7FD1J Dell 15.3TB NVMe U.3 15mm 2.5inch PCIe Gen4 4.0 SSD

Dell 15.3TB NVMe U.3 2.5-inch PCIe SSD

Discover enterprise-grade flash storage with the Dell 7FD1J—an internal NVMe SSD engineered for high throughput, low latency, and dependable uptime. Built on PCIe Gen4 technology and Micron 176-layer 3D TLC NAND, this drive delivers exceptional performance for data-intensive workloads, virtualization, and modern cloud-native applications.

General information

• Manufacturer: Dell
• Part number: 7FD1J
• Device type: Internal solid state drive (SSD)

Technical specifications

Capacity and form factor

• Storage capacity: 15.3TB
• Form factor: U.3, 15mm, 2.5-inch

Interface and protocol

• Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4
• Protocol: NVMe v1.4

NAND and reliability

• NAND type: Micron 176-layer 3D TLC NAND
• MTBF: 2,000,000 device hours
• Endurance: 28,000TB written

Performance metrics

Sequential throughput

• Sequential read: 6,800 MB/s
• Sequential write: 5,600 MB/s

Random operations

• Random read IOPS: 1,000,000
• Random write IOPS: 250,000
• 70/30 mixed IOPS: 520,000

Compatibility

PowerEdge C-series

• Models: C6420, C6525, C6620

PowerEdge R4xx and R6xx

• R4xx: R440
• R64xx: R640, R6415
• R65xx: R650, R650xs, R6515, R6525
• R66xx: R660, R660xs, R6615, R6625
• R67xx: R670, R6715, R6725

PowerEdge R7xx mainstream

• R74xx: R740xd, R7415, R7425
• R75xx: R750, R750xa, R7515, R7525
• R76xx: R760, R760xa, R760xd2, R7615, R7625
• R77xx: R770, R7715, R7725

PowerEdge high-end and tower

• High-end: R840, R940, R940xa, R960
• Tower: T550, T560

PowerEdge XE and XR series

• XE accelerators: Xe8640, Xe9640, Xe9680, Xe9680L, Xe9685L
• XR rugged: Xr7620

7FD1J 15.3TB NVMe U.3 2.5-inch PCIe Gen4 SSD Overview

Enterprise NVMe U.3 solid state drives represent a critical category within modern data center storage architectures, addressing the growing demand for ultra-low latency, high throughput, and consistent performance under mixed and sustained workloads. The Dell 7FD1J 15.3TB NVMe U.3 15mm 2.5inch PCIe Gen4 4.0 Solid State Drive belongs to this advanced category of enterprise-class storage devices engineered for mission-critical environments where reliability, scalability, and speed are essential. This category encompasses high-capacity NVMe drives optimized for servers, cloud infrastructure, virtualization platforms, high-performance computing, and large-scale database deployments.

Within this category, NVMe U.3 drives are designed to overcome the limitations of legacy SATA and SAS interfaces by leveraging the PCIe bus directly, enabling significantly higher bandwidth and lower command latency. The U.3 interface further enhances flexibility by supporting tri-mode compatibility, allowing seamless integration with NVMe, SAS, or SATA backplanes, depending on system design. This adaptability makes the category particularly valuable for enterprise IT teams seeking to modernize storage without completely replacing existing infrastructure.

High-Capacity NVMe Storage for Data-Intensive Workloads

The 15.3TB capacity tier within the enterprise NVMe SSD category is tailored for data-intensive workloads that require large datasets to be accessed rapidly and reliably. Storage solutions in this capacity range are commonly deployed in environments such as large-scale virtualization clusters, software-defined storage platforms, analytics engines, and content delivery systems. By consolidating massive storage capacity into a single 2.5-inch form factor, this category reduces physical drive count, simplifies storage management, and improves overall system efficiency.

High-capacity NVMe SSDs enable organizations to store and process vast amounts of structured and unstructured data without sacrificing performance. This is particularly important for applications like real-time analytics, machine learning pipelines, and transactional databases, where storage latency can directly impact business outcomes. Drives in this category are engineered with advanced NAND flash technology, sophisticated controllers, and optimized firmware to ensure consistent performance even as capacity utilization increases.

