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🖥️ Dell PowerEdge R960 vs HPE DL560 Gen11 vs Lenovo SR860 V3

AI-powered analysis across 25 matched specifications

Dell PowerEdge R960 4U 4-socket enterprise rack server front view
Dell PowerEdge R960
Dell PowerEdge
8.5
Overall Score
Balanced 4U scale-up for large in-memory databases needing high PCIe Gen5 I/O density with mature iDRAC9/OpenManage management.
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HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11 2U 4-socket rack server front view
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11
HPE ProLiant
8.3
Overall Score
Maximum four-socket compute and memory density where rack space is constrained, in a 2U chassis.
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Lenovo ThinkSystem SR860 V3 4U four-socket rack server front view
ThinkSystem SR860 V3
Lenovo ThinkSystem
9.0
Overall Score
Storage- and GPU-heavy scale-up workloads needing up to 48 drive bays, 18 PCIe slots and flexible GPU options.
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Performance Overview

Scores based on quantifiable specification values (1-10 scale)

ComputeMemoryStorageNetworkingExpandabilityManagement
Dell PowerEdge R960
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11
ThinkSystem SR860 V3
Compute
Dell PowerEdge R960
9.0
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11
9.0
ThinkSystem SR860 V3
9.0
Memory
Dell PowerEdge R960
8.0
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11
8.0
ThinkSystem SR860 V3
8.0
Storage
Dell PowerEdge R960
8.0
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11
7.0
ThinkSystem SR860 V3
10.0
Networking
Dell PowerEdge R960
8.0
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11
9.0
ThinkSystem SR860 V3
8.0
Expandability
Dell PowerEdge R960
9.0
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11
7.0
ThinkSystem SR860 V3
10.0
Management
Dell PowerEdge R960
9.0
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11
9.0
ThinkSystem SR860 V3
9.0

Detailed Specifications

Specification
Dell PowerEdge R960
Dell PowerEdge
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11
HPE ProLiant
ThinkSystem SR860 V3
Lenovo ThinkSystem
Key metrics
Form factor4U rack, 4-socket2U rack, 4-socket4U rack, 4-socket
Max total cores240 (4 × 60-core)240 (4 × 60-core)240 (4 × 60-core)
Max memory16 TB DDR516 TB DDR516 TB DDR5
Max PCIe slotsUp to 12 (Gen5)Up to 6 (Gen5) + 2 OCP 3.0Up to 18 (12 Gen5 + 4 Gen4, or 18 Gen4) + 2 OCP 3.0
Max 2.5" drive baysUp to 32 (SAS/SATA)Up to 24 SFFUp to 48
Processor
ProcessorUp to four 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable, up to 60 cores per CPU, optional Intel QATTwo or four 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable, up to 60 cores per CPU, up to 350WTwo or four 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable (LGA 4677), up to 60 cores per CPU, up to 350W
Socket count4-socket4-socket (2 or 4 populated)4-socket (2 or 4 populated)
Max cores240240240
Memory
Memory typeDDR5 RDIMM (registered ECC)HPE DDR5 SmartMemory RDIMMTruDDR5 RDIMM
Memory (DIMM slots)64 (16 per CPU)64 (16 per CPU)64 (16 per CPU)
Memory channels per CPU888
Max DIMM speed4800 MT/s4800 MT/s4800 MT/s
Max memory16 TB16 TB16 TB
Storage
Drive baysUp to 24 × 2.5" NVMe (368.64 TB) or 32 × 2.5" SAS/SATA (491.52 TB); EDSFF E3.S options8, 16 or 24 × 2.5" SFF (SAS/SATA/NVMe); up to 16 (2P) / 24 (4P) E3.S EDSFFUp to 48 × 2.5" (SAS/SATA/NVMe), 24 as AnyBay
Direct-connect NVMeUp to 24 × 2.5" NVMeUp to 24 (4P) E3.S NVMeUp to 24 NVMe (x4 PCIe Gen5 each)
Boot deviceBOSS-N1 (2 × M.2)NS204i-u boot device1–2 × 7mm or M.2
Networking
NetworkingOptional 2 × 1GbE LOM + OCP 3.01GbE to 200GbE via OCP 3.0 or PCIe; up to 2 OCP slots2 × OCP 3.0 (1/10/25/100 GbE)
Expandability
PCIe slotsUp to 12 × PCIe Gen5Up to 6 × PCIe Gen5 + 2 OCP 3.0Up to 18 PCIe (12 Gen5 + 4 Gen4, or 18 Gen4) + 2 OCP 3.0
GPU supportUp to 4 × 400W double-wide PCIe GPUUp to 6 single-wide or 2 double-wide (e.g. H100, L40)Up to 4 × 350W double-wide or 8 × 75W single-wide
Management
ManagementiDRAC9 (Redfish API), OpenManage EnterpriseHPE iLO 6, HPE OneView, GreenLake Compute Ops ManagementXClarity Controller 2 (XCC2), Redfish, XClarity Administrator
SecuritySilicon Root of Trust, SCV, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, signed firmwareSilicon Root of Trust, TPM 2.0Root of Trust, PFR, ThinkShield, TPM 2.0, chassis intrusion switch
Power & cooling
Power supply1100W/1400W/1800W/2400W/2800W hot-swap redundant (Platinum/Titanium)800W/1000W/1600W/1800W–2200W Flex Slot (Platinum/Titanium); up to 4, 1+1/2+2/3+1/4+0Up to 4 hot-swap Platinum/Titanium; 1100W and higher (e.g. 1800W, 2600W); N+1 or N+N
CoolingAir (up to 6 dual-fan hot-plug sets); optional DLCAir (hot-plug redundant fans); optional closed-loop liquid coolingAir (hot-swap N+1 fans)
Form factor
Rack height4U2U4U
Warranty
Warranty3-year ProSupport (varies by configuration)3/3/3 (3yr parts, labour, on-site)1- or 3-year CRU + on-site NBD; mission-critical upgrades optional
★

