Dell PowerEdge XE-Series vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers comparison

Dell Technologies and Lenovo are both solutions in the Rack Servers category. Dell Technologies is ranked #9 with an average rating of 8.7, while Lenovo is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.5. Dell Technologies holds a 1.3% mindshare in Rack Servers, compared to Lenovo’s 15.2% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Dell Technologies users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Lenovo users who would recommend it.

Dell PowerEdge XE-Series

Read 11 Dell PowerEdge XE-Series reviews

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658 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Ser...

Read 27 Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers reviews

5,836 Views
5,836 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

Dell PowerEdge XE-Series

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Ser...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 26, 2025

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers and Dell PowerEdge XE-Series are competitive offerings in the server market. While Dell PowerEdge XE-Series often stands out for its advanced features, Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers present a compelling option due to their competitive pricing and support.

Features: Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers are recognized for their scalability, energy efficiency, and simple integration with UPS systems, making them ideal for data center optimization. Dell PowerEdge XE-Series offers exceptional processing power, robust performance capabilities, and a secure, compatible platform, especially beneficial for big data solutions.

Room for Improvement: Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers could enhance their solution for blade servers and refine virtualization support features. Improvements in GUI usability and integration with additional security solutions might be beneficial. Dell PowerEdge XE-Series could work on reducing the complexity of setup for some configurations and aim to lower energy consumption. Further expanding compatibility with various software environments may also be beneficial.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers provide a streamlined installation process with reliable support. Dell PowerEdge XE-Series ensures efficient deployment with extensive resources and highly responsive service. Dell's support is often noted for its flexibility and quick resolution capabilities.

Pricing and ROI: Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers typically offer a lower initial setup cost, providing a quicker return on investment for budget-conscious businesses. Their competitive pricing can lead to faster ROI in various environments. Dell PowerEdge XE-Series, though starting with a higher initial cost, tends to offer greater long-term performance benefits, giving a higher ROI for enterprises with demanding computational needs.

To learn more, read our detailed Dell PowerEdge XE-Series vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerEdge XE-Series vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

September 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Dell PowerEdge XE-Series

Ranking in Rack Servers

9th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Ser...

Ranking in Rack Servers

3rd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Rack Servers category, the mindshare of Dell PowerEdge XE-Series is 1.3%, up from 1.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers is 15.2%, down from 17.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Rack Servers Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers	15.2%
Dell PowerEdge XE-Series	1.3%
Other	83.5%

Rack Servers

Featured Reviews

Muzammil Nasim

Software Architect at a manufacturing company with 501-1,000 employees

We're hardly using 15 percent of their computing power, so there's a lot left over that we could utilize

It should be easier to extend PowerEdge XE servers. We haven't architected them with an eye toward scalability. They have a fixed number of slots for hard drives, which is enough for our present use case, However, we would have more options if we could extend that. We could deploy the servers in a broader range of use cases with different requirements. It's fine for our current deployment with only a few thousand users. We're exploring other solutions like such as VxRail or PowerFlex for larger public-facing use cases.

Read full review

Adalberto Giaretta

Technology director at Infodive Representações e Serviços ltda

Reliable with an easy setup and good support

These are rack servers. We use them for applications. It stores everything including VM servers, application servers, Windows, et cetera The reliability is great. The solution is like any other commodity like Dell or HPE. These are all very similar. Setting up the solution is easy. It is stable.…

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Its reliability and consistency are most valuable."

"One of the most valuable features of Dell PowerEdge XE Servers is the ease of fixing issues if there are any."

"The solution is flexible in my experience."

"In general, it works well. We haven't had issues."

"PowerEdge XE servers are high-performing. We're hardly using 15 percent of their computing power, so there's a lot left over that we could utilize."

"The most valuable feature is the trusted platform module."

"The strong point of this solution is its compatibility with VMware and its resilience."

"The most valuable feature of these servers is the ability to store a lot—the capacity and the number of hard disk drives."

More Dell PowerEdge XE-Series pros

"The IMM tool is great because we can upgrade different views and device versions very quickly. We can upgrade everything from a single point through a single dashboard, which is great for us because we also have Lenovo storage. Lenovo ThinkSystem also has Xclarity built into the system."

