A Principled Technologies interactive PDF: Hands-on testing. Real-world results.

Unlock more mixed storage performance on

Dell PowerEdge R750 servers with Broadcom
PCIe Gen4 RAID controllers
Compared to Dell PowerEdge R740xd servers with
Broadcom PCIe Gen3 RAID controllers
To explore the advantages of the 15G Dell PowerEdge R750 server in a mixed-storage
environment, we compared its input/output operations per second (IOPS) and throughput
to those from a 14G Dell PowerEdge R740xd server.

In our Flexible input/output (FIO) benchmark test of both servers with 16 SAS and 8
NVMe™ drives, the Dell PowerEdge™ R750 server with a Broadcom PCIe® Gen4 RAID
controller handled over 7.5 million more IOPS in our 4KB random read workload
and maintained over twice the gibibytes per second (GiB/s) in our 1MB sequential
read workload.

Handle more Maintain more

storage requests concurrent throughput
Up to 2.3x the raw IOPS on 4KB Up to 2.0x the GiB/s on 1MB
random read workloads* sequential read workloads*
Up to 1.2x the raw IOPS on 4KB Up to 1.3x the GiB/s on 1MB
random write workloads* sequential write workloads*

*
vs a PowerEdge R740xd server with a Broadcom PCIe Gen3 RAID controller

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 Introduction

Home

 How we tested

How we tested Workload types

Metrics
We compared the server and mixed SAS/NVMe In all of our FIO benchmark tests, we used the
drive storage performance of a Dell PowerEdge maximum number of cores per processor: 56
R750 server with a Broadcom PCIe Gen4 RAID cores for the Dell PowerEdge R750 and 48 for the
controller (Dell PERC H755) to that of a Dell PowerEdge R740xd. Our final mixed-drive test
PowerEdge R740xd server with a Broadcom PCIe included eight NVMe drives—filling all NVMe slots
Gen3 RAID controller (Dell PERC H740P). in the backpanes of the servers under test.

Go to the PT website to
see the testing details
Dell PowerEdge R750 server Broadcom PCIe Gen4 technology in
The Dell PowerEdge R750 is a full-featured, Dell PowerEdge servers
general purpose 2U rack server powered by The Broadcom PCIe Gen4 RAID controller
Go to the PT website
3rd Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors. (Dell PERC H755) on the motherboard of the
to learn how PT tests
According to Dell, this rack server is purpose- PowerEdge R750 server delivers twice the
built to optimize application performance and bandwidth (from 8GT/s to 16GT/s) of PCIe Gen3
acceleration with PCIe Gen 4.0 compatibility, RAID controllers.2
eight channels of memory per CPU, and up to
24 NVMe drives. It also includes “improved
air-cooling features and optional Direct Liquid
Cooling to support increasing power and
thermal requirements.”1

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 Introduction

Home

How
Howwewe
tested
tested

 Workload types

Metrics

What is the difference between random and sequential workloads?

Our FIO benchmark testing used random and sequential workloads, which use different patterns for
accessing and storing data. Random workloads are those where data is pulled from multiple drives.
Sequential workloads involve a continuous flow of data from one drive. Running both types of workloads
can provide insight into how the server solution handles the access, retrieval, and saving of data.

Random Sequential
A user who browses Streaming video
multiple web pages in an necessitates that a server
online store before making a read that data sequentially
purchase represents a read- in a single continuous
heavy random workload stream. The same rule
because the application applies to storing data.
may have to pull data from
multiple drives.

Introduction Performance Throughput Learn more June 2022 | 3

 Introduction

Home

How
Howwewe
tested
tested

Performance metrics Workload types

 Metrics
To measure each dual-processor solution’s storage
performance in four mixed-drive configurations,
we captured FIO benchmark performance
metrics, which offer insight into server and
storage performance.

GiB/s
The amount of information (in GiB) a solution
can process per second (throughput)
indicates how well it can process a high
volume of data.

IOPS
The number of IOPS a solution can handle
indicates the degree to which it can process
a high volume of storage requests at once.

