Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers comparison

Dell Technologies and Hewlett Packard Enterprise are both solutions in the Rack Servers category. Dell Technologies is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.3, while Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #2 with an average rating of 9.3. Dell Technologies holds a 1.1% mindshare in Rack Servers, compared to Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s 21.6% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Dell Technologies users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users who would recommend it.

Dell PowerEdge XE Servers

Read 10 Dell PowerEdge XE Servers reviews

672 Views
378 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Read 156 HPE ProLiant DL Servers reviews

10,569 Views
8,632 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Dell PowerEdge XE Servers

HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 8, 2024

HPE ProLiant DL Servers and Dell PowerEdge XE Servers compete in the enterprise server market. HPE ProLiant DL Servers have the upper hand due to greater satisfaction in features and reliability, although Dell PowerEdge XE Servers are noted for their innovative design.

Features: HPE ProLiant DL Servers deliver robust performance, scalability, and security, fitting diverse IT needs. Dell PowerEdge XE Servers provide flexible configurations and enhanced power efficiency, optimizing high-density compute environments. HPE's traditional server reliability aligns with Dell's modern data center architecture.

Room for Improvement: HPE users desire a simpler interface and better energy efficiency, alongside enhancements in usability. Dell feedback indicates a need for improved cooling systems, better hardware compatibility, and increased hardware flexibility.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: HPE ProLiant DL Servers offer straightforward installation and dependable customer support, ensuring seamless integration. Dell PowerEdge XE Servers also present efficient setup with detailed documentation, though their post-sale support could be improved compared to HPE.

Pricing and ROI: HPE ProLiant DL Servers generally have lower setup costs and steady ROI, appealing to budget-conscious buyers. Dell PowerEdge XE Servers, with higher initial costs, justify pricing with advanced features and swift ROI, catering to performance-focused users. HPE sees higher pricing satisfaction, while Dell supports long-term gains for advanced capabilities seekers.

To learn more, read our detailed Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs. HPE ProLiant DL Servers Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs. HPE ProLiant DL Servers

April 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 Servers

Ranking in Rack Servers

10th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Ranking in Rack Servers

2nd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

156

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Rack Servers category, the mindshare of Dell PowerEdge XE Servers is 1.1%, up from 0.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE ProLiant DL Servers is 21.6%, up from 21.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

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

SHIVAKUMAR A P

Country Manager - Emerging Business at Orbit Techsol

With an easy setup phase in place, it is suitable for small and large-sized businesses

When you speak of any enhancements in the product, you need to shift to the tool's commercial mode. You get more features in the solution if you pour in more money. If a customer needs some features in the solution, they will have to buy it since certain features are not loaded by default in the server. With entry-level licenses, servers are shipped to customers free of cost. Customers need to pay if they want more and more features in the solution. Every OEM solution in the market, including HPE ProLiant DL, operates similarly. The overall cost of the product needs to be lower, as it is one of the areas of concern in the product.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

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

"The solution is flexible in my experience."

"The resource management features are valuable."

"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."

"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 that it can support up to 32 drives of internal storage."

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

More Dell PowerEdge XE Servers pros

"ProLiant DL servers are the best on the market. The models support an extensive list of Intel processors."

"It is stable."

"We have had our system working for between two and three years with no downtime."

"This is all I've ever used. These servers are strong, and they have very few failures on them. They are also easy to manage and monitor."

"The technical support from HPE ProLiant DL Servers is very good. We can contact them through various means and they are responsive, they are quick."

"It's easy to upgrade, and it is very easy to take care of the firmware upgrades."

"The most valuable feature is stability."

"The speed of the backups and having the system be immune to ransomware are the main advantages."

More HPE ProLiant DL Servers pros

Cons

"Upgrading can be a bit difficult."

"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."

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

"Dell PowerEdge XE Servers can improve by adapting HCI technology."

"The quality and reliability could be improved."

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

"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."

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

More Dell PowerEdge XE Servers cons

"The documentation for HPE ProLiant DL Servers has room for improvement. For example, it says on the documentation that this specific product or part number is supported. Still, when you ask the HPE team, the reply is that it's not supported, so HPE should update the information on the documentation."

"A better option would be same day support, not next business day."

"They can increase the controller cache. Currently, it has a controller cache of up to 4 GB. The RAID controller card comes with a maximum of 4 GB cache in HPE servers, whereas it comes with a maximum of 8 GB cache in Dell servers. They can also improve the port size. HP provides a 25 GB port on the server, whereas both Dell and Cisco provide a 100 GB port."

"They should work with Microsoft to make licensing costs better. That's because the physical servers have processors with all these cores, and Microsoft now licenses Windows virtual server desktops based on the number of cores and the serving servers. So, if you got to build 10 or 20 servers on that desktop, you got to license them all with Microsoft. They should have a partnership with Microsoft to decrease the virtual licensing of servers in partnerships so that when you purchase the servers, you also get licensing for Microsoft on top of them. That's because it gets very expensive to license virtual operating systems to run on physical servers."

