161-BCCG Dell 2.4TB 10K RPM SAS-12GBPS 512e SFF Hot-plug HDD

Dell 161-BCCG Internal HDD Key Highlights

The Dell 161-BCCG delivers a reliable balance of storage performance and enterprise-grade durability. Designed for seamless integration into Dell PowerEdge environments, this 2.4TB SAS drive ensures optimized data handling and consistent uptime for critical workloads.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Dell
• Model Number: 161-BCCG
• Drive Type: Internal hard disk drive
• Total Storage: 2.4 Terabytes
• Form Factor: 2.5-inch drive with 3.5-inch hybrid carrier
• Interface: SAS 12Gb/s for high-speed connectivity
• Buffer Size: 256 MB cache memory
• Sector Format: 512e (advanced sectoring)

Performance Attributes

Engineered for demanding applications, this Dell HDD provides responsive throughput and dependable operation across diverse workloads.

• Rotational Speed: 10,000 RPM spindle rate
• Latency: Average of 2.9 ms
• Data Transfer Rates: 270 MB/s outer to 117 MB/s inner tracks
• External Bandwidth: Up to 1200 Mbps
• Cache Segmentation: 256 MB multisegmented buffer

Advanced Caching and Acceleration

Optimized for high-demand computing, this drive integrates intelligent NAND technology and acceleration features to ensure superior responsiveness.

• I/O acceleration and optimized response time enabled
• 16 GB eMLC NAND flash cache for faster operations
• Enhanced NAND endurance management system

Connectivity and Expansion

The Dell 161-BCCG HDD ensures compatibility with hot-swappable bays and provides straightforward integration into enterprise systems.

• 1 x SAS 12Gbps interface
• Designed for 2.5-inch bays within 3.5-inch hybrid carriers
• Hot-swap capability for efficient maintenance

Server Compatibility Range

This hard drive is validated for use across multiple Dell PowerEdge servers, ensuring a broad scope of integration for enterprise IT setups.

Supported Rack Servers

• PowerEdge R240, R260, R350, R360
• R440, R450, R470, R540, R550
• R640, R650, R650xs, R6525
• R660, R660xs, R6615, R6625
• R6715, R6725, R740, R740xd, R740xd2
• R750, R750xs, R7515, R7525
• R760, R760xs, R7615, R7625
• R770, R7715, R7725
• R840, R860, R940, R960

Supported Tower Servers

• PowerEdge T350
• PowerEdge T360
• PowerEdge T550
• PowerEdge T560

Supported Modular Systems

• PowerEdge C6420, C6520, C6525
• PowerEdge HS5610, HS5620
• PowerEdge MX760c

Choose the Dell 161-BCCG

• High-speed SAS 12Gbps interface for consistent data transfer
• Enterprise-grade reliability with optimized caching features
• Wide compatibility across multiple PowerEdge generations
• Hot-swap readiness for simplified deployment and serviceability

Ideal Workload Applications

• Database-driven environments requiring low latency
• Virtualization clusters and cloud infrastructures
• High-performance computing (HPC) workloads
• Enterprise applications demanding continuous uptime

Enterprise-Class 2.4TB SAS 12Gbps HDD Solutions

The 161-BCCG Dell 2.4TB 10K RPM SAS-12Gbps 512e 256MB Buffer 2.5-inch (in 3.5-inch Hybrid Carrier) Hot-plug HDD represents a high-performance, enterprise-grade storage solution engineered for mission-critical workloads. Designed to meet the rigorous demands of data centers, virtualization platforms, and high-transaction environments, this drive offers a blend of speed, reliability, and scalability. Its 10K RPM spindle speed, combined with a 12Gbps SAS interface and 256MB cache buffer, ensures rapid data access and consistent throughput across diverse applications.

Key Features of the Dell 161-BCCG 2.4TB SAS HDD

• High-capacity 2.4TB storage for enterprise workloads
• 10,000 RPM spindle speed for reduced latency and faster IOPS
• 12Gbps SAS interface for superior data transfer rates
• Advanced 512e sector format for compatibility and performance
• 256MB cache buffer for optimized read/write operations
• 2.5-inch form factor housed in a 3.5-inch hybrid carrier for flexible deployment
• Hot-plug capability for seamless maintenance and scalability

Performance-Driven Architecture

The 161-BCCG HDD is engineered with a 10K RPM rotational speed, which significantly reduces seek times and enhances IOPS performance. This makes it ideal for transactional databases, OLTP systems, and virtualized environments where rapid access to data is critical. The 12Gbps SAS interface doubles the bandwidth of previous-generation 6Gbps SAS drives, enabling faster data throughput and improved responsiveness under heavy workloads.

Advanced Buffering and Caching

With a 256MB cache buffer, this drive intelligently manages read and write operations to minimize latency and maximize throughput. The buffer acts as a high-speed intermediary between the drive and host system, accelerating access to frequently used data and reducing bottlenecks during peak usage. This is particularly beneficial in RAID configurations and multi-user environments.

