400-ARKG Dell Compellent 10TB 7200RPM SAS-12GBPS 4kn 3.5inch Enterprise Plus HDD

400-ARKG Dell Compellent 10TB 7200RPM SAS 12Gbps Enterprise Hard Drive Overview

The 400-ARKG Dell Compellent 10TB 7200RPM SAS-12GBPS 4Kn 3.5-inch Enterprise Plus Hard Disk Drive is engineered for maximum performance, durability, and data integrity within high-demand enterprise environments. Built on Dell's reputable Compellent storage architecture, this hard drive caters specifically to data centers, cloud infrastructures, and mission-critical business applications requiring high capacity and consistent throughput.

Manufacturer Details

• Brand: Dell
• Model Number: 400-ARKG
• Category: Enterprise Hard Disk Drive

Optimized for Enterprise Storage Systems

As a member of the Dell Compellent enterprise-class storage portfolio, the 400-ARKG HDD is optimized for use in SAN (Storage Area Network) arrays and dense storage enclosures. Featuring a SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) 12Gbps interface, this hard drive enables blazing-fast data transfer speeds, reduced latency, and seamless scalability for growing data requirements.

High-Capacity Storage Solution

With a generous 10TB of storage per drive, organizations can significantly expand their total storage pool without overhauling their existing infrastructure. This makes the 400-ARKG ideal for environments dealing with large data sets such as video surveillance archives, big data analytics, medical imaging, and virtualized workloads.

7200RPM Spindle Speed for Balanced Performance

The 7200 revolutions-per-minute (RPM) spindle speed offers a perfect balance between performance and power efficiency. While 15K RPM drives provide higher IOPS for transactional databases, 7200RPM models like the 400-ARKG deliver a more cost-effective solution for bulk storage with sequential read/write operations, such as media servers or backup repositories.

Advanced SAS 12Gbps Interface

The SAS 12Gbps interface is an essential component of high-performance enterprise storage. It allows for full-duplex data transmission, which significantly enhances read and write throughput over legacy SATA drives. SAS drives also benefit from longer cabling distances, error correction, and better reliability, making them ideal for RAID configurations and multi-drive enclosures.

4Kn Sector Format Explained

The 4Kn sector format (4096 bytes per sector) is the modern standard for large-capacity drives, offering improved error correction and data efficiency compared to traditional 512n and 512e formats. The 400-ARKG leverages native 4K sectors to reduce overhead and maximize usable storage space, which is especially valuable in large-scale storage environments.

Benefits of 4Kn in Enterprise Applications

• Improved data integrity and ECC (Error Correction Code) efficiency
• Reduced metadata overhead resulting in more usable capacity
• Lower CPU usage during read/write operations
• Optimized for modern operating systems and file systems

Compatibility with Operating Systems

The 4Kn format is supported by most modern server operating systems, including Windows Server 2016 and above, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, and VMware ESXi. However, backward compatibility with legacy OSes may require firmware updates or translation layers.

Enterprise Plus Features and Enhanced Reliability

The 400-ARKG isn’t just a standard enterprise drive—it falls under Dell’s Enterprise Plus classification. This designation ensures higher durability, longer mean time between failures (MTBF), and enhanced workload capacity for 24x7 operation. These drives are tested to meet stringent enterprise workload demands and are supported with longer duty cycles.

MTBF and UBER Ratings

The 400-ARKG offers an MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) rating of over 2 million hours, a significant improvement over consumer-grade drives. Additionally, its Unrecoverable Bit Error Rate (UBER) is engineered for enterprise data integrity standards, ensuring data is not just stored but preserved accurately.

Vibration Resistance and Dual-Port Support

As expected from enterprise-class SAS drives, the 400-ARKG includes enhanced rotational vibration safeguards, which prevent performance degradation in multi-drive enclosures. Furthermore, dual-port SAS support enables redundant path failover, which is critical for high-availability environments.

Deployment Scenarios

The Dell 400-ARKG hard drive is ideal for a wide range of enterprise scenarios. Whether deployed in a Compellent SC9000 storage array or used in Dell EMC PowerVault enclosures, it supports complex infrastructure requirements.

