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Head-to-head · every figure from the vendor documents

Dell R770AP vs HPE DL385 Gen11

A specification-by-specification comparison of the Dell PowerEdge R770AP and the HPE ProLiant DL385 Gen11, built from Dell’s and HPE’s own documents. 1 headline measure favours the R770AP, 5 favour the DL385 Gen11, and they share no processors.

Bottom line. DL385 Gen11 leads on virtualisation, databases and in-memory work, storage density, AI and acceleration, network throughput. Neither vendor publishes benchmarks for these machines, so every call here is made on what their documents state.

Dell PowerEdge R770AP front view with 32 EDSFF E3.S NVMe bays in four groups of eight around a blank centre panel
Dell PowerEdge
R770AP
2U Rack2 sockets24 DIMMiDRAC10
Configure the R770AP →Full data sheet
VS
HPE ProLiant DL385 Gen11 2U front with bezel over 24 SFF bays, drive-box label at left and iLO and USB ports beside the LEDs at right
HPE ProLiant
DL385 Gen11
2U Rack2 sockets24 DIMMHPE iLO 6
Configure the DL385 Gen11 →Full data sheet
01 — Scoreboard

The measures that decide it

Each row is a figure both vendors publish. Bars show the split between the two; a badge marks the larger figure, which is not always the better buy — a shallower chassis or a lower power ceiling can matter more.

2
Processor sockets
2
256
Cores, fully populated
Largest listed processor × its socket count
Higher320
3 TB
Memory ceiling
As each document states it
Higher6 TB
32
Drive bays
Higher48
None listed
Accelerators
HigherUp to 8
3,200 WHigher
Largest power supply
2,200 W
2U Rack
Rack height
2U Rack
200 GbE class
Fastest network option
Higher400 GbE class
02 — Verdict

Which one, and why

Drawn from the measures above and each model’s own data sheet. Neither vendor publishes benchmark results for these servers, so nothing here claims one is “faster”.

Choose the R770AP if…

  • Largest power supply: 3,200 W against 2,200 W on the DL385 Gen11
  • Up to 128 P-cores and 504 MB of cache per socket, with 72- and 96-core parts for workloads that favour clock speed over core count.

Choose the DL385 Gen11 if…

  • Cores, fully populated: 320 against 256 on the R770AP
  • Memory ceiling: 6 TB against 3 TB on the R770AP
  • Drive bays: 48 against 32 on the R770AP
  • A dedicated GPU chassis takes four double-wide cards — 600 W H200 NVL and RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell included — or eight single-wide L4s.
03 — By workload

Where each one pulls ahead

Calls made on documented capacity only — cores, memory, bays, accelerators and network options — with the figures behind each one shown.

VirtualisationR770AP: 256 cores with 3 TB. DL385 Gen11: 320 cores with 6 TB.DL385 Gen11
Databases & in-memoryMemory ceiling 3 TB against 6 TB, across 24 and 24 DIMM slots.DL385 Gen11
Storage density32 bays in 2U against 48 in 2U.DL385 Gen11
AI & accelerationno accelerators against 8 in the vendor documents.DL385 Gen11
Network throughputFastest card listed: 200 GbE class against 400 GbE class.DL385 Gen11
04 — Specifications

Side by side, differences first

Everything both documents state, grouped. The default view hides rows where the two machines are identical.

Processors

Every processor each vendor lists for the model, from its own document.

SpecificationR770APDL385 Gen11
Processors listed539
Most cores per processor128160
Highest processor TDP500 W400 W
Processor familiesXeon 6 6900PAMD EPYC 9004 · AMD EPYC 9005
Single-processor optionNoYes

Memory

SpecificationR770APDL385 Gen11
Largest module listed128 GB256 GB
Memory typesRDIMM DDR5-6400RDIMM DDR5-4800 · RDIMM DDR5-6400

Storage

Bay counts are the maximum each document states, including rear and mid-chassis positions.

SpecificationR770APDL385 Gen11
Maximum bays3248
Documented layouts415
Bay sizes2.5-inch · E3.S3.5-inch · 2.5-inch · E3.S
Boot devicesBOSS-N1 DC-MHS (optional, rear)HPE NS204i-u Gen11 NVMe Hot Plug Boot Optimized Storage Device · HPE NS204i-u v2 480GB NVMe Hot Plug Boot Optimized Storage Device · HPE ProLiant DL3X5 Gen11 NS204i-u NVMe Hot Plug Boot Device Cable Kit + 2 more
Storage controllers110

Accelerators & I/O

SpecificationR770APDL385 Gen11
Accelerators supportedNone listedUp to 8
Double-wide cards listed04
PCIe network slots58
Network cards listed1230

Power & platform

SpecificationR770APDL385 Gen11
Output range1,500–3,200 W800–2,200 W
ManagementiDRAC10HPE iLO 6
Chassis depthVendors measure depth differently — see each data sheet—SFF/EDSFF CTO 68.89 cm (27.12 in)
05 — The data

Processors, memory, bays and power

The same charts each data sheet carries, drawn to the same scale so the two ranges can be read against each other.

