Performance Overview
Scores based on quantifiable specification values (1-10 scale)
Detailed Specifications
| Specification | Dell PowerEdge R360 Dell PowerEdge | HPE ProLiant DL20 Gen11 HPE ProLiant |
|---|---|---|
| Key Metrics | ||
| Form Factor | 1U rack-mountable, 1-socket (1P) | 1U rack-mountable |
| Maximum Cores | 8 cores (Xeon E-2400 series) | 8 cores (Xeon E-2400 series) |
| Maximum Raw Storage | 64 TB (4×3.5" configuration) | Not specified |
| GPU Support | NVIDIA A2 AI inference | Not specified |
| PCIe Generation | Gen4 | Gen5 |
| 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 |
| Maximum Processor Speed | Not specified | Up to 3.6 GHz (E-2486) |
| Chipset | Not specified | 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 |
| Storage | ||
| Storage Options | Up to 4 × 3.5" hot-plug SAS/SATA (max 64 TB); or 8 × 2.5" hot-plug SAS/SATA SSD (max 61.44 TB) | 4 SFF hot-plug or 2 LFF hot-plug/non-hot-plug |
| Storage Interfaces | Not specified | SAS 12G, SATA 6G, NVMe U.3 |
| 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; optional OCP 3.0 | 4-port 1GbE embedded NIC; OCP 3.0 optional |
| GPU / Accelerators | ||
| GPU Support | 1 × 60W single-width GPU (NVIDIA A2) | Not specified |
| Expansion / PCIe | ||
| PCIe Slots | 2 × PCIe Gen4 + 1 internal Gen4 x8 for PERC; Slot 1: x8/x8 HL LP; Slot 2: x16/x8 HL LP | PCIe Gen5 |
| I/O & Ports | ||
| I/O Ports | Not specified | Not specified |
| Management | ||
| Management | iDRAC9 (Redfish API, iDRAC Direct, Quick Sync 2), OpenManage Enterprise | HPE iLO 6 (embedded), HPE GreenLake Compute Ops Management |
| Power | ||
| Power Supply | 600W Platinum or 700W Titanium, hot-swap redundant | HPE 1000W Flex Slot Titanium hot-plug (96% efficiency) |
| Physical / Environmental | ||
| Cooling | Air cooling, up to 4 fans | Not specified |
| Dimensions (H×W×D) | 42.8 × 482 × 585.3 mm (1.68 × 18.97 × 23.04 in) | Not specified |
| Security | ||
| Security | Secured-core server, Silicon Root of Trust, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, SCV | Not specified |
| Software & OS Compatibility | ||
| Operating Systems | Windows Server, RHEL, SLES, Ubuntu, VMware ESXi | Windows Server, RHEL, SLES, VMware ESXi, Ubuntu |
| Warranty & Support | ||
| Warranty | 3-year ProSupport (varies by configuration) | 3/3/3 (3-year parts, 3-year labour, 3-year on-site) |
Expert Analysis
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.
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