HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Lenovo are both solutions in the Rack Servers category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #2 with an average rating of 9.5, while Lenovo is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.5. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 22.0% mindshare in Rack Servers, compared to Lenovo’s 14.9% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Lenovo users who would recommend it.

HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Read 158 HPE ProLiant DL Servers reviews

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8,000 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Ser...

Read 27 Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers reviews

5,593 Views
5,593 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Ser...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 5, 2025

HPE ProLiant DL Servers and Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers are prominent in the server market. HPE leads in reliability and support, vital for high-availability, while Lenovo stands out for its affordability and ease of deployment.

Features: HPE ProLiant DL Servers offer reliability with features like iLO for server management, robustness with hot-swappable components, and scalability in storage options. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers provide ease of integration with tools like XClarity, stability, and efficient performance out-of-the-box.

Room for Improvement: HPE ProLiant DL Servers could improve firmware update processes, power consumption, and licensing simplicity. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers need better RAID management, supply chain reliability, and real-time performance dashboards.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both server types are predominantly used on-premises. HPE is praised for responsive and knowledgeable support, while Lenovo offers helpful assistance yet occasionally experiences slower response times.

Pricing and ROI: HPE ProLiant DL Servers have a higher initial cost but justify it with reliability and ROI in demanding environments. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers attract budget-conscious customers with competitive pricing and solid performance, providing good ROI despite undercutting competitors like HP and Dell.

To learn more, read our detailed HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

September 2025

Download the complete report

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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

HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Ranking in Rack Servers

2nd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

158

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 November 2025, in the Rack Servers category, the mindshare of HPE ProLiant DL Servers is 22.0%, up from 20.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers is 14.9%, down from 16.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Rack Servers Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
HPE ProLiant DL Servers	22.0%
Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers	14.9%
Other	63.1%

Rack Servers

Featured Reviews

SHIVAKUMAR A P

General Manager at orbit techsol w pvt.ltd

Addresses end-to-end customer needs and improves data center efficiency

The AI engines that HPE ProLiant DL Servers suggest for their customers include NVIDIA graphics and EnvyLink graphics for AI customers. The AI engines are more than sufficient for the current situation. HPE ProLiant DL Servers address end-to-end customer needs. It is a perfect combination with the generation 12 now, and there are absolutely no gaps. Customers usually deploy HPE ProLiant DL Servers on-premises, as on cloud, they do not have the option to specify the server model, and the cloud vendors will not specify which server it is. My usual deployment process involves checking the power AC requirements, power and cooling requirements, then the rack requirements, and then I proceed to deploy the servers based on the customer requirement. I rate HPE ProLiant DL Servers 10 out of 10.

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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

"The solution is stable."

"HPE service in Taiwan is quick and professional, and ProLiant is cost-effective compared to Dell. Dell is good for one or two servers, but HPE is cheaper than Dell for a large deployment. Cost is the most important thing in the market."

"The solution has always been very stable and reliable."

"ProLiant is highly stable. We've had very few problems with the servers. We only once had an issue with the hard disk in an HPE server."

"Its reliability and after-sales support are very good."

"The initial setup was easy."

"What I like most about HPE ProLiant DL Servers is that it gives the support and hardware availability that my company requires."

"Stability is where HPE dominates competitors like Dell and Cisco. The servers are highly reliable, and we are impressed with the technology HPE offers."

More HPE ProLiant DL Servers pros

"The hardware performance is very valuable."

"One of the main advantages of this tool is its ease of use, as it is a GUI-based tool needing a simple and easy configuration...It is a stable solution."

"I like everything about this solution. It is a very good server, with excellent availability. The size of the power is adequate and the low heating is beneficial."

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

"The initial setup is easy."

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

"Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers are scalable."

"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."

More Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers pros

Cons

"On the software side, I would like for the management of the server overall (including reviewing its health) to be a bit easier. Right now, we have something that sits on the server to make sure all hardware drivers and other thing are up to date. This is a pain to set up."

"The implementation should be simplified, it is not straightforward."

"They should improve the solution's built-in quality."

"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."

"It is too expensive. Its price should be improved. The system admin interface should have better visibility while troubleshooting a problem, even when the problem is coming from the application."

"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."

"ProLiant servers could be more scalable. For example, some models can only contain four hard drives, but many of our customers expect six. If they were to add another extendable hard drive slot, it would be easier to sell the servers to our customers."

"Configurations could be simplified."

More HPE ProLiant DL Servers cons

"The performance of the solution could be better."

