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8K RANDOM READ/WRITE
We precondition our enterprise SSDs using 100% random 8K writes at QD256 for two drive fills. Performance data is recorded every second. We track this data to monitor the enterprise SSDs transition to steady-state and to verify that steady-state conditions are achieved before initiating queue depth testing. Steady-state is established after a full drive fill and the average steady-state 8K random write performance is approximately 573K IOPS.
The full performance average of the Memblaze 7A46 in 8K random write is 570K IOPS which we expected to be less than half of 4k, as it is moving twice the amount of data. This performance curve is very impressive. It levels off way down at QD4 and remains relatively steady throughout, pushing up just a bit near the end.
The 7A46 read performance of 1730K is very impressive, but still, we might have liked to see that line level off perhaps a QD sooner.
8K 70/30
8K 70/30 is representative of a typical database workload and 926K IOPS from a 3-DWPD SSD is very impressive.
8K 50/50
Once again, 730K 8K 50/50 write IOPS is something only a few enterprise 3-DWPD SSDs might achieve. Very impressive.
REPORT SUMMARY AND FINAL THOUGHTS
After spending the past few days evaluating the Memblaze PBlaze7 7A46 Gen5 6.4TB 3-DWPD enterprise SSD, there is no question that it is one of the best sustained random write performers we have tested to date. One of its greatest strengths is that this exceptional random write performance carries over into mixed workloads, delivering outstanding results in both 50/50 and 70/30 read/write scenarios.
That said, it does have worthy competition.
We recently reviewed the Dapustor Roealsen R6301, and the two drives are essentially neck and neck when it comes to sustained random write performance. However, they are configured quite differently. The Roealsen R6301 offers twice the capacity and utilizes a PCIe 5.0 x8 controller, compared to the PCIe 5.0 x4 interface of the PBlaze7 7A46. As a result, the R6301 benefits from twice the available host interface bandwidth.
Rather than diminishing the achievement of the PBlaze7 7A46, this comparison reinforces just how impressive it is. Delivering comparable sustained random write performance despite its smaller capacity and x4 interface firmly establishes the PBlaze7 7A46 as the top performer in its class and configuration.
No matter how one looks at it, and as sweet as our sustained 4K read performance of 3400K was, the brute strength of the Memblaze PBlaze7 7A46 lies in its incredible 4K sustained random write speeds above 1200K. This practically doubles the performance of many competitor enterprise SSDs. Great work Memblaze!
