HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs IBM Power Systems comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and IBM are both solutions in the Rack Servers category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #2 with an average rating of 9.3, while IBM is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.6. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 21.8% mindshare in Rack Servers, compared to IBM’s 9.1% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 97% of IBM users who would recommend it.

HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Read 157 HPE ProLiant DL Servers reviews

9,252 Views
6,821 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

IBM Power Systems

Read 69 IBM Power Systems reviews

4,225 Views
2,912 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

HPE ProLiant DL Servers

IBM Power Systems

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 29, 2025

HPE ProLiant DL Servers and IBM Power Systems compete in the server category. Based on the data comparisons, IBM Power Systems seem to have the upper hand in processing power and integrated virtualization features, excelling in high-load environments.

Features: HPE ProLiant DL Servers are known for their reliability, scalability, and remote management through iLO. They also support RAID configurations and offer a strong performance-cost ratio. On the other hand, IBM Power Systems boast exceptional processing power and reliability. They feature advanced virtualization capabilities, making them ideal for AIX and Linux applications, providing robustness and resilient performance.

Room for Improvement: HPE ProLiant DL Servers could enhance cost efficiency, improve iLO features, and streamline firmware updates. Users also desire simpler management tools. IBM Power Systems need better cloud integration, simplified licensing, and management interfaces. There's a call for reduced complexity in updates and enhanced documentation.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both HPE ProLiant DL Servers and IBM Power Systems are typically deployed on-premises, with users generally satisfied with the deployment process. HPE users commend the responsiveness of support services, though it varies geographically. IBM users note the reliability of support but see room for improvement in documentation and response speed.

Pricing and ROI: HPE ProLiant DL Servers are seen as offering a good balance of cost and performance, yet users suggest enhancing licensing costs and pricing flexibility. IBM Power Systems are considered expensive but provide strong value in large-scale applications. Both systems promise solid long-term ROI through reliability and uptime, despite initial higher expenses.

To learn more, read our detailed HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs. IBM Power Systems Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs. IBM Power Systems

June 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

HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Ranking in Rack Servers

2nd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

157

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

IBM Power Systems

Ranking in Rack Servers

4th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

8.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Rack Servers category, the mindshare of HPE ProLiant DL Servers is 21.8%, up from 21.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Power Systems is 9.1%, up from 8.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Rack Servers

Featured Reviews

SHIVAKUMAR A P

Country Manager - Emerging Business at Orbit Techsol

With an easy setup phase in place, it is suitable for small and large-sized businesses

When you speak of any enhancements in the product, you need to shift to the tool's commercial mode. You get more features in the solution if you pour in more money. If a customer needs some features in the solution, they will have to buy it since certain features are not loaded by default in the server. With entry-level licenses, servers are shipped to customers free of cost. Customers need to pay if they want more and more features in the solution. Every OEM solution in the market, including HPE ProLiant DL, operates similarly. The overall cost of the product needs to be lower, as it is one of the areas of concern in the product.

Read full review

Rohintan-Karanjia

Advisory Services at Nangia Andersen LLP

Offers security features, including HIPs, Postgres, intrusion prevention systems, and AI for specific tasks

We've found that sometimes, certain setups require better servers. Ideally, the next level of model that IBM offers would be perfect for those situations. Sometimes, the availability of additional services can be a challenge for some software. Certain IBM software takes time to deliver to the client. It can be slow. So deployment is an area for improvement.

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

"The technical support from HPE ProLiant DL Servers is very good. We can contact them through various means and they are responsive, they are quick."

"We use HPE Datacenter support, and it is good support. It is automatic support. When I have a problem, the question is written automatically."

"The product is compatible and flexible for small and medium businesses."

"One of the most valuable features is iLO, which is very good. Another thing is the HPE support is very good."

"HPE offers the products we need. They come back with solutions. It's uncomplicated to deal with HPE."

