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Dell SC Series vs IBM FlashSystem comparison

Dell Technologies and IBM are both solutions in the All-Flash Storage category. Dell Technologies is ranked #17 with an average rating of 9.0, while IBM is ranked #13 with an average rating of 8.4. Dell Technologies holds a 0.8% mindshare in AFS, compared to IBM’s 6.5% mindshare. Additionally, 94% of Dell Technologies users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 91% of IBM users who would recommend it.
Sponsored
Pure FlashArray X NVMe
Read 36 Pure FlashArray X NVMe reviews
  • 1,757 Views
  • 1,458 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
Dell SC Series
Read 55 Dell SC Series reviews
  • 1,104 Views
  • 1,005 Comparison Views
94% willing to recommend
IBM FlashSystem
Read 111 IBM FlashSystem reviews
  • 8,245 Views
  • 6,926 Comparison Views
91% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 18, 2024

IBM FlashSystem and Dell SC Series are two prominent products in the storage market. While IBM FlashSystem is appreciated for its performance, Dell SC Series stands out due to its extensive features.

Features: IBM FlashSystem is known for its speed, efficiency, and reliability. Dell SC Series offers versatile functionality, extensive integration options, and a comprehensive feature set giving it an edge over IBM FlashSystem.

Room for Improvement: IBM FlashSystem users suggest improvements in manageability, reporting tools, and software tools. Dell SC Series needs better upgrade processes, reduced complexity, and enhanced system updates.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM FlashSystem is straightforward to deploy and supported by strong customer service. Dell SC Series has a more complex deployment process but offers comprehensive support services.

Pricing and ROI: IBM FlashSystem is cost-effective with a favorable ROI, justifying its initial setup cost. Dell SC Series is more expensive but considered a worthwhile investment due to its advanced features and long-term benefits.

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To learn more, read our detailed Dell SC Series vs. IBM FlashSystem Report (Updated: June 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Dell SC Series vs. IBM FlashSystem
June 2025
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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
1.0
Pure FlashArray X NVMe reduces costs, enhances performance, and offers quick ROI with efficient management and cost-effective upgrades.
Sentiment score
9.3
Dell SC Series offers cost-effective virtualization, ease of management, and significant savings through flash disks, boosting ROI and user satisfaction.
Sentiment score
7.2
IBM FlashSystem users reported improved performance, scalability, and integration, valuing ROI, enhanced features, and minimal downtime despite increased pricing.
By opting for the gold subscription every three years, you get a free upgrade to the latest controller release.
If you wait more than seven years to buy another one, you get a return on your investment.
For more quotes and insights, download the Pure FlashArray X NVMe report
Users were very happy when I bought it, as it significantly lowered disk response times.
For more quotes and insights, download the Dell SC Series report
The solution can comfortably be stretched from five to seven years without any failures, ensuring a long-lasting return.
For more quotes and insights, download the IBM FlashSystem report
SajithEruvangai - PeerSpot reviewerEugene Hemphill - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2618529 - PeerSpot reviewerOmarIsmail1 - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
7.1
Pure FlashArray X NVMe support is praised for responsiveness, effectiveness, and proactive issue resolution, despite some challenges with reach and follow-up.
Sentiment score
7.2
Dell SC Series support is highly rated for its responsiveness, knowledgeable staff, and effective issue resolution globally.
Sentiment score
7.1
IBM FlashSystem's customer service is praised for responsiveness and expertise, though regional response times and costs vary.
With Pure FlashArray X NVMe, we need to escalate the issue and get an account manager for its resolution.
We also had one outage where a controller of one of the products had failed and had to be replaced on-site.
Customers always have their issues resolved promptly.
For more quotes and insights, download the Pure FlashArray X NVMe report
Advanced support offers instant replacement without delays.
Compared to other companies, Dell SC Series offers one of the best support experiences in my career.
For more quotes and insights, download the Dell SC Series report
Customers of alternatives like Dell and Hitachi enjoy more reliable and comprehensive support services directly from vendors rather than third-party subsidiaries.
I rate the technical support from IBM as a ten.
IBM customer support is responsible, efficient, and responsive, though it is expensive.
For more quotes and insights, download the IBM FlashSystem report
VS
reviewer943512 - PeerSpot reviewerEugene Hemphill - PeerSpot reviewer
RK
RafaelGamaluis - PeerSpot reviewerRaanan Sitton - PeerSpot reviewerOmarIsmail1 - PeerSpot reviewerMD.Faisal Alam - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.1
Pure FlashArray X NVMe offers scalable, stable performance, easy management, and simple upgrades, with some cost and scalability limitations.
Sentiment score
6.1
Dell SC Series offers flexible, scalable storage for businesses of all sizes, though some note cost and controller limitations.
Sentiment score
7.4
IBM FlashSystem offers strong scalability and flexibility, supporting expansion with virtualization despite occasional complexity and costs.
You cannot increase capacity if latency is present.
It is highly scalable.
It is suitable for both medium-sized and enterprise businesses.
For more quotes and insights, download the Pure FlashArray X NVMe report
No quotes available
For more quotes and insights, download the Dell SC Series report
For larger enterprises, scalability is an issue as the price becomes prohibitive.
The problem arises when migrating data to a later IBM FlashSystem version due to issues with firmware compatibility.
The scalability of IBM FlashSystem is exceptional, and I rate it as a nine.
For more quotes and insights, download the IBM FlashSystem report
VS
Joerg Utesch - PeerSpot reviewerJaka Demšar - PeerSpot reviewerRaanan Sitton - PeerSpot reviewerMD.Faisal Alam - PeerSpot reviewerOmarIsmail1 - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.1
Pure FlashArray X NVMe is highly stable, reliable, and efficient, offering seamless upgrades and proactive component replacement in critical environments.
Sentiment score
8.9
Dell SC Series is stable, cost-effective, with minimal downtime and maintenance, praised for replication and reliable performance despite setup complexities.
Sentiment score
7.7
IBM FlashSystem is highly reliable with exceptional stability, praised for resilience and quick resolution of occasional issues.
During the eight years, there have been no problems such as hardware failure or stopping.
I would rate the stability of the solution as a ten out of ten.
I would rate the stability of the product at seven out of ten.
For more quotes and insights, download the Pure FlashArray X NVMe report
In storages, stability is the most important aspect, even before performance.
For more quotes and insights, download the Dell SC Series report
Customers have infrastructure that is 100% stable.
The firmware and software engine have fewer bugs, which enhances operational efficiency.
For more quotes and insights, download the IBM FlashSystem report
Gokhan Dikmen - PeerSpot reviewerSajithEruvangai - PeerSpot reviewer
GC
reviewer2618529 - PeerSpot reviewerMD.Faisal Alam - PeerSpot reviewerOmarIsmail1 - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Room For Improvement

