Dell PowerEdge vs HP ProLiant: Server Showdown 2025

Are you torn between Dell PowerEdge and HP ProLiant for your next server upgrade? I’ve been there and know how crucial this decision is for your business. In this post, I’ll explain the key differences between these two server giants.

I’ll cover everything from performance and reliability to cost and support, giving you the insights you need to make the right choice. Whether you run a small business or manage enterprise IT, I’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in and find out which server will best power your business forward.

Vote: Dell PowerEdge vs HP ProLiant

Introduction: Poweredge vs Proliant / Choosing the Right Server

Importance of the appropriate server for your business

Choosing the appropriate server for your business is of paramount importance. The correct server can significantly enhance data management stability, streamline processes, protect critical data better, and improve overall organizational efficiency. Conversely, a poor server choice can lead to substantial financial loss due to either high maintenance costs or insufficient efficiency and pose grave security threats to your data.

A look at HP ProLiant and Dell PowerEdge

Two exceedingly recommended servers in the IT world are the HP ProLiant and Dell PowerEdge. Both provide a strong foundation for your data center, promising superior performance, scalability, and reliability. They come equipped with advanced features and technologies, enabling organizations to create versatile and powerful IT infrastructures.

Round 1: Diving Deep into Features

Processing Power compared: HP ProLiant vs Dell Poweredge

Dell PowerEdge processors seem to have an edge regarding processing power. Users reported that Dell servers with exceptional processor capabilities deliver at an unparalleled high-performance rate. Illustratively, they offer up to 41% more transactions per second and perform 20.8x faster queries, enabling quicker data processing compared to HP ProLiant.

Despite this, HP ProLiant servers remain a compelling choice, especially for small to mid-sized companies. While they may fall behind Dell by 20% in reading performance, their overall performance and features make them a suitable option for businesses with less demanding workloads.

Memory Capacity: Which offers more?

HP ProLiant and Dell PowerEdge offer impressive memory expansion capabilities for continuously growing businesses and expect their memory needs to expand over time. However, Dell PowerEdge R620 stands out with substantial memory options, more so than the Dell PowerEdge R710.

As for HP, the ProLiant servers also provide a solid platform for memory expansion, allowing companies to scale up their memory needs seamlessly as they grow. It is, therefore, safe to say that when it comes to memory capacity, both HP and Dell provide scalable solutions to meet evolving business needs.

Round 2: Examining Reliability and Support Services

Reliability of HP ProLiant and Dell PowerEdge servers

Server reliability is of utmost importance for running mission-critical workloads. Based on a survey conducted in mid-2017, Dell PowerEdge servers showed exceptional reliability with less downtime compared to HP ProLiant servers, which had about 2.5 times more downtime. It is worth noting that many Dell servers have been reported to run for several years without a single breakdown.

However, HP also offers reliable servers, including the Superdome line and their DL servers, with the Superdome line standing out for its incredible stability, making it a suitable choice for handling vitally important large-scale data workloads. Also, their ProLiant model and the Apollo line offer predictive alerts for parts that may be likely to fail. This allows businesses to replace or repair failing parts to avoid system breakdowns preemptively.

Given these factors, Dell edges out HP regarding overall server reliability. However, with prognostic alerts, HP also offers commendable competition.

Quality of Support service: HP vs Dell

Customer support is crucial when managing crisis scenarios, a given in any tech domain. Both HP and Dell offer extensive customer support.

However, Dell’s ProSupport is widely regarded as one of the most reliable and helpful support programs in the IT sphere. It includes hardware and software support, proactive, automated support, and self-service case management. This cutting-edge service ensures minimum downtime, which is of the essence in today’s competitive business environment. Thus, Dell’s ProSupport is a worthy investment if you have the budget.

On the other hand, HP delivers robust support, too. However, it requires a paid subscription for downloads and updates. Even so, HP’s support is widespread across several geographies and languages.

While HP and Dell provide substantial support services, the user community deems Dell’s ProSupport more comprehensive and beneficial.

Round 3: Server Management: iLO vs iDRAC

As we delve into the intricate world of server maintenance, comparing iLO and iDRAC controllers emerges as a crucial factor in out-of-band management tools. These systems are not just about hardware control; they encapsulate the entire lifecycle of server management, from remote access to firmware updates. Let’s look at how these technologies fare in today’s server ecosystems.

