Dell PowerEdge C- Series vs HPE Apollo Systems comparison

Dell Technologies and Hewlett Packard Enterprise are both solutions in the Density Optimized Servers category. Dell Technologies is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.5, while Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.5. Dell Technologies holds a 20.3% mindshare in DOS, compared to Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s 21.4% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Dell Technologies users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users who would recommend it.

Dell PowerEdge C- Series

Read 36 Dell PowerEdge C- Series reviews

1,981 Views
733 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

HPE Apollo Systems

Read 25 HPE Apollo Systems reviews

2,852 Views
513 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

Dell PowerEdge C- Series

HPE Apollo Systems

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 3, 2026

Dell PowerEdge C-Series and HPE Apollo Systems are competitive in the server solutions category, each excelling in distinct areas. Dell shows strength in management and hardware resiliency, while HPE stands out in scalability and compute density beneficial for AI and deep learning.

Features: Dell PowerEdge C-Series offers notable features including iDRAC for remote management, high customization capabilities in storage configurations, and excellent virtualization support. HPE Apollo Systems provides high compute and storage density, support for GPU-intensive tasks, and environmental efficiency suitable for large-scale AI applications.

Room for Improvement: Dell could address pricing and support costs, simplify update processes, and improve technical support response times. HPE can enhance cooling technologies, simplify licensing, and improve delivery times for hardware replacements.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Dell PowerEdge C-Series is praised for its straightforward deployment options for on-premises and hybrid cloud setups, with generally thorough customer service. HPE Apollo Systems is primarily deployed on-premises, offering responsive customer service despite some offshore support challenges.

Pricing and ROI: Dell PowerEdge C-Series, though expensive, is perceived as a worthwhile investment due to its performance and service reliability. HPE Apollo Systems, while costly, offers significant returns in AI and deep learning applications. Both platforms deliver a favorable return on investment, with Dell occasionally having a lower total cost of ownership.

To learn more, read our detailed Dell PowerEdge C- Series vs. HPE Apollo Systems Report (Updated: June 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerEdge C- Series vs. HPE Apollo Systems

June 2026

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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

Dell PowerEdge C- Series

Ranking in Density Optimized Servers

1st

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Blade Servers (6th)

HPE Apollo Systems

Ranking in Density Optimized Servers

2nd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

5.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Rack Servers (9th)

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2026, in the Density Optimized Servers category, the mindshare of Dell PowerEdge C- Series is 20.3%, down from 25.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE Apollo Systems is 21.4%, down from 22.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Density Optimized Servers Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Dell PowerEdge C- Series	20.3%
HPE Apollo Systems	21.4%
Other	58.3%

Density Optimized Servers

Featured Reviews

reviewer2845620

Analista de Infraestrutura de TI at a tech vendor with 11-50 employees

Hybrid workloads have gained resilience and deliver reliable performance for critical data

The main issues are the acquisition cost, which is really high, and when it is necessary to replace parts, the cost is also a bit high. I think there are points for improvement in support as well. What was missing to reach a perfect rating is exactly the high acquisition and maintenance cost of these servers. Cost is really a sticking point. There is a relatively high cost, both for acquisition and for licensing some Dell software, such as the paid iDRAC licenses. I believe the cost, depending on how I use it and the workload I need, is worth it. However, I cannot forget that it is, in a way, an expensive solution.

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Gökhan DURMAZ

Account Manager at TD SYNNEX

High-quality integration and strong support have optimized our rack server operations

HPE Apollo Systems is a good product because it has better support and best quality with integrity. When I speak about integrity, I speak about GPU integration or other integrations such as GPU integration, backup software integration, and hypervisor integration. Regarding the integration of high-speed interconnectors in HPE Apollo Systems, they impact computational tasks because the high-speed interconnect affects performance. I don't remember the specifics. Regarding the cooling technologies, they help to reduce operational costs. The positive impact I see from HPE Apollo Systems is that support is good and quality is good. In general, HPE Apollo Systems appears to be for rack servers with some optimization capabilities.

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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 product's initial setup phase was easy."

"We strongly recommend R910 for efficient and scalable server infrastructure."

"I see it is absolutely beneficial to have a return on investment after implementing Dell PowerEdge C-Series at about 20%."

"It was not complex to deploy."

"The security of the product is very good."

"We deployed four PowerEdge C6100 when we needed to reduce the power consumption and the amount of heat generated in our data-center."

