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Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] vs Lenovo Flex System comparison

Dell Technologies and Lenovo are both solutions in the Blade Servers category. Dell Technologies is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.4, while Lenovo is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.7. Dell Technologies holds a 16.9% mindshare in Blade Servers, compared to Lenovo’s 3.1% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Dell Technologies users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Lenovo users who would recommend it.
Dell PowerEdge M [EOL]
Read 26 Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] reviews
  • 1,898 Views
  • 1,898 Comparison Views
95% willing to recommend
Lenovo Flex System
Read 10 Lenovo Flex System reviews
  • 390 Views
  • 390 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 26, 2025

Dell PowerEdge M and Lenovo Flex System are solutions in the server market, each offering unique features for enterprise IT. Dell holds the upper hand in high-performance computing and virtualization efficiencies, while Lenovo excels with storage capacity and user-friendly design for broad scalability.

Features: Dell PowerEdge M provides strong power management and automation capabilities, benefiting virtualized environments. Its iDRAC tool enhances manageability and security, and centralized management allows multi-server control. Lenovo Flex System boasts high storage capacity with 14-blade servers, ensuring performance stability. Its user-friendly interface simplifies resource management and networking features streamline operations.

Room for Improvement: Dell PowerEdge M could improve boot times and connectivity, particularly chip handling and iDRAC management upgrades. Enhancing Ethernet technology and processor support may benefit its integration potential. Lenovo Flex System could refine cloud-native applications and management interfaces while addressing network flexibility and better support to enhance user experience.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Dell PowerEdge M offers on-premises deployment with satisfactory support, though user experiences vary. Lenovo Flex System supports both on-premises and private cloud options, providing straightforward management solutions. Dell's customer service is generally praised, whereas Lenovo offers multiple options simplifying upgrades, leading to high satisfaction among users.

Pricing and ROI: Dell PowerEdge M is competitively priced, offering quick ROI through its virtualization and automation strengths, with room for negotiation on refurbished systems. Lenovo's pricing is reasonable with quality considerations, including optional annual licenses. Both promise good ROI; Dell achieves it quickly due to infrastructure reliability, while Lenovo offers long-term scalability benefits.

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To learn more, read our detailed Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] vs. Lenovo Flex System Report (Updated: July 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] vs. Lenovo Flex System
July 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:
 

Categories and Ranking

Dell PowerEdge M [EOL]
Ranking in Blade Servers
1st
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
26
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Lenovo Flex System
Ranking in Blade Servers
10th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
10
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Blade Servers category, the mindshare of Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] is 16.9%, down from 18.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Lenovo Flex System is 3.1%, up from 2.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Blade Servers Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Dell PowerEdge M16.9%
Lenovo Flex System3.1%
Other80.0%
Blade Servers
 

Featured Reviews

Brian Ricci - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers a good interface and return on investment to users
My impression of the scalability of the product is good. You can put a lot of memory in the tool now, and you have a good choice in processors, so you can go wherever you want or do whatever you want with your money. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
Read full review
Syed Ibrahim - PeerSpot reviewer
Provides a high initial ceiling before upscaling is required, user-friendly and rich in resources, but has occasional stability issues
The solution should come with cloud native applications to prepare for cloud based solutions. Forced restarts due to free upgrades is an issue that needs to be resolved. We can manage this as we have high availability and redundancy, but without that it could be a real problem. The level of customer support needs to be improved. There is currently an issue with Lenovo switching out SAN switches from the chassis, which will cause problems for people who already have a set up with the SAN switch connected to the central storage. This could require an entirely different network, adding an additional cost for the user.
Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The networking features for administration and working with the server are valuable."
"The initial setup is easy."
"The installation is easy."
"The solution's most valuable features are centralized monitoring and management and the ease of upgrading firmware."
"The tool's most valuable features are high availability and scalability. Its integration is easy."
"The most valuable feature of Dell PowerEdge M is iDRAC."
"The biggest advantage of PowerEdge is that it is cost-effective, and its performance and infrastructure are much better than other competitors like Lenovo and HP."
"It's great for managing overall infrastructure."
More Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] pros
"Flex System's best features are its performance and stability."
"The functionality is reliable and requires minimal support."
"One of the most valuable features of this solution is its ease of use."
"The product is very user-friendly and has many resources at the enterprise level."
"The initial setup is straightforward."
"The stability and speed are always good. The processor is good and it's still working with our loads."
"The most valuable feature of the Lenovo Flex System is the storage system."
"The Lenovo Flex System is very stable."
More Lenovo Flex System pros
 