Pure FlashArray X NVMe needs improvements in price, UI, analytics, software features, integration, and management tools for better competitiveness.
Dell SC Series needs improved user-friendliness, technical support, integration, scalability, and features like compression, automation, and cloud compatibility.
IBM FlashSystem needs better storage, stability, GUI, scalability, support, integration, pricing, configurations, data reduction, cloud, and analytics.
Many options to check performance, like read, writes, random writes, and random reads, are missing in Pure FlashArray X NVMe.
We would appreciate a built-in transparent failover in the next release to eliminate the need for a separate metro cluster.
I'm eagerly anticipating the roadmap's promise of introducing multiple controllers, which could significantly boost scalability and resilience.
For more quotes and insights, download the Pure FlashArray X NVMe report
Dell PowerStore, which supports NVMe over TCP, is different and not very affordable.
In the future, I want any box that comes on-premises to have the provision to integrate with cloud storage.
For more quotes and insights, download the Dell SC Series report
Despite marketing promises, these features do not function effectively and can impact performance.
There is room for improvement in the troubleshooting part, specifically related to IBM Spectrum for Insight.
An additional function that could be helpful is reducing the time it takes to delete volumes, especially if they are compressed or deduplicated.
For more quotes and insights, download the IBM FlashSystem report
VS
Joerg Utesch - PeerSpot reviewerSajithEruvangai - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2618529 - PeerSpot reviewer
RK
Raanan Sitton - PeerSpot reviewerMD.Faisal Alam - PeerSpot reviewer
SJ
 

Setup Cost

Pure FlashArray X NVMe is costly but valued for performance, inclusive licensing, and reasonable support fees compared to competitors.
Dell SC Series offers competitive and scalable enterprise storage, with varied pricing and discounts for partnering users.
IBM FlashSystem pricing is competitive but variable, with negotiable discounts and potentially high ongoing costs for smaller organizations.
While the prices may be higher than those of other vendors, we see it as a market leader with benefits.
The support can be a bit pricey, but the solution is more cost-effective than anything else out there.
Pure FlashArray X NVMe’s pricing is cheaper than other products.
For more quotes and insights, download the Pure FlashArray X NVMe report
Sometimes Dell offers better performance for less money.
For more quotes and insights, download the Dell SC Series report
To install or upgrade any software features, the cost is high, which makes it challenging for smaller companies who do not require advanced features like deduplication or compression typically needed by larger organizations.
For more quotes and insights, download the IBM FlashSystem report
Enes SUZER - PeerSpot reviewerEugene Hemphill - PeerSpot reviewer
VS
reviewer2618529 - PeerSpot reviewerRaanan Sitton - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Valuable Features

