High-density VM host
Up to 192 vCPU per server enables dense VM consolidation — typical deployment for VMware Cloud Foundation per-core license optimization.
HPE Servers (ProLiant) · Server Hardware
HPE ProLiant DL385 Gen11
AMD EPYC 9004/9005 2U rack server.
Quick answer
HPE ProLiant DL385 Gen11 is a 2U dual-socket rack server powered by AMD EPYC 9004 (Genoa) and 9005 (Turin) processors. With up to 96 cores per socket and 12 DDR5 memory channels per socket, the platform delivers the highest per-host core count in the ProLiant family — ideal for high-density virtualization and core-bound database workloads.
HPE ProLiant DL385 Gen11 is the AMD EPYC counterpart to the Intel-based DL380. The platform supports EPYC 9004 (Genoa) and the newer 9005 (Turin) generations, delivering up to 96 cores per socket and 12 DDR5 memory channels per socket — both higher than the equivalent Intel Xeon platform on most SKUs.
Per-socket core density and memory bandwidth are the defining advantages. For high-density VMware vSphere environments under Broadcom's per-core VMware Cloud Foundation licensing, the AMD platform often delivers superior VMs-per-license economics. For memory-bound workloads (in-memory analytics, HPC, large Redis clusters) the 12-channel DDR5 subsystem provides 50 percent more bandwidth than the equivalent 8-channel Intel platform.
Key features
What it offers
- 2x AMD EPYC 9004 / 9005 processors (up to 96 cores per socket)
- 24 DDR5 DIMM slots, up to 6 TB of memory
- Full Gen11 storage backplane options
- PCIe Gen5 expansion
- iLO 6 management with OneView integration
- FIPS 140-2/3 validated cryptographic modes
Tech Summary
Important technical data
- Form factor
- 2U rack
- Sockets
- 2x AMD EPYC 9004/9005
- Cores
- Up to 192 cores per server
- Memory
- 24 DDR5 DIMM, up to 6 TB
- Warranty
- 3 years standard
Use CasesVirtualization Database Virtual desktop infrastructure
When would you choose this product?
Core-bound database workloads
High core counts deliver excellent throughput for PostgreSQL, MySQL and similar OLTP workloads that scale with cores.
High user-per-host VDI
Maximizes the user-to-host ratio in VDI environments, reducing per-user infrastructure cost.
Who is it for?
Core-density-optimized virtualization, database and VDI workloads across EU, UK and US enterprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose AMD DL385 over Intel DL380?
Choose AMD when per-socket core count, memory bandwidth or VMware per-core licensing TCO are the primary drivers. Choose Intel when the wider Intel ecosystem (AVX-512, QAT, single-thread performance) and broader ISV certification matter more.
What is the VMware per-CPU licensing advantage?
Broadcom's VMware Cloud Foundation licensing is now per-core. Fewer hosts with higher core density typically reduces total license consumption versus the same workload spread across more, lower-density hosts. Sora Yazılım models the ROI before recommending platform.
EPYC 9004 versus EPYC 9005?
EPYC 9005 (Turin) is the newer generation with a 10-15 percent performance uplift and improved power efficiency. For new procurement, 9005 is recommended unless 9004 stock is significantly better priced.
Memory bandwidth?
12 DDR5 channels per socket versus 8 on the equivalent Intel platform — 50 percent more aggregate bandwidth, important for HPC and memory-bound workloads.
Is Linux support strong on AMD EPYC?
Yes — every major distribution (RHEL, Ubuntu, SUSE, Rocky, AlmaLinux) is fully optimized for AMD EPYC.
Can DL385 handle AI workloads?
For CPU-based inference, yes. For GPU-accelerated training, the dedicated HPE Compute XD685 platform is the recommended choice.
Warranty?
Three years standard with optional Tech Care 24/7 4-hour SLA upgrade.
Vendor's official product page
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HPE ProLiant DL385 Gen11 licensing + deployment + support
Sora Yazılım handles licensing, deployment, training and ongoing management — all from a single team.