🖥️ Dell R260 vs HPE DL20 Gen11 vs Lenovo SR250 V3
AI-powered analysis across 20 matched specifications
Performance Overview
Scores based on quantifiable specification values (1-10 scale)
Detailed Specifications
| Specification | Dell PowerEdge R260 Dell PowerEdge | HPE ProLiant DL20 Gen11 HPE ProLiant | ThinkSystem SR250 V3 Lenovo ThinkSystem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key Metrics | |||
| Form Factor | 1U rack, short-depth (461 mm) | 1U rack-mountable | 1U Rack Server |
| Processor Socket Count | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Max Processor Cores | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Max Memory Capacity | 128 GB | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Max Memory Speed | 4400 MT/s | 4800 MT/s | 5600 MHz |
| Compute | |||
| Processor | One Intel Xeon 6300 series, Xeon E-2400 series (up to 8c), or Pentium G7400/G7400T | Intel Xeon E-2400 series (up to 8c/16T, 95W); Pentium Gold G7900 | 1× Intel Xeon E-2400 / Xeon 6300, up to 8 cores, 95W TDP |
| Max Processor Speed | -- | Up to 3.6 GHz (E-2486) | -- |
| Chipset | -- | Intel C262 | -- |
| Memory | |||
| Memory | DDR5 UDIMM (Unregistered ECC) / 4 DIMM slots / 128 GB DDR5 at 4400 MT/s | DDR5 (ECC supported) / 4 DIMM slots / 128 GB DDR5 at 4800 MT/s | Up to 128 GB TruDDR5 5600 MHz ECC (4 DIMM slots) |
| Storage | |||
| Storage Options | Up to 2 × 3.5" SAS/SATA (max 32 TB); or 6 × 2.5" hot-plug SAS/SATA (max 46.08 TB) | 4 SFF hot-plug or 2 LFF hot-plug/non-hot-plug / SAS 12G, SATA 6G, NVMe U.3 | Up to 10× 2.5" hot-swap SAS/SATA, or 4× 3.5"; 2× M.2 SATA |
| Boot Device | BOSS-N1: HWRAID 2 × M.2 NVMe SSDs; or internal USB 3.0 | HPE NS204i-u NVMe hot-plug boot storage device | -- |
| Networking | |||
| Network | 2 × 1GbE LOM embedded | 4-port 1GbE embedded NIC; OCP 3.0 optional | 1GbE / 10GbE / 25GbE via OCP 3.0 adapter |
| GPU / Accelerators | |||
| GPU Support | N/A | -- | -- |
| Expansion / PCIe | |||
| PCIe Slots | 2 × PCIe Gen4 (Slot 1: x8/x8 HL LP; Slot 2: x16/x8 HL LP) | PCIe Gen5 | 1× PCIe Gen5 ×16, 1× PCIe Gen4 ×8 |
| Management | |||
| Management | iDRAC9 (Redfish API, iDRAC Direct, Quick Sync 2) | HPE iLO 6 (embedded), HPE GreenLake Compute Ops Management | Lenovo XClarity Controller 2 (XCC2), Redfish |
| Power | |||
| Power Supply | 450W Platinum (non-redundant) or 700W Titanium (non-redundant) | HPE 1000W Flex Slot Titanium hot-plug (96% efficiency) | 800W Titanium hot-swap (redundant optional) |
| Physical / Environmental | |||
| Dimensions (H×W×D) | 42.8 × 482 × 461 mm (1.68 × 18.97 × 18.15 in) | -- | 43.5 × 438 × 635 mm (H×W×D) |
| Security | |||
| Security | Silicon Root of Trust, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, Secured Component Verification | -- | TPM 2.0, Platform Firmware Resiliency (PFR), ThinkShield |
| Software & OS Compatibility | |||
| Operating Systems | Windows Server, RHEL, SLES, Ubuntu, VMware ESXi | Windows Server, RHEL, SLES, VMware ESXi, Ubuntu | Windows Server, RHEL, SUSE, Ubuntu, VMware ESXi |
| Warranty & Support | |||
| Warranty | 3-year ProSupport (varies by configuration) | 3/3/3 (3-year parts, 3-year labour, 3-year on-site) | 1- or 3-year CRU + Onsite NBD |
Expert Analysis
These three 1U single-socket servers share a common foundation of Intel Xeon E-2400/6300 processors with up to 8 cores and 128GB of DDR5 memory, but diverge significantly in their design priorities. The Dell PowerEdge R260 distinguishes itself with its short-depth 461mm chassis, making it uniquely suited for space-constrained edge deployments, shallow cabinets, or retail environments where physical depth is a limiting factor. Its storage options, while flexible, are more modest than the others, and its networking is limited to dual 1GbE embedded ports, positioning it as a specialised solution for compact footprints rather than raw performance.
The HPE ProLiant DL20 Gen11 and Lenovo ThinkSystem SR250 V3 offer more conventional 1U form factors with stronger expansion capabilities. The HPE model provides a balanced configuration with PCIe Gen5 support, flexible 4 SFF/2 LFF storage options, and a high-efficiency 1000W Titanium power supply, making it a solid general-purpose workhorse for small to medium business server rooms. However, the Lenovo SR250 V3 emerges as the most capable in terms of quantifiable specifications: it offers the fastest memory at 5600MHz, the most extensive storage with up to 10 hot-swap 2.5" bays, and superior networking flexibility through its OCP 3.0 slot supporting up to 25GbE. Its 800W Titanium hot-swap PSU with optional redundancy adds to its appeal for critical deployments.
Value propositions differ accordingly. The Dell trades some performance and expandability for its unique physical form factor. The HPE offers a well-rounded package with strong management via iLO 6 and HPE GreenLake integration. The Lenovo provides the highest performance ceiling in memory, storage, and networking for workloads demanding greater I/O throughput or storage density. The choice ultimately depends on whether physical constraints, balanced features, or maximum performance within the 1U envelope is the primary driver.
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