When it comes to finding the best server solution for your business, whether you need systems, services, or storage power, making the right choice is crucial for growth. Both small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and enterprises understand the need to consistently invest in IT infrastructure to meet current and future demands. Choosing the right server should be at the top of that list, as it can centralize various IT functions, reduce acquisition costs, improve productivity, and ensure data availability and security.
However, selecting the ideal server can be challenging due to the wide array of available options. Servers today handle diverse workloads such as high-performance computing (HPC), application and database services, network storage, and virtualization. Over the past year, we’ve tested and reviewed numerous server models, and the following guide highlights the top picks for 2024.
Best Business Servers for 2024
Dell PowerEdge R760: Best for Demanding Enterprise Workloads
- CPU: 2 x 36-core 2GHz Intel Xeon Scalable Platinum 8452Y
- Memory: 1TB 4,800MT/s ECC DDR5 (up to 8TB)
- Storage: 2 x 8-bay hot-swap SFF (expandable to 28 with rear bay)
- RAID: 2 x Dell PERC H965i front SAS/SATA/NVMe with 8GB cache and BBU
Dell’s PowerEdge R760, equipped with Intel’s 4th-generation Xeon Scalable processors, sets a new standard for enterprise workloads. The 2U rack server is versatile, with a variety of storage configurations and options. Its high expansion capabilities include PCIe Gen5 slots and room for GPU cards, while the iDRAC9 controller offers excellent remote management tools. The PowerEdge R760 is a great choice for businesses needing powerful processing and storage solutions.
Price: £73,802 (excluding VAT)
HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen11: Best for High Processing Power in a Low-Profile Chassis
- CPU: 12-core 2GHz Intel Xeon Scalable Silver 4410Y (supports up to 2 CPUs)
- Memory: 64GB DDR5 SmartMemory (up to 8TB with 2 CPUs)
- Storage: 8 x hot-swap SFF (expandable to 10)
- RAID: HPE MR216i-o Gen11 OCP 3
HPE’s ProLiant DL360 Gen11 excels in packing high processing power into a slim 1U chassis. It supports Gen4 Xeon Scalable CPUs, offers up to 8TB of DDR5 SmartMemory, and has plenty of storage and expansion options, including PCIe Gen5 slots. The iLO6 embedded controller ensures robust remote management and security features, making this an excellent choice for data centers running demanding, rack-optimized applications.
Price: Starting at £2,200 (excluding VAT)
Broadberry CyberServe EPYC EP1 112-4NVMe-G G4: Best for Enterprise Apps that Demand High Core Count
- CPU: 96-core 2.4GHz AMD EPYC 9654P
- Memory: 512GB 4,800MT/s DDR5 ECC (up to 3TB)
- Storage: 12 x SFF hot-swap bays (4 x NVMe, 8 x SAS/SATA)
Broadberry’s CyberServe EPYC EP1 112-4NVMe-G G4 boasts an impressive 96-core AMD EPYC CPU and supports up to 3TB of DDR5 memory. It features ample storage with room for 8 SATA SFF drives and 4 high-performance NVMe SSDs. The server is built for heavy enterprise applications requiring massive computing power at an attractive price, making it a leading contender for cost-conscious enterprises.
Price: £22,504 (excluding VAT)
Fujitsu Server Primergy RX2540 M7: Best for Business-Critical Apps that Require Lots of Storage
- CPU: 2 x 16-core 2GHz Intel Xeon Scalable Gold 5416S
- Memory: 128GB 4,800MT/s DDR5 (up to 8TB)
- Storage: 16 x hot-swap SFF (expandable to 30 with rear cages)
- RAID: Fujitsu PSAS CP2100-8i RAID
The Fujitsu Primergy RX2540 M7 is a storage powerhouse designed to handle business-critical applications. Its flexibility allows for Xeon Scalable Gen4 and Max CPUs, and it offers abundant storage options with the ability to install up to 30 SFF drives. The server provides excellent scalability and is a fantastic choice for businesses needing both processing and extensive storage capacity at a reasonable price.
Price: £8,571 (excluding VAT)
Qsan XCubeSAN XS5326D: Best for Reliable Delivery of Big Data Applications
- Storage: 26 x SAS3 HDD/SSD SFF hot-swap bays (expandable to 546 drives)
- CPU: 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Xeon D-1715TER
- Memory: 16GB DDR4 ECC cache (up to 256GB)
For businesses dealing with big data, the Qsan XCubeSAN XS5326D offers unbeatable value. This 2U rackmount hybrid flash array supports up to 546 drives and delivers a maximum capacity of 16.7PB. With dual active/active controllers, it ensures reliable data handling and high throughput, making it ideal for large-scale storage needs.
Price: £8,368 (excluding VAT)
Choosing the right server solution depends on your business’s specific needs, including processing power, storage, scalability, and price. Whether you require a compact yet powerful solution or a high-capacity, high-performance server for large-scale applications, these options provide a wide range of features to meet the most demanding requirements.
