The Dell PowerEdge R660 and HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen11 are both 1U, 2-socket servers from the same launch era, aimed at density-focused workloads where per-rack-unit performance matters more than maximum drive count. Both platforms use the same DDR5/newer-PCIe foundation, but they document different CPU-generation ceilings, storage-bay architectures, and PSU ranges — this guide states each one directly rather than assuming parity. Dell's own documentation for the R660 confirms 4th Generation Intel Xeon Scalable support; HPE's documentation for the DL360 Gen11 confirms both 4th and 5th Generation. That one difference shapes several of the sections below.
Quick comparison
| Dell PowerEdge R660 | HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen11 | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU platform | 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable, up to 56 cores (5th Gen not stated in Dell's own document) | 4th or 5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable, up to 64 cores |
| Memory | 32 DDR5 DIMM slots, 8 TB max, up to 4800 MT/s (1DPC) or 4400 MT/s (2DPC) | 32 DDR5 DIMM slots, 8.0 TB max, up to 5600 MT/s |
| PCIe | Mixed Gen4/Gen5 risers, up to 3 slots | PCIe 5.0 |
| Storage/NVMe | 8x2.5" standard; up to 10x2.5" NVMe/SAS4/SATA; up to 16x NVMe E3.S Gen5 | 8SFF (U.3 TriMode options), 4LFF, or 20EDSFF (up to 20 NVMe E3.S) |
| Storage controllers | PERC H965i/H755/H755N/H355, HBA355i/e | HPE MR-series Gen11 controllers |
| Networking | 1x OCP 3.0 card (optional); LOM + OCP can coexist | OCP 3.0 slot |
| Management | iDRAC9 (Direct, Redfish, Service Module) | iLO 6 (ASIC-based) |
| GPU support | Up to 2x 75W single-wide GPUs | Up to 2x 75W GPUs |
| PSU | 1800W Titanium only (one tier documented) | 500W-2200W across 5 documented tiers |
Dell and HPE do not use identical terminology for comparable features. iDRAC and iLO are each manufacturer's own management controller, not interchangeable. PERC/HBA and HPE's MR-series controllers are separate, non-cross-compatible families.
CPU/Platform Generation
This is the clearest documented difference between the two platforms at this density tier. Dell's own R660 specification sheet states support for "up to two 4th Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors with up to 56 cores" and does not mention 5th Generation anywhere in the document reviewed for this guide. HPE's DL360 Gen11 QuickSpecs, by contrast, documents both 4th and 5th Generation support, topping out at 64 cores on 5th Generation — and separately states that field-upgrading a 4th Generation system board to 5th Generation firmware is not supported, meaning the generation choice is effectively locked in at order time on the HPE side too. This guide does not claim 5th Generation support for the R660; confirm against Dell's current documentation before assuming parity with the R760, which Dell's own Technical Guide does document as supporting both generations.
Memory
Both platforms use 32 DDR5 DIMM slots across 2 sockets (16 per CPU) and both reach an 8 TB maximum with RDIMM. The R660's documented speed ceiling is configuration-dependent in a specific, stated way: up to 4800 MT/s at 1 DIMM per channel (capped at 16 DIMMs total), dropping to 4400 MT/s at 2 DIMMs per channel. The DL360 Gen11 documents a higher 5600 MT/s ceiling. Both figures are tied to DIMM population and processor selection rather than being a fixed property of the chassis — confirm the exact population plan against the applicable manufacturer document before assuming either platform's top speed applies to a specific build.
NVMe/Storage Limitations
Both platforms lead with a high-density EDSFF/E3.S NVMe option at this generation, but reach different documented ceilings. The R660 reaches up to 16x NVMe E3.S Gen5 drives in its highest-density configuration, alongside more conventional 8x2.5" and 10x2.5" NVMe/SAS4/SATA bay options. The DL360 Gen11 reaches up to 20 EDSFF E3.S NVMe drives on its dedicated 20EDSFF chassis, alongside 8SFF (with documented U.3 TriMode NVMe/SAS drive-cage options) and 4LFF configurations. Neither platform's named configurations are a direct substitute for the other's; confirm the exact configuration against the applicable manufacturer document before assuming drive counts translate between brands.
PCIe Expansion
The R660 documents a mixed Gen4/Gen5 riser approach, with interchangeable riser components supporting up to 3 PCIe slots total. The DL360 Gen11 documents PCIe 5.0 throughout. Both platforms tie exact slot count and bus width to the specific riser kit selected rather than a single fixed number; this guide does not generalize a slot-for-slot mapping between the two.
Networking
Both platforms standardize on OCP 3.0 as their primary networking expansion format at this generation. The R660's documentation specifically notes that a traditional LOM card and an OCP card can both be installed in the same system, giving a dual-networking-path option; the DL360 Gen11's documentation reviewed for this guide documents the OCP 3.0 slot without the same explicit dual-path note.
Management
The R660 uses Dell's iDRAC9, with iDRAC Direct, iDRAC RESTful API with Redfish, and iDRAC Service Module all documented. The DL360 Gen11 uses HPE's iLO 6, built on a dedicated ASIC. Both are out-of-band management controllers with remote console, monitoring, and firmware-update capability, but they are separate products from separate vendors with no cross-compatibility.
Virtualization/Compute Density
Dell's own R660 documentation positions the platform explicitly for "high-density virtualization" and "dense database analytics" workloads, consistent with its Smart Flow chassis design built to air-cool high-core-count CPUs in a 1U form factor. HPE continues its documented "V"-tier VM-optimized processor SKU naming into the DL360 Gen11 (the same suffix system already confirmed in the HPE ProLiant CPU Compatibility Guide published earlier this program). Both platforms are positioned by their manufacturers as density-focused 1U virtualization hosts; the R660's higher stated maximum NVMe E3.S count on paper is offset by the DL360 Gen11's higher documented CPU core ceiling and memory speed, so the better fit depends on whether a workload is more storage-density-bound or more compute/memory-bandwidth-bound.
Workload Fit
- R660 fits better when: you're standardized on Dell's iDRAC9/PERC ecosystem, your workload is confirmed to run on 4th Generation Xeon Scalable, or you want the documented dual LOM+OCP networking path.
- DL360 Gen11 fits better when: you're standardized on HPE's iLO/MR-series ecosystem, you need the higher documented 64-core/5th-Generation ceiling, or your storage plan needs the 20EDSFF chassis's higher native NVMe count.
Configure/Shop/Quote Options
- Dell PowerEdge R660 specifications and options
- HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen11 specifications and options
- Browse refurbished Dell PowerEdge servers
- Browse refurbished HPE ProLiant servers
Hardware bought from TekBoost carries our standard 3-year warranty with Next Business Day part replacement, subject to the terms, exclusions and conditions on that page. Every system is tested before shipment. Neither platform currently has a dedicated configure-to-order builder on TekBoost — to confirm an exact configuration against current stock on either platform, request a quote.
Methodology and sources
Last reviewed: 2026-11-13. Dell PowerEdge R660 specifications are drawn from Dell's own specification sheet, hosted directly on TekBoost's site at `/content/R660-quickspecs.pdf`, read in full for this guide. HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen11 specifications are drawn from HPE's official QuickSpecs document (a50004306enw), already read in full earlier this program. Where Dell's R660 document does not state a figure that HPE's DL360 Gen11 document does (5th Generation CPU support, a wider PSU wattage range), that gap is stated explicitly rather than assumed from a sibling Dell model's documentation. Configuration-dependent specifications — PCIe riser mix, storage bay/chassis type, and memory speed on both platforms — are described as ranges rather than single figures.