Best Dell Servers

Updated March 2019
Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
Bottom Line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Dell
PowerEdge T30 Business Mini Tower Server System (2018)
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Bottom Line

While you'll pay up for it, you'll get a lot for your money, including space for 6 SATA HDDs and 3TBs in HDDs to start you off.

Pros

Features an Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 3.3GHz processor, with 16GB UDIMM memory and 3TBs in hard drives (a 1TB HDD and a 2TB HDD). Fits a total of 6 SATA HDDs. Good business transaction response time. Secure and manageable. Comes with a wide variety of ports, including a Displayport and 10 USBs.

Cons

Does not come with an operating system or an optical drive. This option is on the expensive side.

Best Bang for the Buck
Dell
PowerEdge T30 Tower Server System (2017)
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Bottom Line

A quiet and affordable option that is both easy to work with and versatile.

Pros

Inexpensive. Comes with 8GB UDIMM RAM, a 1TB 7200 rpm drive, and an Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 3.3GHz processor. Easy to work with, and has good speed and versatility. Four RAM slots in all. Runs quiet.

Cons

Power button blends in a bit too much with the case; hard to see in low-light conditions. Does not come with an operating system. Some reports of this option arriving with a bad drive.

Dell
PowerEdge T30 Mini Tower Server Premium Desktop
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Bottom Line

Stands out for its 2TB hard drive and its 16GB of memory (expandable to 64GB).

Pros

Available in a couple of other configurations. This version comes with a 2TB 7200 rpm drive, 16GB of DDR4 SDRAM, and an Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 3.3GHz processor. Features include a DVD+/-RW optical drive and a variety of ports, including 10 USBs and an HDMI.

Cons

Does not come with an operating system. On the expensive side.

Dell
PowerEdge T30 Business Mini Tower Server (2017)
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Bottom Line

A powerful mid-priced server with a lot of power inside it, although the drive it ships with could be larger.

Pros

Can hold up to 6 SATA HDDs. Comes with 16GB UDIMM memory, an Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 3.3GHz processor, and a 1TB 7200 rpm drive. Quiet and fast. Easy to upgrade, with lots of available room inside the chassis. Features a variety of ports, including a PS2, HDMI, and 10 USBs.

Cons

The 1TB drive it comes with is on the small side, compared with other options. Does not ship with an operating system.

Dell
PowerEdge T20 Tower Server System
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Bottom Line

While less powerful than other options, this server is an affordable and space-friendly entry-level choice.

Pros

Good entry-level server that comes with an Intel Xeon E3-1225 v3 3.2GHz processor, 8GB DDR3, and a 1TB 7200 rpm drive. Smaller physical footprint than other options (12" x 8" x 4"). Comes with a DVD+/-RW optical drive. Decent price.

Cons

Not as powerful as other options. It's also, at 25.2 lb., heavier than other options.

How we decided

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

15 Models Considered
7 Hours Researched
1 Experts Interviewed
352 Consumers Consulted
Zero products received from manufacturers.

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.

Servers become necessary when you find yourself in need of a dedicated network computer that offers more power, memory, and storage than you have with your current system. Small businesses can really benefit from these, and Dell offers a range of quality servers to meet those needs. When shopping for one, try to buy the best processor, memory, and storage capacity that you can afford. Make sure it is easy to manage and secure. Consider the amount of noise the server generates, and the physical space it takes up if you are installing it in cramped quarters. The server should also be versatile enough that it meets your current needs, and expandable enough to meet your future ones.

The team that worked on this review
  • Enid
    Enid
    Editor
  • Melinda
    Melinda
    Web Producer
  • Rich
    Rich
    Writer
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Dell

PowerEdge T30 Business Mini Tower Server System (2018)

Dell

PowerEdge T30 Business Mini Tower Server System (2018)

While you'll pay up for it, you'll get a lot for your money, including space for 6 SATA HDDs and 3TBs in HDDs to start you off.
$495
×

Dell

PowerEdge T30 Tower Server System (2017)

Dell

PowerEdge T30 Tower Server System (2017)

A quiet and affordable option that is both easy to work with and versatile.
$378
×

Dell

PowerEdge T30 Mini Tower Server Premium Desktop

Dell

PowerEdge T30 Mini Tower Server Premium Desktop

Stands out for its 2TB hard drive and its 16GB of memory (expandable to 64GB).
$510
×

Dell

PowerEdge T30 Business Mini Tower Server (2017)

Dell

PowerEdge T30 Business Mini Tower Server (2017)

A powerful mid-priced server with a lot of power inside it, although the drive it ships with could be larger.
$504
×

Dell

PowerEdge T20 Tower Server System

Dell

PowerEdge T20 Tower Server System

While less powerful than other options, this server is an affordable and space-friendly entry-level choice.
$395

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