797544-001 HPE 800GB SAS 12G MU LFF LP SSD

Key specifications at a glance

• Manufacturer / OEM part number: 797544-001 (HPE).
• Storage capacity: 800GB solid-state capacity — enterprise-grade NAND.
• Interface: 12Gb/s Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) for high-throughput, multi-lane server interconnects.
• Form factor: 3.5" large form factor (LFF) with a low-profile (LP) converter typically used in HPE ProLiant server bays.
• Workload class: Mixed Use (MU) — designed for a balanced mix of reads and writes with enterprise endurance characteristics.
• Hot-pluggable: Yes — intended for 24x7 data-center hot-swap environments.
• NAND type & endurance: Enterprise MLC/TLC tuned for data-center reliability (vendor listings indicate MLC in many retail spec pages).

Technical deep dive — interface, form factor and performance

12Gb/s SAS interface: why it matters

SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) at 12Gb/s remains the interface of choice for enterprise storage when reliability, dual-port access, and predictable latency are priorities. Compared with SATA, SAS provides better error handling, multipath support and continuous-operation robustness—important for clustered servers, RAID arrays and mission-critical virtual machines. HPE’s 12Gb SAS MU SSDs are intended to slot into existing SAS infrastructures without requiring architecture changes, delivering higher IOPS and lower latency than spinning media.

Real-world throughput and I/O

• Sequential bandwidth: The drive leverages the 12Gb/s link for high sequential transfer rates suitable for large-block reads/writes (backup, streaming, large dataset processing).
• Random IOPS: Enterprise MU designs aim to balance read and write IOPS — public reseller listings report high 4KB random read/write performance figures suitable for mixed workloads.
• Latency: SAS SSDs provide substantially lower and more consistent latency vs. HDDs, improving application responsiveness for database and transactional workloads.

Form factor — LFF with low-profile converter (3.5" compatibility)

The 3.5" LFF (large form factor) LP (low-profile) variant allows data centers to install enterprise SSDs into bays designed for 3.5" drives or into drive carriers that adapt a 2.5" SSD to a 3.5" slot. This flexibility makes the 797544-001 particularly useful for server platforms that have mixed bay sizes or when replacing legacy spinning disks with higher-performance flash without changing front-bay hardware. Retail and distribution pages frequently describe the drive as a 3.5" hot-plug internal SSD optimized for ProLiant servers. 

Compatibility and platform support

HPE server compatibility — ProLiant and Gen platforms

The 797544-001 is commonly listed as compatible with a range of HPE ProLiant servers (Gen8, Gen9, Gen10 and later depending on firmware and bay architecture) and was sold as a hot-plug internal spare/upgrade. When planning upgrades, always verify server firmware compatibility and RAID controller support for 12Gb SAS MU SSDs — vendor pages and HPE QuickSpecs can be consulted to confirm supported drive families and firmware interoperability. 

Firmware, RAID controllers and multipath

• Firmware: track the drive firmware version — enterprise drives receive firmware updates to improve performance and reliability. HPE uses digitally signed firmware images and integrates specific models into their system ROM update process.
• RAID controllers: verify that your HBA/RAID controller supports enterprise SAS SSD features (TRIM/UNMAP handling, error reporting, proper pass-through for SMART and SCSI logs).
• Multipath and dual-porting: SAS supports dual-port operation for high-availability configurations — check server backplane and controller topology for multipath setup instructions.

Cross-vendor substitution and after-market notes

Because HPE often sources flash assemblies from OEM manufacturers and may rebrand drives, users sometimes find functional cross-references (e.g., vendor model numbers or OEM equivalences) in reseller listings. However, not every substitute is guaranteed to have identical firmware or heat/power profiles. Always confirm exact part numbers (797544-001) and test in non-production environments before mass deployment. Reseller catalogs and marketplaces list this part frequently, and prices/availability vary widely across channels.

Performance benchmarks and expected metrics

Random I/O and small block performance

Enterprise MU SSDs are optimized for small-block random I/O (4KB–8KB), which most databases and virtual machine workloads generate. Public reseller pages report high 4KB random read and write IOPS for similar HPE 12G MU SSD models — these metrics translate to faster transaction throughput and reduced queue depths under load. Example listings indicate 4KB random read IOPS and 4KB write IOPS in enterprise ranges appropriate for mixed workloads. 

Sequential throughput

• Large-block sequential reads/writes benefit from the 12Gb/s link and SSD internal parallelism — ideal for data migration, backup, and large file processing.
• Throughput in sustained sequential transfers can approach the practical limits of the SAS interface and controller architecture; controller queue depth and host CPU also influence observed performance.

Use cases — where the 797544-001 shines

Virtualization and VDI

Mixed-use SSDs are a natural fit for virtualization hosts and VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) where many virtual machines issue concurrent random I/O. The low latency and consistent IOPS of the drive help reduce login storms and improve VM density per host.

Databases and OLTP workloads

Transactional databases (OLTP) benefit from predictable random write/read performance and low tail latency. An enterprise MU drive delivers the durability and write performance needed for these environments without the cost of the highest-end endurance drives.

Analytics, caching and tiered storage

As a tier in a hybrid storage architecture, MU SSDs can act as a hot tier for frequently accessed datasets or as a cache in front of higher-capacity HDD tiers. Their balanced performance makes them a cost-efficient option for accelerating analytics workloads and file servers.

Procurement, availability and lifecycle considerations

Where to buy and part sourcing

The 797544-001 is available through HPE authorized channels, enterprise resellers, and aftermarket marketplaces. Pricing and availability fluctuate: reseller pages show a range from discounted refurbished units to full-list new part pricing. When procuring, prefer authorized distributors for warranty coverage and anti-counterfeit assurance. 

Lifecycle management and retirement planning

Plan lifecycle replacement based on observed SMART metrics and application-critical windows rather than arbitrary calendar replacements. Track DWPD/TBW consumption where available and keep spare compatible drives staged to shorten mean-time-to-replace. Also include a secure disposal plan for retired flash media that complies with organizational data erasure policies.