Understand the difference between Block Storage volumes and Block Storage Low Latency volumes
When creating volumes from the Scaleway console, you are prompted to choose between Block Storage Low Latency volumes, block volumes (Block Storage), and local volumes (Local Storage).
This page provides information about the differences between Block Storage and Block Storage Low Latency 5K IOPS volumes.
Refer to the dedicated documentation to learn about the differences between Block Storage and Local Storage volumes.
Overview
| Volume type | IOPS | Underlying hardware | Latency | Max volume size | Recommended use cases | Availability & resilience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
b_ssd (Block Storage 5K legacy) | 5,000 | Legacy SSDs | High | Up to 10 TB | General-purpose workloads that do not demand high IOPS or low latency | Data is replicated three times across multiple disks for high availability and integrity |
sbs_5k (Block Low Latency 5K) | 5,000 | Modern NVMe disks | Low | 5 GB to 10 TB | Development environments, web servers, and applications needing consistent performance | 99.99% SLA, triple-replicated data to safeguard against hardware failures |
sbs_15k (Block Low Latency 15K) | 15,000 | Modern NVMe disks | Very low | 5 GB to 10 TB | High-performance databases, transactional applications, and I/O-intensive workloads | 99.99% SLA, triple-replicated data to safeguard against hardware failures |
Underlying hardware
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Block Storage 5K IOPS volumes:
- They are built using older-generation SSDs. This means that the hardware is slower, as it uses older SSD technology.
- The 5K IOPS is split between read and write operations, resulting in a total of 10K IOPS (5K for reads and 5K for writes).
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Block Storage Low Latency 5K IOPS volumes:
- They are powered by modern NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) disks.
- NVMe technology provides better performance and is optimized for high-speed storage operations.
Performance
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Block Storage 5K IOPS volumes:
- Their performance is limited by the older SSD hardware, which can result in slower data access and higher latency.
- The older technology may impact overall speed and responsiveness.
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Block Storage Low Latency 5K IOPS volumes:
- Delivers better performance thanks to NVMe disks, which handle 5K IOPS for both read and write operations combined.
- This provides a significant boost in data processing speed and efficiency.
Latency
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Block Storage 5K IOPS volumes:
- Higher latency due to the use of older SSDs.
- This can lead to slower application response times, especially in scenarios requiring rapid data access.
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Block Storage Low Latency 5K IOPS volumes:
- Offers lower latency and faster access times, making it ideal for applications that require quick data retrieval.
- The use of NVMe technology ensures a smoother and more responsive experience.
Summary
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Block Storage 5K IOPS volumes rely on older, slower SSD technology, leading to higher latency and lower overall performance.
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Block Storage Low Latency 5K IOPS volumes use advanced NVMe disks, offering improved performance, lower latency, and faster data access.
For tasks where performance and low latency are crucial, Block Storage Low Latency volumes provide a more effective solution due to the modern hardware and technological improvements.