Dell PowerStore: unified NVMe storage, 500T to 9200T
PowerStore is Dell’s unified storage platform, serving block, file and vVol from one array on NVMe media, with the Gen2 line running from 500T at the entry to 9200T at the top. Unified means one system answers both the SAN and the NAS requirement instead of two. The model number is the performance and capacity class, not a feature difference.
Technical specification
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Product group | Storage |
| Capacity / format | Block, file and vVol; NVMe |
| Model codes | PowerStore 500T, 1200T, 3200T, 3200Q, 5200T, 9200T (Gen2) |
Which one should you choose?
Unified is a consolidation decision
If you currently run a SAN for your virtualisation cluster and a separate NAS for file shares, a unified array replaces two systems, two support contracts and two sets of operational knowledge with one. The saving is mostly operational rather than in list price, so it is worth most where the storage team is small.
Where to enter the range
The 500T is the entry class and suits a single site or a departmental workload. The 3200T and 5200T are the mainstream, and the 9200T is for consolidated estates. Enter on the performance you need at the end of the refresh cycle, not at the start, because moving up a class later means a migration.
The Q suffix is not a T
The 3200Q is a different media configuration from the 3200T and therefore a different price and performance point. Choosing between them follows from whether your workload is latency-sensitive or capacity-driven. Read the two as separate options, not as a discount version of each other.
Raw is not usable
Every array quotes raw capacity and delivers usable capacity, and the gap depends on protection level and data reduction. Data reduction results depend on your data, not on the datasheet. We quote both figures separately so the comparison against another vendor is like for like.
What we need to quote
Usable capacity required, the protocols your hosts speak, the performance target in IOPS or latency, and the growth expected over the contract period. If this replaces an existing array, its current utilisation is the most useful number you can send us.
Request a Quote
Send the usable capacity, the protocol your hosts speak and the performance target. A priced quote comes back within 48 hours with the raw and usable figures separated.
