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P18420-X21 HPE 240GB SATA 6GBPS SC Read Intensive DS 2.5in SFF SSD

P18420-X21
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Brief Overview of P18420-X21

HPE P18420-X21 240GB SATA 6GBPS SC Read Intensive DS 2.5inch SFF SSD. New (System) Pull with 1-Year Replacement Warranty

$147.15
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SKU/MPNP18420-X21Availability✅ In StockProcessing TimeUsually ships same day ManufacturerHPE Manufacturer WarrantyNone Product/Item ConditionNew (System) Pull ServerOrbit Replacement Warranty1 Year Warranty
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Description

Product Specifications

General Information

  • Manufacturer: Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
  • Part Number: P18420-X21
  • Drive Type: Hot-Swap Solid State Drive (SSD)
  • SSD Type: SATA-6GBPS

Technical Information

  • Storage Capacity: 240 GB
  • Form Factor: 2.5 inch SFF
  • Memory Type: Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND Flash
  • Connectivity: Single Port
  • Plug Type: Hot Pluggable
  • Carrier: Smart Carrier (SC)
  • Workload Type: Read Intensive
  • Bundled with: HPE Smart Drive Carrier (SC)
  • Firmware: Digitally Signed (DS), Multi-Vendor SSD
  • Supported Platforms: HPE ProLiant Rack, Tower, BladeSystem Servers, Synergy

Performance Specifications

  • Lifetime Writes: 350 TB
  • Endurance: 1 DWPD (Drive Writes Per Day)
  • Transfer Rate: Up to 6 GB/s
  • Random Read IOPS (4KiB, Q=16): 57,000
  • Max Random Read IOPS (4KiB, Q=32): 65,000
  • Random Write IOPS (4KiB, Q=16): 14,000
  • Max Random Write IOPS (4KiB, Q=1): 10,500
  • Sequential Read Throughput: 505 MiB/s
  • Sequential Write Throughput: 255 MiB/s
  • Average Latency (Read, 4KiB, Q=1): 203 µSec
  • Average Latency (Write, 4KiB, Q=1): 121 µSec

Power Consumption

  • Idle Power: 1.23 W
  • Random Read Power: 2.48 W
  • Random Write Power: 2.48 W
  • Sequential Read Power: 2.21 W
  • Sequential Write Power: 2.44 W
  • Maximum Power: 2.48 W

Dimensions and Weight

  • Height: 0.63 inch
  • Width: 3.10 inches
  • Depth: 5.45 inches
  • Weight: 1.50 lbs

Compatibility

HPE ProLiant DL Series

  • DL160 Gen10 (2.5 inch)
  • DL180 Gen10 (2.5 inch)
  • DL20 Gen10 (2.5 inch)
  • DL325 Gen10 (2.5 inch)
  • DL360 Gen10 (2.5 inch)
  • DL380 Gen10 (2.5 inch)
  • DL385 Gen10 (2.5 inch)
  • DL388 Gen10 (2.5 inch)
  • DL580 Gen10 (2.5 inch)

HPE ProLiant ML Series

  • ML110 Gen10 (2.5 inch)
  • ML30 Gen10 (2.5 inch)

HPE Synergy Series

  • 480 Gen10 Compute Modules (2.5 inch)
  • 660 Gen10 Compute Modules (2.5 inch)

HPE P18420-X21 Overview and positioning

The HPE P18420-X21 240GB SATA 6GBPS SC Read Intensive DS 2.5inch SFF SSD represents a purpose-built, enterprise-class solid state drive engineered to deliver consistent read-heavy performance in HPE server and storage environments. Designed as a 2.5-inch small form factor (SFF) SATA drive with a 6Gb/s interface, this module is optimized for workloads where high read throughput, low latency, and predictable QoS are more important than peak write endurance. The model is commonly referred to in vendor documentation and listings as HPE P18420-X21, and is frequently chosen for caching layers, content delivery nodes, boot/system partitions, virtualization read caches, and read-centric database queries.

