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Dell PowerEdge XE-Series vs HPE Apollo Systems comparison

Dell Technologies and Hewlett Packard Enterprise are both solutions in the Rack Servers category. Dell Technologies is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.5, while Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.0. Dell Technologies holds a 1.1% mindshare in Rack Servers, compared to Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s 3.8% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Dell Technologies users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users who would recommend it.
Dell PowerEdge XE-Series
Read 11 Dell PowerEdge XE-Series reviews
  • 655 Views
  • 655 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
HPE Apollo Systems
Read 23 HPE Apollo Systems reviews
  • 2,148 Views
  • 1,890 Comparison Views
96% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 26, 2025

HPE Apollo Systems and Dell PowerEdge XE-Series compete in the high-performance computing market. HPE Apollo has the upper hand in customization and energy efficiency, while Dell PowerEdge XE-Series impresses with flexibility and global support.

Features: HPE Apollo Systems offer high-density design, energy-efficient performance, and customizable configurations, making them suitable for specialized workloads. Dell PowerEdge XE-Series features powerful processing capabilities, extensive scalability, and strong integration with various platforms, catering to diverse enterprise needs.

Room for Improvement: HPE Apollo needs to enhance initial configuration ease, expand global support networks, and improve compatibility with multiple platforms. Dell PowerEdge XE-Series could benefit from further energy efficiency improvements, a broader range of customization options, and enhanced automation capabilities to streamline management processes.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: HPE Apollo Systems provide straightforward deployment with onsite support tailored to specific business needs but require more initial configuration. Dell PowerEdge XE-Series ensures a quick and streamlined deployment experience, backed by extensive global customer service for reduced downtime and better service consistency.

Pricing and ROI: HPE Apollo Systems often have a higher upfront cost but provide long-term energy savings and value for tailored deployments. Dell PowerEdge XE-Series is generally more cost-effective initially, offering quicker ROI through flexible deployment options and robust feature sets.

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To learn more, read our detailed Dell PowerEdge XE-Series vs. HPE Apollo Systems Report (Updated: July 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerEdge XE-Series vs. HPE Apollo Systems
July 2025
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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 XE-Series
Ranking in Rack Servers
10th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.0
Number of Reviews
11
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
HPE Apollo Systems
Ranking in Rack Servers
8th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
4.7
Number of Reviews
23
Ranking in other categories
Density Optimized Servers (2nd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Rack Servers category, the mindshare of Dell PowerEdge XE-Series is 1.1%, up from 1.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE Apollo Systems is 3.8%, down from 4.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Rack Servers Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
HPE Apollo Systems3.8%
Dell PowerEdge XE Servers1.1%
Other95.1%
Rack Servers
 

Featured Reviews

Muzammil Nasim - PeerSpot reviewer
We're hardly using 15 percent of their computing power, so there's a lot left over that we could utilize
It should be easier to extend PowerEdge XE servers. We haven't architected them with an eye toward scalability. They have a fixed number of slots for hard drives, which is enough for our present use case, However, we would have more options if we could extend that. We could deploy the servers in a broader range of use cases with different requirements. It's fine for our current deployment with only a few thousand users. We're exploring other solutions like such as VxRail or PowerFlex for larger public-facing use cases.
Read full review
Aruna Udawatte - PeerSpot reviewer
An affordable and easy-to-implement solution, but its after-sales support and technical support should be improved
We use HPE Apollo for specific requirements of Linux servers HPE Apollo's pricing is low, and implementation is very easy compared to other products. HPE Apollo's after-sales support and technical support should be improved. The solution should provide fast delivery when it comes to replacing a…
Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"In general, it works well. We haven't had issues."
"The strong point of this solution is its compatibility with VMware and its resilience."
"PowerEdge XE servers are high-performing. We're hardly using 15 percent of their computing power, so there's a lot left over that we could utilize."
"Its reliability and consistency are most valuable."
"The most valuable feature of these servers is the ability to store a lot—the capacity and the number of hard disk drives."
"The most valuable feature is the trusted platform module."
"The resource management features are valuable."
"The most valuable feature is that it can support up to 32 drives of internal storage."
More Dell PowerEdge XE-Series pros
"The technical support from HPE has always been good in my experience."
"It's going to meet our needs moving forward, it is scalable."
"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."
"Absolutely being able to mount into Omni-Path architecture, HFIs on those nodes, because we were the very first site in the world"
"The solution is well documented in a data sheet."
"we can use the same platform for several use cases: Hadoop, Ceph, and we are considering the server for another use case right now. It's a single solution, we only have to integrate it once and we can use it for several technologies."
"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."
"The cost benefit of this solution is most valuable. It is quite effective for the work for which we are using it. We are mainly running video servers on these, and we are quite happy with the resilience, density storage, and streaming capacity of the system."
More HPE Apollo Systems pros
 

