400-BLCK Dell 480GB M.2 SATA 6GBPS TLC Read-intensive Solid State Drive.

400-BLCK Dell 480GB M.2 SATA 6GBPS TLC Read-Intensive SSD Overview

The 400-BLCK Dell 480GB M.2 SATA 6GBPS TLC Read-Intensive Solid State Drive is an enterprise-grade storage solution optimized for Dell PowerEdge 14G and 15G servers. Built with TLC NAND flash technology and utilizing the M.2 SATA 6Gbps interface, this SSD provides reliable, high-speed performance tailored for read-intensive workloads. With 480GB of capacity, it offers an ideal balance between storage efficiency and performance reliability.

Enterprise-Class Storage for Dell PowerEdge Servers

Engineered specifically for Dell PowerEdge servers, the 400-BLCK SSD supports seamless integration with 14th and 15th generation systems. Its firmware is tailored for Dell environments, ensuring compatibility, optimized thermal profiles, and enhanced lifecycle management. This drive is perfect for mission-critical enterprise applications that demand low latency and high data integrity.

Compatibility With Dell Server Generations

• 14th Generation PowerEdge Servers (e.g., R640, R740, R940)
• 15th Generation PowerEdge Servers (e.g., R650, R750, T550)

With validated Dell firmware, the drive seamlessly integrates with iDRAC and OpenManage tools for monitoring and predictive failure analysis.

M.2 SATA 6Gbps Interface Benefits

The 400-BLCK SSD leverages the M.2 form factor with a 6Gbps SATA interface, making it suitable for systems requiring compact, energy-efficient storage. While SATA is traditionally slower than NVMe, it offers greater compatibility and remains a viable choice for read-heavy applications where cost-efficiency and reliability are prioritized.

Space-Efficient Storage Form Factor

The M.2 form factor allows for more streamlined server builds, reducing physical storage footprint while maintaining thermal efficiency. The 2280 size variant is commonly supported across Dell PowerEdge boards, enabling direct motherboard mounting without the need for additional cabling.

Key Advantages

• Minimal power consumption ideal for energy-conscious data centers
• Compact and cable-free for high-density server configurations
• Thermal-efficient design ensures optimal operating temperature

TLC NAND Flash for Read-Intensive Workloads

The 400-BLCK Dell SSD features Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND flash, balancing cost, capacity, and performance. TLC provides greater data density compared to SLC or MLC, making it suitable for read-intensive environments like web servers, analytics platforms, and VDI deployments.

Read-Intensive Workload Optimization

Applications that predominantly involve data reading rather than writing benefit from the endurance and performance characteristics of TLC NAND. Examples include:

• Content delivery networks
• Database query servers
• Boot drives in hyper-converged infrastructure

Endurance and Performance Metrics

• High IOPS for sustained read operations
• Consistent throughput under sequential load
• Rated for a specific DWPD (Drive Writes Per Day) suitable for read-centric usage

Ideal Use Cases for Dell 400-BLCK SSD

This SSD is designed for data center and edge environments requiring dependable, read-focused data access. Its reliability and compatibility make it perfect for scenarios including:

Boot and OS Drive

With 480GB of space and fast read times, the drive is ideal as a boot drive, hosting the operating system and essential virtualization tools.

Web and Application Hosting

The read-optimized nature of the drive makes it perfect for web servers and front-end application servers handling heavy request loads.

Edge and Remote Installations

Low power consumption and reliable performance are vital for edge deployments, such as remote branch office servers and IoT infrastructure gateways.

Reliability and Data Integrity

Dell’s enterprise drives are rigorously tested for compatibility and endurance. The 400-BLCK includes advanced error correction and data path protection, ensuring data integrity throughout the storage lifecycle.

Key Reliability Features

• End-to-end data protection
• Thermal throttling to prevent overheating
• SMART support for monitoring drive health
• Power loss protection circuitry (in specific revisions)

Performance Characteristics

While SATA has lower bandwidth compared to NVMe, the 400-BLCK makes optimal use of the interface. With tailored firmware, Dell ensures that read speeds remain high and latency low for workloads that do not require extensive write operations.

Typical Performance Benchmarks

• Sequential Read Speed: Up to 550MB/s
• Sequential Write Speed: Up to 520MB/s
• Random Read IOPS: Up to 95,000
• Random Write IOPS: Up to 30,000

Comparative Advantage

Compared to hard disk drives (HDDs), this SSD offers superior speed, lower latency, and better power efficiency. For applications prioritizing read access, it provides better total cost of ownership.

Security and Firmware Management

The 400-BLCK includes firmware-level security controls. Integration with Dell’s ecosystem allows secure firmware updates, rollback prevention, and signature verification. These features are crucial in safeguarding enterprise environments from vulnerabilities and exploits.

Compatibility With Dell OpenManage

Users can manage firmware versions and monitor drive health through OpenManage and iDRAC. This simplifies enterprise storage administration and ensures up-to-date firmware deployments across server fleets.

Cost-Efficiency and ROI

Choosing the Dell 400-BLCK SSD helps reduce operating costs through improved power efficiency and thermal performance. It delivers fast read speeds without the price premium of NVMe drives, making it a cost-effective option for many IT departments.

Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

• Energy savings through reduced power draw
• Long lifecycle and consistent performance
• Reduced cooling requirements in dense deployments

ROI Justification

For read-heavy workloads, this SSD provides performance parity with many entry-level NVMe drives while costing significantly less and offering broader system compatibility.

Deployment and Integration Considerations

Before deploying the 400-BLCK in your Dell PowerEdge infrastructure, it's important to validate compatibility with your server's BIOS and backplane setup. Dell-certified SSDs like this one include official support and documentation for integration in enterprise environments.

Firmware and BIOS Compatibility

• Ensure the latest BIOS version is installed
• Verify M.2 SATA slots are enabled in BIOS settings
• Update firmware using Dell Lifecycle Controller

Benefits of Dell-Certified Storage

• Guaranteed firmware compatibility
• Full support from Dell ProSupport services
• Better integration with Dell diagnostics and management tools

Strategic Storage Investment

The 400-BLCK 480GB M.2 SATA SSD from Dell delivers on reliability, performance, and integration — making it a strategic investment for businesses scaling Dell PowerEdge environments with read-focused storage needs.