400-AHWT Dell 300GB 15000 RPM SAS 6GBPS HDD With Tray

Dell 400-AHWT 300GB 15K RPM SAS 6Gbps HDD Overview

The Dell 400-AHWT is a high-performance enterprise-class hard disk drive engineered for demanding server environments. Designed with a 15,000 RPM spindle speed and SAS 6Gbps interface, this 2.5-inch hot-plug HDD delivers exceptional speed, reliability, and low-latency data access for mission-critical workloads. Supplied with a hot-plug tray, it ensures seamless installation and maintenance in Dell PowerEdge servers and compatible enterprise systems.

Product Details

• Manufacturer: Dell
• Part Number: 400-AHWT
• Product Type: Enterprise Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
• Form Factor: 2.5 Inch Small Form Factor
• Drive Kit: Hot-plug with tray included

Performance Specifications

• Spindle Speed: 15,000 RPM
• Data Transfer Rate: Up to 600 MB/s
• Interface Speed: SAS 6Gbps (Serial Attached SCSI)

Key SAS Benefits

• High-speed point-to-point data transfer
• Improved signal integrity compared to SATA
• Better fault tolerance in RAID environments
• Enhanced scalability for enterprise storage arrays

Hot-Plug Capability

• Supports live drive replacement
• Minimizes server downtime
• Enables easy maintenance and upgrades
• Ideal for mission-critical environments

Reliability Features

• Enterprise-grade mechanical design
• Enhanced vibration tolerance
• Stable performance under sustained workloads
• Optimized thermal management

Server Compatibility

Supported PowerEdge Models

• PowerEdge 2970, C2100, C5220, C6100, C6145
• PowerEdge C6220, C8220, C8220X, FD332
• PowerEdge M520, M600, M605, M610, M610x, M620
• PowerEdge M710, M710HD, M820, M910, M915
• PowerEdge R320, R420, R520, R610, R620, R710
• PowerEdge R715, R720, R810, R815, R820
• PowerEdge R905, R910, T320, T420, T610, T710
• PowerEdge VRTX and more

Storage and Workstation Compatibility

• PowerVault MD1120
• Dell Precision Workstations: T3600, T3610, T5600, T5610, T7600, T7610

Recommended Usage Scenarios

• Database servers and SQL environments
• Virtualization and cloud infrastructure
• High-performance computing clusters
• Enterprise file storage systems
• Data center RAID arrays

Dell 400-AHWT 300GB 15000 RPM SAS 6Gbps Hard Disk Drive

Enterprise-Grade High-Performance Storage for Mission-Critical Server Environments

The Dell 400-AHWT 300GB 15000 RPM SAS 6Gbps Hot-Plug Hard Disk Drive With Tray is a high-speed enterprise storage solution designed specifically for demanding server workloads, data-intensive applications, and mission-critical computing environments. Engineered for Dell PowerEdge server platforms and compatible enterprise infrastructures, this 2.5-inch small form factor hard drive delivers exceptional rotational speed, reliable SAS connectivity, and robust hot-plug functionality to support continuous operation in modern data centers.

Built to address the increasing demand for high IOPS performance and low-latency data access, this enterprise hard drive is widely deployed in virtualization clusters, database servers, and transaction-heavy systems. The combination of 15,000 RPM spindle speed and Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) 6Gbps interface ensures fast data retrieval, stable throughput, and consistent responsiveness even under sustained workloads.

Advanced SAS 6Gbps Interface Architecture

High-Speed Serial Attached SCSI Connectivity

The SAS 6Gbps interface integrated into the Dell 400-AHWT hard drive provides a significant performance advantage over traditional SATA-based storage systems. SAS architecture is designed for enterprise environments where reliability, scalability, and performance consistency are essential. With a 6 gigabits per second transfer rate per lane, this drive ensures rapid communication between storage devices and server controllers, minimizing bottlenecks in high-demand systems.

Unlike consumer-grade storage technologies, SAS supports dual-port connectivity, allowing redundancy and multipath I/O configurations. This ensures that in the event of a controller failure, data access can continue uninterrupted through alternate pathways, making it ideal for high-availability infrastructures.

Improved Signal Integrity and Data Flow Stability

SAS technology enhances signal integrity through advanced error correction and robust communication protocols. The Dell 400-AHWT leverages these capabilities to maintain stable data transmission even in electrically noisy environments commonly found in dense server racks. This reliability is crucial for maintaining database integrity and ensuring uninterrupted application performance.

High-Speed 15000 RPM Rotational Performance

Ultra-Fast Spindle Speed for Low Latency Access

One of the defining characteristics of the Dell 400-AHWT drive is its 15,000 RPM spindle speed. This high rotational velocity significantly reduces seek time, allowing the drive heads to locate and access data more quickly compared to standard 7,200 RPM or 10,000 RPM drives. The result is dramatically improved input/output operations per second (IOPS), making it highly suitable for transactional workloads.

Applications such as online transaction processing, real-time analytics, and virtualization platforms benefit greatly from this level of performance, where rapid access to stored data is essential for system responsiveness and user experience.

Optimized Mechanical Precision and Stability

The internal mechanics of the 15K RPM drive are engineered for precision balance and vibration reduction. This ensures that despite the high rotational speed, the drive maintains operational stability and minimizes mechanical wear. Enhanced spindle motor design and refined head positioning technology contribute to long-term reliability in continuous enterprise use.

Enterprise Hot-Plug Capability and Operational Flexibility

Seamless Drive Replacement Without System Shutdown

The hot-plug functionality of the Dell 400-AHWT allows IT administrators to replace or upgrade hard drives without powering down the server. This feature is critical in environments where uptime is a priority, such as cloud hosting platforms, financial systems, and enterprise databases. By enabling live replacement, operational disruptions are minimized and maintenance efficiency is significantly improved.

