HPE ProLiant MicroServer Gen10 Upgrade Guide: RAM and Storage

Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · Written from this device's verified specifications

This guide covers memory and drive upgrades for the original HPE ProLiant MicroServer Gen10, not the Gen10 Plus. The short answer: you can fit up to 32 GB of ECC unbuffered DDR4 in two slots and use four 3.5" SATA bays, with no M.2 or NVMe slot.

At a glance

  • 2 DIMM slots (1A, 2B), ECC unbuffered DDR4 only, up to 2 x 16 GB = 32 GB
  • Memory runs at up to 2400 MT/s on X3421/X3418 models, but only 1600 MT/s on X3216 models
  • 4 non-hot-plug 3.5" SATA bays; HPE lists 16 TB (4 x 4 TB) as its qualified maximum
  • No M.2 or NVMe slot; a fifth bay takes either a SATA DVD-RW drive or a SATA SSD boot drive
  • We have no confirmed information on swapping the processor
DIMM slots (1A, 2B)2 × DDR4 DIMM · up to 32 GB total · 2400 MT/s · ECC
Non-hot-plug 3.5" SATA drive bays4 × HDD 3.5" (SATA)
2 × DIMM · DDR4up to 32 GB totalNon-hot-plug 3.5" SATA drive bays4 × HDD 3.5" (SATA)
Schematic of the upgradeable slots (not to scale). Check the owner's manual for their exact positions.

Lifecycle and support

No longer sold new. Supported until Nov. 2, 2026 (estimate).

20172018201920202021202220232024202520262027Today11 · Release · June 201722 · End of sale · Nov. 2, 202133 · EOSL · Nov. 2, 2026
Filled dots: dates published by the manufacturer. Hollow dots: estimates from third-party sources.
MilestoneDate
Release
First available to buy.		 June 2017 Estimate Third-party source says HPE introduced the MicroServer Gen10 in June 2017. eosl.date lists 2017-07-01, but it is unclear whether that is a release date.
Source ↗
End of sale
No longer sold new by the manufacturer (Dell calls this 'End of Life', Lenovo 'Withdrawn').		 Nov. 2, 2021 Estimate Listed as EOL by a third party and marked 'derived', calculated back from the EOSL with a five-year rule. HPE did not publish this date. HPE QuickSpecs only mark the product 'Retired'.
Source ↗
End of standard support (EOSL)
Standard warranty and support contracts can no longer be renewed.		 Nov. 2, 2026 Estimate Third-party EOSL date. After it there are no firmware updates or spare parts and Care Packs cannot be extended. eosl.date conflicts with 2029-10-31, possibly a generic placeholder.
Source ↗

Dates not listed haven't been published by the manufacturer or a reliable third party.

RAM: two ECC UDIMM slots, 32 GB maximum

The MicroServer Gen10 has two DIMM slots, labelled 1A and 2B. They take full-size DDR4 ECC unbuffered DIMMs (UDIMMs), not SO-DIMMs and not registered modules. The largest supported module is 16 GB, so the maximum is 32 GB (2 x 16 GB). HPE's listed options are the 862974-B21 (8 GB) and the 862976-B21 (16 GB). The standard configuration is a single 8 GB module, and supported combinations include 16 GB + 8 GB and 16 GB + 16 GB.

Speed depends on your processor. Models with an X3421 or X3418 run memory at up to 2400 MT/s. Models with an X3216 are limited to 1600 MT/s, so faster modules will not run any faster there. Check which processor your server has before judging the result.

HPE warns that memory from older HPE server generations is not fully compatible with the Gen10, so don't assume a spare module from an older server will work. Don't confuse this model with the Gen10 Plus, which uses different memory and a different slot numbering (2A/1B).

Buying tips

  • Buy ECC unbuffered DDR4 UDIMMs only; avoid registered modules and SO-DIMMs
  • The two HPE part numbers above are the ones HPE lists; other brands should be clearly listed as compatible with this server
  • Don't buy faster modules for an X3216 model, which is capped at 1600 MT/s
  • Don't reuse memory from older HPE servers without checking compatibility
  • Ignore memory listings for the Gen10 Plus or Plus v2, which use different specs

Storage: four 3.5" SATA bays, no M.2

The server has four non-hot-plug 3.5" SATA drive bays, so you must power the server down to swap a drive. HPE lists 16 TB in total (4 x 4 TB) as the maximum of its qualified options. That is a qualified-drive figure, not a confirmed physical limit, so larger drives may work but we can't confirm it.