Form Factor and Hybrid Carrier Design

The 2.5-inch drive is mounted within a 3.5-inch hybrid carrier, allowing seamless integration into both small form factor (SFF) and large form factor (LFF) drive bays. This hybrid design ensures compatibility across multiple generations of Dell PowerEdge servers and storage arrays, simplifying inventory management and deployment strategies. The hot-plug capability further enhances operational efficiency by allowing drives to be replaced or added without system downtime.

Interface and Compatibility

The SAS-12Gbps interface supports full-duplex data transmission, enabling simultaneous read and write operations. This is essential for enterprise environments that demand high availability and low latency. The drive is backward compatible with SAS-6Gbps controllers, ensuring flexibility in mixed-infrastructure deployments. It also supports advanced error correction, dual-port access, and command queuing for enhanced reliability and performance.

512e Sector Format Explained

The 512e (Advanced Format) sector technology emulates 512-byte sectors while physically using 4K sectors. This format improves storage efficiency and error correction capabilities, while maintaining compatibility with legacy systems. It enables higher areal density and better alignment with modern operating systems and file systems, reducing overhead and improving overall performance.

Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

The Dell 161-BCCG 2.4TB SAS HDD is optimized for enterprise applications that require high-speed access to large datasets. Common use cases include:

• Transactional databases and ERP systems
• Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
• High-performance computing (HPC)
• Email and messaging servers
• Data warehousing and analytics platforms
• Cloud infrastructure and private cloud deployments

Reliability and Endurance

Enterprise-grade HDDs like the 161-BCCG are built for 24/7 operation with a high mean time between failures (MTBF). This drive features rotational vibration sensors, dynamic fly height adjustment, and advanced thermal management to ensure consistent performance in multi-drive environments. Its robust design supports up to 550TB/year workload rating, making it suitable for intensive data center operations.

Hot-Plug Functionality

Hot-plug support allows IT administrators to replace or upgrade drives without powering down the server. This minimizes service interruptions and supports dynamic scaling of storage resources. The hybrid carrier ensures secure and tool-less installation, reducing maintenance time and risk of damage during handling.

Power Efficiency and Thermal Management

Despite its high performance, the drive maintains efficient power consumption through intelligent idle modes and adaptive thermal throttling. This reduces operational costs and supports greener data center initiatives. The drive’s firmware actively monitors temperature and adjusts performance to prevent overheating, ensuring long-term reliability.

Compatibility with Dell PowerEdge Servers

The 161-BCCG HDD is validated for use across a wide range of Dell PowerEdge servers, including:

• PowerEdge R740, R640, R540, R440
• PowerEdge T640, T440
• PowerEdge MX740c, MX840c
• PowerEdge C6420, C6525
• Legacy models with SAS-12Gbps backplanes

Its hybrid carrier ensures compatibility with both SFF and LFF drive trays, simplifying deployment across mixed server environments. Firmware-level integration with Dell OpenManage and iDRAC enables advanced monitoring, diagnostics, and predictive failure analysis.

RAID Optimization and Data Protection

The drive supports RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60, offering flexible data protection and performance tuning. Its dual-port SAS interface enhances fault tolerance and supports multipath I/O configurations. Advanced ECC algorithms and media integrity scanning further protect against data loss and corruption.

Secure Data Handling

While this model does not feature self-encrypting drive (SED) capabilities, it supports host-level encryption and secure erase protocols. IT teams can implement software-based encryption solutions to meet compliance requirements such as HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI-DSS. The drive also supports sanitize commands for secure decommissioning.

Lifecycle Management and Firmware Updates

Dell provides regular firmware updates to enhance drive performance, compatibility, and security. These updates can be deployed via Dell Repository Manager or OpenManage Essentials. Lifecycle management tools allow administrators to track drive health, usage patterns, and predictive failure alerts, enabling proactive maintenance.

Comparison with Other Enterprise HDDs

Compared to 7.2K RPM nearline drives, the 10K RPM 161-BCCG offers significantly better performance for transactional workloads. While SSDs provide superior speed, this HDD delivers a cost-effective balance of capacity and performance for tiered storage architectures. Its SAS interface outperforms SATA alternatives in terms of reliability, command queuing, and dual-port access.

Advantages Over SATA Drives

• Higher reliability and MTBF
• Full-duplex data transmission
• Advanced command queuing and error recovery
• Dual-port redundancy for fault tolerance
• Better performance under concurrent workloads

Positioning in Tiered Storage

The 161-BCCG is ideal for Tier 2 storage, where performance and capacity must be balanced. It complements Tier 0 SSDs and Tier 3 archival drives, enabling efficient data lifecycle management. Organizations can deploy this drive for active datasets while offloading cold data to slower, high-capacity drives.