Analyzing Out-of-Band Management Tools

The out-of-band management capability provided by both iLO and iDRAC permits administrators to manage servers remotely, ensuring that location constraints do not hinder server management. These tools, along with RAID configuration, allow for observing and intervening in server operation at a granular level, including hard drive status checks and power management, making them indispensable for comprehensive server maintenance.

Licensing and Firmware Updates

When using support services, one of the issues that people often disagree on is the licensing approach. The iLO standard includes some features in its primary offering that allow administrators to perform necessary tasks. However, to access its full potential, an upgraded license is required. In contrast, iDRAC uses a different licensing model that may be more favorable for organizations that want to extend their usage beyond the warranty period. Still, it may raise budgeting concerns in the long run.

Feature	HPE ILO	Dell iDRAC
Remote Console	HTML5-based	HTML5-based
Virtual Media	Supported	Supported
Licensing Model	Standard & Advanced	Basic to Enterprise
User Interface	Intuitive GUI	Improving Respnsiveness
Secondary Market Support	Limited	Available
Performance	Faster Response Times	Improving Responsiveness

Round 4: Cracking the Pricing Code

Cost analysis: HP ProLiant and Dell PowerEdge

Regarding initial investment, HP ProLiant servers present a more negotiable pricing structure. The cost for various models within the HP ProLiant DL series, such as the DL20 and DL180, spans from approximately $550 to $1,600. The DL360 and DL380 models range from around $1,600 to $16,000. The higher-tier DL580 starts at about $14,500, reaching nearly $46,000 for advanced configurations. Establishing a solid relationship with your supplier and placing bulk orders can lead to significant discounts.

On the other hand, Dell’s pricing strategy for its PowerEdge R series rack servers is comparatively less flexible. The entry-level one-socket PowerEdge R rack servers start at $560 and go up to just below $1,700. The two-socket versions of the rack servers are priced between $1,060 and $2,370, while the more advanced four-socket rack servers are available from around $16,000 to just under $17,800.

Dell is known for its widespread use and delivers its hardware fully assembled and tested, which can save time and some expenses. However, delivery times can extend up to two weeks. In contrast, HP typically ships its servers in a mostly unassembled state, with delivery times ranging from one to two days. This approach requires additional assembly and testing by an IT service provider, incurring extra costs.

To wrap it up, while HP scores on initial cost savings, Dell PowerEdge might prove economical in the long run, given its superior performance and lower maintenance needs.

Unveiling cost savings with each model

While Dell and HP have numerous advantages, they also feature availability and cost-saving opportunities.

Buying refurbished Dell PowerEdge servers from dealers like Amazon can result in massive price reductions. These durable servers offer competitive rates and flexible configuration options tailored to your needs. All servers come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, which illustrates confidence in their performance.

In other words, by selecting refurbished Dell or HP server brands, you’ll get a powerful server without breaking the bank, allowing your business to thrive and expand.

HP Proliant Servers refurbished

Dell PowerEdge Server refurbished

User Recommended: Which server performs better?

Performance reviews for HP ProLiant

HP ProLiant servers have earned a strong reputation for top-notch performance and unwavering reliability. Rated highly in 33 reviews, users frequently praise them for their exceptional handling of heavy workloads and critical tasks.

Key highlights of the HP ProLiant series, powered by Intel Xeon Scalable processors, include the ProLiant DL380 Gen 9, noted for its excellent processing power and versatility. It supports up to 26 Small Form Factor (SFF) drives or 12 Large Form Factor (LFF) drives, allowing significant data storage. Additionally, its flexible and scalable storage architecture, alongside the advanced remote management capabilities courtesy of HP’s iLO (Integrated Lights-Out) technology, is lauded, effectively making it an ideal choice for businesses seeking a reliable, manageable server solution.

Customer insights into Dell PowerEdge performance

Dell PowerEdge servers have achieved an outstanding performance, reliability, and scalability reputation. Having been part of the server market for decades, their various models have garnered users’ praise and high satisfaction rates.