Advantages of 15mm 2.5inch Form Factor in Enterprise Servers

The 15mm 2.5inch form factor is a widely adopted standard in enterprise server and storage systems, offering a balance between high capacity, thermal efficiency, and compatibility. This category of drives is designed to fit seamlessly into hot-swap bays found in rack-mounted and blade servers, enabling easy installation, replacement, and scaling. The slightly thicker 15mm profile allows for higher NAND density and improved thermal dissipation compared to thinner consumer-grade drives.

In dense server environments, thermal management is a critical consideration. Enterprise NVMe SSDs in the 15mm form factor are engineered to operate reliably under continuous workloads and elevated temperatures. Enhanced airflow design, robust casing, and firmware-level thermal monitoring contribute to sustained performance and longevity. This makes the category suitable for 24/7 operation in data centers where downtime and performance degradation are unacceptable.

PCIe Gen4 4.0 Key Characteristics

PCIe Gen4 4.0 technology defines a key performance differentiator within the enterprise SSD category. By doubling the bandwidth of PCIe Gen3, Gen4 NVMe drives deliver significantly higher sequential and random performance, enabling faster data access and improved application responsiveness. This performance leap is particularly beneficial for workloads that involve large data transfers, high IOPS demands, or parallel processing.

Drives in this category are capable of saturating multiple PCIe lanes, ensuring that modern multi-core processors and high-speed memory subsystems are fully utilized. This results in reduced I/O bottlenecks and more efficient use of server resources. PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSDs are increasingly becoming the standard choice for next-generation enterprise platforms, supporting emerging technologies such as AI acceleration, real-time analytics, and high-frequency trading systems.

U.3 Interface and Tri-Mode Compatibility

The U.3 interface represents a significant evolution in enterprise storage connectivity, and it is a defining feature of this category. U.3 drives are designed to support tri-mode operation, meaning they can interface with NVMe, SAS, or SATA backplanes using a single connector. This versatility simplifies server and storage design, allowing organizations to deploy different types of drives within the same infrastructure without extensive reconfiguration.

Tri-mode compatibility enhances investment protection by enabling gradual migration from legacy storage technologies to high-performance NVMe solutions. Enterprises can deploy U.3 NVMe SSDs alongside existing SAS or SATA drives, balancing performance and cost while planning future upgrades. This flexibility makes the category particularly attractive for large data centers and cloud service providers managing diverse workloads and hardware generations.

Hot-Swap and Serviceability Benefits

Enterprise NVMe U.3 SSDs are designed with serviceability in mind, supporting hot-swap functionality that allows drives to be replaced without powering down systems. This capability is essential for maintaining high availability and minimizing downtime in mission-critical environments. The category emphasizes robust connectors, secure mounting mechanisms, and firmware support for safe removal and insertion during operation.

Hot-swap support also simplifies maintenance workflows and reduces operational risk. IT teams can quickly address drive failures or capacity upgrades without disrupting running applications. Combined with enterprise monitoring and alerting tools, this feature contributes to proactive storage management and improved overall system resilience.

Reliability, Endurance, and Data Integrity

Reliability and endurance are foundational attributes of the enterprise NVMe SSD category. Drives in this class are engineered to handle sustained write-intensive workloads over extended periods, often measured in drive writes per day and total bytes written. Advanced NAND flash technologies, coupled with intelligent firmware algorithms, ensure even wear distribution and long operational lifespan.

Data integrity is another critical focus area. Enterprise SSDs incorporate multiple layers of error detection and correction, power-loss protection, and end-to-end data path verification. These features safeguard data against corruption caused by unexpected power interruptions, hardware faults, or transmission errors. For organizations handling sensitive or regulated data, these protections are essential for compliance and risk mitigation.

Integration with Dell Enterprise Server Ecosystems

Within the broader category of enterprise NVMe SSDs, solutions designed for Dell server platforms offer optimized integration and compatibility. These drives are validated to work seamlessly with Dell PowerEdge servers, storage controllers, and management software. This integration ensures reliable operation, simplified deployment, and streamlined lifecycle management within Dell-centric environments.

Compatibility testing and firmware alignment reduce the risk of interoperability issues and enhance overall system stability. For organizations standardizing on Dell infrastructure, this category provides a cohesive storage solution that aligns with existing procurement, support, and management processes.