Cons

"We use OpenManager a lot, and that can be a bit clunky at times. They can make that better."
"The quality and reliability could be improved."
"The support team must improve the speed of response."
"It should be easier to extend PowerEdge XE servers. We haven't architected them with an eye toward scalability. They have a fixed number of slots for hard drives, which is enough for our present use case, However, we would have more options if we could extend that. We could deploy the servers in a broader range of use cases with different requirements. It's fine for our current deployment with only a few thousand users. We're exploring other solutions like such as VxRail or PowerFlex for larger public-facing use cases."
"Dell PowerEdge XE Servers can improve by adapting HCI technology."
"It is mostly stable, but the usual problem would be, for example, upgrading to a newer version of VMware or dealing with compatibility issues during the process."
"Upgrading can be a bit difficult."
"In future releases, there should be more support options for the latest processor."
More Dell PowerEdge XE-Series cons
"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."
"Lustre seems to be just a little bit unstable overall."
"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."
"What's coming out in Gen 10 is very strong in terms of additional security."
"There is a shared battery for all cache controllers in the node. When you have to replace that element, you have to take down all three nodes and not just one."
"We are quite happy with it, but its price and storage density can be better."
"We would like to see SimpliVity on top of the Apollo."
"One drawback which I had: When I needed to expand storage on the Apollo, I had significant problems getting disks for it. It was a very long wait-time. So, if I were to give any advice in regards to improving this product, I would say make more of the 8TB disks available quicker."
More HPE Apollo Systems cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"If you want an SLA for parts and equipment then you need to purchase a support agreement."
"Dell has competitive pricing."
"The pricing model is quite competitive."
"There are different types of licensing available, that works well for customers. The product is not very much to purchase."
"This solution is priced very reasonably."
"You always want slightly cheaper, but overall, they are quite comparable and quite neutral."
"There is an annual license required to use HPE Apollo."
"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."
"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
Computer Software Company
15%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Retailer
8%
Comms Service Provider
6%
Manufacturing Company
13%
Computer Software Company
12%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Government
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business4
Midsize Enterprise4
Large Enterprise3
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business7
Midsize Enterprise5
Large Enterprise12
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Dell PowerEdge XE Servers?
The resource management features are valuable.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Dell PowerEdge XE Servers?
Dell has competitive pricing.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Dell PowerEdge XE Servers?
The support team must improve the speed of response. The product should be promoted more in the market.
See all answers
What needs improvement with HPE Apollo?
Additional features would be beneficial in the next release of HPE Apollo Systems.
See all answers
What is your primary use case for HPE Apollo?
We were working with HPE Apollo Systems for one of our projects for the company named VVDN. We were using HPE Apollo Systems, GPU systems and CPU systems. For GPU systems, the model was 6500, in wh...
See all answers
What advice do you have for others considering HPE Apollo?
Our company is a platinum partner with HPE, and we continue to deal with HPE. We sell many of their hardware products. Depending on the requirement or deal, we may sell HPE Converged System, hardwa...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

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Compared 13% of the time
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Compared 11% of the time
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HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs HPE Apollo Systems Logo
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Compared 38% of the time
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Dell PowerEdge R-Series vs HPE Apollo Systems
Compared 23% of the time
HPE Synergy vs HPE Apollo Systems Logo
HPE Synergy vs HPE Apollo Systems
Compared 7% of the time
IBM Power Systems vs HPE Apollo Systems Logo
IBM Power Systems vs HPE Apollo Systems
Compared 7% of the time
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HPE Moonshot vs HPE Apollo Systems
Compared 5% of the time
More HPE Apollo Systems Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Rack Servers
August 2025
Dell PowerEdge XE-Series reportDownload Dell PowerEdge XE-Series product report
Buyer's Guide
HPE Apollo Systems
August 2025
HPE Apollo Systems reportDownload HPE Apollo Systems product report
 

Also Known As

PowerEdge XE Servers
HP Apollo Systems, HP ProLiant SL, HP Apollo
 

Overview

Dell PowerEdge XE-Series servers deliver extreme performance for demanding AI and high-performance workloads, supporting hyperscalers, AI leaders, and enterprises.

The Dell PowerEdge XE-Series is purpose-built for high-density computing, with capacity for up to 32 drives, and enhances data-intensive analytics. Its compatibility with VMware and trusted security integrations, such as CloudStrike and McAfee, make it highly scalable and secure. While excelling in big data and analytics, room for improvement includes enhanced processor support and pricing adjustments. It's versatile for businesses needing scalability with its focus on AI/ML and data warehousing.

What are the standout features of Dell PowerEdge XE-Series?
  • High Storage Capacity: Supports up to 32 drives for data-intensive operations.
  • Compatibility: Seamless integration with VMware ensures stability and scalability.
  • Security Integration: Incorporates CloudStrike and McAfee for robust security measures.
  • Resource Management: Offers excellent documentation for troubleshooting and resource use.
  • Data Deduplication: Efficient with Data Domain to enhance data storage.
What benefits should users consider in their reviews?
  • Performance Efficiency: High-powered capabilities for AI and high-performance computing.
  • Ease of Management: Simplified issue resolution and maintainability.
  • Scalability: Supports growing workloads and offers strong integration.
  • Data Security: Enhanced with trusted platform module and security integrations.

In industries like data warehousing, AI, and enterprise applications, Dell PowerEdge XE-Series is implemented for high-performance computing, general-purpose servers, and software hosting. Serving transactional systems, email, ERP, and more, it assists companies in handling workload and storage demands, beneficial particularly for big data and analytics tasks.

Dell Technologies

The HPE Apollo high-density server family is built for the highest levels of performance and efficiency. They are rack-scale compute, storage, networking, power and cooling – massively scale-up and scale-out – solutions for your big data analytics, object storage and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. From water-cooling that’s 1,000X more efficient than air, to “right-sized scaling” with 2X the compute density for workgroup and private cloud workloads, the HPE Apollo line is a dense, high-performance, tiered approach for organisations of all sizes.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise
 

Sample Customers

Epsilon, ROZETTA CORP, JIGUANG, RACKSPACE, NEW BELGIUM BREWING
Weta Digital
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerEdge XE-Series vs. HPE Apollo Systems
July 2025
Free Report: Dell PowerEdge XE-Series vs. HPE Apollo Systems
Find out what your peers are saying about Dell PowerEdge XE-Series vs. HPE Apollo Systems and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
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