- PowerScale H700 delivers up to 1.2 PB per chassis with inline compression and deduplication.
- Equipped with next-gen Intel CPUs and DDR5 memory for enhanced throughput.
- Optimized for demanding file workloads and mixed-use environments.
- Scales easily to meet growing unstructured data needs.
- Balanced performance and capacity make it a fit for hybrid NAS deployments.
What’s New or Important Now
The Dell EMC PowerScale H700 represents a key evolution in Dell’s hybrid NAS portfolio, combining the throughput advantages of flash with the economics of HDD storage. In early 2025, Dell updated the H700 with next-generation Intel Xeon processors and DDR5 memory technology. These upgrades boost IOPS, reduce latency, and improve energy efficiency. The system also retains its scalable OneFS software stack, known for handling petabyte-scale file workloads seamlessly.
Inline data reduction features—compression and deduplication—continued to be enhanced, allowing up to 1.2 PB per 4U chassis without sacrificing performance. This makes the H700 a compelling solution for organizations seeking to consolidate NAS workloads while planning for long-term capacity growth.
Buyer and Architect Guidance
Primary Use Cases
- Media and entertainment: High-resolution content workflows requiring fast reads/writes and large capacity.
- Life sciences: Genomic sequencing and research data repositories.
- Enterprise file services: Departmental shares and home directories with mixed file sizes.
- AI/ML data lakes: Unstructured training datasets benefiting from parallel throughput.
Sizing Considerations
Capacity planning should account for data reduction ratios, growth projections over 3–5 years, and system expansion slots. While raw capacity may be 1.2 PB per chassis, effective capacity depends on the dataset’s compressibility and deduplication potential.
Trade-offs
- Performance vs. cost: Full-flash nodes provide lower latency but at a higher price per TB.
- Capacity vs. footprint: Higher density may demand greater cooling and power provisions.
- Hybrid benefits and limits: While hybrid nodes leverage flash caching for hot data, they may not match the performance of all-flash arrays for ultra-low-latency workloads.
Comparison Table
| Model | Type | Max Capacity per Chassis | CPU/Memory | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PowerScale H700 | Hybrid NAS | 1.2 PB | Next-gen Intel Xeon / DDR5 | Balanced performance & capacity |
| PowerScale F900 | All-Flash NAS | 368 TB | Intel Xeon / DDR4 | Ultra-low latency file workloads |
| PowerScale A300 | Archive NAS | Up to 5 PB | Mid-range Intel Xeon / DDR4 | Long-term, infrequently accessed data |
| PowerScale H7000 | Hybrid NAS | 2.4 PB | Next-gen Intel Xeon / DDR5 | High-capacity with moderate performance needs |
Mini Implementation Guide
Prerequisites
- Rack space and power/cooling budgets to accommodate a 4U chassis.
- 10/25/40/100 GbE network infrastructure.
- OneFS admin knowledge or Dell Professional Services engagement.
Steps
- Review workload profiles and estimate capacity needs.
- Engage Dell partner or representative to finalize bill of materials.
- Prepare network (VLANs, MTU settings, link aggregation as needed).
- Install node in rack, perform cabling, and power on.
- Run OneFS setup wizard, configure cluster IP pool, and join nodes if applicable.
- Validate performance with representative workloads before production cut-over.
Common Pitfalls
- Underestimating growth and exhausting chassis expansion slots too soon.
- Neglecting network tuning, leading to unexplained latency.
- Poor data layout planning—mixing incompatible workloads on the same pool.
Cost and ROI Considerations
The H700’s hybrid architecture reduces the $/TB compared to all-flash alternatives while maintaining adequate performance for most workloads. Real-world ROI often comes from consolidation—replacing multiple older NAS systems with one PowerScale cluster—reducing management overhead and data center footprint. Energy savings from newer CPUs and DDR5 memory, as reported by industry benchmarks, also contribute to TCO reduction.
FAQs
Can I mix H700 nodes with other PowerScale models?
Yes, PowerScale’s OneFS supports heterogeneous clusters, but balance performance tiers carefully.
What kind of data reduction can I expect?
Typical inline compression and deduplication yields range from 1.5:1 to 3:1, but results vary based on file types.
How does DDR5 impact performance?
DDR5 provides higher bandwidth and better power efficiency than DDR4, reducing latency in memory-intensive workloads.
Is the H700 suitable for VDI?
It can serve VDI profiles if flash caching is sized appropriately, though all-flash models may offer lower boot storm latency.
What’s the warranty and support structure?
Standard 3-year warranty with options for ProSupport and ProSupport Plus, offering 24×7 assistance and on-site services.
What is the maximum cluster size?
PowerScale supports up to 252 nodes per cluster, allowing multi-petabyte scalability.
Conclusion
The Dell EMC PowerScale H700 in 2025 reaffirms its place as a high-performance, scalable hybrid NAS that can address a wide range of enterprise workloads. With next-gen Intel CPUs, DDR5 memory, and advanced data reduction, it offers an attractive blend of cost efficiency and performance. For organizations balancing growth and budget, the H700 remains a compelling choice. Learn more at learndell.online.