R770AP: processors by cores and TDP

Dell PowerEdge R770AP processors081624324048566472808896104112120128400 W450 W500 WCores per processorIntel Xeon 6 6980P — 128 cores / 256 threads · 500 W · 2 GHz base · 504 MB cache · DDR5-6400Intel Xeon 6 6978P — 120 cores / 240 threads · 500 W · 2.1 GHz base · 504 MB cache · DDR5-6400Intel Xeon 6 6972P — 96 cores / 192 threads · 500 W · 2.4 GHz base · 480 MB cache · DDR5-6400Intel Xeon 6 6952P — 96 cores / 192 threads · 400 W · 2.1 GHz base · 480 MB cache · DDR5-6400Intel Xeon 6 6960P — 72 cores / 144 threads · 500 W · 2.7 GHz base · 432 MB cache · DDR5-64006 6980P128 cores · 3.9 W/core — top SKU and most efficient
Xeon 6 6900P 5Bubble size = L3 cache · hover a bubble for the full SKU

DL385 Gen11: processors by cores and TDP

HPE ProLiant DL385 Gen11 processors081624324048566472808896104112120128136144152160100 W150 W200 W250 W300 W350 W400 WCores per processorAMD EPYC 9754 — 128 cores · 360 W · 2.25 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9684X — 96 cores · 400 W · 2.55 GHz base · 1150 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9654 — 96 cores · 360 W · 2.4 GHz base · 384 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9634 — 84 cores · 290 W · 2.25 GHz base · 384 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9554 — 64 cores · 360 W · 3.1 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9534 — 64 cores · 280 W · 2.45 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9474F — 48 cores · 360 W · 3.6 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9454 — 48 cores · 290 W · 2.75 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9374F — 32 cores · 320 W · 3.85 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9384X — 32 cores · 320 W · 3.1 GHz base · 768 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9354 — 32 cores · 280 W · 3.25 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9334 — 32 cores · 210 W · 2.7 GHz base · 128 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9274F — 24 cores · 320 W · 4.05 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9224 — 24 cores · 200 W · 2.5 GHz base · 64 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9254 — 24 cores · 200 W · 2.9 GHz base · 128 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9174F — 16 cores · 320 W · 4.1 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9184X — 16 cores · 320 W · 3.55 GHz base · 768 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9124 — 16 cores · 200 W · 3 GHz base · 64 MB cache · DDR5-4800AMD EPYC 9845 — 160 cores · 390 W · 2.1 GHz base · 320 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9825 — 144 cores · 390 W · 2.2 GHz base · 384 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9745 — 128 cores · 400 W · 2.4 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9655 — 96 cores · 400 W · 2.6 GHz base · 384 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9645 — 96 cores · 320 W · 2.3 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9565 — 72 cores · 400 W · 3.15 GHz base · 384 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9575F — 64 cores · 400 W · 3.3 GHz base · 512 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9555 — 64 cores · 360 W · 3.2 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9535 — 64 cores · 300 W · 2.4 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9475F — 48 cores · 400 W · 3.65 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9455 — 48 cores · 300 W · 3.15 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9365 — 36 cores · 300 W · 3.4 GHz base · 192 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9375F — 32 cores · 320 W · 3.8 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9355 — 32 cores · 280 W · 3.55 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9335 — 32 cores · 210 W · 3 GHz base · 128 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9275F — 24 cores · 320 W · 4.1 GHz base · 256 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9255 — 24 cores · 200 W · 3.2 GHz base · 128 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9175F — 16 cores · 320 W · 4.2 GHz base · 512 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9135 — 16 cores · 200 W · 3.65 GHz base · 64 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9115 — 16 cores · 125 W · 2.6 GHz base · 64 MB cache · DDR5-6400AMD EPYC 9015 — 8 cores · 125 W · 3.6 GHz base · 64 MB cache · DDR5-6400EPYC 9845160 cores · 2.4 W/core — top SKU and most efficient
AMD EPYC 9004 18AMD EPYC 9005 21Bubble size = L3 cache · hover a bubble for the full SKU

R770AP: memory with every slot filled

32 GB768 GB64 GB1.5 TB96 GB2.3 TB128 GB3 TB24 slots · 12 per processor · each tick = one DIMM

DL385 Gen11: memory with every slot filled

16 GB384 GB32 GB768 GB64 GB1.5 TB96 GB2.3 TB128 GB3 TB256 GB6 TB24 slots · 12 per processor · each tick = one DIMM

R770AP: drive bays

Front panel

32 × EDSFF NVMe at the front — 32 bays in total.

