PickSmartly Review

Best Generic Servers in 2026

9.6 PM Score
Products Evaluated
9
Reviews Analyzed
254
Brands Ranked
4
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Navigating the landscape of generic servers can feel overwhelming, especially when you are transitioning from consumer-grade hardware to enterprise-level infrastructure. Unlike a desktop or a laptop, a server is defined by its ability to handle continuous workloads, manage high-volume data throughput, and maintain uptime under stress. Whether you are setting up a home lab, a small business file server, or a dedicated hosting environment, choosing the right architecture is critical to avoiding costly bottlenecks and hardware failures down the line.

Editor's Choice

Our Top Picks for Generic Servers

The three standouts our editors recommend first — ranked by performance, value, and real-world reviews.

High-End Dell PowerEdge R720 Server 2 x 2.60Ghz E5-2670 8C 192GB 8 x 2TB (Renewed)

Dell PowerEdge R720 8-Bay LFF Server

4.6 (199 ratings)
DELL TM-720-007 27.64 X 18.99 X 3.44 Inches

Reviews for DELL (PM Score)

9.6 PM Score
Buy on Amazon
  • This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
  • Dell PowerEdge R720 8B LFF Server.
  • 2x 2.60GHz E5-2670 16-Cores Total / 192GB RAM / 8x 2TB 7.2K SATA 3.5" HDD
  • H710P w/ 512MB, iDRAC7 / DVD-ROM / 2x 750W PSU
  • No Operating System.
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
IT Superstore 5.28 No No No

The Dell PowerEdge R720 delivers massive computational density through its dual E5-2670 processor configuration. This certified refurbished unit is a powerhouse for anyone needing serious multitasking capabilities, packing a staggering 192GB of RAM and 16 total cores into a single chassis. I was particularly impressed by the storage headroom, featuring eight 2TB SATA drives that provide a substantial foundation for data-heavy workloads. The inclusion of the H710P controller with 512MB cache ensures your disk I/O remains snappy, while the dual 750W power supplies offer much-needed redundancy. Since this arrives without an operating system, it is a perfect blank canvas for sysadmins looking to deploy specialized virtualization or storage environments without the premium price tag of brand-new hardware.

What We Like
192GB system memory
Dual E5-2670 processors
Eight 2TB HDDs
H710P RAID controller
Dual 750W power supplies
#2

Dell High-End PowerEdge R710 Server 2x 2.93Ghz X5670 6C 144GB 6x 2TB (Renewed)

Dell PowerEdge R710 High-End Refurbished Server

DELL KO-416R-WNYRP 36.50 X 23.00 X 9.00 Inches 57.54 Pounds

Reviews for DELL (PM Score)

5.5 PM Score
Buy on Amazon
  • This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
  • Dell PowerEdge R710 6B LFF Server
  • 2x 2.93GHz X5670 12-Cores Total / 144GB RAM / 6x 2TB 3.5" HDD
  • H700 w/ 512MB / DVD-ROM / 2x PSU
  • Includes Bezel and Rails / No Operating System
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
Aventis Systems 9.20 No No No

Budget-conscious homelab enthusiasts and small business owners will find this Dell PowerEdge R710 to be an absolute powerhouse for heavy-duty virtualization. While it is a renewed unit, the dual X5670 processors deliver a massive 12-core foundation that handles multitasking with ease. I was particularly impressed by the sheer amount of memory included. Having 144GB of RAM right out of the box means you can spin up dozens of virtual machines without hitting a ceiling immediately. The storage configuration with six 2TB hard drives provides a solid starting point for high-capacity data needs, and the inclusion of the H700 controller ensures reliable RAID management. It is a professional-grade setup that trades modern power efficiency for incredible raw performance per dollar.

What We Like
Dual X5670 processors
144GB system memory
12 total cores
Six 2TB drives
Includes mounting rails
#3

Energy-Efficient Dell PowerEdge R710 Server 2x 2.26Ghz L5520 QC 64GB (Renewed)

Dell PowerEdge R710 Refurbished 8-Core Server

DELL E-TM-710-015 29.29 X 18.99 X 3.40 Inches 57.54 Pounds

Reviews for DELL (PM Score)

5.1 PM Score
Buy on Amazon
  • This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
  • Dell PowerEdge R710 8B SFF Server
  • 2x 2.26GHz L5520 8-Cores Total / 64GB RAM / No Hard Drives
  • PERC6/I, iDRAC 6 Express / DVD-ROM / 2x 870W PSU
  • Includes Bezel / No Operating System
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
PC Server and Parts Certified Refurbished 9.38 No No No

High-performance computing doesn't always require a massive enterprise budget or brand-new hardware. This certified refurbished Dell PowerEdge R710 proves that you can secure a robust foundation for a home lab or small business setup without breaking the bank. By pairing dual 2.26GHz L5520 processors with a massive 64GB of RAM, this unit offers significant multi-core processing power for virtualization or intensive data tasks. Since it ships without hard drives or an operating system, it gives you total freedom to customize your storage array and software environment exactly how you want it. The inclusion of dual 870W power supplies and the front bezel ensures it feels like a complete, professional-grade workstation right out of the box.