"PowerEdge C is very stable, and we hardly experience any downtime."

"With the tool, we can easily upgrade and ensure compatibility between operating systems, hardwares and drivers. Among other features, the hardware also stands out because it is certified and aligns with the processor manufacturers like Intel. This enables them to offer the latest options which are not available with other suppliers."

More Dell PowerEdge C- Series pros

"The most valuable feature is the amount of programming storage available."

"Taking into consideration the cost, HPE gave us the ability to actually do what we wanted to do."

"We usually use three blades for two-rack units, and with enough storage, it's really a small system with a powerful CPU, powerful hard drives, powerful disks."

"It's very reliable, I haven't had a single failure at all in the year and a half; not the slightest problem with it, and it's been a pretty good product so far."

"It's pretty flexible."

"When we moved to the Apollo and all flash drives, we gained a lot of performance on that."

"We are running Apollo with SL-series servers and the best thing about them is the density of the storage area available."

"It is a stable product; very reliable."

More HPE Apollo Systems pros

Cons

"For improvements, the iDRAC application isn't very intuitive to handle."

"Cost is an important factor needing improvement. The pricing of PowerEdge solutions is very high nowadays."

"The reliability needs improvement."

"Its customer service could be better."

"For Dell specifically, I would say they are losing a little bit of the edge in consumer relations compared to what I see around the industry."

"The main issues are the acquisition cost, which is really high, and when it is necessary to replace parts, the cost is also a bit high."

"The product’s pricing could be a little cheaper."

"They could automate or simplify it more."

More Dell PowerEdge C- Series cons

"We would like to see SimpliVity on top of the Apollo."

"The technical support for HPE Apollo Systems could be improved."

"We would like to see improved cooling because that is quite an issue. If you put that much compute power into a single rack, cooling really becomes an issue. And there is room for improvement there."

"We have tried to used standardization using Ubuntu Linux and it's been hard. They had some difficulties getting the RAID configuration up and running because there are no drivers for it. It's not supported by HPE."

"I would want to see the flexibility of being able to run various network protocols including InfiniBand, Fibre Channel, as well as iSCSI, with iSCSI going up to 100 gigabytes per second - that would be outstanding."

"The licensing could be greatly improved, I think."

"The solution's deployment, security, and scalability need improvement."

"If the workload is not purely sequential, then performance in the IO is less than optimal because it's optimized for streaming processing."

More HPE Apollo Systems cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I don't handle the financial aspects, so I don't know the exact costs, but in terms of the value it brings, it's worth it."

"The price could be reduced."

"PowerEdge C is very expensive, but personally, I think it's worth the price."

"PowerEdge C is a reasonably priced product, and the pricing depends on how many years you need the product. The cost also includes the support."

"When we talk about pricing it is the cheapest on the market that I have found."

"I would rate the pricing 4 out of 10, in terms of its cost expense."

"We buy licenses for the solution's advanced features."

"The cost depends on the configuration."

More Dell PowerEdge C- Series pricing and cost advice

"It is an expensive solution but it is worth the money. The standard licensing cost is for the GPU and the features that someone is using. There are additional charges but they depend on the solution."

"Obviously I would like to see the cost go down. That speaks for itself."

"Compared to other products, HPE Apollo is not an expensive solution."

"There is an annual license required to use HPE Apollo."

"The price of the solution is more expensive than Dell which is their main competitor. However, there are times we have managed to receive a comparable price."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

University

10%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Comms Service Provider

Construction Company

Manufacturing Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Computer Software Company

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	19
Midsize Enterprise	5
Large Enterprise	14

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	9
Midsize Enterprise	6
Large Enterprise	15

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for PowerEdge C?

Using Dell PowerEdge has helped reduce my total cost of ownership because it is an off-the-shelf product, so I would say it has, because it is commoditized. I cannot say by how much, as Dell owns t...

See all answers

What needs improvement with PowerEdge C?

For Dell specifically, I would say they are losing a little bit of the edge in consumer relations compared to what I see around the industry. I know they are focusing a lot on AI, but we are losing...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for PowerEdge C?

The main use case is for our entire virtualization stack.

See all answers

What needs improvement with HPE Apollo?

It is too early to say what improvements HPE Apollo Systems could implement because the report still needs to come out and the customer needs to properly evaluate the solution.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for HPE Apollo?