SAS/SATANVMeSAS/SATA + NVMe

DL385 Gen11: drive bays

Front panel

48 × 2.5" SAS/SATA + NVMe at the front — 48 bays in total.

SAS/SATANVMeSAS/SATA + NVMe

R770AP: power supplies

05001000150020002500300035001500 W Titanium — 100-240 VAC (derated to 1050 W at 100-120 VAC); 240 VDC HVDC variant China only; 60 mm; C131500Titanium1800 W Titanium — 200-240 VAC HLAC; 240 VDC HVDC variant China only; 60 mm; C151800Titanium2400 W Titanium — 100-240 VAC (1400 W lowline); 240 VDC HVDC variant China only; 73.5 mm; C192400Titanium3200 W Titanium — 200-240 VAC (2900 W / 3200 W by input voltage); 240 VDC HVDC variant China only; 73.5 mm; C193200Titanium3200 W Titanium — 277 VAC or 336 VDC HVDC; 73.5 mm; APP/Saf-D-Grid; not available at product launch3200TitaniumWatts · dashed line = output at 100–120 V low line
AC277 VAC / HVDC

DL385 Gen11: power supplies

05001000150020002500800 W Platinum — HPE 800W Flex Slot Platinum Hot Plug Low Halogen Power Supply Kit; HPE Flex Slot family; up to 94% efficiency; rated input 100-240 VAC (800W at 100 VAC and 240 VAC; 240 VDC input for China only)800Platinum1000 W Titanium — HPE 1000W Flex Slot Titanium Hot Plug Power Supply Kit; HPE Flex Slot family; up to 96% efficiency; rated input 100-240 VAC (240 VDC for China only); listed as EU ErP Lot 9 compliant (96%)1000Titanium1600 W null — HPE 1600W Flex Slot -48VDC Hot Plug Power Supply Kit; HPE Flex Slot family; rated input -40 to -72 VDC (Technical Specifications); requires HPE 1600W -48VDC Power Cable Lug Kit (P36877-B21). DOC INCONSISTENCY on input/efficiency: Core Options says 'up to 94%' and 'support both 277VAC/380VDC power inputs'; Standard Features says '94% Power Efficiency' and '200-240VAC power input only'; no 80 PLUS rating printed1600DC1600 W Platinum — HPE 1600W Flex Slot Platinum Hot Plug Low Halogen Power Supply Kit; HPE Flex Slot family; up to 94% efficiency; high line only 200-240 VAC (240 VDC for China only)1600Platinum2200 W Titanium — HPE 1800W-2200W Flex Slot Titanium Hot Plug Power Supply Kit; HPE Flex Slot family; up to 96% efficiency; high line only 200-240 VAC; listed as EU ErP Lot 9 compliant (96%). Not listed in Standard Features power supply list nor in Technical Specifications input/output tables2200TitaniumWatts · dashed line = output at 100–120 V low line
AC277 VAC / HVDC
07 — Questions

R770AP vs DL385 Gen11, answered

Is the R770AP or the DL385 Gen11 the faster server?

Neither document publishes benchmark results, so this page compares what they do state. The R770AP lists 5 processors up to 128 cores at 500 W; the DL385 Gen11 lists 39 up to 160 cores at 400 W. Fully populated that is 256 cores against 320.

Which holds more memory?

The R770AP has 24 DIMM slots and a stated ceiling of 3 TB. The DL385 Gen11 has 24 and 6.0 TB.

Which takes more drives?

R770AP: 32 bays across 4 documented layouts. DL385 Gen11: 48 across 15. Counts include rear and mid-chassis positions where the vendor documents them.

Can either take GPUs?

R770AP: no accelerator option in its document. DL385 Gen11: up to 8, 4 double-wide listed.

Do they share any processors?

No. The two documents list different processors, so a like-for-like processor build is not possible across these two.

Where these figures come from. R770AP: Dell PowerEdge R770AP Technical Guide (May 2026) (Dell document). DL385 Gen11: HPE ProLiant DL385 Gen11 QuickSpecs (Version 47 - 08-Sep-2026) (HPE document). Each claim on this page is derived from those documents, checked page by page on the two data sheets, and carries no pricing.

Other comparisons in this class

R7625 vs DL385 Gen11Dell vs HPER770 vs DL385 Gen11Dell vs HPER770AP vs SR665 V3Dell vs LenovoR7725 vs DL385 Gen11Dell vs HPER7725xd vs DL385 Gen11Dell vs HPEDL385 Gen11 vs SR665 V3HPE vs LenovoDL385 Gen11 vs SR650 V3HPE vs LenovoR770 vs R770APSame family

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