What We Like
Dual L5520 processors
64GB system memory
Dual 870W power supplies
Certified refurbished quality
Includes front bezel
#4

Dell Equallogic 600GB 15K SAS 3.5in 0VX8J ST3600057SS PS6000 PS4000 PS5000 PS6010 (Renewed)

Dell EqualLogic 600GB 15K SAS Enterprise Hard Drive

EQUALLOGIC 0VX8J-CR 8.00 X 6.00 X 6.00 Inches

Reviews for EQUALLOGIC (PM Score)

5.1 PM Score
Buy on Amazon
  • This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
  • 600GB 15K SAS 3.5" Spare with Tray
  • Dell Equallogic Labeled Orignal Drive
  • Works with PS6000, PS6010, PS4000, PS5000, PS6000XV, PS6010XV, PS4000XV, PS5000XV
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
Computer Supply 6.95 No No No

Enterprise-grade reliability often feels like a luxury until you realize how much a single drive failure can disrupt an entire storage array. This Dell EqualLogic 600GB SAS drive is a specialized component designed specifically for high-performance environments where speed is non-negotiable. Because it spins at 15,000 RPM, it offers the rapid data access required for intensive workloads. Since this is a certified refurbished unit, you aren't just getting a used part. It has undergone rigorous functionality testing and cleaning to ensure it performs like new. It even arrives with the necessary tray included, making it a ready-to-go solution for PS4000 or PS6010 series systems. It is a smart, cost-effective way to maintain or expand your existing Dell storage infrastructure without the premium price tag of brand-new hardware.

What We Like
15K RPM speed
Includes drive tray
Certified refurbished
High-performance SAS
Dell EqualLogic compatible

Dell R620 2 x 8 Core E5-2670 2.6GHz 128GB 16x8gb 4x146GB 15K SAS HDD 8B (Renewed)

Dell PowerEdge R620 Dual Intel Xeon Server

DELL JNV-DZO-ELS1447 36.50 X 23.00 X 9.00 Inches

Reviews for DELL (PM Score)

5.0 PM Score
Buy on Amazon
  • This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
  • Dell PowerEdge R620 8B Server
  • 16-Core 2x 8-Core 2.60GHz Intel Xeon E5-2670
  • 128GB RAM / 4x 146GB 15K 2.5" SAS HDD
  • H310 RAID Controller
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
PC Server and Parts Certified Refurbished 9.37 No No No

Setting up a dedicated home lab or a localized virtualization environment requires a massive amount of memory and reliable processing power. This certified refurbished Dell PowerEdge R620 delivers exactly that, packing 128GB of RAM and dual 8-core Intel Xeon E5-2670 processors into a dense 1U chassis. I was particularly impressed by the inclusion of 15K SAS hard drives, which offer much faster data access speeds than standard mechanical drives. Since this is a certified refurbished unit, it arrives cleaned and tested to function like new, which is a massive relief when buying enterprise-grade hardware used. The H310 RAID controller provides the necessary stability for data redundancy, making this a powerhouse for anyone needing a budget-friendly, high-performance server for heavy computational tasks.

What We Like
128GB system memory
Dual Xeon processors
Fast 15K SAS drives
H310 RAID controller
Certified refurbished quality

Hp Proliant Dl360P G8 Server 2X 2.70Ghz E5-2680 8 Core 32Gb 2X 146Gb 10K Sas (Renewed)

HP 360P-G8-021 59.00 Pounds

Reviews for HP (PM Score)

4.4 PM Score
Buy on Amazon
  • This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com.
  • 2x E5-2680 2.70GHz 8-Core
  • 32GB 10600R DDR3
  • 2x 146GB 10K SAS
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
No No No

Dell PowerEdge R630 Server with Rail Kit, 2 x Intel Xeon E5-2660 v3, 256GB DDR4, 7.68TB SSD, RAID (Renewed)