Cons

"The set up is complex"
"It requires time to transition to the new generation."
"I would like to have additional HPC and AI capabilities on general Dell PowerEdge servers."
"Can be improved by being proactive in making changes that could improve the solution."
"The firmware updates for the product need improvement."
"We have had some issues with the vendor's support that we have received. When you open up a support case with Dell they send a partner to assist you and in our experience, they are lacking knowledge about the solution. There are times when you need professional support from the vendor that knows the solution well."
"One area for improvement is the connectivity, specifically the backplate and switch connections."
"I have not noticed any specific improvements needed as most updates are done by the OEM over time."
More Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] cons
"The user-interface needs improvement, because they have an application from which we have to manage the whole system and all the infrastructure. This application is not working at our premises, because of some problem with the hardware itself. So although we brought it with our systems, and we used it to manage all the systems: the storage, the switches, and everything, nevertheless we have to support every part alone and enter the interface in one-by-one."
"Continuing the production of this product is necessary. It is currently out of support, and we are seeking support from other sources besides Lenovo."
"The product could improve its integration capabilities."
"I had some difficulties with the initial setup."
"Flex System's integration with the XClarity Management System could be improved."
"It does not have the same module flexibility that was present in IBM Blade. On the Blade System, I was able to choose between the Cisco module, or BMC module. Since the switch to Lenovo, I have not had the same choice of modules, only the BMC modules."
"The solution's firmware and driver upgrades are a bit difficult."
"The solution could improve by providing more integration with other platforms."
More Lenovo Flex System cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I know we get three years basic, and the on-site licensing model for business seems fine. I wouldn't pay for a support plus or anything."
"The solution's pricing is slightly higher."
"The product is neither expensive nor cheap. It is manageable for medium enterprises as well."
"Dell PowerEdge M price is comparable to other solutions but cheaper than IBM. However, the IBM solution is a higher grade solution whereas Dell PowerEdge M is a medium-level solution."
"It was budget friendly."
"The pricing of PowerEdge Next is higher than it was before."
"If we would not have gone with the vendor we might have been charged unnecessarily for packages we did not need."
"The product is budget-friendly. The initial cost for each server was around 10,000 euros. It's a standard price, not too high or too low."
More Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] pricing and cost advice
"There is a one-off payment to buy the equipment and the support is purchased annually."
"The 14 blade server allows significant room for upscaling before having to invest in another chassis. You would have to purchase another chassis much sooner in the case of an eight or nine blade server."
"We have the whole maintenance for the 3 years, starting the deployment. We also have the VMware license for 3 years and I think we have another license to buy. There are no additional costs besides licensing."
"The is an annual license cost to use the Lenovo Flex System. If the price was less expensive and flexible overall and for additional features, our customers would be happier."
"The price is interesting. I am able to quote a client based on their needs and offer them either Lenovo or Dell."
"We are just paying the operational cost, which is not much."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Government
8%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business12
Midsize Enterprise3
Large Enterprise10
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business3
Large Enterprise7
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Dell PowerEdge M?
The solution's most valuable features are centralized monitoring and management and the ease of upgrading firmware.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Dell PowerEdge M?
When rating Dell's pricing model, it varies case by case and configuration by configuration. Sometimes Dell may be a little costlier, but that is considering the services and solutions we are provi...
See all answers
What needs improvement with Dell PowerEdge M?
In terms of potential room for improvement regarding Dell PowerEdge M, I would want to see something such as dense nodes and additional storage, as well as multiple network connectivity on the blad...
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Lenovo Flex System?
Compared to its quality, the pricing is very reasonable and represents good value.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Lenovo Flex System?
Continuing the production of this product is necessary. It is currently out of support, and we are seeking support from other sources besides Lenovo.
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Lenovo Flex System?
We are using Lenovo Flex System on the server for our VMware environment, which includes our VMs and all our servers, Linux and Windows. It manages the daily operation efficiently.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