Expert Analysis

Specs web-verified from manufacturer datasheets · Servnet-reviewed · Last reviewed 17 Jun 2026

All three are 4-socket scale-up platforms built on the same 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable (LGA 4677) generation, so the core compute envelope is identical: up to four 60-core processors (240 cores), 64 DDR5 DIMM slots with 8 channels per CPU, 16 TB maximum memory at 4800 MT/s, and PCIe Gen5 I/O. For UK buyers the decision therefore hinges not on raw CPU/memory ceilings but on chassis density, storage capacity and expansion. The HPE DL560 Gen11 is the outlier in form factor — it delivers the full four-socket, 240-core, 16 TB envelope in just 2U, making it the strongest choice where rack space and density are the priority, at the cost of fewer PCIe slots (up to six Gen5) and fewer drive bays (up to 24 SFF).

The Dell R960 and Lenovo SR860 V3 are both 4U designs that trade height for I/O and storage. The Lenovo SR860 V3 leads on internal storage (up to 48 × 2.5" bays, 24 of which can be AnyBay/NVMe) and expansion (up to 18 PCIe slots plus two OCP 3.0), and it supports either four 350W double-wide GPUs or eight single-wide accelerators — the broadest GPU flexibility of the three. The Dell R960 sits between the two, offering up to 12 PCIe Gen5 slots, up to 32 SAS/SATA or 24 NVMe bays, and four double-wide GPUs, with Dell's mature iDRAC9/OpenManage tooling and strong supply-chain security (SCV, Silicon Root of Trust).

For procurement timing, note all three are on the 4th Gen Xeon platform; buyers planning long refresh cycles should weigh that newer 5th Gen/Xeon 6 four-socket successors exist in some lines (e.g. Lenovo's SR860 V4). For in-memory databases (SAP HANA), large virtualisation estates and consolidation, any of the three suits; choose HPE for density, Lenovo for storage/GPU breadth, and Dell for balanced I/O with established management tooling. Servnet, as a vendor-neutral UK reseller, can quote and configure all three.

Dell PowerEdge R960
Balanced 4U scale-up for large in-memory databases needing high PCIe Gen5 I/O density with mature iDRAC9/OpenManage management.
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11
Maximum four-socket compute and memory density where rack space is constrained, in a 2U chassis.
ThinkSystem SR860 V3
Storage- and GPU-heavy scale-up workloads needing up to 48 drive bays, 18 PCIe slots and flexible GPU options.

Frequently asked questions

What are the key differences between these three servers?

All three share the same 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable envelope (up to 240 cores, 64 DIMMs, 16 TB DDR5). The main differences are form factor and expansion: the HPE DL560 Gen11 fits four sockets in 2U with up to 6 PCIe Gen5 slots, while the Dell R960 (12 PCIe slots) and Lenovo SR860 V3 (up to 18 PCIe slots, 48 drives) are 4U with greater I/O and storage.

Which is best for in-memory databases like SAP HANA?

All three support up to 16 TB of DDR5 across 64 DIMMs and four sockets, making any suitable for large in-memory databases. The Lenovo SR860 V3 and Dell R960 offer more PCIe expansion for additional NVMe and networking, while the HPE DL560 Gen11 delivers the same memory capacity in a denser 2U footprint.

Which has the most storage and GPU expansion?

The Lenovo SR860 V3 leads on both, with up to 48 × 2.5" drive bays (24 AnyBay/NVMe), up to 18 PCIe slots, and support for four 350W double-wide or eight 75W single-wide GPUs. The Dell R960 supports up to four double-wide GPUs and the HPE DL560 Gen11 up to two double-wide or six single-wide.

Can Servnet supply all three servers?

Yes. Servnet is a vendor-neutral UK reseller and can quote and configure the Dell PowerEdge R960, HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11 and Lenovo ThinkSystem SR860 V3 as build-to-order systems to your chosen CPU, memory, storage, GPU and networking specification.

Specs verified from

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Dell PowerEdge R960
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