Refurbished Blade Servers — HPE BladeSystem & Dell PowerEdge M/MX
A blade server is a compact, modular server that slides into a shared enclosure — the chassis supplies power, cooling, and networking to many blades at once, packing far more compute into a rack than standalone servers. Blades are the density play of enterprise computing: more servers per rack unit, less cabling, centralized management.
Buy a refurbished blade server that arrives tested and ready to slot in. PC Server & Parts stocks HPE ProLiant BL460c blades for c3000/c7000 enclosures and Dell PowerEdge M- and MX-series compute sleds, plus the chassis, interconnects, and power modules that run them. Every blade server ships load-tested and backed by a free 1-year warranty (extendable to 5 years). Need a populated enclosure or a full rack of blades? Request a quote and we will spec the complete build — or browse the whole refurbished server catalog.
What are Blade Servers?
Blade servers are compact, modular server units that are designed to fit into a larger enclosure or chassis, which provides shared power, cooling, and networking connections to each individual server blade. These servers house only essential components—CPU, memory, and storage—while utilizing the enclosure for shared resources, making them highly efficient and space-saving. Blade servers are typically installed in a data center to maximize computing power while minimizing physical space and energy usage.
What are Blade Servers Used For?
Blade servers are ideal for:
- High-Density Computing: Their modular design allows for high computing power in a smaller footprint, making them ideal for space-constrained environments such as data centers.
- Scalability: Blade servers allow IT administrators to easily add or remove blades in the chassis, making them a flexible option for scaling computing resources based on demand.
- Virtualization: The compact, high-performance nature of blade servers is well-suited for virtualized environments where multiple virtual machines are needed.
- Large Workloads and High-Performance Applications: Blade servers are commonly used for resource-intensive applications like cloud computing, databases, ERP systems, and scientific computing.
Selecting a Blade Server
When selecting a blade server, consider these key factors:
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Compatibility with Chassis:
- Blade servers require a compatible chassis. For example, the HP ProLiant BL460c is designed for the HPE BladeSystem c7000 or c3000 enclosures, while the Dell PowerEdge MX740c is compatible with the Dell PowerEdge MX7000 modular chassis. Ensure the blade server is compatible with your existing or intended chassis.
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Processor and Performance Needs:
- Determine your performance requirements based on the applications you plan to run. The HP ProLiant BL460c can support up to two Intel Xeon processors, making it suitable for general workloads and virtualization. The Dell PowerEdge MX740c supports up to two Intel Xeon Scalable processors, offering greater performance and scalability, ideal for compute-intensive workloads.
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Memory Capacity:
- For memory-intensive applications, ensure the blade server supports sufficient memory. The HP ProLiant BL460c supports up to 1.5TB of DDR4 memory, while the Dell PowerEdge MX740c offers higher memory capacity with support for up to 6TB of DDR4 memory using scalable modules, making it a better choice for environments with high memory demands.
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Storage Options:
- Choose a blade server with storage options that align with your performance needs. The HP ProLiant BL460c supports SAS and SATA drives, offering flexibility for general-purpose storage. The Dell PowerEdge MX740c provides up to six NVMe SSDs, enabling faster storage performance suitable for data-heavy and I/O-intensive applications.
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Networking and I/O:
- Blade servers rely on shared networking within the chassis, so consider the network connectivity options available. The Dell PowerEdge MX740c, for instance, has multi-path connectivity options within the MX7000 chassis, supporting higher network throughput with 25GbE or higher options.
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Management Features:
- Look for advanced management capabilities. Both the HP ProLiant BL460c and Dell PowerEdge MX740c offer remote management and monitoring features. The BL460c uses HPE Integrated Lights-Out (iLO), while the MX740c is equipped with Dell’s OpenManage Enterprise and iDRAC9. These management tools streamline server deployment, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
Comparing the HP ProLiant BL460c and Dell PowerEdge MX740c
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HP ProLiant BL460c:
- Best For: Small to medium-sized businesses, general-purpose workloads, and virtualization.
- CPU: Up to 2 Intel Xeon processors.
- Memory: Up to 1.5TB of DDR4 memory.
- Storage: SAS and SATA options.
- Chassis Compatibility: HPE BladeSystem c7000 or c3000.
- Management: HPE iLO for remote management.
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Dell PowerEdge MX740c:
- Best For: Large-scale enterprise environments, compute-intensive applications, and high-performance virtualization.
- CPU: Up to 2 Intel Xeon Scalable processors.
- Memory: Up to 6TB of DDR4 memory.
- Storage: Up to six NVMe SSDs for high-speed data access.
- Chassis Compatibility: Dell PowerEdge MX7000.
- Management: Dell OpenManage Enterprise and iDRAC9 for comprehensive monitoring and management.
Summary
When choosing between blade servers, consider the application demands, chassis compatibility, and performance requirements. The HP ProLiant BL460c offers reliable performance for standard business applications, while the Dell PowerEdge MX740c provides higher computing and memory capacity for enterprise-level, performance-driven environments. Each model’s features and compatibility with the respective HPE or Dell chassis make it easier to select the right solution based on your organization’s scalability, computing, and storage needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a blade server?
A blade server is a thin, modular server that mounts inside a shared enclosure rather than standing alone. The enclosure (such as an HPE c7000 or Dell M1000e/MX7000) provides power, cooling, networking, and management for all installed blades, so each blade itself carries only compute: CPUs, memory, and boot storage.
What is the difference between a blade server and a rack server?
A rack server is self-contained — its own power supplies, fans, and network ports — and works alone. A blade server shares all of that through its enclosure, which allows far higher density and less cabling but requires buying into the chassis ecosystem. Blades pay off at scale; for one to a few servers, a rack or tower server is simpler and cheaper.
Can a blade server run on its own?
No — a blade has no power supplies or cooling of its own and must be installed in its matching enclosure to operate. If you need a standalone machine, choose a rack server or tower server instead; if you are scaling an existing BladeSystem or PowerEdge M/MX chassis, blades are the cost-efficient way to add compute.