"They are pretty solid servers, but, just like all servers, they become obsolete after some time. They can maybe provide a console to monitor the health of the servers. There should be some kind of console to which you can log in to remotely check on the health of a server, even when the server is off. The servers that we have are only scalable to some extent. They have got a limited amount of hard drive that you can insert. Their scalability should be improved."

"I would like to replace a hard drive that might be saved on the fly, on the server that I'm using currently, but I can't do that. I'm forced to power off my virtual machine, turn off the server, disconnect it from the power, replace the drive, rebuild the storage, and power it on again."

"We found that the extensions could be improved and the price could be a little lower."

"The cost of the solution is high and has room for improvement."

More HPE ProLiant DL Servers cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Dell has competitive pricing."

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

"The pricing model is quite competitive."

"This solution is priced very reasonably."

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

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

"There are less expensive solutions than HPE ProLiant DL Servers. However, there is a lot of value in this solution."

"An investment in DL380 is worth it."

"The price of HPE ProLiant DL Servers is reasonable compared to other solutions."

"The price of the product is a little high."

"The price of HPE ProLiant DL Servers is reasonable, but because of covid and other factors, the price could be reduced. The license is paid annually."

"It is expensive. Its price should be better."

"This is an expensive product and there is licensing required for iLO, which is the HPE monitoring system."

"The solution's pricing is high. It needs to be more flexible. The flexibility would be beneficial for our clients, especially in a competitive market. Adding additional features and addressing complex requirements on top of the price can be challenging for us as a reseller."

More HPE ProLiant DL Servers pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

20%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Manufacturing Company

University

Computer Software Company

17%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

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?

The support team must improve the speed of response. The product should be promoted more in the market.

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...

See all answers

What do you like most about HPE ProLiant DL Servers?

The most valuable feature of the solution is HPE Integrated Lights-Out (iLO)...Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE ProLiant DL Servers?

The product is expensive. I rate the product price an eight on a scale of one to ten, where one is low price and ten is high price. On the needs of the customers, the product offers a lot of suppor...

See all answers

Comparisons

HPE Apollo Systems vs Dell PowerEdge XE Servers

Compared 38% of the time

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers vs Dell PowerEdge XE Servers

Compared 35% of the time

Dell XR2 Rugged Server vs Dell PowerEdge XE Servers

Compared 17% of the time

IBM Power Systems vs Dell PowerEdge XE Servers

Compared 10% of the time

More Dell PowerEdge XE Servers Competitors

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Compared 47% of the time

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Compared 22% of the time

HPE Synergy vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Compared 9% of the time

HPE Apollo Systems vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Compared 6% of the time

IBM Power Systems vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Compared 6% of the time

More HPE ProLiant DL Servers Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Rack Servers

March 2025

Download Dell PowerEdge XE Servers product report

Buyer's Guide

HPE ProLiant DL Servers

April 2025

Download HPE ProLiant DL Servers product report

Also Known As

PowerEdge XE Servers

HP ProLiant DL series, HP ProLiant DL

Overview

Our newest addition to the Dell EMC PowerEdge family, PowerEdge XE servers are purpose-built for complex, harsh and compute-intensive workloads.

Dell Technologies

HPE ProLiant DL Servers are utilized by organizations for tasks like virtualization, database hosting, and application hosting, deployed both on-premises and in private clouds for diverse needs.

Organizations depend on HPE ProLiant DL Servers for stability, performance, and reliability. They are essential for running active directories, enterprise applications, and handling high-performance computing. These servers are known for their easy setup, scalability, and extensive management capabilities like iLO. Offering compatibility with many components and energy efficiency, they provide reliable hardware and good performance under demanding conditions. However, there is a need for improved price, stability, scalability, airflow, and power consumption. Enhancements in controller cache, port sizes, SAN connectivity, support availability, and management interface are also required. Faster technical support, better documentation, simplified configurations, and enhanced monitoring features and security integration would benefit users.

What are the key features?

Easy Setup: Quick and straightforward deployment.
Scalability: Adaptable to growing business needs.
Extensive Management: Features like iLO for advanced control.
Energy Efficiency: Optimized for lower power consumption.
Compatibility: Works well with various components.
Reliable Hardware: Robust and dependable technology.
Redundancy: Ensures high availability and minimal downtime.

What are the benefits and ROI?

High Performance: Excellent for demanding computing tasks.
User-Friendly: Easy to maintain and operate.
Flexibility: Versatile for different applications.
Good Technical Support: Access to professional assistance.

HPE ProLiant DL Servers are implemented across industries like finance for active directories and payment solutions, education for virtual desktops, healthcare for database synchronization, and IT firms for high-performance computing and application hosting.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Sample Customers

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

AmeriPride Services, iSource, Bolagsverket, BlueShore Financial, British Columbia Assessment Authority, National Stock Exchange, Cardlytics

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs. HPE ProLiant DL Servers

April 2025

Free Report: Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs. HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Find out what your peers are saying about Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs. HPE ProLiant DL Servers and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

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