Ideal for Data Archiving

Due to its high capacity and energy efficiency, this drive excels in long-term data archiving solutions. Financial institutions, research organizations, and public sector bodies with compliance requirements can rely on this model for WORM (Write Once, Read Many) storage setups.

Performance in Tiered Storage Systems

In tiered storage environments, the 400-ARKG is typically assigned to cold or nearline data tiers. While SSDs and 15K drives occupy performance tiers, the 10TB 7200RPM drives offer a great value proposition for non-volatile yet lower-IOPS data.

Media and Entertainment Workflows

Video production studios and post-production houses can use these drives to store massive raw footage and project files. With large streaming bandwidth and stable transfer speeds, it accommodates 4K/8K video formats and multi-track audio files.

Cloud Backup and Disaster Recovery

These drives are suitable for cloud backup repositories and disaster recovery sites where large volumes of redundant data need to be securely stored and accessed periodically. The reliability of SAS and the 10TB capacity per disk minimizes footprint and hardware costs.

Compatibility with Dell Storage Arrays and Controllers

The 400-ARKG is designed to be natively compatible with a wide array of Dell storage products. These include:

• Dell Compellent SCv3000, SC5020, SC7020 series
• Dell EMC PowerVault ME4 series
• Dell PowerEdge servers with PERC H730, H740P RAID controllers
• Dell EqualLogic PS Series (limited compatibility with firmware upgrades)

Hot-Swappable and Firmware Certified

This drive is hot-swappable and certified by Dell to ensure plug-and-play reliability within compatible enclosures. Dell firmware ensures drive health monitoring, predictive failure alerts, and full integration with OpenManage and other management utilities.

Energy Efficiency and Power Consumption

The Dell 400-ARKG is designed for data centers where power consumption directly impacts operating costs. Despite its massive capacity, it maintains efficient energy profiles, making it suitable for green data centers and large-scale deployments.

Power Draw Characteristics

• Idle power consumption: ~5.5W
• Active read/write power consumption: ~7.5–9.5W
• Support for power management features including Adaptive Idle, Standby, and Sleep modes

Thermal Management and Cooling

The drive is designed to operate within a temperature range of 5°C to 60°C. With enhanced thermal regulation and acoustic management, it contributes to overall enclosure health. It works efficiently with fan-based and liquid-cooled data center solutions.

Form Factor and Physical Build

With a 3.5-inch LFF (Large Form Factor), the 400-ARKG drive offers a space-efficient solution for high-density drive bays. Its robust build quality features shock protection and sealed casing, extending its reliability under various operating conditions.

Compares to Other Drives

400-ARKG vs 15K RPM SAS Drives

While 15K RPM SAS drives offer better random IOPS, the 400-ARKG provides higher storage capacity and better performance-per-watt for sequential workloads. It is a better fit for bulk data and long-term storage needs.

400-ARKG vs SATA Enterprise Drives

Compared to SATA drives, this SAS model offers better reliability, dual-port redundancy, and faster throughput. Its compatibility with enterprise RAID configurations and storage arrays also makes it the preferred choice in managed environments.

400-ARKG vs SSDs in Tiered Storage

While SSDs dominate primary and transactional workloads, the 400-ARKG excels in cold storage and backup roles. It offers a significantly lower cost per GB and does not suffer from write cycle limitations like SSDs.

Availability, Warranty, and Support

The 400-ARKG is available through Dell and certified third-party enterprise resellers. Depending on the supplier, drives may come with a 3-year or 5-year warranty. Dell ProSupport options cover firmware updates, remote diagnostics, and drive replacement services.

Refurbished and Tested Options

Refurbished units of the 400-ARKG are often tested using enterprise-grade diagnostics and come with a limited warranty. They are an excellent cost-saving option for test environments, backup clusters, and budget-conscious infrastructure projects.

Ordering and Deployment Best Practices

When deploying 400-ARKG drives, it's recommended to maintain a uniform drive type within RAID arrays for optimal performance. Always ensure firmware consistency and validate system compatibility before mass deployments.

Tools for Drive Management

• Dell OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA)
• Dell Storage Manager for Compellent arrays
• SMART Monitoring utilities for drive health checks

Best Practices for Lifecycle Management

Establish regular data scrubbing schedules and ensure drives are replaced before hitting wear thresholds. Monitor drive temperature and rotational vibration data to prevent premature failures in dense rack setups.