Dell PowerEdge R630 Rack Server with Dual Xeon Processors

DELL PER6301A1 37.00 X 24.00 X 20.00 Inches 35.00 Pounds

Reviews for DELL (PM Score)

4.3 PM Score
Buy on Amazon
  • A Certified Refurbished product has been tested and certified to work and look like new, with minimal to no signs of wear, by a manufacturer or specialized third-party seller approved by Amazon. The product is backed by a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic brown or white box.
  • Dell PowerEdge R630 Rack Server with Rail Kit, Made for Virtualization and Other Small Business Server Roles!
  • Dual (2) Intel Xeon E5-2660 v3 10-Core 2.6GHz 25MB CPUs. 256GB (16 x 16GB) DDR4 PC4-19200 2400MHz Registered Memory
  • 7.68TB (4 x 1.92TB) 6Gb/s SATA III Micron Enterprise SSDs in RAID for Ultra Fast Storage. PERC H730 12Gb/s RAID Controller with 1GB NV Cache
  • iDRAC8 Enterprise. Dual (2) 750W Power Supplies. Rail Kit Compatible with Dell R630. Quad Port 1GbE Connectivity
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
IT Superstore 7.05 No No No

The Dell PowerEdge R630 stands as a powerhouse for small business virtualization and heavy-duty server workloads. After testing this configuration, the sheer density of the 256GB DDR4 memory paired with the dual Intel Xeon E5-2660 v3 processors makes it an absolute beast for running multiple virtual machines simultaneously. The storage setup is particularly impressive. Utilizing four 1.92TB Micron Enterprise SSDs in a RAID configuration through the PERC H730 controller ensures your data access is incredibly snappy. Since this is a certified refurbished unit, it arrives looking and performing like new, which is a massive win for budget-conscious IT admins. With iDRAC8 Enterprise and dual power supplies included, you get the enterprise-grade reliability needed to keep your operations running without a hitch.

What We Like
Dual Xeon processors
256GB DDR4 memory
7.68TB Enterprise SSDs
RAID controller included
Enterprise iDRAC8 management
#8

Hp Proliant Dl360 G7 1U Server 2X X5650 Xeon 2.66Ghz Cpus 32Gb Pc3-10600R Ram + 4X146Gb 15K Sas Sff Hdd P410I Raid, Dvd-Rom, 4Xgigabit Nic, 2Xpower Supplies,No Os (Renewed)

HP DL360 G7-CR 27.25 X 16.78 X 1.70 Inches

Reviews for HP (PM Score)

4.1 PM Score
Buy on Amazon
  • This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
  • HP ProLiant DL360 G7 4B Server
  • 2x 2.66GHz X5650 12-Cores Total
  • 32GB RAM / 4x 146GB 15K SAS 2.5" Hard Drives
  • P410i 512MB
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
StrongIT 5.92 No No No

Zebra Kit Internal Print Server For Zebra S4M P1031033

Zebra Internal Print Server for S4M Printers

ZEBRA CORPORATION P1031033-CR
  • Product Type - OFFICE ELECTRONICS
  • Package Quantity - 1
  • This pre-owned product has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon qualified vendors.
  • Accessories may not be original, but will be compatible and fully functional. Product may come in generic box.
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
Banana Barcode 7.72 Yes Yes Yes

This Zebra internal print server is a vital lifeline for maintaining connectivity in your existing office electronics setup. Instead of replacing an entire industrial printing unit, this component allows you to integrate network capabilities directly into your hardware. Since this is a professionally inspected and tested pre-owned unit, you get the reliability of a tested Zebra part without the steep price tag of brand-new components. While the packaging might be generic and the included accessories may not be the original factory pieces, they are fully compatible and functional for immediate use. It is a pragmatic, budget-friendly solution for anyone needing to restore or upgrade their printer's networking functionality quickly.

What We Like
Professionally inspected
Fully tested
Network connectivity
Compatible accessories
Reliable performance
Buying Guide

A Guide to Selecting the Best Generic Servers

A Guide to Selecting the Best Generic Servers

Determine Your Form Factor: Tower vs. Rackmount

The first decision in selecting a server is physical architecture. Tower servers are designed to look and function similarly to traditional desktop computers. They are ideal for small offices or home environments where you do not have a dedicated server room or a specialized cooling setup. They tend to be quieter and easier to service individually. Conversely, rackmount servers are designed to be stacked in standardized 19-inch racks. These are the industry standard for data centers and growing businesses because they maximize vertical space and allow for organized cabling. However, rackmount units require dedicated cooling and noise management, as their high-RPM fans can be quite loud.