Enhanced Server Availability and Maintenance Efficiency

Hot-plug support ensures that system administrators can perform storage upgrades, replacements, or expansions without impacting ongoing workloads. This capability is essential for maintaining service-level agreements in enterprise environments where downtime can lead to operational and financial losses.

Integrated Tray Design for Secure Installation

The inclusion of a Dell-compatible tray ensures secure physical installation within server drive bays. This design promotes proper alignment, thermal management, and vibration reduction. It also simplifies deployment, allowing drives to be quickly inserted into supported Dell PowerEdge systems with minimal configuration effort.

Storage Performance in Enterprise Computing Environments

High Input/Output Operations Per Second Capability

The Dell 400-AHWT is optimized for environments requiring high IOPS performance. The combination of fast rotational speed and SAS interface ensures that multiple read and write requests can be processed efficiently. This makes it suitable for workloads that involve frequent random data access rather than sequential file transfers.

Low Latency Data Retrieval for Critical Applications

Latency is a key performance factor in enterprise storage systems. This drive minimizes access delays, enabling faster execution of database queries, quicker application response times, and improved overall system performance. It is particularly beneficial in environments running ERP systems, CRM platforms, and virtualization clusters.

Consistent Throughput Under Heavy Load

Unlike consumer-grade drives that degrade under sustained workloads, enterprise-class SAS drives are engineered to maintain consistent throughput even during peak demand. The Dell 400-AHWT ensures stable performance in multi-user environments where simultaneous read and write operations are common.

Enterprise Reliability and Data Protection Features

Designed for Continuous 24x7 Operation

Enterprise data centers require storage devices that can operate continuously without failure. The Dell 400-AHWT is engineered for 24x7 operation, ensuring durability under constant read/write cycles. Its components are selected for long-term endurance and thermal resilience.

Advanced Error Correction Mechanisms

To ensure data integrity, the drive incorporates advanced error detection and correction technologies. These mechanisms help prevent data corruption and ensure that stored information remains accurate and accessible even under heavy workloads or minor hardware fluctuations.

Predictable Performance in Virtualized Environments

Virtualization platforms rely heavily on consistent storage performance to support multiple virtual machines simultaneously. This drive provides predictable latency and throughput characteristics, making it ideal for VMware, Hyper-V, and other virtualization ecosystems.

Compatibility with Dell PowerEdge Server Infrastructure

Seamless Integration with Enterprise Server Architectures

The Dell 400-AHWT is specifically designed for integration with Dell PowerEdge servers and other compatible enterprise systems. This ensures optimal compatibility with RAID controllers, backplanes, and server firmware, reducing configuration complexity during deployment.

Optimized for RAID Configurations

This hard drive performs efficiently in RAID arrays, supporting configurations such as RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, and other enterprise-level redundancy setups. Its consistent performance and error-handling capabilities make it suitable for both performance-oriented and fault-tolerant storage architectures.

Firmware-Level Synchronization and Stability

Dell ensures firmware optimization across its storage ecosystem, allowing the 400-AHWT drive to operate seamlessly within managed server environments. This improves system stability and enhances compatibility with Dell OpenManage and other monitoring tools.

Thermal Management and Power Efficiency Considerations

Optimized Heat Dissipation in Server Enclosures

High-speed rotational drives generate significant heat, especially in dense server environments. The Dell 400-AHWT is engineered with thermal efficiency in mind, allowing effective heat dissipation through server airflow systems. This ensures stable operation even in high-temperature conditions.

Balanced Power Consumption for Enterprise Efficiency

Despite its high performance, the drive is designed to maintain balanced power usage. This helps data centers optimize energy consumption while maintaining high storage performance levels. Efficient power usage also contributes to reduced operational costs over time.

Vibration Resistance in Multi-Drive Environments

In environments where multiple drives operate in close proximity, vibration can affect performance and reliability. The Dell 400-AHWT incorporates vibration-resistant design elements that help maintain consistent operation in dense storage arrays.

Use Cases in Enterprise IT Infrastructure

Database-Driven Applications and Transaction Systems

Database systems require fast and reliable storage to handle large volumes of queries and transactions. The Dell 400-AHWT is well-suited for such environments due to its low latency and high IOPS capabilities.

Virtualization and Cloud Hosting Platforms

Cloud service providers and virtualization environments depend on predictable storage performance to ensure smooth operation of virtual machines. This drive supports high-density virtual workloads without performance degradation.

High-Performance Enterprise Applications

Applications such as ERP systems, financial analytics platforms, and enterprise resource management systems benefit from the drive’s ability to handle continuous data processing efficiently.

Engineered for Extended Operational Lifespan

The Dell 400-AHWT is built with enterprise-grade components designed for extended service life under heavy workloads. This ensures long-term stability and reduces the need for frequent hardware replacement cycles.

Consistent Performance Across Operational Years

Over time, storage devices can experience performance degradation, but this enterprise hard drive is designed to maintain consistent performance levels throughout its lifecycle, ensuring predictable system behavior.

Enterprise Storage Architecture Relevance

Role in Tiered Storage Systems

The Dell 400-AHWT is often deployed as part of tiered storage architectures where performance-driven workloads are assigned to high-speed SAS drives, while archival data is stored on higher-capacity, lower-speed storage systems.

Integration in Hybrid Storage Environments

In hybrid environments combining SSDs and HDDs, this drive serves as a high-performance mechanical storage layer, balancing cost efficiency with performance requirements.