Dell PowerScale F210 vs F710
Dell PowerScale F210
Dell PowerScale F710
The Dell PowerScale F210 and F710 are both all-flash, all-NVMe scale-out NAS nodes running the OneFS operating system, and both are built on Dell's 1U PowerEdge R660 platform with DDR5 memory. They share the same single-namespace, single-filesystem architecture, the same 3-node cluster minimum and 252-node maximum, and the same core data services, including inline compression and deduplication. The difference is positioning: the F210 is the entry all-flash node, sized for organizations that want NVMe performance in a cost-effective footprint, while the F710 is the performance node, built for throughput- and latency-sensitive workloads such as AI/ML, analytics, and media. The practical decision comes down to per-node drive count, capacity, memory, and how aggressively you need to scale. This page lays out the differences a Uniqcli buyer should weigh.
Side by side
| Dell PowerScale F210 | Dell PowerScale F710 | |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Entry all-flash NVMe node — performance with a cost-effective, compact footprint | Performance all-flash NVMe node — built for the most demanding throughput and low-latency workloads |
| Form factor & platform | 1U, based on Dell PowerEdge R660 with DDR5 memory | 1U, based on Dell PowerEdge R660 with DDR5 memory |
| NVMe drives per node | Up to 4 all-flash NVMe SSDs per node | Up to 10 all-flash NVMe SSDs per node |
| Raw capacity per node | Roughly 8 TB to 61 TB raw per node | Roughly 38 TB to 307 TB raw per node |
| Cluster raw capacity | Scales to approximately 15 PB raw per cluster | Scales to approximately 77 PB raw per cluster |
| Memory per node | 128 GB DDR5 ECC per node | 512 GB DRAM per node for larger cache and faster metadata handling |
| Cluster sizing | 3-node minimum, up to 252 nodes; OneFS single namespace | 3-node minimum, up to 252 nodes; OneFS single namespace |
| Data services | Inline compression and deduplication; full OneFS data services | Inline compression and deduplication; full OneFS data services |
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Dell PowerScale F210
Dell PowerScale F710
Choose the F210 when cost-efficient flash matters most
The F210 is the right starting point when you want genuine all-NVMe performance but don't need the F710's density or headroom. It fits teams beginning an AI or analytics journey, general file workloads, and environments where budget and a compact 1U footprint matter more than peak per-node throughput. With up to 4 drives, ~8–61 TB raw per node, and 128 GB of memory, it delivers a balanced mix of performance and capacity, and because it runs the same OneFS, you keep a single namespace and can grow into other PowerScale nodes later. Choose it when you want flash without over-buying.
Choose the F710 for performance-intensive and AI workloads
The F710 is the better fit when throughput, low latency, and density drive the decision. With up to 10 NVMe drives, ~38–307 TB raw per node, 512 GB of memory, and cluster scaling to roughly 77 PB, it's designed for AI/ML training and inference, high-performance analytics, media and entertainment, and other workloads that push storage hard. The larger memory pool accelerates caching and metadata operations under heavy concurrent load. If your pipelines are bottlenecked on storage performance, or you expect substantial capacity growth, the F710 gives more room per node and per cluster.
Both nodes run the same OneFS and can coexist in one cluster and namespace, so this is a sizing decision rather than a platform choice. Pick the F210 when you want cost-effective all-flash NVMe in a compact footprint for entry-level AI, analytics, and general file workloads. Step up to the F710 when you need substantially more drives, capacity, and memory per node to feed performance-intensive AI, analytics, and media pipelines, or when you anticipate scaling toward multi-petabyte clusters. Because OneFS lets you mix node types, many customers also pair them — F710 for hot, performance-critical data and F210 for cost-efficient flash capacity. Uniqcli can help right-size the node mix to your workload and budget.
Talk to a specialistFrequently asked
Can the F210 and F710 run in the same PowerScale cluster?
Yes. Both are PowerScale all-flash nodes running the OneFS operating system, which uses a single namespace and single filesystem across mixed node types. You can combine F210 and F710 nodes in one cluster — for example, using F710 for hot, performance-critical data and F210 for more cost-efficient flash capacity — while OneFS manages data placement and tiering. A cluster requires a minimum of three nodes and supports up to 252.
What is the main hardware difference between the F210 and F710?
Both are 1U nodes built on the same PowerEdge R660 platform with DDR5 memory, so the difference is scale per node. The F210 supports up to 4 NVMe drives, roughly 8–61 TB raw per node, and 128 GB of memory. The F710 supports up to 10 NVMe drives, roughly 38–307 TB raw per node, and 512 GB of memory, which gives it more capacity, density, and caching headroom for demanding workloads.
Which one is better for AI and analytics workloads?
Both can support AI and analytics, but they target different points. The F210 is positioned for customers beginning their AI and analytics journey or running general high-demand workloads that need a balance of performance and capacity. The F710 is the performance node, with more drives, capacity, and memory per node to sustain throughput- and latency-sensitive AI/ML training, large-scale analytics, and media workloads. If storage performance is your bottleneck, the F710 is the stronger choice; if you want flash economically, start with the F210.
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