<PAGE>   1

================================================================================


      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 25, 2001

                                                      Registration No. 333-_____


                     U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                             -----------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             -----------------------


                              TRICORD SYSTEMS, INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


             DELAWARE                                         41-1590621
  --------------------------------                        -------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction of                          (I.R.S. Employer
   incorporation or organization)                         Identification No.)

     2905 NORTHWEST BLVD., SUITE 20
       PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55441                                55441
----------------------------------------                      ----------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                      (Zip Code)

                             -----------------------

                 TRICORD SYSTEMS, INC. 1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                 -----------------------------------------------
                            (Full title of the plan)

                             -----------------------

                                 JOAN M. WRABETZ
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                         2905 NORTHWEST BLVD., SUITE 20
                            PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55441
                                  763-557-9005
                   ------------------------------------------
                      (Name, address and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                            -------------------------

        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
           IMMEDIATELY UPON THE FILING OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                              --------------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
============================================================================================================================
  TITLE OF SECURITIES        AMOUNT TO BE      PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING    PROPOSED MAXIMUM AGGREGATE       AMOUNT OF
  TO BE REGISTERED (1)     REGISTERED (2)(3)      PRICE PER SHARE (4)           OFFERING PRICE (4)        REGISTRATION FEE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                        <C>                 <C>                          <C>                           <C>
Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share            3,000,000 shares              $2.82                      $8,460,000                 $2,115
============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1)  Each share of Common Stock includes a right to purchase a fractional share
     of the Registrant's Series A Junior Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per
     share.

(2)  In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
     amended (the "Securities Act"), this Registration Statement also covers an
     indeterminate number of additional shares that may be offered and sold as a
     result of anti-dilution provisions described in the above-referenced plans.

(3)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
     registration fee and calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the
     Securities Act on the basis of the average high and low reported sales
     prices of Tricord Systems' common stock on July 23, 2001, as reported on
     the Nasdaq Small Cap Market.


================================================================================

<PAGE>   2


                    STATEMENT UNDER GENERAL INSTRUCTION E --
                      REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SECURITIES

     Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, this Registration Statement
is filed solely to register an additional 3,000,000 shares of common stock, par
value $0.01 per share, of Tricord Systems reserved for issuance under the
Tricord Systems, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan").

     In December 1998 and January 1999, the Board of Directors of Tricord
Systems (the "Board") voted to increase the number of shares reserved for
issuance under the Plan by an aggregate of 4,000,000 shares. These increases
were approved by the stockholders of Tricord Systems on March 17, 1999. In March
2000, the Board voted to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance
under the Plan by an additional 3,000,000 shares. This additional increase was
approved by the stockholders of Tricord Systems at the annual meeting of the
stockholders of Tricord Systems on May 18, 2000. On March 22, 2001, the Board
voted to increase the number of shares reserved under the Plan by an additional
3,000,000 shares. This additional increase was approved by the stockholders of
Tricord Systems at the annual meeting of the stockholders of Tricord Systems on
May 10, 2001.

     Pursuant to Instruction E, the contents of Tricord Systems' Registration
Statement on Form S-8, File Nos. 333-36780 and 333-58195, including without
limitation periodic reports that Tricord Systems filed, or will file, after the
filing of such Form S-8 to maintain current information about Tricord Systems
are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement pursuant
to General Instruction E of Form S-8.

                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No.         Description
-----------         -----------
<S>                 <C>
5.1                 Opinion and Consent of Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP

23.1                Consent of Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)

23.2                Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

24.1                Powers of Attorney (see page 2)
</TABLE>


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NO.       ITEM                                                     METHOD OF FILING
---       ----                                                     ----------------
<S>       <C>                                                      <C>
5.1       Opinion of Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP..............Filed herewith electronically.

23.1      Consent of Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP..............Included in Exhibit 5.1.

23.2      Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP....................Filed herewith electronically.

24.1      Powers of Attorney.......................................Included on page 2 of this Registration Statement
</TABLE>



                                       1

<PAGE>   3




                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized in the City of Plymouth, State of Minnesota.

Dated:  July 25, 2001                  TRICORD SYSTEMS, INC.

                                       By:   /s/ Joan M Wrabetz
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                 Joan M. Wrabetz
                                                 President and Chief
                                                 Executive Officer


                               POWERS OF ATTORNEY

         Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Joan
M. Wrabetz and Steven E. Opdahl, and either of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent with full powers of substitution and resubstitution,
for and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or
all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration
statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent
or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
thereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed on July 25, 2001 by the following persons
in the capacities indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                                            Title
---------                                            -----
<S>                                                  <C>


/s/ Joan M. Wrabetz                                  President and Chief Executive Officer
--------------------------------------------         (Principal Executive Officer and Director)
Joan M. Wrabetz


/s/ Steven E. Opdahl                                 Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and
--------------------------------------------         Accounting Officer)
Steven E. Opdahl

/s/ Yuval Almog                                      Director
--------------------------------------------
Yuval Almog

/s/ Tom Dillon                                       Director
--------------------------------------------
Tom R. Dillon

/s/ Louis C. Cole                                    Director
--------------------------------------------
Louis C. Cole

/s/ Donald L. Lucas                                  Director
--------------------------------------------
Donald L. Lucas

/s/ John J. Mitcham                                  Director
--------------------------------------------
John J. Mitcham

/s/ Fred G. Moore                                    Director
--------------------------------------------
Fred G. Moore
</TABLE>



                                       2
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TRICORD SYSTEMS INC /DE/", "cik": "0000837166", "assigned-sic": "7373", "irs-number": "411590621", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-65790", "film-number": "1688754"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2905 NORTHWEST BLVD", "city": "PLYMOUTH", "state": "MN", "zip": "55441", "phone": "7635579005"}}
1

================================================================================

      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 25, 2001

                                                      Registration No. 333-_____

                     U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                             -----------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             -----------------------

                              TRICORD SYSTEMS, INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             DELAWARE                                         41-1590621
  --------------------------------                        -------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction of                          (I.R.S. Employer
   incorporation or organization)                         Identification No.)