"The product is designed to make adding RAM and disk space easier for users."

"The most valuable aspect of Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers is the brand name and the service relationship we have with Lenovo."

"They have taken a lot of technology from IBM, and IBM always delivered very powerful hardware to the IT industry compared to Dell EMC or anyone else."

"It's very power-efficient and allows you to access the rack server directly without accessing the operating system on that server."

"The initial setup of Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers is straightforward. The process of implementation took me approximately two to three days. We only had to install the hardware for the installation."

"Its performance and the local support of Lenovo in my city are the most valuable features. Its performance is the best, and its user interface is also very easy."

"The product is very user-friendly."

More Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers pros

Cons

"In future releases, there should be more support options for the latest processor."

"It is mostly stable, but the usual problem would be, for example, upgrading to a newer version of VMware or dealing with compatibility issues during the process."

"We use OpenManager a lot, and that can be a bit clunky at times. They can make that better."

"It should be easier to extend PowerEdge XE servers. We haven't architected them with an eye toward scalability. They have a fixed number of slots for hard drives, which is enough for our present use case, However, we would have more options if we could extend that. We could deploy the servers in a broader range of use cases with different requirements. It's fine for our current deployment with only a few thousand users. We're exploring other solutions like such as VxRail or PowerFlex for larger public-facing use cases."

"I would like to have support for performing a detailed analysis of the server from a mobile device."

"The quality and reliability could be improved."

"The support team must improve the speed of response."

"Upgrading can be a bit difficult."

More Dell PowerEdge XE-Series cons

"It is quite an expensive product. Its price can be improved."

"For the price my company pays for Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers, we can have more from other vendors offering the same functionalities that are present in Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers at a lower price."

"The solution's initial setup was complicated."

"I do not have any notes for improvements."

"HP has a riser inside, but Lenovo does not have a riser. It would be good to have a riser with Lenovo. The GUI of the system is really bad. HP has a very good UI for smart memories and everything inside, but in Lenovo, we have a black-and-white UI. HP right now manufactures a server with scalable SP1 and SP2 on a single machine, which is not the case with Lenovo. They are changing the machine. For SP 1, there is one server, and for SP2, there is another server, which is really bad. In HP, we can use two models of processors in a single case. Lenovo should also be improved to have SP1 and SP2 scalable processors simultaneously on a single machine. They should not release another machine. This issue is also there in H3650 severs. They are all inside, but only V3 CPU or only v4 CPU can work, whereas, in HBG9, we can deploy V3 and V4 simultaneously. Lenovo also needs to advertise more because I can't see advertisements anywhere."

"Throughout the use of the product, special needs will arise which may require a global need."

"Upgrading firmware is easier in Dell than in Lenovo."

"Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers does a very good job. However, what could be improved can be their Configurator because it's very bulky and it sometimes gives logical errors."

More Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Dell has competitive pricing."

"There are different types of licensing available, that works well for customers. The product is not very much to purchase."

"The pricing model is quite competitive."

"This solution is priced very reasonably."

"If you want an SLA for parts and equipment then you need to purchase a support agreement."

"You always want slightly cheaper, but overall, they are quite comparable and quite neutral."

"As the costs got high, we had to use the virtualization feature to consolidate the server farm."

"The licensing cost is the same as HP. It doesn't have any additional cost. However, the price, for example, for the memory option, does not match other vendors such as HP or Dell. They should work on the pricing of Lenovo. It is a great competitor, and it should compete with the price."

"Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers are cheaper than HPE...It is a good product that offers value for money."

"It is expensive compared to other vendors."

"The price of Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers is highly competitive. Many customers prefer this solution because of the price. However, the price could be reduced."

"Other than the standard licensing fees there are no other additional costs. The price of Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers could be better, and the availability of the solution could improve. We have been waiting two months for one server."

"Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers can be categorized as a product falling under an affordable price range but more expensive than its competitors."

"I don't know the exact amount of money, but when I compared it to Dell or HPE, Lenovo was the best when it comes to price and equipment."

More Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

18%

Financial Services Firm

Retailer

University

Computer Software Company

12%

University

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	3

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	18
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	9

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Dell PowerEdge XE Servers?