"ProLiant is highly stable. We've had very few problems with the servers. We only once had an issue with the hard disk in an HPE server."

"The solution's initial setup is straightforward."

"It's flexible."

More HPE ProLiant DL Servers pros

"We've been using it for a long time, and it's stable."

"What we like the most is the ability to upgrade the scaling of the system itself. Whenever we need extra storage, we can do that. Whenever we need extra memory, we can do that as well. It's fast and it's available."

"Active Memory Expansion allows you to compress your memory on the run time to allow you to have less physical memory available, but provision more memory to your partitions, as everything will be compressed on the fly."

"The virtualization and the quality you get from it is one reason we like the solution."

"I use the hypervisor of IBM Power Systems a lot."

"Power Systems' best features are that it's reliable, stable, and easily available. It's also really scalable and can be virtualized without third-party software support."

"We value the stability and technology capability of this solution the most. It is very stable, and the processor technology of IBM is very good. When you have a CIO and you are dealing with C-level every day, you can, without any doubt, support the core banking or critical applications with this solution."

"The most valuable feature of IBM Power Systems is its performance."

More IBM Power Systems pros

Cons

"Its management console could be better."

"HPE ProLiant DL Servers could improve its portfolio, it could be more diverse because there is a limited number of them available. Dell, IBM, or Lenovo, have a better product portfolio that is diverse."

"I would like the solution to improve its storage and performance. Also, I would like to replicate data between on-premises and cloud in future versions."

"They are pretty solid servers, but, just like all servers, they become obsolete after some time. They can maybe provide a console to monitor the health of the servers. There should be some kind of console to which you can log in to remotely check on the health of a server, even when the server is off. The servers that we have are only scalable to some extent. They have got a limited amount of hard drive that you can insert. Their scalability should be improved."

"The most pressing issue is that downloads depend at present on the current period."

"They should improve the solution's built-in quality."

"The hardware was frequently faulty and sometimes broke down."

"The scalability of Gen8 models should be improved. They can also improve its price."

More HPE ProLiant DL Servers cons

"Everyone likes speed. Not that speed has been an issue up until now but you can never be too fast."

"Better manage heterogeneous footprints of all the different operating systems that are out there across one common interface."

"One of the main challenges with IBM Power Systems is the functionality of live partnership mobility."

"The solution could improve the memory database for better integration with SAP HANA."

"In the next release, I would like to see additional graphical dashboards to help the administrators access information more easily."

"The solution is quite expensive."

"The price has room for improvement."

"The pricing of the product could always be lowered."

More IBM Power Systems cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The solution's pricing is high. It needs to be more flexible. The flexibility would be beneficial for our clients, especially in a competitive market. Adding additional features and addressing complex requirements on top of the price can be challenging for us as a reseller."

"They should reduce the prices as it is a significant concern for developing countries."

"The pricing is reasonable."

"This product is within our budget."

"I give the pricing a six out of ten."

"I like the price of this product and the add-on components. It is cheaper than Dell and is a one-time hardware purchase with minimal ongoing costs."

"HPE ProLiant DL Servers have a higher price than Dell servers. However, the Japanese counterpart has the lowerest priced servers. The price of the HPE ProLiant DL Servers could improve, it could be less expensive."

"Proliant DL Servers have a reasonable cost. They are not as expensive as the Cisco servers. Everything is included when you purchase a server. You just have to install and configure it."

More HPE ProLiant DL Servers pricing and cost advice

"The price of IBM Power Systems is expensive and could improve."

"IBM Power is more expensive than other rack-mount servers, and you have to have a license for everything, including cores and memory."

"The price of the solution could be somewhat better and this is what lowers my rating of it to a seven or eight out of ten."

"Power Systems is very cheap and provides good value for money."

"The solution's pricing is very, very high compared to other platforms."

"It's more about the value you get for the price. Considering its stability and performance, the pricing is good."

