Yet again HP has submitted a very impressive server for this review. When HP finds something that works well, the company sticks with it. This way, HP ensures those IT departments that have used Proliant server products in the past are not disappointed. The small things like the integrated lights-out management tool, the management console support, the UID LEDs, and the technical diagrams/details on the inside of the chassis lid are all there, even in this most entry-level unit.
In the server is a single 40GB Maxtor hard disk drive unit, an Intel Pentium 4 processor, and 1GB RAM (strangely comprising four modules, 1 x 512MB, 1 x 256MB and 2 x 128MB all of which were PC2100 ECC Registered). There is a slim CD-ROM and floppy disk drive unit. The machine was running Windows Server 2003.
Internally there is one full-length/width PCI-X expansion slot available as well as one spare 3.5in HDD unit bay. There are eight very small internal fans near the CPU heatsink and there are two small fans on the front of the power supply unit which is rated at 180 watts. Considering there are so many fans, the server itself is relatively quiet when running.
Overall, this is a neat and very well-designed server, particularly the cooling system. However the performance was a little hit and miss under our testing, this may in part be due to the operating system.
Also the use of a single hard disk and mixed memory is a little strange, particularly in a server. When you can buy a 40GB HDD unit for under AU$150, it begs the question, why not put in a second one? These factors contribute to make the similar Acer Altos R300 stand out.
Configured correctly, the HP Proliant DL320 would possibly give the Acer a closer run for its money, but in this state the HP was obviously disadvantaged.
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| Product | HP ProLiant DL320 Generation 2 |
| Price | AU$2495 |
| Vendor | HP |
| Phone | 1300 305 018 |
| Web | www.hp.com.au |
| Interoperability |  |
| Average OS support: Windows and Linux. Good range of ports. | |
| Futureproofing |  ½ |
| Very limited expansion capabilities, but PCI-X card expansion is slighty better than the Acer. | |
| ROI |  |
| Slighty overpriced considering the single drive etc. | |
| Service |  ½ |
| One-year onsite, then two-year RTB warranty included, extended onsite warranty available. | |
| Rating |  |
