Cisco UCS C420 M3 vs C240 M7
The UCS C420 M3 is an end-of-life 4-socket Xeon E5-4600 server, and the UCS C240 M7 is the modern 2-socket replacement. Despite dropping to two sockets, the C240 M7 with 4th/5th Gen Xeon Scalable CPUs delivers far more cores, DDR5, NVMe, and PCIe Gen5, so consolidating C420 M3 fleets onto C240 M7 is the clear path.
Cisco UCS C420 M3
End-of-life 2RU 4-socket rack server based on Intel Xeon E5-4600 processors.
- Up to four Intel Xeon E5-4600 CPUs
- Up to 1.5 TB DDR3 memory
- Up to 16 internal SFF drives
- Four 1GbE LOM ports; end-of-life platform
Cisco UCS C240 M7
Current 2RU 2-socket rack server with 4th/5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable CPUs, DDR5, and NVMe.
- Up to two 4th/5th Gen Xeon Scalable CPUs, up to 64 cores each
- Up to 8 TB DDR5 across 32 DIMM slots
- Up to 24 SFF SAS/SATA/NVMe drives
- PCIe Gen5, GPU-capable, TAA-compliant
Cisco UCS C420 M3 vs Cisco UCS C240 M7: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco UCS C420 M3 | Cisco UCS C240 M7 |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | 2RU rack | 2RU rack |
| Sockets | 4 | 2 |
| CPU family | Intel Xeon E5-4600 | 4th/5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable |
| Max cores per socket | 8 (E5-4600) | Up to 64 |
| Memory type | DDR3 | DDR5 up to 5600 MT/s |
| DIMM slots | 48 | 32 |
| Max memory | Up to 1.5 TB | Up to 8 TB |
| Drive bays | Up to 16 SFF | Up to 24 SFF (SAS/SATA/NVMe) |
| PCIe generation | PCIe Gen3 | PCIe Gen5 |
| GPU support | Limited | Yes (GPU-capable) |
| Management | Cisco IMC / UCS Manager | Cisco IMC / Intersight |
| Lifecycle status | End-of-life | Current, fully supported |
Choose Cisco UCS C420 M3 if
Keep a C420 M3 only for a legacy workload that specifically requires four sockets in one box and that you cannot yet re-platform. It is end-of-life on DDR3 and Gen3 PCIe, so plan its retirement.
Choose Cisco UCS C240 M7 if
Choose the C240 M7 for virtually all refresh and new-build scenarios. A single 2-socket C240 M7 typically consolidates multiple C420 M3 nodes thanks to far higher core counts, DDR5 capacity, NVMe storage, and PCIe Gen5, and it is TAA-compliant for federal buyers.
Verdict
Migrate to the UCS C240 M7. Even though it has two sockets versus four, modern Xeon Scalable core counts, 8 TB of DDR5, NVMe, and PCIe Gen5 let a single C240 M7 outperform and consolidate multiple end-of-life C420 M3 servers, with lower power and current support and security updates.
Frequently asked questions
Is the UCS C420 M3 end of life?
Yes. The UCS C420 M3 is an end-of-life platform based on Intel Xeon E5-4600 processors and DDR3 memory, and Cisco no longer sells it. Workloads should be migrated to a current C-Series M7 server.
Does a 2-socket C240 M7 really replace a 4-socket C420 M3?
In most cases, yes. A 4th or 5th Gen Xeon Scalable CPU in the C240 M7 offers up to 64 cores per socket, so two sockets can exceed the total core count of four older E5-4600 CPUs, while adding DDR5, NVMe, and PCIe Gen5.
How much memory does the C240 M7 support?
The C240 M7 supports up to 32 DDR5 DIMM slots for up to 8 TB of memory using high-capacity DIMMs, at speeds up to 5600 MT/s depending on the installed CPUs.
Is the UCS C240 M7 TAA-compliant?
Yes. Cisco UCS C240 M7 rack servers are available in TAA-compliant configurations suitable for US federal procurement and can be purchased through authorized partners on government contract vehicles.
More UCS C-Series M comparisons
Specs are for planning and may change; Uniqcli confirms the current Cisco bill of materials and pricing on your quote. Cisco, Catalyst, Nexus, Meraki, and Firepower are trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc.; Uniqcli LLC is an independent authorized Cisco partner.