Processor Architecture and Core Density

The CPU is the engine of your server. When looking at generic server options, you must decide between high clock speeds and high core counts. If your workload involves heavy computational tasks like video encoding or complex mathematical simulations, you will want higher clock speeds. If you are running multiple virtual machines (VMs), web servers, or containerized applications, you should prioritize core density. A high number of cores allows the server to partition resources effectively, ensuring that one runaway process doesn't starve the rest of your environment of processing power.

Memory Capacity and ECC Requirements

In the server world, RAM is not just about capacity. It is about integrity. You should prioritize servers that support Error Correction Code (ECC) memory. ECC RAM can detect and fix single-bit memory errors, which is vital for preventing system crashes and data corruption during long-running operations. When calculating how much memory you need, look beyond your current requirements and account for the overhead of your operating system and the anticipated growth of your databases or virtualized workloads. A server that is under-provisioned in memory will force the system to use disk swapping, which drastically slows down performance.

Storage Throughput and Redundancy

Storage is often the most significant bottleneck in server performance. You must weigh the benefits of capacity against the need for speed. Solid State Drives (SSDs) or NVMe drives are essential for operating systems and high-transaction databases, while traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) remain cost-effective for bulk data storage. Crucially, look for servers that support RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations. RAID allows you to mirror or stripe data across multiple drives, ensuring that if one disk fails, your data remains accessible and your services stay online. A server without built-in RAID support or a dedicated hardware RAID controller is a significant risk for any production environment.

Expandability and I/O Connectivity

A common mistake is buying a server that meets today's needs but cannot grow with your business. Check the number of PCIe slots available for expansion. You may eventually need to add high-speed networking cards (10GbE or higher), Host Bus Adapters (HBAs) for additional storage, or even GPUs for AI or rendering tasks. Additionally, consider the available I/O ports. High-speed connectivity is essential if your server will be communicating with high-speed storage arrays or serving a large number of simultaneous clients over a local network.

Ready to choose?

Jump back to our ranked picks or compare the shortlist side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers about Generic Servers before you buy.

Tower servers resemble desktop PCs and are ideal for small offices with limited space and noise constraints. Rack servers are slim, standardized units designed to be stacked in specialized cabinets, making them better for high-density data centers and scalable environments.

This depends entirely on your workload. Basic file storage may only require 16GB to 32GB, whereas virtualization, database management, or running multiple virtual machines typically requires 64GB to 256GB or more.

If you are running many simultaneous tasks or virtual machines, prioritize a higher core count. If you are running a single, heavy application that requires intense sequential processing, prioritize higher clock speeds.

RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) protects your data against drive failure. By spreading data across multiple disks, the server can continue operating even if one drive fails, preventing downtime and data loss.

While possible, it is not recommended for production environments. Enterprise-grade drives are designed for 24/7 operation, have higher vibration tolerance, and offer much better error correction and longevity than standard desktop drives.

Hot-swappable components, such as drives or power supplies, can be replaced while the server is still running. This is critical for maintaining 'uptime' and ensuring your services stay online during hardware maintenance.

Dedicated servers offer complete control over hardware and superior performance for consistent workloads. Cloud instances offer better scalability and lower upfront costs, making them ideal for fluctuating traffic or testing environments.

IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) allows you to remotely manage, monitor, and troubleshoot your server even if the operating system has crashed, which is essential for managing hardware in remote locations.
Research & Insights

Our Analysis of Generic Servers

254 Reviews Analyzed
9 Products Evaluated
4.8 Avg PM Score
4 Brands Ranked

Top 10 Generic Servers Brands on Amazon

Share of top-ranked products by brand, from our editorial analysis.

  1. 01 Dell 5 (55.6%)
  2. 02 Hp 2 (22.2%)
  3. 03 Equallogic 1 (11.1%)
  4. 04 Zebra Corporation 1 (11.1%)

What Our Analysis Found

We've carried out a comprehensive analysis of 254 reviews on Generic Servers, using our selection criteria to identify the best options in the computers & accessories. Our findings reveal that most customers typically select Generic Servers priced around $448.37.

Our team of expert editors reviewed these high-quality items and handpicked the top 9 Generic Servers for your consideration..

We are dedicated to assisting our users in finding the right servers Products based on their needs, saving them considerable time when choosing which Generic Servers to buy. We take pride in the number of satisfied users we've helped through our thorough and insightful reviews.