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Compared 22% of the time
HPE BladeSystem vs Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] Logo
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Compared 13% of the time
Supermicro SuperBlade vs Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] Logo
Supermicro SuperBlade vs Dell PowerEdge M [EOL]
Compared 11% of the time
Cisco UCS B-Series vs Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] Logo
Cisco UCS B-Series vs Dell PowerEdge M [EOL]
Compared 8% of the time
More Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] Competitors
HPE Superdome X vs Lenovo Flex System Logo
HPE Superdome X vs Lenovo Flex System
Compared 53% of the time
HPE Synergy vs Lenovo Flex System Logo
HPE Synergy vs Lenovo Flex System
Compared 47% of the time
More Lenovo Flex System Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerEdge M [EOL]
August 2025
Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] reportDownload Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] product report
Buyer's Guide
Blade Servers
August 2025
Lenovo Flex System reportDownload Lenovo Flex System product report
 

Also Known As

No data available
Flex System Blade Servers, Flex System SN Series
 

Overview

Dell PowerEdge M is known for maximizing efficiency with high core and RAM density, supporting virtual environments and ensuring reliable performance and impressive scalability.

Known for its cost-effectiveness, Dell PowerEdge M offers robust performance and extensive management features like iDRAC and OpenManage for centralized monitoring. It provides strong security capabilities and flexible interface options. Key areas for improvement include boot time delays from POST checks and challenges with iDRAC instance, needing better networking and connectivity options including AMD CPUs and Ethernet enhancements. Users highlight the need for improved scalability, VLAN configurations, and caching. Dell PowerEdge M primarily supports applications like server virtualization and data center consolidation, operating effectively in cluster environments like solar power plant data logging.

What are the key features of Dell PowerEdge M?
  • High Core and RAM Density: Supports efficient virtual environments with high core and RAM density.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Offers robust performance and reliability at an exceptional value.
  • Management Capabilities: iDRAC and OpenManage enable precise power control and centralized monitoring.
  • Scalability: Delivers impressive scalability to handle expanding workloads.
  • Security Features: Provides strong security for data protection.
  • Interface Flexibility: Flexible options to meet various connection needs.
  • Quick Setup: Designed for easy deployment and configuration.
What benefits or ROI should users consider in reviews?
  • Performance and Reliability: Users find cost-effectiveness paired with dependable performance.
  • Management and Monitoring: Centralized capabilities to streamline operations.
  • Scalability and Flexibility: Adaptable to growing organizational needs.
  • Security and Support Quality: Trusted for strong security features and quality support.
  • Setup and Service: Quick installation with excellent after-sales services.

Dell PowerEdge M finds its implementation in critical applications such as server virtualization and compute, addressing wide-ranging workloads from administrative tasks to scientific computing. Organizations leverage its capabilities in virtual machine hosting, hyper-converged infrastructure management, and balanced load handling, enhancing its effectiveness in environments like solar power plant data logging.

Dell Technologies

Flex System is Lenovo’s proven, 2nd generation blade, that efficiently runs your infrastructure applications with up to 80% better density than standard rack server deployments.

Lenovo
 

Sample Customers

Newport City Homes, Neuroblastoma and Medulloblastoma Translational Research Consortium (NMTRC), Georgian College, AgreeYa Solutions, IIHT Cloud Solutions, Arizona State University, AudienceScience, University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Holy Cross School
Information Not Available
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] vs. Lenovo Flex System
July 2025
Free Report: Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] vs. Lenovo Flex System
Find out what your peers are saying about Dell PowerEdge M [EOL] vs. Lenovo Flex System and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
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