Understanding HPE ProLiant parts compatibility is critical for upgrades. This guide covers DL380 Gen10, DL360 Gen10, and DL380 Gen9 — the three most popular HPE server models in Egypt and the MENA region.
HPE changes component specifications between generations. A part that works in a Gen9 server will not necessarily work in Gen10. This guide tells you exactly what fits where, so you avoid expensive mistakes when upgrading or replacing parts.
Generation Compatibility Matrix
| Component | Gen9 | Gen10 | Gen10+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processors | Xeon E5-2600 v3/v4 | Xeon Scalable 1st/2nd | Xeon Scalable 3rd |
| Memory | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-3200 |
| RAID | P440ar/P840 | E208i/P408i | E208i/P408i-a |
| PSU | Common Slot | Flex Slot | Flex Slot |
| Management | iLO 4 | iLO 5 | iLO 5 |
| 2.5″ SAS/SATA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key rule: Only 2.5″ SAS/SATA drives work across all generations. Everything else — processors, memory, RAID controllers, and power supplies — is generation-specific. Never assume a Gen9 part will fit a Gen10.
Memory Compatibility
DL380 Gen10 requires DDR4-2666 ECC Registered DIMMs. It has 24 DIMM slots supporting up to 3TB total memory. Here are the most common configurations we sell:
| Configuration | DIMMs | Type | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 128GB | 8 x 16GB | RDIMM | General purpose, web servers |
| 256GB | 8 x 32GB | RDIMM | Virtualization, databases |
| 512GB | 16 x 32GB | RDIMM | Heavy virtualization |
| 768GB | 24 x 32GB | RDIMM | Large databases, SAP HANA |
| 1.5TB | 24 x 64GB | LRDIMM | In-memory databases |
Important: Gen9 DL380 uses DDR4-2400 (slower speed). If you move DDR4-2666 modules into a Gen9 server, they will downclock to 2400MHz — they work but at reduced speed. The reverse does NOT work: DDR4-2400 modules in a Gen10 may not POST.
Population rules: Always populate DIMMs in balanced pairs across channels. Start with slots labeled 1 (farthest from CPU), then 2, then 3. Mixing 1Rx4 and 2Rx4 modules in the same channel reduces performance.
Browse server memory from Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron.
Storage Options
HPE ProLiant servers support three storage interfaces, each with different performance levels and compatibility rules:
SAS Hard Drives (HDD)
Traditional spinning drives remain the workhorse for bulk storage. DL380 Gen10 supports up to 24 x 2.5″ SFF drives in the front bays, plus 6 more in the rear (with optional rear cage). Available speeds:
- 15K RPM SAS — Fastest HDD option. 300GB, 600GB, 900GB capacities. Best for transaction databases, Exchange, and high-IOPS workloads. Typically 200+ random IOPS.
- 10K RPM SAS — Balanced performance. 300GB to 2.4TB. Most popular for general enterprise use. Around 150 random IOPS.
- 7.2K RPM SAS (Midline) — High capacity, lower cost. 1TB to 14TB. Best for backups, archives, file servers. Around 80 random IOPS.
Cross-generation note: The SAS drives themselves are universal — a 2.5″ SAS drive from a Gen9 works in Gen10. However, the drive tray/caddy is generation-specific. Gen9 uses the older caddy design; Gen10 uses a newer Smart Carrier. You must swap drives into the correct generation tray.
See our full hard drives inventory.
Solid State Drives (SSD)
Enterprise SSDs offer dramatically higher IOPS than any HDD. Options for DL380 Gen10:
- SATA SSD — Entry-level SSD. 480GB to 3.84TB. Up to 500MB/s sequential, 90K IOPS. Good for read-heavy workloads, boot drives, and caching.
- SAS SSD — Enterprise-grade with dual-port for redundancy. 400GB to 15.36TB. Up to 1,100MB/s, 200K+ IOPS. Best for mixed read/write databases.
- NVMe SSD — Highest performance via PCIe. Up to 3,200MB/s, 800K+ IOPS. Requires Universal Media Bay (UMB) or PCIe slot. Gen10 supports up to 20 NVMe drives in the 24-bay SFF chassis.
See our enterprise SSD inventory.
3.5″ LFF Drives
DL380 Gen10 also comes in a 3.5″ LFF chassis variant supporting 12 large form factor bays. These accept 3.5″ SAS/SATA HDDs (typically 7.2K RPM, up to 14TB each) and 3.5″ to 2.5″ adapters for SSDs.
RAID Controllers
RAID controllers are one of the most common compatibility mistakes. Gen9 and Gen10 controllers are completely incompatible — different connectors, firmware, and backplane interfaces.
DL380 Gen10 RAID Options
| Controller | Cache | Max Drives | RAID Levels | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E208i-p | None | 14 | 0, 1, 5 | Entry-level, JBOD pass-through |
| P408i-p | 2GB FBWC | 30 | 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60 | Most popular — recommended |
| P408e-p | 2GB FBWC | 72 | 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60 | External JBOD expansion |
| P816i-a | 4GB FBWC | 200 | All | Maximum drive count, enterprise |
The “-i” suffix means internal (connects to chassis backplane). “-e” means external (connects to JBOD shelves via SAS cables). “-a” means the new SmartArray platform.
