345-BJPD Dell 1.92TB PCI-E 4.0 X4 Gen4 NVMe Read Intensive SFF SSD

Dell 345-BJPD 1.92TB PCIe NVMe U.2 SSD

Form Factor

The Dell 345-BJPD utilizes the U.2 SFF 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) 15mm profile, specifically engineered for enterprise server environments where space optimization is critical. This standardized form factor ensures seamless integration into Dell PowerEdge server drive bays without requiring additional mounting hardware or adapters. The 15mm thickness provides adequate internal volume for the high-density NAND flash memory and controller components while maintaining compatibility with enterprise server chassis designs.

Interface Technology

This solid state drive implements the PCI Express (PCIe) Gen 4.0 x4 interface, delivering double the bandwidth compared to previous generation PCIe 3.0 solutions. The NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) protocol is specifically optimized for flash-based storage, significantly reducing command overhead and latency compared to traditional SATA or SAS interfaces. The U.2 (SFF-8639) connector provides both the PCIe data path and power delivery through a single, hot-swappable connection, simplifying cable management and serviceability in rack-mounted server environments.

Capacity and NAND Technology

Storage Architecture

With a formatted capacity of 1.92TB, this drive employs advanced 3D TLC (Triple-Level Cell) NAND flash memory configured in a read-intensive workload optimization. The 1.92TB capacity point represents an optimal balance between storage density, performance characteristics, and endurance requirements for enterprise applications. The drive utilizes sophisticated wear-leveling algorithms and over-provisioning to maintain consistent performance throughout the drive's operational lifespan.

NAND Flash Composition

The 3D TLC NAND architecture stacks memory cells vertically, significantly increasing storage density while maintaining reliability. The read-intensive designation indicates that this drive is engineered for workloads where read operations substantially outnumber write operations, typical in database query, web serving, and virtual desktop infrastructure scenarios. The TLC technology provides an optimal cost-to-performance ratio for enterprise environments where maximum write endurance is not the primary requirement.

Performance Characteristics

Sequential and Random Performance Metrics

Leveraging the PCIe 4.0 interface, the Dell 345-BJPD delivers exceptional sequential read performance exceeding 6,000 MB/s and sequential write performance surpassing 2,000 MB/s under sustained workloads. These transfer rates enable rapid data access for large file operations, database backups, and streaming media applications. The performance advantage of PCIe 4.0 becomes particularly evident in multi-drive configurations where aggregate bandwidth can saturate network interfaces.

Random Input/Output Operations

For random access patterns, this drive achieves impressive IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) figures, with random read performance reaching up to 800,000 IOPS and random write performance up to 150,000 IOPS at queue depth 256. These random performance metrics are critical for transactional databases, virtualization hosts, and other applications requiring simultaneous access to multiple small data blocks across the storage namespace.

Access Latency Specifications

The NVMe protocol dramatically reduces command set overhead compared to legacy storage protocols, resulting in exceptionally low read and write latencies. Typical read latency measures under 100 microseconds, while write latency remains below 15 microseconds under normal operating conditions. These low latency figures ensure responsive application performance and reduce CPU wait states in compute-intensive enterprise workloads.

Data Integrity and Protection

Error Correction Capabilities

Advanced error correction mechanisms including LDPC (Low-Density Parity Check) code provide robust protection against both random and burst errors. The drive implements end-to-end data path protection with CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) safeguarding data integrity from host interface to NAND media. These protection mechanisms ensure data integrity even as NAND flash cells approach their endurance limits.

Power Loss Protection

Enterprise-class power loss protection circuits utilize onboard capacitors to provide sufficient hold-up energy for completing in-progress write operations and flushing volatile cache contents to non-volatile NAND memory during unexpected power interruptions. This feature prevents data corruption and maintains filesystem consistency across uncontrolled shutdown scenarios.

Dell PowerEdge Server Compatibility

Generation Support Matrix

The 345-BJPD is fully certified and optimized for Dell PowerEdge 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th generation servers. This multi-generational compatibility ensures investment protection and simplifies procurement for heterogeneous server environments. The drive is recognized and supported by Dell OpenManage systems management tools, enabling centralized monitoring and proactive health reporting.

Hot-Swap Capability

This U.2 form factor drive is designed for direct installation into Dell PowerEdge server front-accessible drive bays supporting the 2.5-inch 15mm form factor. The hot-swap capability enables drive replacement without server shutdown, critical for maintaining service availability in high-uptime environments. Drive status indicators provide visual feedback for proper installation and operational status.

NVMe Management Interface

Standard NVMe Management Interface support enables out-of-band management through the BMC (Baseboard Management Controller), providing health monitoring, firmware update capability, and configuration management independent of the host operating system. This management integration simplifies large-scale deployment and maintenance in enterprise data center environments.

Workload Optimization and Use Cases

Read-Intensive Application Scenarios

The performance profile of the 345-BJPD makes it ideally suited for database applications where read operations dominate, such as data warehousing, business intelligence reporting, and online analytical processing (OLAP). The high random read performance accelerates query processing while the substantial capacity provides ample storage for large datasets.

Virtualization and VDI Implementations

In virtualized environments, the drive excels at hosting operating system images for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) where multiple virtual machines simultaneously read from shared golden images. The high IOPS capability supports dense user consolidation ratios while maintaining responsive user experience. For server virtualization, the drive provides excellent performance for host operating system storage and virtual machine configuration files.

Power Consumption

Typical active power consumption during read operations measures approximately 8-10 watts, while write operations may consume 9-12 watts depending on workload characteristics. During idle periods, advanced power management states reduce consumption to as low as 4-5 watts. These efficiency metrics contribute to reduced total cost of ownership through lower energy consumption and reduced cooling requirements.