The resource management features are valuable.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Dell PowerEdge XE Servers?

Dell has competitive pricing.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Dell PowerEdge XE Servers?

For Dell PowerEdge XE Servers, particularly for standalone servers, extendability would be a great improvement. This feature is currently available only with virtualization environment. Adding exte...

See all answers

How do Lenovo ThinkSystem rack servers compare with HPE ProLiant DL servers?

Lenovo ThinkSystem rack servers offer flexibility and efficiency in order to meet mission-critical demands. I like that Lenovo blends outstanding performance, reliability, and manageability. The bi...

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When shopping for a rack server, would you go with Dell EMC Poweredge or Lenovo Thinksystem?

Our organization ran comparison tests to determine whether the Dell EMC Poweredge or Lenovo Thinksystem rack servers were the better fit for us. We ultimately decided to go with Dell EMC Poweredge....

See all answers

What do you like most about Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers?

The most valuable feature of the solution is that it is the easiest product to set up and maintain.

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 22% of the time

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Compared 14% of the time

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Dell PowerEdge R-Series vs Dell PowerEdge XE-Series

Compared 12% of the time

Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers vs Dell PowerEdge XE-Series

Compared 12% of the time

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Dell PowerEdge R-Series vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

Compared 53% of the time

HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

Compared 37% of the time

Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

Compared 3% of the time

IBM Power Systems vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

Compared 3% of the time

Huawei FusionServer RH Series Rack Servers vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

Compared 1% of the time

More Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Rack Servers

October 2025

Download Dell PowerEdge XE-Series product report

Buyer's Guide

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

September 2025

Download Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers product report

Also Known As

PowerEdge XE Servers

SR Series, Lenovo SR Series, ThinkSystem Rack Servers, IBM Rack Servers, ThinkSystem SR Series, Lenovo Rack Servers,

Overview

The PowerEdge XE-Series caters to AI-centric workloads by offering exceptional GPU support and processing power for demanding tasks like inferencing and large-scale training, making it ideal for organizations aiming to innovate with AI.

PowerEdge XE-Series stands out in modern GPU-centric computing with its purpose-built design for AI acceleration. Known for handling extreme workloads like model fine-tuning and AI-driven applications, it supports high-density GPU configurations and advanced thermal management. Its vast storage capacity and compatibility with VMware ensure reliable performance across virtualization, big data, and analytics while providing trusted security integration and robust scalability options. However, improvements in processor support, reliability, and management monitoring are sought by users.

What are the key features of PowerEdge XE-Series?

High-Density GPU Support: Configures multiple GPUs for demanding AI tasks.
Advanced Thermal Design: Optimizes cooling for enhanced performance.
Vast Storage Capacity: Supports up to 32 drives for extensive data management.
Compatibility: Works seamlessly with platforms like VMware.
Security Integration: Includes trusted platform modules for data protection.

What benefits should users expect from PowerEdge XE-Series?

Efficient AI Management: Enhances AI workloads with advanced processing.
Scalability: Adapts to growing demands in virtualization and big data.
Security: Offers robust data protection and reliability.
Improved Resource Management: Facilitates straightforward setup and usage.

In different industries, PowerEdge XE-Series is utilized for hosting SaaS, high-performance computing, and general-purpose servers. System integrators use it in client networks for applications like Hadoop, backup, and ERP. It supports virtualization and hyper-converged infrastructure solutions. Real estate sectors leverage iDRAC for efficient management, enhancing data security, power, and network redundancy.

Dell Technologies

From growing small businesses to enterprise workloads, Lenovo rack servers offer the unmatched value, flexibility and industry-leading efficiency to meet mission-critical demands with legendary quality and reliability.

Lenovo

Sample Customers

Epsilon, ROZETTA CORP, JIGUANG, RACKSPACE, NEW BELGIUM BREWING

immixGroup, Komsomolskaya Pravda, SRG Global, Seekr, Infiniti Red Bull Racing, jKool, Tennis Australia, VEKA, Netpoints, Gamma Powersports

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerEdge XE-Series vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

September 2025

Free Report: Dell PowerEdge XE-Series vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

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