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Compare AI GPU servers Dell Poweredge R760xa vs HPE Proliant DL380a Gen11

Compare AI GPU servers Dell Poweredge R760xa vs HPE Proliant DL380a Gen11

OLEKSANDR SYZOV

The Dell PowerEdge R760xa and HPE ProLiant DL380a Gen11 are both high-performance servers designed for demanding workloads, including AI, machine learning, and GPU-accelerated computing. Below is a detailed comparison of their technical characteristics:

https://systemsolutions.com.ua/products/server-dell-poweredge-r760xa-ai-dual-nvidia-h100-nvl
HPE Proliant DL380a Gen11

 

1. General Overview

Feature Dell PowerEdge R760xa HPE ProLiant DL380a Gen11
Target Workloads AI/ML, HPC, GPU computing, virtualization AI/ML, data analytics, virtualization
Form Factor 2U rack server 2U rack server
Processor Support Dual 4th/5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable Dual 4th/5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable
Max CPU Cores Up to 120 cores (dual 60-core Xeon) Up to 120 cores (dual 60-core Xeon)
Memory Support 32 DIMM slots (DDR5, up to 5600 MT/s) 32 DIMM slots (DDR5, up to 5600 MT/s)
Max Memory Capacity 4TB (using 128GB DIMMs) 4TB (using 128GB DIMMs)
GPU Support Up to 4x double-wide GPUs (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) Up to 3x double-wide or 6x single-wide GPUs
Storage Options Up to 24x 2.5" or 12x 3.5" drives Up to 24x 2.5" or 12x 3.5" drives
NVMe Support Yes (PCIe 5.0) Yes (PCIe 5.0)
PCIe Expansion Slots Up to 8x PCIe 5.0 slots Up to 7x PCIe 5.0 slots
Networking Up to 4x OCP 3.0 NIC slots Up to 4x OCP 3.0 NIC slots
Power Supply Options 800W–2000W (Platinum/Titanium efficiency) 800W–2000W (Platinum/Titanium efficiency)
Management iDRAC9 (Dell OpenManage) iLO6 (HPE GreenLake)

2. Key Differences

GPU Support

  • Dell R760xa: Supports up to 4x double-wide GPUs (e.g., NVIDIA H100, A100, AMD MI300), making it better suited for high-density AI/ML workloads.

  • HPE DL380a Gen11: Supports up to 3x double-wide or 6x single-wide GPUs, offering flexibility but slightly lower GPU density.

Storage & Expansion

  • Dell R760xa: More PCIe slots (8 vs. 7), better for high-speed NVMe storage and accelerators.

  • HPE DL380a Gen11: Similar storage options but slightly fewer PCIe lanes.

Management & Software

  • Dell iDRAC9 vs. HPE iLO6: Both offer robust remote management, but HPE integrates with GreenLake for cloud-based infrastructure management.

Cooling & Power Efficiency

  • Both support liquid cooling options for high-TDP GPUs.

  • Dell offers Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) for CPUs/GPUs, while HPE supports HPE CoolBoost.

3. Ideal Use Cases

Server Best For
Dell PowerEdge R760xa High-density AI training, large-scale GPU deployments, NVMe-heavy workloads
HPE DL380a Gen11 Hybrid AI/analytics, enterprise virtualization, flexible GPU configurations

4. Conclusion

  • Choose the Dell R760xa if you need maximum GPU density (4x GPUs) and higher PCIe expansion.

  • Choose the HPE DL380a Gen11 if you prefer HPE’s GreenLake ecosystem or need flexible GPU configurations.

Both servers are powerful, but the choice depends on GPU needs, management preferences, and ecosystem integration. Would you like a deeper dive into any specific aspect?

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