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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
Key metrics
Form factor
Dell PowerEdge R9604U rack, 4-socket
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen112U rack, 4-socket
ThinkSystem SR860 V34U rack, 4-socket
Max total cores
Dell PowerEdge R960240 (4 × 60-core)
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11240 (4 × 60-core)
ThinkSystem SR860 V3240 (4 × 60-core)
Max memory
Dell PowerEdge R96016 TB DDR5
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen1116 TB DDR5
ThinkSystem SR860 V316 TB DDR5
Max PCIe slots
Dell PowerEdge R960Up to 12 (Gen5)
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11Up to 6 (Gen5) + 2 OCP 3.0
ThinkSystem SR860 V3Up to 18 (12 Gen5 + 4 Gen4, or 18 Gen4) + 2 OCP 3.0
Max 2.5" drive bays
Dell PowerEdge R960Up to 32 (SAS/SATA)
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11Up to 24 SFF
ThinkSystem SR860 V3Up to 48
Processor
Processor
Dell PowerEdge R960Up to four 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable, up to 60 cores per CPU, optional Intel QAT
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11Two or four 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable, up to 60 cores per CPU, up to 350W
ThinkSystem SR860 V3Two or four 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable (LGA 4677), up to 60 cores per CPU, up to 350W
Socket count
Dell PowerEdge R9604-socket
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen114-socket (2 or 4 populated)
ThinkSystem SR860 V34-socket (2 or 4 populated)
Max cores
Dell PowerEdge R960240
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11240
ThinkSystem SR860 V3240
Memory
Memory type
Dell PowerEdge R960DDR5 RDIMM (registered ECC)
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11HPE DDR5 SmartMemory RDIMM
ThinkSystem SR860 V3TruDDR5 RDIMM
Memory (DIMM slots)
Dell PowerEdge R96064 (16 per CPU)
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen1164 (16 per CPU)
ThinkSystem SR860 V364 (16 per CPU)
Memory channels per CPU
Dell PowerEdge R9608
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen118
ThinkSystem SR860 V38
Max DIMM speed
Dell PowerEdge R9604800 MT/s
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen114800 MT/s
ThinkSystem SR860 V34800 MT/s
Max memory
Dell PowerEdge R96016 TB
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen1116 TB
ThinkSystem SR860 V316 TB
Storage
Drive bays
Dell PowerEdge R960Up to 24 × 2.5" NVMe (368.64 TB) or 32 × 2.5" SAS/SATA (491.52 TB); EDSFF E3.S options
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen118, 16 or 24 × 2.5" SFF (SAS/SATA/NVMe); up to 16 (2P) / 24 (4P) E3.S EDSFF
ThinkSystem SR860 V3Up to 48 × 2.5" (SAS/SATA/NVMe), 24 as AnyBay
Direct-connect NVMe
Dell PowerEdge R960Up to 24 × 2.5" NVMe
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11Up to 24 (4P) E3.S NVMe
ThinkSystem SR860 V3Up to 24 NVMe (x4 PCIe Gen5 each)
Boot device
Dell PowerEdge R960BOSS-N1 (2 × M.2)
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11NS204i-u boot device
ThinkSystem SR860 V31–2 × 7mm or M.2
Networking
Networking
Dell PowerEdge R960Optional 2 × 1GbE LOM + OCP 3.0
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen111GbE to 200GbE via OCP 3.0 or PCIe; up to 2 OCP slots
ThinkSystem SR860 V32 × OCP 3.0 (1/10/25/100 GbE)
Expandability
PCIe slots
Dell PowerEdge R960Up to 12 × PCIe Gen5
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11Up to 6 × PCIe Gen5 + 2 OCP 3.0
ThinkSystem SR860 V3Up to 18 PCIe (12 Gen5 + 4 Gen4, or 18 Gen4) + 2 OCP 3.0
GPU support
Dell PowerEdge R960Up to 4 × 400W double-wide PCIe GPU
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11Up to 6 single-wide or 2 double-wide (e.g. H100, L40)
ThinkSystem SR860 V3Up to 4 × 350W double-wide or 8 × 75W single-wide
Management
Management
Dell PowerEdge R960iDRAC9 (Redfish API), OpenManage Enterprise
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11HPE iLO 6, HPE OneView, GreenLake Compute Ops Management
ThinkSystem SR860 V3XClarity Controller 2 (XCC2), Redfish, XClarity Administrator
Security
Dell PowerEdge R960Silicon Root of Trust, SCV, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, signed firmware
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11Silicon Root of Trust, TPM 2.0
ThinkSystem SR860 V3Root of Trust, PFR, ThinkShield, TPM 2.0, chassis intrusion switch
Power & cooling
Power supply
Dell PowerEdge R9601100W/1400W/1800W/2400W/2800W hot-swap redundant (Platinum/Titanium)
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11800W/1000W/1600W/1800W–2200W Flex Slot (Platinum/Titanium); up to 4, 1+1/2+2/3+1/4+0
ThinkSystem SR860 V3Up to 4 hot-swap Platinum/Titanium; 1100W and higher (e.g. 1800W, 2600W); N+1 or N+N
Cooling
Dell PowerEdge R960Air (up to 6 dual-fan hot-plug sets); optional DLC
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen11Air (hot-plug redundant fans); optional closed-loop liquid cooling
ThinkSystem SR860 V3Air (hot-swap N+1 fans)
Form factor
Rack height
Dell PowerEdge R9604U
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen112U
ThinkSystem SR860 V34U
Warranty
Warranty
Dell PowerEdge R9603-year ProSupport (varies by configuration)
HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen113/3/3 (3yr parts, labour, on-site)
ThinkSystem SR860 V31- 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.

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Dell PowerEdge R960
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