According to numerous reviews, the Dell PowerEdge R620, for example, is well-regarded for its impressive processing abilities, extensive memory, and advanced data management features. Dell users claim the server delivers high performance rates, making it an unrivaled choice.

Furthermore, Dell PowerEdge servers offer unique capabilities like handling 41% more transactions per second and executing 20.8x faster queries than identical server units, qualifying them as an excellent choice for businesses prioritizing high-speed data processing and high-volume transactions.

Customer insights reflect high satisfaction with the Dell PowerEdge range of servers, endorsing their performance, robustness, and scalability.

What is the difference between HP Proliant servers and HP Proliant Plus?

The comparison between the HPE DL380 Gen10 Plus Server and the DL380 Gen10 Server highlights several key differences:

1. Processor: The HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen10 Plus server is built on 3rd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable Processors, offering 16 to 40 cores depending on the processor. In contrast, the DL380 Gen10 server uses 1 or 2 Intel Xeon processors from the 3100 / 4100 / 5100 / 6100 / 8100 series, with up to 28 cores and PCIe 3.0.
2. Memory: The DL380 Gen10 Plus supports HPE DDR4 SmartMemory up to 8.1 TB RDIMM (4 TB per processor), 11.2 TB LRDIMM, and Intel® Optane™ Memory (5.6 TB per processor with 8x LRDIMM and 8x 512 GB Intel Optane). The DL380 Gen10 offers 1 to 24 DDR4 DIMMs (up to 12 per processor), 6 channels per CPU, up to 2666 MHz HPE Smart Memory (1.5TB max).
3. Persistent Memory: The Gen10 Plus supports Intel Optane Persistent Memory for HPE, while the Gen10 had no support for NVDIMMs or persistent memory at its initial release.
4. Storage: The Gen10 Plus has options for 8 or 12 LFF SAS/SATA/SSD drives and various configurations for SFF SAS/SATA/SSD, M.2 SATA SSD, and NVMe support. The Gen10 supports SATA: SFF dual flash adapter, 20 NVMe drives, and up to 19 LFF/30 SFF drives.
5. Power Supply: The Gen10 Plus features dual hot-plug redundant HPE Flexible Slot Power Supplies, while the Gen10 has options for 1 or 2 Flex Slot Titanium power supplies and does not support Gen9 PSU.
6. Form Factor: Both servers have a 2U form factor.
7. Security: The Gen10 Plus offers optional security features like a locking Bezel Kit, Intrusion Detection Kit, and HPE TPM 2.0. The Gen10 has a chassis intrusion detection switch and TPM 2.0.

Final Verdict: Dell Poweredge vs HP Proliant?

Key takeaways from the comparison

After a comprehensive comparison of HP ProLiant and Dell PowerEdge servers, several key takeaways emerge:

• Both server models are renowned for their performance and reliability, with Dell PowerEdge slightly outperforming the HP ProLiant in workload handling and processing speed.
• Dell PowerEdge servers have a longer lifespan with less downtime, implying superior overall reliability.
• HP ProLiant servers offer more flexible initial pricing, but Dell servers may prove cost-effective in the longer run due to high durability and low maintenance needs.
• Dell’s support services, especially the ProSupport package, are identified as more extensive and beneficial.
• Both servers offer flexible memory capacity, making them scalable per business growth.

Choosing between the two servers would ultimately depend on your business needs and priorities, as HP and Dell have unique advantages.

Helping you make the final decision

Making the final decision between HP ProLiant and Dell PowerEdge servers requires careful consideration of several aspects. Each server has unique strengths and offerings that can be coupled with your business’s unique needs.

Both server lines offer the necessary features and performance. Ultimately, the choice boils down to cost, preferred service, and support. I lean towards the Dell PowerEdge Server due to its iDRAC out-of-band management capabilities. Having reliable management tools and services is crucial when issues arise with a server. I also like the Dell Configuration options on the Dell Website. You get a good idea of what is possible, which is an excellent base on which to talk to your Dell sales rep.

However, it’s important to note that you can’t go wrong even with the HPE Proliant server. Selecting the correct server is a subjective decision that should be based on individual preferences.

I recommend being consistent. Once you opt for a server brand, stick to it unless you have had some bad experience. Ultimately, the decision comes down to service and support.