Dell EMC Isilon - PowerScale Storage Model Comparison: F-Series vs. H-Series vs. A-Series – What’s the Difference?

Dell EMC Isilon (PowerScale) is a next-generation scale-out NAS storage solution designed for unstructured data workloads. Built for enterprises, it comes in three primary categories: F-Series (All-Flash Performance), H-Series (Hybrid Performance & Capacity), and A-Series (Archive Storage).

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Discover key differences, technical specs, scalability options, and performance benchmarks. Learn which PowerScale storage solution best fits enterprise workloads with insights.

Dell PowerScale storage model comparison chart showcasing the key differences between the F-Series, H-Series, and A-Series. The image highlights essential technical specifications, including scalability, storage type, performance metrics, networking options, and best use cases for each series. The PowerScale F-Series is an all-flash NAS solution optimized for high-performance workloads such as AI, ML, and HPC, featuring 100% NVMe flash storage with ultra-low latency. The PowerScale H-Series balances performance and capacity with a hybrid approach, supporting both SSDs and HDDs, making it ideal for general-purpose enterprise storage and media workflows. The PowerScale A-Series is a high-density archive storage solution designed for long-term data retention, leveraging cost-effective HDDs to provide massive capacity for backup, compliance, and regulatory data storage needs. The chart also includes a detailed breakdown of networking options such as 10GbE, 25GbE, and 40GbE, as well as cluster scalability up to 252 nodes. This PowerScale storage guide from Server-Parts.eu helps enterprises choose the best Dell PowerScale NAS storage solution to match their specific workloads, whether for high-speed AI applications, mixed-use enterprise file sharing, or cost-effective archival storage. Dell EMC Isilon. Refurbished.

Dell EMC Isilon - PowerScale F-Series vs. H-Series vs. A-Series: Key Differences

Feature	F-Series (All-Flash Performance)	H-Series (Hybrid Performance & Capacity)	A-Series (Archive Storage)
Performance	✅ High-Performance, Low Latency	⚖️ Balanced Performance & Capacity	❌ Lower Performance, High Capacity
Scalability	Up to 252 Nodes	Up to 252 Nodes	Up to 252 Nodes
Storage Type	100% NVMe Flash	SSD + HDD Hybrid	HDD-Based (High Density)
Networking	10GbE, 25GbE, 40GbE	10GbE, 40GbE	10GbE
Best Use Case	AI, ML, HPC Workloads	General Purpose File Storage	Long-Term Data Archiving

Dell EMC Isilon - PowerScale F-Series Model Breakdown

The PowerScale F-Series is an all-flash NAS solution built for ultra-low latency and high-performance workloads.

F-Series Models:

Model	Drive Type	Max Capacity per Chassis
F200	NVMe SSD	15TB
F600	NVMe SSD	30TB
F800	NVMe SSD	60TB

Expansion & Scalability:

Supports clustering up to 252 nodes.
Designed for AI, ML, HPC, and real-time analytics workloads.
Best for enterprises that require high-speed unstructured data processing.

Dell EMC Isilon (PowerScale) F-Series is best for performance-intensive applications.

Dell EMC Isilon - PowerScale H-Series Model Breakdown

The PowerScale H-Series provides a balanced solution for performance and capacity, leveraging both SSD and HDD storage.

H-Series Models:

Model	Drive Type	Max Capacity per Chassis
H400	SSD + HDD	120TB
H500	SSD + HDD	240TB
H600	SSD + HDD	480TB

Why Choose PowerScale H-Series?

Balances performance and storage capacity.
Supports multi-protocol workloads (NFS, SMB, HDFS, S3).
Ideal for general enterprise storage, file sharing, and media workflows.

Dell PowerScale H-Series is best for enterprises needing versatile storage.

Dell EMC Isilon - PowerScale A-Series Model Breakdown

The PowerScale A-Series is an archive storage solution designed for high-density, long-term data retention.

A-Series Models:

Model	Drive Type	Max Capacity per Chassis
A200	HDD	800TB
A2000	HDD	1.6PB

Why Choose PowerScale A-Series?

Optimized for cold storage and infrequent access.
Provides cost-effective high-capacity storage.
Ideal for backup, compliance, and long-term data retention.

Dell EMC Isilon (PowerScale) A-Series is best for archival and regulatory compliance storage.

Which Dell EMC Isilon - PowerScale Storage Model Is Right for You?

✅ Choose PowerScale F-Series if:

You need ultra-fast NAS storage for AI, ML, or HPC.
Your workloads require NVMe performance and low latency.
You operate high-performance applications like real-time analytics.

✅ Choose PowerScale H-Series if:

You need a balance between storage capacity and performance.
You run general-purpose enterprise file storage.
You need a flexible NAS solution for mixed workloads.

✅ Choose PowerScale A-Series if:

You require long-term archival storage.
Your priority is cost-effective, high-capacity storage.
You need compliance-driven data retention solutions.