OEMs Want You to Purchase New Systems—But Should You?
Every few years, a new generation of storage solutions arrives, claiming massive improvements. But let’s be real—most IT environments don’t need the very latest technology.
What actually drives IT purchasing decisions?
Brand loyalty, familiarity, policies, support contracts, and vendor relationships. The need for an upgrade? That’s usually secondary. HPE has launched the MSA Gen7 Storage, but before you rush to replace your MSA Gen6, let’s break things down.
HPE MSA Storage and Storage Parts: Save up to 80%
HPE MSA Gen7 vs. Gen6 Comparison
Feature | MSA Gen7 | MSA Gen6 | Does It Matter? |
Performance | Up to 2x higher IOPS, 30% more bandwidth | Still solid for most SMB workloads | Only needed for extremely high-performance applications |
Architecture | Dual-controller, active-active | Similar dual-controller design | No drastic change in resilience |
RAID Engine | HPE MSA-DP+ (25x faster rebuilds than RAID5) | Standard RAID5/6 | Faster rebuilds are nice, but Gen6 is already reliable |
Expansion | Up to 7PB raw capacity | Large but slightly smaller expansion options | Most SMBs don’t need 7PB |
Connectivity | 16Gb FC, 10/25GbE iSCSI, 12Gb SAS | Same connectivity options | No real advantage |
Flash Readiness | All-flash models available | Hybrid storage but not fully optimized for flash | If you’re going all-flash, maybe… |
When Should You Upgrade to HPE MSA Gen7?
✅ You are running heavy IOPS workloads that need major acceleration
✅ Your business requires ultra-fast rebuild times due to RAID failures
✅ Your IT policy forces you to buy the latest models
🚫 You have a well-running MSA Gen6 system that still meets your needs
🚫 You prioritize cost-efficiency over minor performance boosts
🚫 Your IT budget is already stretched, and the Gen7 upgrade isn't justifiable
New HPE MSA Gen7 or Refurbished HPE MSA Gen6?
HPE MSA Gen7 will be cheap on the refurbished market in a few years—and that’s when it makes the most sense to buy. If you need an upgrade now, buy a Gen6 system refurbished with a 5-year warranty and no upfront payment. It’s risk-free (since most suppliers provide a no upfront payment policy). scalable, and way cheaper than the brand-new Gen7.
Let’s not forget that even with a Gen6 system, you can upgrade SSDs, HDDs, CPUs, memory modules, and expansion shelves, extending its lifespan without jumping to a costly new model.
Big brands will always try to convince you that "newer is better." But in reality, a well-maintained, properly upgraded Gen6 system is more than enough for most IT environments. If you really need Gen7, consider buying it refurbished in a few years instead of wasting budget on brand-new, overpriced hardware today.
HPE MSA Storage and Storage Parts: Save up to 80%
Comments