Choosing between the Dell PowerEdge R750 and HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen11? This guide compares specifications, upgrade options, and lifecycle status to help you make the right decision for your data center.
Specifications Comparison
| Specification | PowerEdge R750 | ProLiant DL380 Gen11 |
|---|---|---|
| Generation | 15G | Gen11 |
| Max Memory | 4TB DDR4 | 4TB DDR5 |
| CPU Sockets | 2 | 2 |
| Drive Bays | 12 LFF / 8 SFF / 16 SFF / 24 SFF | 24 SFF |
| Status | End Of Sale | Current |
| End of Support | 2028-06-30 | – |
Compatible Parts Availability
ICD stocks verified compatible parts for both models:
- PowerEdge R750: 74 compatible part categories — View all parts
- ProLiant DL380 Gen11: 55 compatible part categories — View all parts
When to Choose Each
Choose the ProLiant DL380 Gen11 for new deployments — it is the current generation with full manufacturer support and supports up to 4TB DDR5 of memory.
Keep the PowerEdge R750 if you already own one and it meets your workload needs. ICD offers upgrade options and third-party maintenance to extend its life past OEM end of support.
Upgrade Guides
Lifecycle Information
Deep Specification Detail: R750 Platform Architecture
The PowerEdge R750 and its direct HPE peer — the ProLiant DL380 Gen10 Plus — share the same Intel 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable (Ice Lake-SP) processor generation. The tables below document the hardware-level specifications of the R750 platform in detail, which remain relevant whether you are comparing it against the Gen10 Plus or the newer Gen11.
Processor and Memory
| Specification | Dell PowerEdge R750 | HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen10 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| CPU generation | 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable (Ice Lake) | 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable (Ice Lake) |
| Sockets | 2 | 2 |
| Max cores per socket | 40 | 40 |
| Max total cores (dual socket) | 80 | 80 |
| Memory slots | 32 × DDR4 | 32 × DDR4 |
| Memory types supported | RDIMM / LRDIMM / Intel Optane PMem 200 | RDIMM / LRDIMM / Intel Optane DCPMM |
| Max RDIMM capacity | 2 TB | ~4 TB (RDIMM, per QuickSpecs) |
| Max LRDIMM capacity | 8 TB | ~8 TB |
| Memory speed | Up to 3200 MT/s | Up to 3200 MT/s |
| Memory channels per CPU | 8 | 8 |
Both platforms share the same Ice Lake-SP processor family and identical memory controller capabilities. Verify high-density DIMM configurations against each vendor’s QuickSpecs before planning a large memory build.
Storage Options
| Specification | Dell PowerEdge R750 | HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen10 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Max front drives (2.5″) | Up to 24 × SAS/SATA/NVMe | Up to 24 × SAS/SATA/NVMe |
| Max front drives (3.5″) | Up to 12 × SAS/SATA | Up to 12 × SAS/SATA/SSD |
| NVMe front bays | Up to 24 × U.2 NVMe | Up to 24 × NVMe (Express Bay) |
| Rear drive bays | Up to 4 × 2.5″ SAS/SATA/NVMe | 2 × 2.5″ SAS/SATA/NVMe |
| M.2 boot drives | Dual rear hot-swap M.2 caddy | 2 × M.2 via Smart Array controller |
The R750 rear dual M.2 caddy is hot-swappable, allowing boot drive replacement without disturbing front bays. Both platforms support SAS 12G, SATA 6G, and NVMe via PCIe 4.0.
PCIe and Expansion
| Specification | Dell PowerEdge R750 | HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen10 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| PCIe generation | Gen 4 | Gen 4 |
| PCIe slots | Up to 8 | Up to 8 |
| GPU support | Up to 3 double-width GPUs | Up to 3 double-width GPUs |
| OCP 3.0 networking | Yes | Yes (FlexibleLOM) |
PCIe 4.0 doubles the bandwidth per lane compared to the Gen10 (PCIe 3.0) predecessor — relevant for NVMe throughput, GPU interconnects, and 100/200 GbE NIC cards.
Remote Management
| Feature | Dell PowerEdge R750 | HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen10 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| BMC platform | iDRAC9 (Datacenter licence available) | iLO 5 |
| KVM console | Enterprise/Datacenter licence required | Advanced licence required |
| API standard | Redfish + OpenManage | Redfish + OneView |
| Health history | Lifecycle Controller | Active Health System (1.5+ year rolling log) |
| Local management port | iDRAC Direct (micro-USB front panel) | No direct equivalent |
Power and Cooling
| Specification | Dell PowerEdge R750 | HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen10 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| PSU options | 600W, 800W, 1100W, 1400W, 2400W Titanium | 500W, 800W, 1600W, 2650W Platinum/Titanium |
| Redundant PSU | Yes (1+1) | Yes (1+1) |
| Cooling system | Multi-Vector Cooling (MVC) 2.0 | Tool-free HPE hot-plug fans |
Dell’s Multi-Vector Cooling 2.0 distributes airflow more evenly across the chassis, which reduces thermal hot spots in NVMe-dense configurations. Both platforms support hot-plug redundant fans.
Security Comparison
Both vendors have invested heavily in server security at the silicon level:
- Dell PowerEdge R750: iDRAC9 with Secure Boot, UEFI Secure Boot, System Lockdown mode, cryptographically verified firmware updates, Silicon Root of Trust.
- HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen10 Plus: HPE Silicon Root of Trust (integrated into custom ASICs), iLO 5 firmware verification, Secure Boot, Server Configuration Lock.
HPE’s Silicon Root of Trust verifies firmware integrity at the silicon level and was introduced earlier in the product cycle, giving it a longer track record in security-audited environments. Dell’s implementation achieves comparable goals through a different approach. For environments with formal security certification requirements, verify each platform’s current NIST and FIPS documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can R750 memory DIMMs be used in a DL380 Gen10 Plus?
Not as a direct drop-in. Both platforms use standard DDR4 RDIMM and LRDIMM form factors, but HPE SmartMemory validation may reject non-HPE-labelled DIMMs. The correct approach is third-party DIMMs tested and validated specifically for each platform — not cross-brand OEM module swaps.
Is the DL380 Gen10 Plus the same server as the DL380 Gen10?
No. The DL380 Gen10 uses 2nd Gen Xeon Scalable processors (Cascade Lake). The DL380 Gen10 Plus specifically upgrades to 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable (Ice Lake) with PCIe 4.0 and 8-channel DDR4. They share a chassis family but are distinct platforms with different processor socket compatibility.
Will drives from a DL380 Gen10 work in a Gen10 Plus?
SAS and SATA drives generally transfer across generations. NVMe drives require a matching U.2 backplane — verify backplane type before purchasing drives for cross-generation use.
What succeeds the R750 and DL380 Gen10 Plus?
The Dell PowerEdge R760 (Gen 16, 4th Gen Xeon Scalable, PCIe 5.0) and the HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen11 (4th/5th Gen Xeon Scalable) are the current platform successors. Both the R750 and DL380 Gen10 Plus remain in active enterprise deployment with years of viable lifecycle and strong spare-parts availability.
Which server has better RAID controller options?
Dell offers the PERC H745, H755, and H965i controllers on the R750. HPE offers the Smart Array P408i-a, P816i-a, and E208i-a on the DL380 Gen10 Plus. Both families support RAID 0/1/5/6/10/50/60 and have well-tested driver support across major operating systems and hypervisors.
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