Cisco UCS B-Series vs Dell PowerEdge C- Series comparison

Cisco and Dell Technologies are both solutions in the Blade Servers category. Cisco is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.4, while Dell Technologies is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.8. Cisco holds a 7.6% mindshare in Blade Servers, compared to Dell Technologies’s 1.1% mindshare. Additionally, 98% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Dell Technologies users who would recommend it.

Cisco UCS B-Series

Read 74 Cisco UCS B-Series reviews

1,130 Views
1,107 Comparison Views

98% willing to recommend

Dell PowerEdge C- Series

Read 29 Dell PowerEdge C- Series reviews

459 Views
133 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

Cisco UCS B-Series

Dell PowerEdge C- Series

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 2, 2025

Cisco UCS B-Series and Dell PowerEdge C-Series compete in the enterprise server market, focusing on scalability, cost efficiency, and performance. Cisco UCS B-Series appears to have the upper hand with its seamless integration into virtual environments and robust centralized management, whereas Dell PowerEdge C-Series stands out for its cost-effectiveness and high performance in virtualization.

Features: Cisco UCS B-Series excels with centralized management through UCS Manager, its scalable architecture allowing for easy expansion, and integration with virtualization technologies, reducing cable clutter. Dell PowerEdge C-Series offers cost-efficiency, high CPU processing power, and superior remote management capabilities with iDRAC, appealing to enterprises seeking performance and simplified management.

Room for Improvement: Cisco UCS B-Series needs a more user-friendly configuration and management process, with noted complexity in initial setup and operational expenses. Dell PowerEdge C-Series has challenges with component compatibility and the need to improve support features and price adjustments to remain competitive.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Dell PowerEdge C-Series provides reliable on-premises deployment with responsive technical support, though navigating multiple specialists might slow service. Cisco UCS B-Series offers flexibility in deployment across different environments, with generally high-rated technical support but occasional response delays requiring substantial internal expertise.

Pricing and ROI: Dell PowerEdge C-Series is popular for its competitive pricing, though potential high costs for add-ons and licensing are noted. Its ROI is appreciated in terms of time savings and support cost efficiency. Cisco UCS B-Series, though pricier, justifies its cost with long-term operational savings and strong performance in demanding enterprise environments.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco UCS B-Series vs. Dell PowerEdge C- Series Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco UCS B-Series vs. Dell PowerEdge C- Series

September 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

ROI

Sentiment score

7.6

Cisco UCS B-Series improved performance, reduced costs by 40%, and enabled management of 1600 servers with just two people.

Sentiment score

7.2

Dell PowerEdge C-Series offers strong ROI with efficient performance and maintenance, favored over HP and Cisco for time savings.

Additionally, we achieved server consolidation, running multiple services on fewer servers without purchasing new ones, resulting in significant financial benefits.

Muhammad AlihyderBhuiyan

Head of IT Operations at NCC BANK LIMITED

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco UCS B-Series report

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Dell PowerEdge C- Series report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

7.1

Cisco UCS B-Series support is praised for efficient, proactive service, though improvements are suggested for response times.

Sentiment score

6.6

Dell PowerEdge C-Series customer service is generally strong, despite occasional delays, with appreciated round-the-clock assistance and prompt issue resolution.

Cisco's technical support is highly helpful and responsive.

Muhammad AlihyderBhuiyan

Head of IT Operations at NCC BANK LIMITED

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco UCS B-Series report

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Dell PowerEdge C- Series report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

7.9

Cisco UCS B-Series excels in seamless scalability and integration, efficiently supporting thousands of servers for diverse industry needs.

Sentiment score

7.6

Dell PowerEdge C-Series is scalable and efficient, accommodating diverse needs with professional deployment, despite some storage constraints.

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco UCS B-Series report

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Dell PowerEdge C- Series report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

7.9

Cisco UCS B-Series is praised for its stability, reliability, and strong performance, with swift resolutions to occasional issues.

Sentiment score

8.2

Dell PowerEdge C-Series servers are praised for their exceptional stability and reliability, garnering high satisfaction from users.

