Whether you’re hosting your own website, creating a server for your favorite game, setting up an office network, running a remote virtual machine, or just building a cloud storage solution for your personal data, investing in good server hardware is critical. Cheap servers aren’t always easy to come by — quality hardware always comes at a price — but if you’re looking for some networking gear and want to save some cash, we’ve got your back with this list of the best server deals available this month. And if your PC could also use an upgrade, then check out these desktop computer deals once you’re done here.
Today’s best server deals
- Lenovo ThinkSystem ST50 Tower Server — $540 with code THINKSYSTEM25, was $1,107
- HPE ProLiant External MicroServer — $570 with code 3BDMDSL258, was $670
- Dell PowerEdge T140 1TB Tower Server — $859, was $1,720
- Dell PowerEdge R240 4TB Rack Server — $1,269 with code SERVER200, was $2,335
- Dell PowerEdge T340 4TB Tower Server — $1,519 with code SERVER300, was $2,903
Expires soon
Dell Server Deals
Up to 50% off
From basic server towers to large full-featured rack arrays, Dell makes some of the best servers on the market — and these ones are all on sale right now.
Buy at Dell
Expires soon
Supermicro Mini-Tower Server Case (6 Drive Bays)
$154 $170
The aptly named Supermicro is a compact mini-tower server case — perfect for those with smaller needs. Supports Mini-ITX motherboards and includes a 250-watt bronze-rated PSU.
Buy at Newegg
WITH CODE ‘3BDMDSL258’
Expires soon
HPE ProLiant External MicroServer (Intel Xeon E-2224, 16GB RAM, 4 HDD Bays)
$570 $670
An Intel Xeon CPU, 16GB DDR4 RAM, four large HDD bays, and compact design make the HPE ProLiant External MicroServer a great choice for those who don’t want a big, bulky server tower.
Buy at Newegg
WITH CODE ‘THINKSYSTEM30’
Expires soon
ThinkSystem SE350 Edge Server (Intel Xeon D-2123IT, 8GB RAM)
$1,314 $2,888
Purpose-built for Edge applications, the compact, lightweight ThinkSystem SE350 is an elegant solution that supports up to 16TB of storage along with both wired and wireless connectivity.
Buy at Lenovo
WITH CODE ‘SERVER300’
Expires soon
Dell PowerEdge T340 Tower Server (Intel Xeon E-2224, 16GB RAM, 8 Drive Bays)
$1,519 $2,903
The business-grade Dell PowerEdge T340 pairs robust hardware with an impressive 8 slots for HDDs or SSDs, and includes a 4TB HDD right out of the box for good measure.
Buy at Dell
UP TO 144TB STORAGE
Expires soon
ThinkSystem ST250 Tower Server (Intel Pentium G5400, 8GB RAM, 4 HDD Bays)
$848 $1,535
Need something more than a basic server but don’t need a full rack server array? The ThinkSystem ST250 is an enterprise-class tower server that hits all the right notes for less than a grand.
Buy at Lenovo
Expires soon
Chenbro RM42300-F 1.2 mm SGCC 4U Rackmount Server Case (3 5.25″ Drive Bays)
$110 $120
If all you need is a sturdy chassis without extra hardware, the steel Chenbro rackmount server case does the trick for cheap. Features three 5.25″ drive bays and plenty of room for other hardware.
Buy at Newegg
WITH CODE ‘THINKSYSTEM25’
Expires soon
Lenovo ThinkSystem ST50 Tower Server (Intel Celeron G4930, 8GB RAM, 4 HDD Bays)
$540 $1,071
With solid specs, four drive bays for up to 32TB of storage, and a very attractive price tag, the Lenovo ThinkSystem ST50 is a great server tower for those with moderate needs on a budget.
Buy at Lenovo
WITH CODE ‘SERVER200’
Expires soon
Dell PowerEdge R240 Rack Server (Intel Xeon E-2224, 16GB RAM, 4 HDD Bays)
$1,269 $2,335
Whether you’re starting your rack server system or scaling up an existing network, it doesn’t get much better for the price than the Dell PowerEdge R240. It even comes with a 4TB HDD.
Buy at Dell
1TB DRIVE INCLUDED
Expires soon
Dell PowerEdge T140 Tower Server (Intel Xeon E-2224, 8GB RAM, 4 HDD Bays)
$859 $1,720
The Dell PowerEdge T140 is a solid no-frills tower server for less than $1,000. This deal even includes a 1TB HDD so you can get going right out of the box.
Buy at Dell
How to choose a server
The market for networking equipment isn’t as broad as that for laptops, smartphones, and other popular consumer-friendly tech, but in our internet-powered digital age, servers cover a pretty wide spectrum of features, designs, and price points. One thing that servers do have in common with those other electronics, however, is that before you rush into a wild hunt for server deals, you need to set a budget and determine your needs. Make a checklist of things you absolutely need, things you would like but can live without, and things you don’t need (or don’t want at all) before you begin you search.
A person setting up their own small, private local server is not going to be working with the same budget and hardware requirements as a network administrator, for example. A person who needs a simple private server should do just fine with one of the many smaller cheap servers that are available so long as they stick to good brands like Dell and HP. For these, you’ll want to place a higher value on things like upload and download speeds, ease of setup and use, robust hardware specs for running software (such as for a virtual machine, if you’re using it for that), and long-term reliability than on advanced professional-grade features you likely won’t need and probably don’t want to pay for.
Virtual servers are another option for those with modest needs, but bear in mind that in this case, somebody else is in control of the physical server itself and you are effectively renting it from them. Virtual servers are essentially more advanced cloud storage and remote desktop services in that the server is located off-site and accessed remotely. The primary disadvantage of virtual servers over physical ones should be obvious: You are not in possession of the server itself, which may or may not be important to you. The server may also be shared by multiple clients rather than dedicated solely to you.
The advantages, however, are the same as with other cloud-based services: The server (and more importantly, the data it contains) are arguably more secure in a professional facility than they would be in your private residence. The equipment will also be handled by experienced technicians who can set up, monitor, and troubleshoot it so you don’t have to. And, of course, virtual servers are generally cheaper. It goes without saying that these advantages are dependent upon you choosing a trustworthy virtual server provider.
Business owners, IT admins, and other professionals are probably better served by buying their own physical network hardware and will naturally want to look for server deals on something a bit more duty-grade. Business-minded servers are more expensive than consumer-grade models but should offer faster upload and download speeds, enhanced security, and other advanced features. These may also come with extra professional help with things like installation and long-term support, which is something to consider. Modular server systems that can easily be scaled up (rack servers spring to mind here) are also a good idea if you expect your networking needs to grow in the future.
Finally, as networking equipment is by its very nature designed to connect things and people to one another, you need to make sure that your hardware components are compatible when searching for server deals. Most servers are built to handle basic things like FTP, but you don’t want to buy a cheap server only to discover it doesn’t work with certain software or connectivity protocols that you intend to use or that its hardware is lacking for running a VM. This is more important if you’re setting up a modular system — for example, a multi-drive server chassis that doesn’t come with built-in storage, or a multi-server network where switches are required.
We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and we choose what we cover carefully and independently. The prices, details, and availability of the products and deals in this post may be subject to change at anytime. Be sure to check that they are still in effect before making a purchase.Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.