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

"I do not have any notes for improvements."

"To be frank, the technical support from Lenovo's team needs improvement. There seems to be a lack of support, and it is important for Lenovo to address this issue."

"I would like the solution to be improved by having more advanced utilities."

"Its price could be better. Its price is sometimes an issue for our clients. XClarity Controller is a very good feature, and Lenovo should include the XClarity Controller license without any additional cost. It should be integrated within the product."

"It should have tools for integration with the cloud. We should be able to transmit data from our on-premises server to the servers in the cloud."

"The RAID Management and the RAID Configuration tools need to be improved."

More Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."

"The pricing is reasonable."

"We did not need to pay for a license for the use of HP DL servers, just for normal hardcore support."

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

"I give the pricing a six out of ten."

"If you have to include the warranty, enhance the warranty support."

"It is just too expensive."

"The solution comes with a one time perpetual license which is included with the server."

More HPE ProLiant DL Servers pricing and cost advice

"It is too expensive. Because we are a university and we have to look for our money, many times we buy some refurbished machines or equipment at reasonable prices from IBM or Lenovo. We are a little bit limited in terms of money, and we buy as much as we can. If they were cheaper, we would buy more."

"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."

"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."

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

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

"It is the cheapest solution we have seen on the market."

"The cost of the solution depends entirely on the client. There are not any additional costs other than the standard licensing fee."

"The price of Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers is competitive."

More Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Government

Computer Software Company

11%

University

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	54
Midsize Enterprise	28
Large Enterprise	98

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

Questions from the Community

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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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 pricing of HPE ProLiant DL Servers depends purely on the configuration, and it is not affordable. However, if you look at the technical caliber of the server, if a customer invests that additio...

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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

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers?

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers are cheaper than HPE, so my company saw it as a product that is available at a bang for one's buck.

See all answers

Comparisons

Dell PowerEdge R-Series vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Compared 47% of the time

HPE Synergy vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Compared 8% of the time

IBM Power Systems vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Compared 5% of the time

HPE Apollo Systems vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Compared 5% of the time

Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Compared 5% of the time

More HPE ProLiant DL Servers Competitors

Dell PowerEdge R-Series vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

Compared 52% of the time

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

Compared 4% of the time

IBM Power Systems vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

Compared 3% of the time

Oracle SPARC Servers vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

Compared 2% of the time

Dell PowerEdge XE-Series vs Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

Compared 1% of the time

More Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

HPE ProLiant DL Servers

October 2025

Download HPE ProLiant DL Servers product report

Buyer's Guide

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

October 2025

Download Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers product report

Also Known As

HP ProLiant DL series, HP ProLiant DL

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

Overview

HPE ProLiant DL Servers are known for their reliability, scalability, and robust performance. They deliver advanced management capabilities and excel in handling high workloads, offering cost efficiency and versatile customization options suited for diverse enterprise needs.

HPE ProLiant DL Servers feature a user-friendly design that facilitates quick deployment and efficient maintenance. Their advanced iLO technology supports remote management, allowing users to handle server operations efficiently. Users appreciate the system's compatibility with multiple applications and infrastructures, along with robust support services. Despite these strengths, some models have issues like missing front ports, slow boot times, and a reliance on Java for management tasks. Suggestions for improvement include enhanced power monitoring, refined software, better redundancy, and energy-efficient operation. Many look for improved virtualization capabilities and faster processors. Support and documentation inconsistencies are also noted concerns.

What are the key features of HPE ProLiant DL Servers?

Reliability and Scalability: Designed to support mission-critical applications with outstanding reliability and scalability.
iLO Remote Management: Advanced iLO features enable convenient remote server management.
Customization Options: Highly flexible configurations ensure adaptability to specific business needs.
Redundant Power Supplies: Ensures uptime and reliability with dual power sources.

What benefits should users consider?

Cost Efficiency: Delivers consistent performance at a favorable cost ratio.
Flexibility: Accommodates a range of applications and infrastructures.
High Workload Support: Efficiently manages demanding workloads.
Strong Support Services: Backed by comprehensive support, aiding in trouble-free operations.

HPE ProLiant DL Servers are widely implemented in enterprise and educational settings, excelling in virtualization on VMware and Hyper-V platforms. They support databases like Oracle and MongoDB and are essential for high-performance computing and AI projects. These servers are integrated into system environments, supporting rack and hyperconversion setups effectively.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

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

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

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

Buyer's Guide

HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

September 2025

Free Report: HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers

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