server pricing.
View price on Amazon
Affiliate Disclosure: Studio Supplies may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. This helps support our editorial team.
Notice a mistake? Let Us Know
Overview
Reliable Performance for Demanding Workloads
The Dell PowerEdge R720 Server delivers robust performance and reliability for a variety of enterprise applications. This renewed server is professionally inspected and tested to ensure it meets like-new standards, providing a cost-effective solution for your computing needs.
- Processors: 2X E5-2690 2.90Ghz 16-Core
- Memory: 192GB
- RAID Controller: H710
- Condition: Renewed
Key Features
Item Package Dimension
36.0L X 24.0W X 8.0H Inches
Item Package Weight - 48.0 Pounds
Item Package Quantity - 1
Product Type - Computer
Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- Dual E5-2690 CPUs deliver 32 total threads at 2.90GHz base — substantial parallel processing headroom for virtualization and database workloads
- 192GB RAM eliminates memory as a bottleneck for most enterprise VM densities or in-memory database caching workloads
- H710 RAID controller with non-volatile cache provides hardware-level data protection without relying solely on software RAID
- Renewed condition offers dramatically lower acquisition cost versus equivalent new-generation server hardware for comparable core counts
- 2U rack form factor balances compute density with component accessibility and thermal management
👎 Cons
- Sandy Bridge-EP architecture (2011 platform) means no PCIe 3.0 on the CPU lanes and no NVMe native support without add-in cards
- H710 (non-P variant) ships with 512MB cache rather than the 1GB found on the H710P, which limits write-heavy RAID performance
- 192GB across 24 DIMM slots likely uses 8GB DDR3 RDIMMs — memory clock speeds are limited by the E5-2600 v1 platform's DDR3 ceiling
- Drive inventory not explicitly confirmed in listing — purchasing without verifying installed storage is a common deployment pitfall on renewed units
- Power consumption under sustained load is higher than equivalent modern platforms on a per-core-performance basis
Frequently Asked Questions
What workloads is this server configuration actually capable of handling?
With 16 physical cores (32 threads) across two E5-2690 CPUs clocked at 2.90GHz and 192GB of RAM, this system can handle virtualization hosts running dozens of VMs, large database instances, media transcoding pipelines, and CI/CD build infrastructure. It's not a 2024 compute density champion, but it handles real enterprise workloads without being memory-bottlenecked.
What does "Renewed" mean for this server, and what should I verify before buying?
Dell Renewed units are professionally inspected and tested to confirm functionality, but warranties vary by seller. Before purchasing, confirm what drive configuration is included (drives are not always listed), verify RAID controller firmware version, and check whether iDRAC remote management is licensed and functional — those three factors directly affect deployment readiness.
What storage options does the R720 support, and what RAID controller is included?
The R720 supports up to 16 x 2.5" SAS/SATA bays in the dual-backplane configuration. This unit ships with the H710 RAID controller, which supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60 with a 512MB non-volatile cache — adequate for most workloads, though not the H710P with 1GB cache.
What are the power requirements for running a dual E5-2690 R720?
The R720 typically ships with dual redundant PSUs in the 495W–750W range. Under full CPU and memory load, expect draw in the 400–600W range. Plan for adequate rack PDU capacity and factor in heat output — this is a 2U server that runs warm under sustained load.
Is this server compatible with modern hypervisors like VMware ESXi or Proxmox?
Yes — the R720 has broad hypervisor support. VMware ESXi 6.x through 8.x, Proxmox VE, Hyper-V 2019, and most Linux KVM setups work without issue. The E5-2690 supports VT-x and VT-d (Intel virtualization with directed I/O), enabling PCIe passthrough in supported hypervisors.
Related Products