Introduction Performance Throughput Learn more June 2022 | 4

 Performance

 More storage requests

Upgrade capabilities

Handle more storage requests

Based on the IOPS output we saw in random read workload testing, In our random write workload-based FIO benchmark testing,
upgrading from 14G Dell PowerEdge R740xd servers to 15G Dell we found that the more SAS drives we used in the mixed SAS
PowerEdge R750 servers could help companies grow their user base or and NVMe configuration, the bigger the storage performance
achieve performance gains for I/O-intensive applications. differences were between the PowerEdge R750 and the
PowerEdge R740xd.

4KB random read FIO results 4KB random write FIO results
with 16 SAS and 8 NVMe drives with 16 SAS and 8 NVMe drives
IOPS | Higher is better IOPS | Higher is better

Dell PowerEdge R750 Dell PowerEdge R750

Up to Up to
13.2 million 2.3x the 9.0 million 1.2x the
Dell PowerEdge R740xd raw IOPS Dell PowerEdge R740xd raw IOPS
5.5 million 7.0 million

In addition to these, we also tested with three more mixed SAS/NVMe drive configurations. See the results 

Introduction Performance Throughput Learn more June 2022 | 5

 Performance

Random
More workload
storage data
requests

Putting it into
Upgrade context
capabilities

Upgrading your capabilities

Dell Technologies made some big changes with the 15G refresh of its 2U workhorse. While we only
compared server and mixed SAS and NVMe drive storage performance, the redesigned PowerEdge
R750 chassis with its multi-vector cooling is a significant upgrade from its predecessor.

According to Dell, the PowerEdge R750 is purpose-built to optimize application performance and
acceleration with PCIe Gen 4.0 compatibility, eight channels of memory per CPU, and up to 24
NVMe™ drives. It also includes “improved air-cooling features and optional Direct Liquid Cooling to
support increasing power and thermal requirements.”3

The PowerEdge R750 server takes

advantage of PCIe Gen4, which
doubles the Compare server capabilities
bandwidth available
on the PowerEdge R740xd server. 4

Introduction Performance Throughput Learn more June 2022 | 6

 Throughput

vsMore volume
EaseUS Todo PC Trans Pro

Impact of throughput

Maintain more concurrent throughput

Based on the higher volume of outgoing large blocks of data (1 MB) In this FIO benchmark comparison, the higher volume of incoming
we saw in the sequential read workload testing, upgrading to the 15G large blocks of data processed by the Dell PowerEdge R750 server
Dell PowerEdge R750 server could benefit applications that stream could speed applications that render video, allow end users to
video, allow end users to import large amounts of data in less time, export large amounts of data in less time, and enable staff to copy
and enable staff to access large files more quickly. information from one file to another more quickly.

1MB sequential read FIO results 1MB sequential write FIO results
with 16 SAS and 8 NVMe drives with 16 SAS and 8 NVMe drives
Throughput | Higher is better Throughput | Higher is better

Dell PowerEdge R750 Dell PowerEdge R750

Up to Up to
62.4 GiB/s 2.0x the 42.5 GiB/s 1.3x the
Dell PowerEdge R740xd GiB/s Dell PowerEdge R740xd GiB/s
30.1 GiB/s 31.6 GiB/s

In addition to these, we also tested with three more mixed SAS/NVMe drive configurations. See the results 

Introduction Performance Throughput Learn more June 2022 | 7

 Throughput

More volume
vs EaseUS Todo PC Trans Pro

Putting
Impactit of
into context
throughput

The importance of concurrent throughput

Upgrading to server solutions with high throughput and IOPS
could have a direct impact on a company’s profit margin.

According to Data Center Knowledge, “[t]hroughput is the

result of IOPS and the block size for each I/O being sent or
received. Since a 256KB block has 64 times the amount of data
as a 4K block, size impacts throughput. In addition, the size
and quantity of blocks impacts bandwidth on the fabric and
the amount of processing required on the servers, network and
storage environments.”5

All of these items can have a big impact on

application performance.

