HPE MSA Gen7 vs. Gen6 Storage Comparison: Do You Really Need an Upgrade?

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Feb 13
2 min read

Updated: Mar 6

OEMs Want You to Purchase New Systems—But Should You?

Every few years, a new generation of storage solutions arrives, claiming massive improvements. But let’s be real—most IT environments don’t need the very latest technology.

What actually drives IT purchasing decisions?

Brand loyalty, familiarity, policies, support contracts, and vendor relationships. The need for an upgrade? That’s usually secondary. HPE has launched the MSA Gen7 Storage, but before you rush to replace your MSA Gen6, let’s break things down.

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HPE MSA Gen7 vs. Gen6 Comparison

Feature	MSA Gen7	MSA Gen6	Does It Matter?
Performance	Up to 2x higher IOPS, 30% more bandwidth	Still solid for most SMB workloads	Only needed for extremely high-performance applications
Architecture	Dual-controller, active-active	Similar dual-controller design	No drastic change in resilience
RAID Engine	HPE MSA-DP+ (25x faster rebuilds than RAID5)	Standard RAID5/6	Faster rebuilds are nice, but Gen6 is already reliable
Expansion	Up to 7PB raw capacity	Large but slightly smaller expansion options	Most SMBs don’t need 7PB
Connectivity	16Gb FC, 10/25GbE iSCSI, 12Gb SAS	Same connectivity options	No real advantage
Flash Readiness	All-flash models available	Hybrid storage but not fully optimized for flash	If you’re going all-flash, maybe…

HPE MSA Gen7 vs. Gen6 storage comparison – analyzing performance, scalability, RAID features, and cost-effectiveness for SMB IT environments. Explore why HPE MSA Gen6 remains a smart choice over the expensive new Gen7, and when refurbished storage solutions with a 5-year warranty might be the best investment. server-parts.eu

When Should You Upgrade to HPE MSA Gen7?

✅ You are running heavy IOPS workloads that need major acceleration

✅ Your business requires ultra-fast rebuild times due to RAID failures

✅ Your IT policy forces you to buy the latest models

🚫 You have a well-running MSA Gen6 system that still meets your needs

🚫 You prioritize cost-efficiency over minor performance boosts

🚫 Your IT budget is already stretched, and the Gen7 upgrade isn't justifiable

New HPE MSA Gen7 or Refurbished HPE MSA Gen6?

HPE MSA Gen7 will be cheap on the refurbished market in a few years—and that’s when it makes the most sense to buy. If you need an upgrade now, buy a Gen6 system refurbished with a 5-year warranty and no upfront payment. It’s risk-free (since most suppliers provide a no upfront payment policy). scalable, and way cheaper than the brand-new Gen7.

Let’s not forget that even with a Gen6 system, you can upgrade SSDs, HDDs, CPUs, memory modules, and expansion shelves, extending its lifespan without jumping to a costly new model.

Big brands will always try to convince you that "newer is better." But in reality, a well-maintained, properly upgraded Gen6 system is more than enough for most IT environments. If you really need Gen7, consider buying it refurbished in a few years instead of wasting budget on brand-new, overpriced hardware today.