Pure FlashArray X NVMe is favored for its high performance, reliability, scalability, and future-proofing across diverse environments.
Dell SC Series provides performance, auto-tiering, and replication with ease of management, scalability, high availability, and strong support.
IBM FlashSystem offers high performance, ease of use, and advanced storage features, making it ideal for efficient business solutions.
Pure Storage has signature security technology, which cannot be deleted, even if you are an administrator.
The platform's robust features include excellent sustainability tracking, and a comprehensive dashboard offering insights into IOPS, bandwidth, performance, and virtual activities.
Its data compression feature is the best that we have ever seen.
For more quotes and insights, download the Pure FlashArray X NVMe report
The storage also lowered the response time of disks across the entire farm, making it a great product for operational efficiency.
I can mix and match the drives, using older mechanical devices and the latest SFP drives in a single solution with different enclosures.
For more quotes and insights, download the Dell SC Series report
There is a significant amount of data reduction, achieving a ratio of one to three.
There is built-in compression, a data reduction feature, and artificial intelligence-driven insights that calculate warnings and errors to redirect to customers automatically.
When integrated properly into the environment and configured according to the guidelines, it provides a very solid infrastructure that does the job on demand.
For more quotes and insights, download the IBM FlashSystem report
Gokhan Dikmen - PeerSpot reviewerSajithEruvangai - PeerSpot reviewerEugene Hemphill - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2618529 - PeerSpot reviewer
RK
SJ
MD.Faisal Alam - PeerSpot reviewerOmarIsmail1 - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Categories and Ranking

Pure FlashArray X NVMe
Sponsored
Ranking in All-Flash Storage
14th
Average Rating
9.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
36
Ranking in other categories
NVMe All-Flash Storage Arrays (6th)
Dell SC Series
Ranking in All-Flash Storage
17th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.5
Number of Reviews
55
Ranking in other categories
Frame-Based Disk Arrays (2nd)
IBM FlashSystem
Ranking in All-Flash Storage
13th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
111
Ranking in other categories
NAS (5th), Modular SAN (Storage Area Network) (2nd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the All-Flash Storage category, the mindshare of Pure FlashArray X NVMe is 0.8%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Dell SC Series is 0.8%, down from 1.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM FlashSystem is 6.5%, down from 6.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
All-Flash Storage
 