     2905 NORTHWEST BLVD., SUITE 20
       PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55441                                55441
----------------------------------------                      ----------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                      (Zip Code)

                             -----------------------

                 TRICORD SYSTEMS, INC. 1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                 -----------------------------------------------
                            (Full title of the plan)

                             -----------------------

                                 JOAN M. WRABETZ
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                         2905 NORTHWEST BLVD., SUITE 20
                            PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55441
                                  763-557-9005
                   ------------------------------------------
                      (Name, address and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                            -------------------------

        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
           IMMEDIATELY UPON THE FILING OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                              --------------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
============================================================================================================================
  TITLE OF SECURITIES        AMOUNT TO BE      PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING    PROPOSED MAXIMUM AGGREGATE       AMOUNT OF
  TO BE REGISTERED (1)     REGISTERED (2)(3)      PRICE PER SHARE (4)           OFFERING PRICE (4)        REGISTRATION FEE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share            3,000,000 shares              $2.82                      $8,460,000                 $2,115
============================================================================================================================
(1)  Each share of Common Stock includes a right to purchase a fractional share
     of the Registrant's Series A Junior Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per
     share.

(2)  In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
     amended (the "Securities Act"), this Registration Statement also covers an
     indeterminate number of additional shares that may be offered and sold as a
     result of anti-dilution provisions described in the above-referenced plans.

(3)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
     registration fee and calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the
     Securities Act on the basis of the average high and low reported sales
     prices of Tricord Systems' common stock on July 23, 2001, as reported on
     the Nasdaq Small Cap Market.

================================================================================
2

                    STATEMENT UNDER GENERAL INSTRUCTION E --
                      REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SECURITIES

     Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, this Registration Statement
is filed solely to register an additional 3,000,000 shares of common stock, par
value $0.01 per share, of Tricord Systems reserved for issuance under the
Tricord Systems, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan").

     In December 1998 and January 1999, the Board of Directors of Tricord
Systems (the "Board") voted to increase the number of shares reserved for
issuance under the Plan by an aggregate of 4,000,000 shares. These increases
were approved by the stockholders of Tricord Systems on March 17, 1999. In March
2000, the Board voted to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance
under the Plan by an additional 3,000,000 shares. This additional increase was
approved by the stockholders of Tricord Systems at the annual meeting of the
stockholders of Tricord Systems on May 18, 2000. On March 22, 2001, the Board
voted to increase the number of shares reserved under the Plan by an additional
3,000,000 shares. This additional increase was approved by the stockholders of
Tricord Systems at the annual meeting of the stockholders of Tricord Systems on
May 10, 2001.

     Pursuant to Instruction E, the contents of Tricord Systems' Registration
Statement on Form S-8, File Nos. 333-36780 and 333-58195, including without
limitation periodic reports that Tricord Systems filed, or will file, after the
filing of such Form S-8 to maintain current information about Tricord Systems
are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement pursuant
to General Instruction E of Form S-8.

                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.
Exhibit No.         Description
-----------         -----------
5.1                 Opinion and Consent of Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP

23.1                Consent of Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)

23.2                Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

24.1                Powers of Attorney (see page 2)
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
NO.       ITEM                                                     METHOD OF FILING
---       ----                                                     ----------------
5.1       Opinion of Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP..............Filed herewith electronically.

23.1      Consent of Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP..............Included in Exhibit 5.1.

23.2      Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP....................Filed herewith electronically.

24.1      Powers of Attorney.......................................Included on page 2 of this Registration Statement
1
3

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized in the City of Plymouth, State of Minnesota.

Dated:  July 25, 2001                  TRICORD SYSTEMS, INC.

                                       By:   /s/ Joan M Wrabetz
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                 Joan M. Wrabetz
                                                 President and Chief
                                                 Executive Officer

                               POWERS OF ATTORNEY

         Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Joan
M. Wrabetz and Steven E. Opdahl, and either of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent with full powers of substitution and resubstitution,
for and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or
all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration
statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent
or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
thereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed on July 25, 2001 by the following persons
in the capacities indicated.
Signature                                            Title
---------                                            -----
/s/ Joan M. Wrabetz                                  President and Chief Executive Officer
--------------------------------------------         (Principal Executive Officer and Director)
Joan M. Wrabetz

/s/ Steven E. Opdahl                                 Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and
--------------------------------------------         Accounting Officer)
Steven E. Opdahl

/s/ Yuval Almog                                      Director
--------------------------------------------
Yuval Almog

/s/ Tom Dillon                                       Director
--------------------------------------------
Tom R. Dillon

/s/ Louis C. Cole                                    Director
--------------------------------------------
Louis C. Cole

/s/ Donald L. Lucas                                  Director
--------------------------------------------
Donald L. Lucas

/s/ John J. Mitcham                                  Director
--------------------------------------------
John J. Mitcham

/s/ Fred G. Moore                                    Director
--------------------------------------------
Fred G. Moore
2