🖥️ Dell R760 vs HPE DL380 Gen12
AI-powered analysis across 19 matched specifications
Performance Overview
Scores based on quantifiable specification values (1-10 scale)
Detailed Specifications
| Specification | Dell PowerEdge R760 Dell PowerEdge | HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen12 HPE ProLiant |
|---|---|---|
| Key Metrics | ||
| Form Factor | 2U rack-mountable, 2-socket (2P) | 2U rack-mountable, 2-socket (2P) |
| Maximum Cores per Socket | 64 cores (5th Gen Xeon) | 144 cores (Xeon 6 E-Core) |
| Maximum Memory | 8 TB | 8 TB |
| Maximum GPU Count | 6 single-wide (75W) or 2 double-wide (350W) | -- |
| PCIe Expansion Slots | 8 PCIe slots + 1 OCP 3.0 | 8 PCIe Gen5 slots + 2 OCP 3.0 |
| Compute | ||
| Processor | Up to two 4th Gen Xeon Scalable / Xeon Max (up to 56c) or 5th Gen Xeon Scalable (up to 64c) | Intel Xeon 6 E-Core (up to 144c, 6780E 330W) and P-Core (up to 86c, 6787P 350W) |
| Memory | ||
| Memory | DDR5 RDIMM (Registered ECC) / 32 DIMM slots / 8 TB at 4800 MT/s (4th Gen) / 5600 MT/s (5th Gen) | HPE DDR5 Smart Memory RDIMM / 32 DIMM slots (16 per processor, 8 channels, 2 DIMMs per channel) / 8 TB at 6400 MT/s (1DPC) / 5200 MT/s (2DPC) / Advanced ECC, ADDDC, mirroring |
| Storage | ||
| Storage Options | 12 × 3.5" SAS/SATA (max 240 TB); 8/16/24 × 2.5" NVMe/SAS/SATA (max 368.64 TB); 16 × EDSFF E3.S Gen5 (max 122.88 TB); optional rear bays | 8SFF (to 24SFF), 8LFF, 12LFF, 12EDSFF (to 36EDSFF E3.S); optional rear SFF/LFF bays |
| RAID Controllers | PERC H965i, PERC H755, PERC H755N, PERC H355; BOSS-N1 boot | HPE MR416i-p (8 GB cache), MR408i-o (4 GB cache); Intel VROC |
| Networking | ||
| Network | Optional 2 × 1GbE LOM + OCP 3.0 or MIC for DPU | OCP 3.0 or PCIe NIC; optional 2 front OCP (post-launch); up to 200GbE |
| GPU / Accelerators | ||
| GPU Support | Up to 6 × 75W single-wide or 2 × 350W double-wide GPUs | -- |
| Expansion / PCIe | ||
| PCIe Slots | Up to 8 × PCIe (Gen4 and Gen5 mix, 8 slots across 2 risers) + 1 × OCP 3.0 | Up to 8 × PCIe Gen5 x16 (primary + secondary + tertiary risers) + 2 OCP 3.0 (rear) + optional 2 front OCP |
| Management | ||
| Management | iDRAC9 (Redfish API, Direct, Quick Sync 2), OpenManage Enterprise | HPE iLO 7 (Security Enclave, Redfish API), HPE Compute Ops Management |
| Power | ||
| Power Supply | 700W–3200W Titanium / 800W–2400W Platinum hot-swap redundant | -- |
| Physical / Environmental | ||
| Cooling | Air (Smart Flow chassis, up to 6 hot-plug fans); optional DLC | Air (standard/performance), closed-loop liquid cooling (CLLC), direct liquid cooling (DLC) |
| Dimensions (H×W×D) | 86.8 × 482 × 758 mm (3.41 × 18.97 × 29.85 in without bezel) | -- |
| Security | ||
| Security | Silicon Root of Trust, SCV, MFA, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, Signed firmware | -- |
| Software & OS Compatibility | ||
| Operating Systems | Windows Server, RHEL, SLES, Ubuntu, VMware ESXi | Windows Server, VMware ESXi, RHEL, SLES, Ubuntu, Oracle Linux |
| 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 R760 and HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen12 represent two distinct approaches to modern 2U enterprise servers, each excelling in different areas. The Dell R760 offers exceptional GPU density with support for up to six single-wide accelerators, making it particularly well-suited for AI inference, virtual desktop infrastructure, and media processing workloads where multiple lower-power GPUs are advantageous. Its storage flexibility—supporting 12×3.5", 24×2.5", or 16×EDSFF E3.S configurations—provides excellent capacity options for data-intensive applications. The iDRAC9 management with Cyber Resilient Architecture delivers robust security features including Silicon Root of Trust and comprehensive firmware protection.
The HPE DL380 Gen12 leverages Intel's Xeon 6 architecture to deliver unprecedented core density—up to 144 cores per socket with E-Core processors—making it ideal for highly parallelised workloads like cloud-native applications, containerised environments, and high-density virtualisation. Its memory subsystem achieves 6400 MT/s speeds (in 1DPC configuration), offering superior bandwidth for memory-bound applications. The platform's eight PCIe Gen5 slots plus multiple OCP 3.0 options provide exceptional expansion capabilities, while HPE's iLO 7 with Security Enclave introduces quantum-resistant cryptography. The inclusion of three-year HPE Compute Ops Management adds significant operational value through AI-driven infrastructure management.
These servers present clear trade-offs: the Dell R760 excels in GPU density and storage flexibility, while the HPE DL380 Gen12 leads in processor core count, memory bandwidth, and expansion capabilities. Organisations prioritising AI/ML workloads with multiple accelerators will find the R760 compelling, whereas those running highly virtualised environments or cloud-native applications will benefit more from the DL380 Gen12's exceptional core density. Both platforms offer comprehensive cooling options including direct liquid cooling, though HPE provides more immediate liquid cooling choices. The value proposition differs significantly—Dell emphasises GPU acceleration and storage versatility, while HPE focuses on computational density and advanced management capabilities.
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