Dell PowerEdge vs. HP ProLiant: How Do They Compare?

Key Points:

• Both the Dell PowerEdge and the HP Proliant present overall strong options for core capabilities, and both are as versatile and scalable, as advertised.
• When comparing identical server units between Dell and HP, Dell delivers in a much quicker manner than HP would.
• When you compare the cost of initial investment for both brands, HP ProLiant is more flexible in price negotiation. Dell’s flexibility in the area of pricing is almost nil.
• Dell equipment is used widely and it ships its hardware assembled and tested. This saves time and some money, but their deliveries may take up to two weeks. HP ships its servers mostly unassembled and within one to two days, but you need to get it assembled and tested by an IT provider, which involves an additional cost.
• Dell is better for bigger undertakings with their EMC stockpiling gadgets, while HP has an astounding equilibrium of highlights, execution, and cost with their capacity machines.

The Dell PowerEdge and HP Proliant are both reliable servers that have become powerhouses in the industry. Needless to say, there’s been much debate about which one is better.

Preference between the two is often subjective, based largely on brand loyalty and experience, since they both offer similar features and bank on a few exceptional features to differentiate them.

However, there are factors to compare to identify which server is best for your specific use case, like equipment, function, and cost.

To make it easy on you, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide comparing Dell PowerEdge and HP ProLiant, so keep reading!

Dell PowerEdge vs. HP ProLiant: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Dell PowerEdge vs. HP ProLiant: What’s the Difference?

Users describe a number of reasons to use either the Dell PowerEdge or HP ProLiant in a data center.

The fact remains that both product lines present overall strong options for core capabilities, and both are as versatile and scalable, as advertised. However, for users willing to employ the use of either of these servers, there are distinctive features worth watching out for.

Performance

Dell users claim the server delivers at an unrivaled, high-performance rate.

Dell servers offer matchless capabilities, such as up to 41% more transactions per second and 20.8x faster queries. But, when comparing identical server units between Dell and HP, Dell delivers in a much quicker manner than HP would. So, HP falls behind Dell by 20% as a result of low efficiency in reading performance.

Dell Poweredge is also considered to be very reliable compared to HP ProLiant, which has about 2.5x less reliability.

Pricing

When you compare the cost of initial investment for both brands, HP ProLiant is more flexible in price negotiation. HP ProLiant DL servers range from around $550 to $1,600 for various models of the DL20 and DL180. The DL360 and DL380 servers cost around $1,600 to $16,000. The higher-end DL580 is available from about $14,500 at the entry-level, to about $46,000. If you have a good relationship with your vendor and frequently order large quantities, you can get good deals.

Dell’s flexibility in the area of pricing is almost nil. Dell PowerEdge R pricing starts at $560 and ranges to just under $1,700 for the one-socket servers. Two-socket PowerEdge R servers range from $1,060 to $2,370, and higher-end four-socket servers range from around $16,000 to just under $17,800.

However, Dell equipment is used widely and it ships its hardware assembled and tested. This saves time and some money, but their deliveries may take up to two weeks. HP ships its servers mostly unassembled and within one to two days, but you need to get it assembled and tested by an IT provider, which involves an additional cost.

Services and Support

Although both the Dell PowerEdge and HP ProLiant offer immaculate support services, many still believe Dell to be better. The services don’t cost anything and you can get optimal results, unlike the HP ProLiant, which requires a service charge.

Management Tools

Both Dell and HP have their own server management and monitoring technologies in place for easy maintenance of their servers, locally as well as remotely.

Integrated Lights Out (iLO) is HP’s management tool, and Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) is Dell’s EMC.

Both the systems have developed over time and provide some similar features, like HTML5 support. However, they are different in certain features.

For iDRAC, you need a physical license that you can buy in the secondary market. iLO standard version is included, but the advanced version requires a license. Also, you cannot buy it from the secondary market. So, that locks you in with the OEM after your server’s end of life. With iDRAC, updates take a slightly longer time, and overall, it is a bit slower than iLO.

Dell PowerEdge vs. HP ProLiant: 5 Must-Know Facts

• Dell servers offer matchless capabilities, such as up to 41% more transactions per second and 20.8x faster queries.
• HP has an excellent balance of features, performance, and price with its storage appliances.
• Dell is better for larger enterprises with their EMC storage devices.
• Dell equipment is shipped readily assembled and tested within two weeks which saves a bit of time, stress, and money.
• HP servers are shipped without being assembled and require the service of an expert to get them running.

Which Do You Prefer: Dell PowerEdge or HP ProLiant?

Speaking of user preference, claims hold that both product lines seem solid. Generally, where Dell lapses, HP has better features and vice versa. To that effect, choosing which to buy is dependent on the use case scenario and personal preference.

When looking at identical worker units, Dell had the option to finish TPC-H-like responsibility speedier than its comparable HP counterpart. Additionally, HP missed out on perusing execution with 20% less proficiency. At the end of the day, Dells work quicker under bigger and longer strain.

Nonetheless, HP’s enormous win is its better assortment and more worked-on switches and capacity apparatuses, particularly in regards to gear focused on the small to mid-sized business market. Dell is better for bigger undertakings with their EMC stockpiling gadgets, while HP has an astounding equilibrium of highlights, execution, and cost with their capacity machines.

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