Featured Reviews

Jaehoon Oh - PeerSpot reviewer
Supports efficient storage management through volume snapshots and offers reliable non-disruptive upgrades
I have no specific improvements to suggest for Pure FlashArray X NVMe at this time. The performance statistics could be enhanced. I can see the performance statistics in the Pure Storage console, but it does not show the performance by 4K byte unit. It displays IOPS and bandwidth, but IOPS is about real use, and I want to know how many IOPS are currently running in 4K byte units. I cannot see that IOPS because most storage systems report their performance by 4K byte unit. I want to see Pure Storage performance by 4K byte unit to compare with other storage or other internal NVMe SSD.
Read full review
RafaelGamaluis - PeerSpot reviewer
User interface offers clarity and detailed information while technical support consistently delivers
The best features of Dell SC Series are stability and replication. The replication solution is excellent, and they have a solution named Live Migration. It is a robust platform. The interface and the GUI (graphical user interface) for administrating the Compellent are exceptional, with abundant information that is very clear. The management capabilities are excellent, and the stability of our storage hardware is remarkable.
Read full review
OmarIsmail1 - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers high performance and dependable support for fast storage needs
The most valuable feature of IBM FlashSystem ( /products/ibm-flashsystem-reviews ) is its robust back code. When integrated properly into the environment and configured according to the guidelines, it provides a very solid infrastructure that does the job on demand. Additionally, IBM FlashSystem offers competitive pricing and reliable performance. The hardware is dependable, ensuring that it functions effectively when the setup is done correctly.
Read full review
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Government
6%
Computer Software Company
21%
Financial Services Firm
9%
University
8%
Educational Organization
6%
Computer Software Company
14%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Comms Service Provider
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Pure FlashArray X NVMe?
Pure FlashArray X NVMe helps to improve our processing speed. It is user-friendly and easy to use.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Pure FlashArray X NVMe?
I am an engineer and am not aware of the setup cost.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Pure FlashArray X NVMe?
Adding some functions to the product would be beneficial. Storage replication should be essential, and the analytics ...
See all answers
What do you like most about Dell SC Series?
I find this version to be more budget-friendly compared to products from other vendors. This aspect greatly benefits ...
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Dell SC Series?
Cost considerations are crucial when choosing between solutions like Dell and NetApp. Sometimes Dell offers better pe...
See all answers
What needs improvement with Dell SC Series?
In the future, I want any box that comes on-premises to have the provision to integrate with cloud storage. If I want...
See all answers
What do you like most about IBM FlashSystem?
It is simple to make an update.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM FlashSystem?
Many factors affect purchasing directly from IBM, often involving a multi-step process. Customers, especially in bank...
See all answers
What needs improvement with IBM FlashSystem?
The deduplication technology in IBM FlashSystem needs significant improvement. Other vendors like NetApp ( /products/...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Dell PowerStore vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe Logo
Dell PowerStore vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe
Compared 28% of the time
TrueNAS R-Series vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe Logo
TrueNAS R-Series vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe
Compared 19% of the time
Pure Storage FlashBlade vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe Logo
Pure Storage FlashBlade vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe
Compared 14% of the time
HPE Alletra Storage vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe Logo
HPE Alletra Storage vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe
Compared 9% of the time
Dell Unity XT vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe Logo
Dell Unity XT vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe
Compared 8% of the time
More Pure FlashArray X NVMe Competitors
Dell PowerStore vs Dell SC Series Logo
Dell PowerStore vs Dell SC Series
Compared 60% of the time
Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI) vs Dell SC Series Logo
Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI) vs Dell SC Series
Compared 12% of the time
Dell Unity XT vs Dell SC Series Logo
Dell Unity XT vs Dell SC Series
Compared 11% of the time
NetApp AFF vs Dell SC Series Logo
NetApp AFF vs Dell SC Series
Compared 7% of the time
More Dell SC Series Competitors
Dell PowerStore vs IBM FlashSystem Logo
Dell PowerStore vs IBM FlashSystem
Compared 22% of the time
HPE Alletra Storage vs IBM FlashSystem Logo
HPE Alletra Storage vs IBM FlashSystem
Compared 9% of the time
Pure Storage FlashArray vs IBM FlashSystem Logo
Pure Storage FlashArray vs IBM FlashSystem
Compared 8% of the time
Huawei OceanStor Dorado vs IBM FlashSystem Logo
Huawei OceanStor Dorado vs IBM FlashSystem
Compared 8% of the time
NetApp AFF vs IBM FlashSystem Logo
NetApp AFF vs IBM FlashSystem
Compared 7% of the time
More IBM FlashSystem Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Pure FlashArray X NVMe
June 2025
Pure FlashArray X NVMe reportDownload Pure FlashArray X NVMe product report
Buyer's Guide
Dell SC Series
July 2025
Dell SC Series reportDownload Dell SC Series product report
Buyer's Guide
IBM FlashSystem
June 2025
IBM FlashSystem reportDownload IBM FlashSystem product report
 

Also Known As

Pure FlashArray//X NVMe, Pure FlashArray//X, FlashArray//X
SC Series Storage, Compellent
IBM Storwize
 

Overview

Pure Storage FlashArray//X is the world’s first enterprise-class, all-NVMe flash storage array. It represents a new class of storage – shared accelerated storage, which is a term coined by Gartner – that delivers major breakthroughs in performance, simplicity, and consolidation.

Pure Storage

Dell EMC SC Series arrays provide a unified platform for the ultimate in performance, adaptability and machine-driven efficiency. SC Series software delivers modern features that help you meet aggressive workload demands using the fewest drives necessary. With an open, future-ready design, SC Series storage integrates seamlessly with applications and infrastructure, enabling you to scale on a single platform and add capabilities without forklift upgrades.

Dell Technologies

IBM FlashSystem products are enterprise computer data storage systems that store data on flash memory chips. Unlike storage systems that use standard solid-state drives, IBM FlashSystem products incorporate custom hardware based on technology from the 2012 acquisition of Texas Memory Systems. This hardware provides performance, reliability, and efficiency benefits versus competitive offerings.

IBM
 

Sample Customers

Fremont Bank, Judson ISD, The Nielsen Company
TGen, Frost Science, Gerrie Electric
Celero, Friedhelm Loh Group, Clarks, Mingkang Natregro Health Food Group, Sofia, Etisalat Fights Fraud, UF Health Shands Hospital, Generali, Elecon Engineering Company Limited, Ventiv , Technology, CPFL Energia, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., SciQuest, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, Paddy Power, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Interconnect Services, Severstal IP-Only AB, PVU Group GmbH
Buyer's Guide
Dell SC Series vs. IBM FlashSystem
June 2025
Free Report: Dell SC Series vs. IBM FlashSystem
Find out what your peers are saying about Dell SC Series vs. IBM FlashSystem and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
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