6YDCX Dell 61.44TB NVMe U.2 SFF PCIe QLC Gen4 4.0 x4 SSD

Dell 61.44TB NVMe U.2 SFF PCIe QLC SSD

General Details

• Brand: Dell
• Model Number: 6YDCX
• Category: Solid State Drive (SSD)

Technical Specifications

Storage & Interface

• Capacity: 61.44 Terabytes
• Connection Type: PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe protocol
• Form Factor: 2.5-inch, 15mm height

Memory Technology

• Architecture: 192-layer QLC 3D NAND
• Flash Type: Quad-Level Cell (QLC)

Durability & Reliability

• Shock Resistance: 1000 G
• Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF): 2,000,000 hours

Performance Metrics

Sequential Speed

• Read Throughput: Up to 7000 MB/s
• Write Throughput: Up to 3000 MB/s

Random Operations

• Random Read (4K, QD256): 1,005,000 IOPS
• Random Write (16K, QD256): 42,600 IOPS

System Compatibility

Supported Dell PowerEdge Servers

• PowerEdge R660
• PowerEdge R6615
• PowerEdge R6625
• PowerEdge R760
• PowerEdge R7615
• PowerEdge R7625

6YDCX NVMe U.2 SFF PCIe Gen4 Solid State Drive Overview

The Dell 6YDCX 61.44TB NVMe U.2 SFF PCIe Gen4 solid state drive belongs to a specialized category of ultra-high-capacity enterprise storage devices designed to address the evolving demands of modern data centers, cloud infrastructures, and performance-sensitive enterprise environments. This category focuses on combining massive storage density with the low latency and high throughput characteristics of Non-Volatile Memory Express technology, enabling organizations to consolidate data, reduce physical drive counts, and optimize rack-level efficiency while maintaining predictable performance.

Drives within this category are engineered to support workloads that demand consistent access speeds across large datasets, such as analytics platforms, content repositories, software-defined storage systems, and virtualized environments. The emphasis is placed on capacity scalability, interface efficiency, and enterprise-grade reliability rather than consumer-oriented use cases. The Dell 6YDCX model exemplifies this category by delivering one of the highest capacities available in a standard 2.5-inch small form factor, while leveraging PCIe Gen4 bandwidth to ensure that capacity expansion does not compromise performance expectations.

NVMe Architecture and PCIe Gen4 Interface Integration

The NVMe architecture underpinning this storage category represents a fundamental shift away from legacy SATA and SAS protocols. NVMe is specifically designed for solid state media, allowing direct communication between the storage device and the CPU through the PCI Express bus. In the context of the Dell 6YDCX 61.44TB drive, the use of a PCIe Gen4 x4 interface enables significantly higher data transfer potential compared to earlier generations, supporting faster queue handling and reduced command overhead.

PCIe Gen4 integration within this category is particularly important for environments that process large volumes of data concurrently. The increased bandwidth available through Gen4 ensures that high-capacity drives can maintain consistent throughput even when accessed by multiple applications or virtual machines. This architectural advantage allows enterprises to deploy fewer drives without introducing bottlenecks, simplifying storage topologies while improving overall system efficiency.

Low-Latency Data Access at Scale

One of the defining characteristics of this category is its ability to deliver low-latency data access regardless of storage capacity. Traditional storage architectures often experience latency increases as capacity grows, but NVMe-based U.2 drives mitigate this issue through parallel command processing and optimized queue depths. The Dell 6YDCX SSD is designed to maintain predictable response times, making it suitable for latency-sensitive workloads such as real-time analytics, large-scale search indexing, and database read operations.

U.2 Small Form Factor Design and Compatibility

The U.2 small form factor is a critical component of this category, offering a balance between density, serviceability, and thermal efficiency. The 2.5-inch SFF design allows the Dell 6YDCX 61.44TB drive to be deployed in standard enterprise server bays, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of Dell PowerEdge systems and other U.2-capable platforms. This form factor supports hot-swap functionality, enabling maintenance and upgrades without system downtime.

From a deployment perspective, U.2 drives provide flexibility for organizations transitioning from SAS or SATA infrastructures to NVMe-based storage. The physical compatibility of U.2 bays allows gradual adoption while preserving existing server investments. This category is particularly attractive for enterprises seeking to modernize storage performance without redesigning entire hardware environments.

QLC NAND Technology and Capacity Optimization

Quad-Level Cell NAND technology plays a central role in enabling the extreme capacity offered by the Dell 6YDCX 61.44TB drive. QLC NAND stores four bits of data per cell, significantly increasing storage density compared to TLC or MLC technologies. Within this category, QLC is carefully implemented alongside sophisticated controller algorithms to balance endurance, performance, and cost efficiency.

The use of QLC NAND makes this category particularly suitable for read-intensive and mixed-use workloads where data is accessed frequently but written less often. Examples include content delivery networks, archival systems with active retrieval, and data lakes supporting analytical queries. By maximizing capacity per drive, organizations can reduce the total number of physical devices required, lowering operational complexity and improving rack utilization.

Enterprise Reliability and Data Integrity Features

Reliability is a defining attribute of enterprise NVMe storage categories, and the Dell 6YDCX drive is engineered to meet stringent data integrity and uptime requirements. Advanced error correction, power loss protection mechanisms, and firmware validation processes are integral to this category, ensuring that data remains protected even during unexpected power interruptions or system faults.

These reliability features are essential for environments where data availability directly impacts business operations. Financial services, healthcare systems, and large-scale SaaS platforms rely on storage solutions that can operate continuously with minimal risk of data corruption or downtime. Drives in this category are validated for compatibility with enterprise server platforms, providing confidence in long-term deployment scenarios.

Scalability and Data Center Efficiency

The scalability benefits of this category extend beyond raw capacity. By deploying 61.44TB NVMe drives, organizations can significantly reduce the number of storage devices required to achieve target capacities. This reduction leads to improved data center efficiency through lower power consumption, simplified cabling, and reduced cooling requirements. The Dell 6YDCX drive supports these efficiency goals by combining high-density storage with power-aware design.

Scalability also encompasses the ability to expand storage incrementally. Enterprises can add additional high-capacity NVMe drives as data volumes grow, maintaining consistent performance characteristics without rearchitecting storage systems. This approach aligns with modern infrastructure strategies focused on modular growth and operational agility.

Impact on Rack Density and Infrastructure Planning

High-capacity U.2 NVMe drives enable higher rack density by consolidating storage into fewer physical units. This advantage simplifies infrastructure planning and allows data centers to allocate space more efficiently. The Dell 6YDCX 61.44TB SSD exemplifies this category’s contribution to maximizing usable storage per rack unit, supporting both on-premises and colocation environments.