The stability of Cisco UCS B-Series is impeccable, as it has been running smoothly without any need for maintenance.

Muhammad AlihyderBhuiyan

Head of IT Operations at NCC BANK LIMITED

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco UCS B-Series report

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Dell PowerEdge C- Series report

Room For Improvement

Cisco UCS B-Series requires improved user-friendliness, integration, pricing, storage management, and software update processes per user feedback.

Dell PowerEdge C-Series needs improvements in pricing, virtualization compatibility, AI monitoring, memory options, interfaces, integration, and storage configurations.

Last year, we faced challenges with firmware upgrades, but they were quickly resolved with assistance from Cisco TAC.

Muhammad AlihyderBhuiyan

Head of IT Operations at NCC BANK LIMITED

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco UCS B-Series report

This is one area where they can improve the performance of the server or implement some application improvements in the solution to make it easier for end users to implement properly.

Naveen Radhwani

Head IT at TO THE NEW Digital

For more quotes and insights, download the Dell PowerEdge C- Series report

Setup Cost

Cisco UCS B-Series has high pricing, complex licensing, but offers discounts and long-term value through reliability and integration.

Dell PowerEdge C-Series offers competitive value, but requires additional licenses for advanced features, impacting overall affordability perceptions.

The management software, Cisco One, is priced a bit high but still considered reasonable.

Muhammad AlihyderBhuiyan

Head of IT Operations at NCC BANK LIMITED

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco UCS B-Series report

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Dell PowerEdge C- Series report

Valuable Features

Cisco UCS B-Series provides centralized management, scalability, high memory, virtualization support, and reduced costs, enhancing efficiency and performance.

Dell PowerEdge C-Series provides streamlined management, cost efficiency, virtualization, scalability, reliable support, and excellent performance with security features.

Its administration capabilities provide easy access to performance reports, logs, and utilization data, which are essential for effective server management.

Muhammad AlihyderBhuiyan

Head of IT Operations at NCC BANK LIMITED

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco UCS B-Series report

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Dell PowerEdge C- Series report

Categories and Ranking

Cisco UCS B-Series

Ranking in Blade Servers

3rd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Dell PowerEdge C- Series

Ranking in Blade Servers

6th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Density Optimized Servers (1st)

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the Blade Servers category, the mindshare of Cisco UCS B-Series is 7.6%, down from 9.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Dell PowerEdge C- Series is 1.1%, up from 0.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Blade Servers Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Cisco UCS B-Series	7.6%
Dell PowerEdge C	1.1%
Other	91.3%

Blade Servers

Featured Reviews

DavidMbugua

Group General Manager-ICT at SkyLink

Reliable product with efficient automation capabilities

Cisco UCS B-Series manages various processes, including handling payments for over 650,000 growers, running group financials, managing human resources, and operating our main ERP system, SAP. The servers' resilience was particularly impactful. Even during power outages, the servers resumed operations from the last saved point without human intervention. The enhanced processing speed also allowed us to complete tasks that took two days in just one hour. The automation capabilities enhanced efficiency and facilitated integration with our networking components, particularly since we also used Cisco switches. The servers' security was reliable, and formal training on Cisco products made management easier. I rate the product an eight.

Read full review

Naveen Radhwani

Head IT at TO THE NEW Digital

Offers great performance and customization for application servers

There are a few bugs in PowerEdge C that require some configurational settings to be done with the help of a support team when we reconfigure the solution. This is one area where they can improve the performance of the server or implement some application improvements in the solution to make it easier for end users to implement properly.

Read full review

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

13%

Performing Arts

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Venture Capital & Private Equity Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	20
Midsize Enterprise	15
Large Enterprise	41

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	15
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	10

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco UCS B-Series?

The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it is easily scalable.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco UCS B-Series?

Comparing Cisco UCS B-Series with traditional servers, while its initial cost may be slightly higher, it is not as expensive as Oracle Exadata, making it a worthwhile investment. It pays off in the...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco UCS B-Series?

