When choosing the right storage system for your enterprise, understanding the options within IBM’s FlashSystem family can simplify the decision-making process. This article compares three key models—the IBM FlashSystem 5200 vs 7300 vs 9500—to help you identify the best fit for your performance, scalability, and budget requirements.
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Introduction to IBM FlashSystem 5200 vs 7300 vs 9500
IBM FlashSystem is designed to offer scalable, high-performance storage solutions for a wide range of enterprise needs. The IBM FlashSystem 5200, 7300, and 9500 models represent different categories within the FlashSystem lineup:
FlashSystem 5200: Entry-level NVMe storage for small to medium businesses (SMBs).
FlashSystem 7300: A mid-tier option for growing enterprises and hybrid cloud environments.
FlashSystem 9500: High-end storage designed for mission-critical workloads, AI, and real-time analytics.
Comparison of Key Features: IBM FlashSystem 5200 vs 7300 vs 9500
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the technical specifications for the IBM FlashSystem 5200 vs 7300 vs 9500 models.
Feature | IBM FlashSystem 5200 | IBM FlashSystem 7300 | IBM FlashSystem 9500 |
Bandwidth (Reads) | 21 GB/s | 50 GB/s | 100 GB/s |
Latency (Reads) | <50 microseconds | <50 microseconds | <50 microseconds |
Effective Max Capacity | 1.2 PB | 2.2 PB | 4.5 PB |
Processor/PCIe Gen | Intel Sky Lake, Gen 3 | Intel Cascade Lake, Gen 3 | Intel Ice Lake, Gen 4 |
NVMe Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Form Factor | 1U | 2U | 4U |
Front-End Host Ports | 8 | 24 | 48 |
How They Differ Across Tiers: IBM FlashSystem 5200 vs 7300 vs 9500
Performance
IBM FlashSystem 5200: provides 21 GB/s of read bandwidth, ideal for SMBs and light workloads.
IBM FlashSystem 7300: offers a significant boost with 50 GB/s, suitable for growing enterprises requiring hybrid cloud readiness.
IBM FlashSystem 9500: delivers 100 GB/s, supporting the most demanding AI and real-time analytics workloads.
Scalability
IBM FlashSystem 5200: Scales up to 1.2 PB in a compact 1U form factor.
IBM FlashSystem 7300: Supports up to 2.2 PB in a 2U enclosure, making it more suitable for enterprises with growing data needs.
IBM FlashSystem 9500: Provides a massive 4.5 PB capacity in a 4U form factor, designed for large-scale deployments.
Use Cases
IBM FlashSystem 5200: Ideal for virtualization, production databases, and cost-conscious workloads.
IBM FlashSystem 7300: Perfect for hybrid cloud environments and moderate in-memory databases.
IBM FlashSystem 9500: Suited for mission-critical applications, AI training, and real-time analytics.
Pros and Cons of IBM FlashSystem 5200 vs 7300 vs 9500
Model | Pros | Cons |
FlashSystem 5200 | Affordable, compact, efficient | Limited scalability |
FlashSystem 7300 | Balanced performance, hybrid-ready | Higher cost than entry-level models |
FlashSystem 9500 | Exceptional performance, scalable | Expensive, overkill for small-scale workloads |
Recommendations: IBM FlashSystem 5200 vs 7300 vs 9500
Choose the FlashSystem 5200 if:
You are a small business with a limited budget.
Your workloads include virtualization or small-scale databases.
Choose the FlashSystem 7300 if:
You are a growing enterprise planning for hybrid cloud integration.
Your workloads require moderate scalability and performance.
Choose the FlashSystem 9500 if:
You are running mission-critical workloads like AI, HPC, or real-time analytics.
You need maximum performance and scalability.
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