Dell PowerEdge R720 vs Dell PowerEdge R730xd
Both are 2U dual-socket servers, but they sit a generation apart. The R720 (12th gen, LGA2011, DDR3) is the budget all-rounder for Proxmox, a handful of VMs and learning setups. The R730xd (13th gen, LGA2011-3, DDR4, storage chassis up to 12x 3.5") is newer, more efficient and built for many drives – but it costs more. Rule of thumb: tight budget or getting started → R720; ZFS/TrueNAS storage, DDR4 and more performance → R730xd.
Dell PowerEdge R720
- +Cheapest way into a real dual-socket server
- +Xeon E5-2600 v1/v2 and DDR3 ECC are very cheap used
- +Mature, well-documented platform with good parts availability
- +iDRAC7 for full remote management
- −Older 12th gen: less efficient, higher idle draw
- −DDR3 and v1/v2 CPUs cap memory speed and per-core performance
- −In 3.5" form it tops out at 8 bays – the storage chassis is the xd's domain
Dell PowerEdge R730xd
- +DDR4 ECC and E5-2600 v3/v4: more performance and efficiency
- +Storage chassis up to 12x 3.5" + 2x 2.5" – ideal for ZFS/TrueNAS
- +Newer 13th gen with iDRAC8 and a longer support window
- +Better performance-per-watt than the R720
- −Noticeably pricier to buy, plus costlier DDR4 RAM
- −Overkill if you only need to run a few VMs
- −Loud and power-hungry when fully populated with 12 drives
Verdict
Go R720 if budget is tight or you mainly want CPU/RAM for Proxmox and a few VMs – it gives the most per euro. Go R730xd if you need DDR4, more per-core performance, or a drive-heavy storage box for ZFS/TrueNAS and can absorb the higher price.
Dell PowerEdge R720
No current listings.
Dell PowerEdge R730xd
Dell PowerEdge R730XD LFF 2x Intel Xeon E5-2620 v4 2x PSU 12x LFF 2x SFF No RAM
Dell PowerEdge R730xd Rack Server 2U ohne CPU mit 2x Kühler ohne RAM 24x SFF 2.5
Dell PowerEdge R730xd Rack Server 2U ohne CPU mit 2x Kühler ohne RAM 24x SFF 2.5
Frequently asked questions
Is the R730xd worth the premium over the R720?
If you need lots of 3.5" drives (ZFS/TrueNAS) or DDR4 and more per-core performance, yes. For a modest VM playground the R720 is the clearly better value.
Is the R720 still enough for Proxmox and TrueNAS?
For Proxmox with several VMs and containers it's plenty. For TrueNAS it works, but in 3.5" form it only holds 8 drives – the R730xd wins here with up to 12 bays.
How do the CPUs and RAM differ?
R720: LGA2011 with Xeon E5-2600 v1/v2 and DDR3 ECC. R730xd: LGA2011-3 with E5-2600 v3/v4 and DDR4 ECC. CPUs and RAM are not cross-compatible – when upgrading, always buy for the matching generation.