Dell PowerEdge MX740c
The PowerEdge MX740c is a two-socket modular compute blade for the MX7000 chassis, built with 1st and 2nd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors. Housing 24 DDR4 memory slots and up to six direct-attached 2.5-inch drives, it offers dense virtualization and database horsepower within modular enterprise pools.
Also written as: PowerEdge MX740c, Dell MX740c, MX740c Compute Blade
Specifications
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Family | PowerEdge MX |
| Form factor | blade |
| Released | Sep 2018 |
| End of sale | May 2022 |
| End of support | May 2027 |
| Cpu sockets | 2 |
| Cpu platform | 1st and 2nd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors |
| Memory slots | 24 |
| Memory type | DDR4 ECC RDIMM/LRDIMM up to 2933 MT/s |
| Drive bays | Up to 6x 2.5in SAS/SATA/NVMe drives |
| Pcie slots | 2x PCIe Gen3 mezzanine fabric slots plus dual M.2 boot |
Generations
- Previous generation: Dell PowerEdge M640
- Next generation: Dell PowerEdge MX750c
Works together
How the Dell PowerEdge MX740c connects to servers, storage and the network: 4 ways, with the parts and products on each path.
Fibre Channel SAN
Match the speed: 16Gb and 32Gb FC HBAs, switches and array ports work together, and each generation also runs one or two speeds below its own (a 32Gb port runs at 16Gb and 8Gb).
Adapters for the server (check the fit list)
540-BBUU Dell Emulex LPe31002 Dual Port 16Gb Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter
540-BBUV Dell QLogic 2692 Dual Port 16Gb Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter
540-BCMS Dell QLogic 2770 Single Port 32Gb Fibre Channel PCIe Adapter
540-BCMT Dell QLogic 2772 Dual Port 32Gb Fibre Channel PCIe Adapter
Switches
Dell Connectrix DS-6610B 1U rack
Dell Connectrix DS-6630B 2U switch
Dell Connectrix MDS-9132T 1U switch
Dell Connectrix MDS-9396T 2U switch
Storage
Dell PowerMax 2000 system bay / standard rack
Dell PowerMax 8000 system bay multi-cabinet
Dell PowerVault ME4012 2U rack
Dell PowerVault ME4024 2U rack
Dell PowerVault ME4084 5U rack
Dell PowerProtect DD6400 2U appliance
Optics
iSCSI and NVMe/TCP over Ethernet
Keep the speed the same at all three points: a 25GbE server, a 25GbE switch port and a 25GbE array port. Mixed speeds work but the slowest link sets the pace.
Adapters for the server (check the fit list)
540-BBGN Dell Broadcom 57412 Dual Port 10GbE SFP+ PCIe Adapter
540-BBGO Dell Broadcom 57416 Dual Port 10GBASE-T RJ45 PCIe Adapter
540-BBGP Dell Broadcom 57416 Dual Port 10GBASE-T RJ45 OCP 3.0 Adapter
540-BBGY Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 PCIe Low Profile Network Adapter
Switches
Dell PowerEdge MX5108n 1U fixed switch
Dell PowerEdge MX7116n 1U fixed switch
Dell PowerSwitch N3024EF-ON 1U switch
Dell PowerSwitch N3024ET-ON 1U switch
Storage
Dell Isilon F810 4U 4-node chassis- Dell PowerMax 2000 system bay / standard rack
- Dell PowerMax 8000 system bay multi-cabinet
Dell PowerProtect DD3300 2U appliance- Dell PowerVault ME4012 2U rack
- Dell PowerVault ME4024 2U rack
Optics
Direct-attached SAS
12Gb SAS uses Mini-SAS HD (SFF-8644) connectors; older 6Gb gear uses Mini-SAS (SFF-8088). Adapter cables exist, but the link runs at the slower speed.
Adapters for the server (check the fit list)
405-AANT Dell 12Gbps SAS HBA Dual Port External PCIe Controller
405-AASU Dell HBA355e External SAS 12Gb/s Host Bus Adapter
HBA465E Dell HBA465e External Host Bus Adapter
Storage
Dell PowerEdge MX5016s blade- Dell PowerVault ME4012 2U rack
- Dell PowerVault ME4024 2U rack
- Dell PowerVault ME4084 5U rack
Dell PowerStore NVMe Expansion Enclosure (ENS24) 2U rack
Dell PowerStore 7000T 2U rack
File storage (NFS and SMB)
Front-end ports face the clients; back-end ports (on scale-out systems) connect the nodes to each other and need their own switch pair.
Adapters for the server (check the fit list)
- 540-BBGN Dell Broadcom 57412 Dual Port 10GbE SFP+ PCIe Adapter
- 540-BBGO Dell Broadcom 57416 Dual Port 10GBASE-T RJ45 PCIe Adapter
- 540-BBGP Dell Broadcom 57416 Dual Port 10GBASE-T RJ45 OCP 3.0 Adapter
- 540-BBGY Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 PCIe Low Profile Network Adapter
Switches
- Dell PowerEdge MX5108n 1U fixed switch
- Dell PowerEdge MX7116n 1U fixed switch
- Dell PowerSwitch N3024EF-ON 1U switch
- Dell PowerSwitch N3024ET-ON 1U switch
Storage
- Dell Isilon F810 4U 4-node chassis
Dell Unity XT 380F 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 380XT 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 480F 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 480XT 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 680F 2U rack
Optics
Plan and size it
- Draw this setup in the topology planner mrplanb.com
- Add up rack power and space rack-density.com
- Virtualization storage Ledger: scored storage platforms mrplanb.com
- SAN transport and NVMe over FC for backup mrplanb.com
- Dell E-Lab Navigator (Dell interoperability) dell.com
Check compatibility with Dell
Before you buy, confirm the exact configuration against the vendor's own lists: firmware levels, operating systems, adapters and optics that Dell has tested with the Dell PowerEdge MX740c.
- Compatibility Dell E-Lab Navigator (storage and SAN interoperability) (free vendor sign-in)
- Support Dell Support: drivers, manuals and service tag lookup
Equivalent models from other brands
FAQ
What chassis is required to operate the PowerEdge MX740c?
The MX740c requires the Dell PowerEdge MX7000 7U modular chassis for shared power, cooling, and high-speed fabric I/O.
How many MX740c blades can be installed in a single chassis?
A standard MX7000 enclosure houses up to eight MX740c compute sleds, providing up to 16 processors and 192 DDR4 memory slots in 7U.
Buying or selling MX740c?
New, refurbished or used. Tell us the quantity and condition and we connect you with a vetted reseller in your region, usually within one working day.
Sources
- Dell PowerEdge MX740c Support Overview, checked 2026-10-27
- Dell PowerEdge MX740c Technical Documentation, checked 2026-10-27