HPE MSA vs Dell PowerVault ME5
The two leading entry/mid-range SAN arrays, compared dimension by dimension — capacity, density, connectivity, distributed RAID, tiering and ecosystem. We partner with both HPE and Dell, so this is a straight comparison, not a sales pitch.
Headline scale, side by side
On raw scale they’re close; ME5 leads on per-chassis density, and the top fabrics are at parity. The real decision is RAID, software and ecosystem — below.
Where HPE MSA wins
- ✓MSA-DP+ distributed RAID — notably faster rebuilds, so less time at risk after a drive failure
- ✓Integrated 10GBase-T iSCSI removes SFP-transceiver cost on the cheapest fabric
- ✓HPE InfoSight predictive analytics + OneView/GreenLake fit
- ✓Often the keenest price for a hybrid entry SAN
- ✓Natural fit if you already run HPE ProLiant / Alletra / Aruba
Where Dell ME5 wins
- ✓ME5084 packs 84 drives in 5U — more raw capacity per rack-U for capacity-led builds
- ✓Marginally higher top-end raw capacity (≈8 PB / 336 drives)
- ✓Dell CloudIQ + OpenManage fit
- ✓Natural fit if you already run Dell PowerEdge / PowerStore
How to choose: if you run an HPE shop, want the fastest RAID rebuilds and the keenest hybrid price, MSA is the pick. If you need the densest single chassis or run a Dell estate, ME5 fits. Either way we’ll size both and quote like-for-like.
MSA vs ME5 — FAQs
Is HPE MSA or Dell PowerVault ME5 better?
Neither wins outright — they are close competitors in the entry/mid SAN segment with dual-active controllers, the same top fabrics (32Gb FC, 25GbE iSCSI, 12Gb SAS), automated tiering and similar data services. ME5 edges ahead on per-chassis density (the 84-drive ME5084) and marginally on top raw capacity; MSA edges ahead on RAID rebuild speed (MSA-DP+), integrated low-cost 10GBase-T iSCSI and HPE InfoSight analytics. The right pick usually comes down to your existing ecosystem (HPE vs Dell), density needs and price.
How do MSA-DP+ and Dell ADAPT compare?
Both are distributed/declustered RAID that spread data and spare capacity across all disks in a pool, so rebuilds are far faster than traditional fixed RAID sets and expansion is more granular. HPE’s MSA-DP+ and Dell’s ADAPT are conceptually similar; in practice both dramatically reduce rebuild windows versus RAID 5/6. We’d size the pool layout for your drive count and resilience target on either platform.
Which scales to more capacity?
They are very close. Dell ME5 scales to roughly 8 PB / 336 drives, with the 5U ME5084 giving 84 drives per chassis for capacity-led builds. HPE MSA Gen7 scales to 7.37 PB with high-capacity media. For most SMB/mid-market workloads either is far more than enough; if you specifically need the densest single chassis, the ME5084 leads.
Which is better for VMware virtualisation?
Both are certified for VMware vSphere with dual-active controllers, multipath and automated tiering — both make a solid shared datastore for vMotion/HA. Choose on IOPS headroom (MSA Gen7 up to 783,000), fabric (FC vs iSCSI), density and ecosystem rather than vSphere support, which is comparable.
Can I migrate from one to the other?
Yes — migrations are storage-array agnostic at the host level. Common routes are host-based (Storage vMotion / Windows Storage Migration), array-based replication into the new system, or a backup-and-restore cutover. We plan and run these migrations as a service, with minimal downtime.
Which is cheaper?
Pricing depends on configuration, drives and support level, and both are quote-based, but MSA is frequently the keenest for a hybrid entry SAN — particularly with integrated 10GBase-T iSCSI (no SFP cost). We quote both impartially so you can compare like-for-like.
Does Servnet supply both HPE MSA and Dell PowerVault ME5?
Yes — we’re partners for both HPE and Dell, so our advice is impartial. Tell us your workload and we’ll quote the best fit (and a like-for-like alternative) with UK delivery and support.
Want a like-for-like quote on both?
Send us the workload — we’ll size HPE MSA and Dell ME5 side by side and let the numbers decide.
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