There is a need for Cisco UCS B-Series to evolve and scale vertically, particularly with the increasing data demands and the integration of AI, ensuring the solution remains certified and capable u...

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What do you like most about PowerEdge C?

The solution provides good support and service.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for PowerEdge C?

My experience with the pricing of this tool is that it's in mid-range. They have good competitors in the market who are offering better pricing, so there is scope for improvement in this area.

See all answers

What needs improvement with PowerEdge C?

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Comparisons

HPE Synergy vs Cisco UCS B-Series

Compared 35% of the time

Cisco UCS E-Series Servers vs Cisco UCS B-Series

Compared 19% of the time

Dell PowerEdge MX- Series vs Cisco UCS B-Series

Compared 19% of the time

HPE BladeSystem vs Cisco UCS B-Series

Compared 14% of the time

Supermicro SuperBlade vs Cisco UCS B-Series

Compared 13% of the time

More Cisco UCS B-Series Competitors

Huawei FusionServer X Series vs Dell PowerEdge C- Series

Compared 58% of the time

HPE Cray Supercomputing vs Dell PowerEdge C- Series

Compared 42% of the time

More Dell PowerEdge C- Series Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco UCS B-Series

September 2025

Download Cisco UCS B-Series product report

Buyer's Guide

Blade Servers

August 2025

Download Dell PowerEdge C- Series product report

Also Known As

UCS B-Series, Unified Computing System B-Series

No data available

Overview

Based on Intel Xeon processor E7 and E5 product families, Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Servers work with virtualized and non-virtualized applications to increase: Performance, Energy efficiency, Flexibility and Administrator productivity.

Cisco

Dell PowerEdge C-Series is known for its high performance, scalability, and efficient power usage, making it suitable for demanding applications in data centers. Its compact design and affordability offer practicality and value for businesses seeking reliable hardware solutions.

PowerEdge C-Series offers robust virtualization capabilities and advanced reliability with Intel Xeon sockets and Intel's RAS. This series is valued for seamless expansion and strong technical support, enhancing its appeal for enterprise environments. While there is room for improvement in cost, compatibility, and additional memory slots, it remains a favored choice for database servers, VOIP systems, and application hosting due to its flexible configurations and ease of integration with VMware infrastructure. Enhancements desired by users include better AI integration, more iDRAC functionality, and improved stability and service procedures.

What are the key features of PowerEdge C-Series?

Remote Management: Features iDRAC for efficient remote management.
Performance: Supports high performance with Intel Xeon sockets.
Reliability: Advanced reliability assured with Intel's RAS capabilities.
Scalability: Offers seamless expansion and scalability.
Compact Design: Compact build enhances usability and tool-free maintenance.

What benefits should users consider?

Cost Efficiency: Provides affordability with efficient power usage.
Flexibility: Offers configurations for diverse budget needs.
Technical Support: Backed by robust customer and technical support.
Integration Capabilities: Seamless integration with VMware for workload management.

In banking, telecommunications, and public sectors, Dell PowerEdge C-Series is implemented to support virtual machines, internal applications, and high-performance computing tasks. Its reliable integration with VMware infrastructure makes it an ideal choice for businesses seeking efficient workload management and critical hardware backup solutions. Its affordability and power efficiency allow organizations in these sectors to meet their computing demands without straining budgets.

Dell Technologies

Sample Customers

Aegean Motorway, Anilana Hotels and Resorts, Anonymous Banking Group, Artoni Transporti, Bellevue, BH Telecom, Bowling Green State University, Children's Hospital Colorado, City of Biel, Dimension Data, Dualtec Cloud Builders, Hertz, Houston Methodist, Kuwait Petroleum Italia, Lufthansa Systems GmbH & Co.KG, Outscale, Sony Corporation, Talbots

NxtGen Datacenter, Medien-Service Untermain (MSU), Exasol, IndigoVision, Dayco

Buyer's Guide

Cisco UCS B-Series vs. Dell PowerEdge C- Series

September 2025

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