Introduction Performance Throughput Learn more June 2022 | 8

 Learn more

 Server comparison
Features PowerEdge R7506 PowerEdge R740xd7
Examples
Up to two 3rd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, with up Up to two 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, with up to
Processor Conclusion
to 40 cores per processor 28 cores per processor

• 32 DDR4 DIMM slots, supports RDIMM (2TB max) / LRDIMM

• 24 DDR4 DIMM slots, supports RDIMM / LRDIMM, speeds up to
(8TB max), speeds up to 3200 MT/s
2666MT/s, 3TB max
Memory • Up to 16 Intel Persistent Memory 200 series (BPS)
slots, (8TB max)
• Up to 12 NVDIMM, (192GB max) Comparing server
• Supports registered ECC DDR4 DIMMs only
• Supports registered ECC DDR4 DIMMs only capabilities
Internal controllers: Internal controllers: Some of the most notable
• PERC H745 • PERC H730P, H740P 15G performance and
• HBA355I • PERC S140 (SWRAID) storage-related features
• PERC S150 (SWRAID) • BOSS (HWRAID) 2 x M.2 SSDs 120 GB or 240 GB include upgraded RAID,
• PERC H345, H755, H755N (HWRAID) • HBA330 (non-RAID 12Gbps SAS HBA) PowerEdge RAID controller
Storage controllers
• BOSS-S2 (HWRAID) 2 x M.2 SSDs 240 GB or 480 GB External controllers: (PERC), boot-optimized
• BOSS-S1 (HWRAID) 2 x M.2 SSDs 240 GB or 480 GB • PERC H840 (RAID) storage subsystem (BOSS),
External controllers: • 12Gbps SAS HBA (non-RAID) and host bus adapter (HBA)
• PERC H840 (RAID) storage controllers.
• HBA355e (non-RAID)

Front bays: Front bays:

• Up to 12 x 3.5-inch SAS/SATA drives (192TB max) • Up to 24 x 2.5-inch SAS/SATA/NVMe drives (153TB max) or up
• Up to 8 x 2.5-inch NVMe drives (122.88TB max) to 12 x 3.5-inch SAS/SATA drives (144TB max)

• Up to 16 x 2.5-inch SAS/SATA/NVMe drives (245.76TB max) Mid bay:

Mid bay: • Up to 4 x 2.5-inch SAS/SATA/NVMe drives (25TB max) or up to 4

Storage
x 3.5-inch SAS/SATA drives (48TB max)
• Up to 24 x 2.5-inch SAS/SATA/NVMe drives (368.84TB max)
Rear bays:
Rear bays:
• Up to 4 x 2.5-inch SAS/SATA/NVMe drives (25TB max) or up to 2
• Up to 2 x 2.5-inch SAS/SATA/NVMe drives (30.72TB max) x 3.5-inch SAS/SATA drives (24TB max)
• Up to 4 x 2.5-inch SAS/SATA/NVMe drives (61.44TB max)

8 x PCIe Gen4 slots (up to 6 x 16) with support for SNAP 8 x PCIe Gen3 slots (up to 6 x 16)
PCIe
I/O modules

Introduction Performance Throughput Learn more June 2022 | 9

 Learn more

Server comparison

Real world benefits  Examples

Conclusion
In today’s digital era, big data—which includes unstructured media, imaging, audio, sensor,
and text data—has dramatically increased the need for efficient storage and computing
capabilities. Dell PowerEdge R750 servers with Broadcom PCIe Gen4 RAID controllers have
the potential to help companies deal with evolving demands.