FBWC (Flash-Backed Write Cache): The P408i includes a 2GB cache with flash backup. During a power failure, data in the write cache is saved to flash memory — protecting against data loss. The E208i has no cache, so write performance is significantly lower.
DL380 Gen9 RAID (NOT Compatible with Gen10)
Gen9 uses completely different controllers: P440ar (embedded), P840 (4GB cache). These will NOT physically fit or function in a Gen10 server. If upgrading from Gen9 to Gen10, you must also replace the RAID controller.
See our full RAID controller inventory.
Power Supplies
HPE changed the PSU form factor between Gen9 and Gen10. This is a common and expensive mistake:
| Feature | Gen9 (Common Slot) | Gen10 (Flex Slot) |
|---|---|---|
| Connector | Common Slot | Flex Slot (different!) |
| Wattages | 500W, 800W, 1400W | 500W, 800W, 1600W |
| Efficiency | 80 Plus Platinum | 80 Plus Platinum/Titanium |
| Physical size | Wider | Narrower |
You cannot use a Gen9 Common Slot PSU in a Gen10 Flex Slot chassis. They will not physically fit — different connector shapes and widths.
Sizing guide: For a DL380 Gen10 with 2 CPUs, 256GB RAM, and 8 drives, an 800W PSU is sufficient. Add GPUs or 20+ drives, and you need 1600W. Always install two PSUs for redundancy — if one fails, the other takes full load.
Titanium vs Platinum: Titanium-rated PSUs (96% efficient) save approximately $50-100/year in electricity per server compared to Platinum (94%). For data centers with hundreds of servers, this adds up. For single servers, Platinum is fine.
See our power supply inventory.
Networking
DL380 Gen10 comes with an embedded 4-port 1GbE adapter (HPE 331i). For modern workloads, this is rarely sufficient. Here are the upgrade options:
10GbE Upgrades
The most common upgrade path. Options include:
- HPE 535T (10GBASE-T RJ45) — Uses standard Cat6a cables. Best for existing copper infrastructure. Max 100m distance. Around 5W per port.
- HPE 530SFP+ (SFP+ fiber) — Uses SFP+ transceivers and fiber/DAC cables. Lower latency, lower power. Best for new installations and data center cross-connects.
25GbE Upgrades
Increasingly popular for virtualization hosts and storage networks. HPE 631SFP28 provides 2 x 25GbE ports. Requires SFP28 transceivers and compatible switches.
Fibre Channel (SAN)
For storage area networks, DL380 Gen10 supports FC HBA cards in PCIe slots:
- QLogic QLE2692 (16Gb FC) — Dual-port, most widely deployed
- QLogic QLE2742 (32Gb FC) — Latest generation, higher bandwidth
- Emulex LPe32002 (32Gb FC) — Alternative to QLogic
FC HBAs are cross-generation compatible — the same PCIe card works in Gen9, Gen10, and Gen10+ (as long as the PCIe slot generation matches).
See network cards and SFP modules and Fibre Channel HBA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are HPE Gen9 parts compatible with Gen10?
No, most parts are NOT cross-compatible. Gen10 uses different memory speeds (DDR4-2666 vs 2400), different RAID controllers (P408i vs P440ar), and different PSU form factors (Flex Slot vs Common Slot). The only parts that cross generations are 2.5″ SAS/SATA drives (drive only — caddies are generation-specific) and PCIe add-in cards like NICs and HBAs.
Do I need HPE SmartMemory?
No. Standard ECC RDIMM memory from Samsung, SK Hynix, or Micron works identically in terms of performance and reliability. HPE SmartMemory costs 2-3x more and only adds HPE-branded diagnostics in iLO. We sell compatible ECC memory at 40-60% lower cost with the same specs.
What RAID controller does DL380 Gen10 use?
The recommended controller is P408i-p with 2GB Flash-Backed Write Cache (FBWC). For entry-level/JBOD use, the E208i-p works but has no cache. Gen9 controllers (P440ar, P840) are NOT compatible with Gen10 — different connectors and firmware.
Can I mix SAS and SATA drives?
Yes, you can install both SAS and SATA drives in the same server backplane. However, you cannot mix them in the same RAID array. Create separate RAID arrays: one for SAS drives and one for SATA drives. Also note that SATA drives cannot use dual-port redundancy like SAS drives can.
What is the maximum memory for DL380 Gen10?
DL380 Gen10 supports up to 3TB using 24 x 128GB LRDIMM modules (requires 2nd Gen Xeon Scalable CPUs). The most cost-effective maximum is 768GB using 24 x 32GB RDIMMs. For Gen9, the maximum is 1.5TB (24 x 64GB LRDIMM) with DDR4-2400 speed.
Can I upgrade a Gen9 to Gen10 components?
No. Gen9 to Gen10 is a complete platform change — different CPU socket (LGA 2011-3 vs LGA 3647), different memory speeds, different RAID, different PSU. The only upgrade path is purchasing a new Gen10 chassis. You can reuse your SAS/SATA drives (swap into Gen10 caddies), PCIe cards, and rack rails.
Need Help? Contact ICD
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