"The licensing costs are okay. With IBM Power Systems, it's inclusive, so you can differentiate the price of the hardware from the software itself."

"Power Systems is a bit more costly than other products in the market, but in terms of ROI and the longevity, performance, and reliability that Power Systems provides, it's worth it in the long run."

More IBM Power Systems pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Government

Financial Services Firm

17%

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

How do Lenovo ThinkSystem rack servers compare with HPE ProLiant DL servers?

Lenovo ThinkSystem rack servers offer flexibility and efficiency in order to meet mission-critical demands. I like that Lenovo blends outstanding performance, reliability, and manageability. The bi...

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What do you like most about HPE ProLiant DL Servers?

The most valuable feature of the solution is HPE Integrated Lights-Out (iLO)...Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE ProLiant DL Servers?

The product is expensive. I rate the product price an eight on a scale of one to ten, where one is low price and ten is high price. On the needs of the customers, the product offers a lot of suppor...

See all answers

What do you like most about IBM Power Systems?

IBM Power Systems provides very good performance and stability compared to other brands or processors.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Power Systems?

IBM should provide a platform where users can learn about the storage and security of IBM Power Systems.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IBM Power Systems?

In my company, we use the system for the data center and our IBM Cloud Pak System.

See all answers

Comparisons

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Compared 46% of the time

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Compared 23% of the time

HPE Synergy vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Compared 9% of the time

HPE Apollo Systems vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Compared 6% of the time

Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers

Compared 5% of the time

More HPE ProLiant DL Servers Competitors

Intel Server System vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 39% of the time

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 18% of the time

Oracle SPARC Servers vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 15% of the time

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 5% of the time

HPE Apollo Systems vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 3% of the time

More IBM Power Systems Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

HPE ProLiant DL Servers

June 2025

Download HPE ProLiant DL Servers product report

Buyer's Guide

IBM Power Systems

June 2025

Download IBM Power Systems product report

Also Known As

HP ProLiant DL series, HP ProLiant DL

IBM OpenPOWER LC

Overview

HPE ProLiant DL Servers are utilized by organizations for tasks like virtualization, database hosting, and application hosting, deployed both on-premises and in private clouds for diverse needs.

Organizations depend on HPE ProLiant DL Servers for stability, performance, and reliability. They are essential for running active directories, enterprise applications, and handling high-performance computing. These servers are known for their easy setup, scalability, and extensive management capabilities like iLO. Offering compatibility with many components and energy efficiency, they provide reliable hardware and good performance under demanding conditions. However, there is a need for improved price, stability, scalability, airflow, and power consumption. Enhancements in controller cache, port sizes, SAN connectivity, support availability, and management interface are also required. Faster technical support, better documentation, simplified configurations, and enhanced monitoring features and security integration would benefit users.

What are the key features?

Easy Setup: Quick and straightforward deployment.
Scalability: Adaptable to growing business needs.
Extensive Management: Features like iLO for advanced control.
Energy Efficiency: Optimized for lower power consumption.
Compatibility: Works well with various components.
Reliable Hardware: Robust and dependable technology.
Redundancy: Ensures high availability and minimal downtime.

What are the benefits and ROI?

High Performance: Excellent for demanding computing tasks.
User-Friendly: Easy to maintain and operate.
Flexibility: Versatile for different applications.
Good Technical Support: Access to professional assistance.

HPE ProLiant DL Servers are implemented across industries like finance for active directories and payment solutions, education for virtual desktops, healthcare for database synchronization, and IT firms for high-performance computing and application hosting.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

IBM Power Systems are built to crush the most advanced data applications - from the mission-critical workloads you run today to the next generation of AI.

IBM

Sample Customers

AmeriPride Services, iSource, Bolagsverket, BlueShore Financial, British Columbia Assessment Authority, National Stock Exchange, Cardlytics

Cipher

Buyer's Guide

HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs. IBM Power Systems

June 2025

Free Report: HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs. IBM Power Systems

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