$7.4
TRILLION
No matter how enticing NVMe performance With worldwide retail commerce sales estimated The insurance market’s need to constantly
gains are, investing in all NVMe drives can be “to grow by 50 percent over the next four years, improve the customer experience is driving
an expensive proposition—both economically reaching about 7.4 trillion dollars by 2025,”10 the innovation and changing the way companies do
and operationally. So, it comes as no surprise higher IOPS processing capabilities we found in business. PwC reports that 63 percent of insurance
that “IDC estimates that SAS is found in over 70 the Dell PowerEdge R750 server with a Broadcom company CEOs think the Internet of Things (IoT)
percent of enterprise storage drives and expects PCIe Gen4 RAID controller can enable retail data is important to their business strategy.11 The PCIe
it to reach more than 85 percent of enterprise centers to handle more orders at once. This could, Gen4 capabilities (doubled bandwidth per lane)
storage capacity by 2022.”8 Dell PowerEdge in turn, reduce the number of discarded shopping in the Dell PowerEdge R750 server can enable
R750 servers include Broadcom PCIe Gen4 RAID carts and increase the number of successful sales. companies to handle more or heavier traffic from
controllers, which not only deliver twice the connected devices already in place.
bandwidth (throughput) of previous generation
servers with Gen3 technology, but also support
SAS, NVMe, and mixed-drive environments.9

Introduction Performance Throughput Learn more June 2022 | 10

 Conclusion
Upgrading to or investing in the latest generation of servers could help you
better deal with evolving demands, grow your business, and keep customers
happy. We found that a 15G Dell PowerEdge R750 server with a Broadcom
PCIe Gen4 RAID controller processed significantly more storage requests
and sustained more concurrent throughput in four mixed SAS and NVMe
drive configurations than a 14G Dell PowerEdge R740xd server with a
Broadcom PCIe Gen3 RAID controller.

1 Dell, “Dell EMC PowerEdge R750 Spec 7 Dell, “Dell EMC PowerEdge R740xd Spec
Sheet,” accessed April 21, 2022, Sheet,” accessed April 21, 2022, https://i.
https://i.dell.com/sites/csdocuments/ dell.com/sites/csdocuments/Shared-Con-
Product_Docs/en/poweredge-R750- tent_data-Sheets_Documents/en/power-
spec-sheet.pdf. edge-r740xd-spec-sheet.pdf.
2 MiniTool Partition Wizard, “PCIe 3.0 vs. 4.0: 8 Data Center Dynamics, “SAS or NVMe? That
What’s the Difference and Which is Better is the question,” accessed April 21, 2022,
[Clone Disk]”, accessed April 21, 2022, https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/
https://www.partitionwizard.com/clone-disk/ opinions/sas-or-nvme-that-is-the-question/.
pcie-3-vs-4.html.
9 MiniTool Partition Wizard, “PCIe 3.0 vs. 4.0:
3 Dell, “Dell EMC PowerEdge What’s the Difference and Which is Better
R750 Spec Sheet.” [Clone Disk]”, accessed April 21, 2022,
https://www.partitionwizard.com/clone-disk/
4 MiniTool Partition Wizard, “PCIe 3.0 vs. 4.0: pcie-3-vs-4.html.
Read the full report at What’s the Difference and Which is Better
[Clone Disk]”, accessed April 21, 2022, 10 Statista, “Retail e-commerce sales
https://facts.pt/4Xw0EX6 https://www.partitionwizard.com/clone-disk/ worldwide from 2014 to 2025,” accessed
pcie-3-vs-4.html. April 28, 2022, https://www.statista.com/
statistics/379046/worldwide-retail-e-
5 Data Center Knowledge, “The Impact of commerce-sales/.
Block Sizes in a Data Center,” accessed
April 21, 2022, https://www.datacenter- 11 Tipalti, “Chart-Topping FinTech Stats for
knowledge.com/archives/2016/05/04/ 2022,” accessed April 28, 2022, https://
Principled Principled
Facts matter.® Facts matter.® impact-block-sizes-data-center. tipalti.com/fintech-stats-for-2022/.
Technologies ®
Technologies ®

6 Dell, “Dell EMC PowerEdge R750 Spec

Sheet,” accessed April 21, 2022, https://i.
dell.com/sites/csdocuments/Product_Docs/
Principled Technologies is a registered trademark of Principled Technologies, Inc. en/poweredge-R750-spec-sheet.pdf.
All other product names are the trademarks of their respective owners.
For additional information, review the science behind this report.

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