The built-in controller offers RAID 0, 1 and 10 and has no write cache. An optional HPE Smart Array E208i-p SR Gen10 card is listed with RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10, also with no write cache. The note about RAID levels in HPE's QuickSpecs is hard to read in some copies, so check the original PDF before relying on a particular level.

There is no M.2 or NVMe slot. A fifth media bay holds either a SATA DVD-RW drive or a SATA SSD as a boot drive, connected to the built-in SATA controller. The documents we found give no form factor or thickness limit for that bay, so confirm the fit before buying an SSD or a mounting adapter. The server also has two low-profile PCIe 3.0 slots (one x8, one x1 in an x4 connector) if you want to add a card.

Buying tips

  • Choose 3.5" SATA drives for the four main bays
  • For a boot SSD, confirm the size and thickness the fifth bay allows before you buy
  • Plan for downtime: drives can't be swapped while the server is running
  • Don't expect NVMe speeds; there is no M.2 slot
  • Drives larger than 4 TB are outside HPE's listed options, so treat them as unconfirmed
  • Gen10 Plus drive specs (2.5" SSDs) do not apply to this model

Cheapest compatible right now

See all compatible parts and prices →

How to upgrade

Before you start

  • Confirm you have the original MicroServer Gen10, not the Gen10 Plus or Plus v2
  • Check which processor your server has (X3216, X3421 or X3418), as it sets the memory speed
  • Back up your data and note any RAID configuration you use
  • Have the owner's manual or user guide open for exact disassembly instructions
  • Keep a small screwdriver and an anti-static strap or mat handy

Steps

  1. Back up your data
    Copy anything important to another device. If you are replacing drives in a RAID array, note the current setup first.
  2. Power off and unplug
    Shut the server down properly, then disconnect the power cable and any other cables. Drives are not hot-plug, so the server must be off before you touch them.
  3. Ground yourself
    Touch bare metal on the chassis or wear an anti-static strap before handling memory or drives.
  4. Open the case
    Follow the owner's manual for the exact way to open the case and reach the drive bays and DIMM slots. We don't have verified details here on latches or screws.
  5. Install the part
    For memory, fit the module into slot 1A or 2B, checking the notch lines up, and press evenly until it seats. For a drive, fit it into a free 3.5" bay and connect it as the manual describes.
  6. Close up and reconnect
    Refit the cover, then reconnect the cables and power.
  7. Check that the server sees the part
    Power on and check that the BIOS or firmware shows the right memory size and that the new drive is detected. If something is missing, power down and reseat the part.

Good to know

  • We have no confirmed information on replacing the processor, so we can't say which CPUs fit or whether an upgrade is possible. The server ships with an X3216, X3421 or X3418 depending on the model.
  • The 16 TB storage figure is HPE's maximum for its qualified options, not a proven physical limit.
  • The documents we found give no form factor or thickness limit for the fifth media bay.
  • The RAID note in some copies of the QuickSpecs is garbled, so check the original PDF for the exact RAID levels.
  • Neither the built-in RAID nor the optional Smart Array card has a write cache.
  • Gen10 Plus and Gen10 Plus v2 are different machines with different memory, slot labels and drive specs; their figures don't apply here.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM can the HPE ProLiant MicroServer Gen10 take?

Up to 32 GB, using two 16 GB ECC unbuffered DDR4 UDIMMs. The standard configuration is a single 8 GB module.

Does the MicroServer Gen10 need ECC memory?

It is specified for ECC unbuffered DDR4 UDIMMs. Our documents describe only that type, so don't buy registered modules or SO-DIMMs. Non-ECC modules are not listed as supported.

Why is my memory only running at 1600 MT/s?

Models with the X3216 processor are limited to 1600 MT/s. Models with the X3421 or X3418 run memory at up to 2400 MT/s.

Can I add an M.2 or NVMe SSD to the MicroServer Gen10?

There is no M.2 or NVMe slot in the documented configuration. You can use a SATA SSD as a boot drive in the fifth bay, but check its size limits first because they aren't published in the documents we found.

How much storage can the MicroServer Gen10 hold?

HPE lists 16 TB (4 x 4 TB) 3.5" SATA as the maximum of its qualified options. That is not confirmed as a physical limit, so larger drives are unconfirmed.

Can I swap drives while the server is running?

No. The four bays are not hot-plug, so power the server down first.

Official documents and references

This guide was written with AI assistance from the compatibility data PartsPrices verified against the manufacturer's documents. Always check your exact model and the owner's manual before buying or opening your computer.