🖥️ Dell R360 vs HPE DL20 Gen11

The Dell PowerEdge R360 and HPE ProLiant DL20 Gen11 represent two capable single-socket 1U servers targeting small-to-medium business and remote office environments. The Dell R360 offers superior storage flexibility with configurations supporting up to 8×2.5" or 4×3.5" drives, providing maximum raw capacity of 64TB, alongside dedicated NVIDIA A2 GPU support for AI inference workloads. Its BOSS-N1 boot solution with hardware RAID on dual M.2 NVMe drives delivers robust OS redundancy. The HPE DL20 Gen11 counters with future-ready PCIe Gen5 connectivity, higher memory bandwidth at 4800 MT/s, and a more powerful 1000W Titanium power supply, though its storage options are more limited to either 4 SFF or 2 LFF bays.

For organisations prioritising storage density and AI acceleration capabilities, the Dell R360 presents a compelling proposition with its flexible drive configurations and validated GPU support for inference workloads. The HPE DL20 Gen11 excels in environments requiring maximum I/O bandwidth and power efficiency, with its PCIe Gen5 foundation offering better future-proofing for high-speed storage and network adapters. Both systems offer comparable management capabilities through iDRAC9 and iLO 6 respectively, with similar OS support and three-year warranty options, though Dell's security features are more explicitly documented.

The choice between these servers ultimately depends on workload requirements: the Dell R360 suits storage-intensive applications with optional AI inference capabilities, while the HPE DL20 Gen11 better serves I/O-intensive workloads that can leverage PCIe Gen5 bandwidth. Organisations should weigh the Dell's storage flexibility and GPU support against HPE's future I/O capabilities and higher memory bandwidth when making their selection.

Want to compare different products or add more to this comparison?

Made your choice? Spread the cost.

Whichever you choose, you don't have to pay for it all upfront — finance your new hardware from £129/mo ex VAT on hire purchase or lease. Compare monthly payments and terms in seconds.

Indicative estimate · subject to change · no credit check at this stage · hire purchase, lease & subscription for UK businesses

Indicative illustration only. Servnet Limited is not authorised or regulated by the FCA and does not provide financial advice or arrange finance. All finance opportunities are referred to Number Eight Business Finance. Finance policy