My main use case for HPE Apollo Systems is replacing many of the servers and storage boxes at one of the customer's sites to achieve workload optimization and optimized solutions. Additionally, whe...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering HPE Apollo?

My advice for someone considering HPE Apollo Systems is that if they are looking for consolidation and their workload involves high availability requirements, or if they want to utilize GPUs, then ...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 7% of the time

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Compared 6% of the time

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Compared 14% of the time

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Compared 13% of the time

HPE Moonshot vs HPE Apollo Systems

Compared 8% of the time

Dell PowerEdge XE-Series vs HPE Apollo Systems

Compared 7% of the time

HPE Synergy vs HPE Apollo Systems

Compared 4% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerEdge C- Series

June 2026

Download Dell PowerEdge C- Series product report

Buyer's Guide

HPE Apollo Systems

June 2026

Download HPE Apollo Systems product report

Also Known As

No data available

HP Apollo Systems, HP ProLiant SL, HP Apollo

Overview

Dell PowerEdge C-Series is known for its high performance, scalability, and efficient power usage, making it suitable for demanding applications in data centers. Its compact design and affordability offer practicality and value for businesses seeking reliable hardware solutions.

PowerEdge C-Series offers robust virtualization capabilities and advanced reliability with Intel Xeon sockets and Intel's RAS. This series is valued for seamless expansion and strong technical support, enhancing its appeal for enterprise environments. While there is room for improvement in cost, compatibility, and additional memory slots, it remains a favored choice for database servers, VOIP systems, and application hosting due to its flexible configurations and ease of integration with VMware infrastructure. Enhancements desired by users include better AI integration, more iDRAC functionality, and improved stability and service procedures.

What are the key features of PowerEdge C-Series?

Remote Management: Features iDRAC for efficient remote management.
Performance: Supports high performance with Intel Xeon sockets.
Reliability: Advanced reliability assured with Intel's RAS capabilities.
Scalability: Offers seamless expansion and scalability.
Compact Design: Compact build enhances usability and tool-free maintenance.

What benefits should users consider?

Cost Efficiency: Provides affordability with efficient power usage.
Flexibility: Offers configurations for diverse budget needs.
Technical Support: Backed by robust customer and technical support.
Integration Capabilities: Seamless integration with VMware for workload management.

In banking, telecommunications, and public sectors, Dell PowerEdge C-Series is implemented to support virtual machines, internal applications, and high-performance computing tasks. Its reliable integration with VMware infrastructure makes it an ideal choice for businesses seeking efficient workload management and critical hardware backup solutions. Its affordability and power efficiency allow organizations in these sectors to meet their computing demands without straining budgets.

Dell Technologies

HPE Apollo Systems deliver high compute and storage density, scalability, and environmental efficiency with exceptional performance for AI initiatives and data capturing across diverse applications.

HPE Apollo Systems are characterized by their dense compute and storage capabilities, offering flexibility in configurations to meet the demands of AI, deep learning, and high-performance computing. Their management software simplifies deployment, ensuring effective performance across tasks that require significant storage. While Apollo Systems are designed for efficiency and scalability, improvements can be made in security, tech support, and integration with hypervisors and backup solutions. Enhancing cooling and licensing processes, connectivity, and faster drive writing capabilities are also areas for growth.

What are the key features of HPE Apollo Systems?

High Compute Density: Supports intense processing needs efficiently.
Scalability: Easily adaptable to growing data demands.
Environmental Efficiency: Minimizes energy consumption, enhancing sustainability.
Flexible Configurations: Caters to a range of applications from AI to data storage.
Reliable Performance: Consistently delivers under various workloads.

What benefits or ROI should users look for?

Cost Effectiveness: Reduces expenditure with its efficient design.
Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly fits into diverse IT environments.
Performance Enhancement: Boosts operational efficiency and output.
Easy Deployment: Streamlines the setup process for quick operation.

HPE Apollo Systems find extensive use in sectors such as telecom, supporting high-performance computing and AI workloads. They optimize Linux servers, replace legacy systems, and serve as storage solutions across industries. Their applications span from big data management in Splunk clusters to backup solutions in medical faculties, enhancing compute power and storage within compact racks.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Sample Customers

NxtGen Datacenter, Medien-Service Untermain (MSU), Exasol, IndigoVision, Dayco

Weta Digital

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerEdge C- Series vs. HPE Apollo Systems

June 2026

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