Interface: SATA 6Gbps

The HPE 240GB SATA 6Gbps SC Read Intensive DS 2.5inch SFF SSD Solid State Drive is equipped with the SATA 6Gbps interface, which plays a crucial role in the overall performance and efficiency of the drive. This interface is designed to provide faster data transfer speeds, improved reliability, and enhanced compatibility with a wide range of devices.

Benefits of SATA 6Gbps

1. Faster Data Transfer Speeds

The SATA 6Gbps interface offers significantly faster data transfer speeds compared to its predecessors. With a maximum theoretical bandwidth of 6 gigabits per second (Gbps), it allows for much quicker read and write operations. This means that you can transfer large files, such as high-definition videos or complex applications, in a fraction of the time compared to older interfaces. This enhanced speed translates into improved productivity and reduced waiting times.

2. Improved Reliability

Reliability is a crucial aspect when it comes to storage devices, as data integrity is of utmost importance. The SATA 6Gbps interface incorporates advanced error correction mechanisms and enhanced data integrity features. These technologies help in reducing data corruption and ensure that your important files are stored safely and accurately on the drive. By mitigating the risk of data loss or corruption, you can have peace of mind knowing that your data is well-protected.

3. Enhanced Compatibility

Compatibility is another significant advantage of the SATA 6Gbps interface. It is backward compatible with previous generations of SATA interfaces, including SATA 3Gbps and SATA 1.5Gbps. This means that you can seamlessly connect the HPE 240GB SATA 6Gbps SC Read Intensive DS SSD to various devices, including laptops, desktops, servers, and external storage enclosures, without any compatibility issues. The wide compatibility ensures that you can easily integrate the drive into your existing infrastructure without the need for additional hardware upgrades.

Importance of SATA 6Gbps

1. Enhanced System Performance

By leveraging the faster data transfer speeds of the SATA 6Gbps interface, the HPE 240GB SSD can significantly improve the overall performance of your system. Whether you are running resource-intensive applications or dealing with large datasets, the enhanced speed ensures that your system can handle demanding tasks effectively. This is particularly beneficial for professionals and businesses that rely on efficient data processing and quick access to critical information.

2. Accelerated Boot and Load Times

One of the notable benefits of the SATA 6Gbps interface is its ability to reduce boot and load times. When used as a primary storage device, the HPE 240GB SSD can dramatically decrease the time it takes for your system to start up and load applications. This means that you can get to work faster and experience smoother multitasking capabilities. Additionally, with faster load times, you can enjoy quicker access to your favorite games or multimedia files, enhancing your overall user experience.

3. Optimized Storage Solution

The SATA 6Gbps interface allows for seamless integration of the HPE 240GB SSD into existing storage infrastructures. Whether you are upgrading an individual system or implementing a larger-scale storage solution, this interface ensures compatibility and ease of integration. The high-speed data transfer capability enables efficient data backup, retrieval, and archiving processes. This makes it an ideal choice for businesses dealing with large volumes of data, such as media production companies or database-driven enterprises.

Capacity and form factor

At the heart of the product is a 240GB raw capacity in a 2.5-inch SFF chassis, which makes it suitable for dense server deployments and blade systems. The compact footprint enables higher drive densities within HPE rack and tower servers, allowing administrators to maximize usable storage while maintaining front-accessibility and hot-swap convenience where supported by the server chassis.

Interface and protocol

The drive leverages the legacy and widely supported SATA 6Gbps interface (also written 6Gb/s or SATA III). This ensures broad compatibility across generations of HPE ProLiant, Apollo, and select HPE storage arrays as well as many third-party servers. Using SATA simplifies upgrades from spinning media and integrates with existing SATA-based backplanes and RAID controllers.

Reliability and enterprise-class features

While individual warranty terms and rated endurance metrics vary by vendor shipment date and firmware builds, HPE-class SSDs such as the P18420-X21 are built with enterprise-grade NAND, power-loss protection strategies at the controller level, and stable firmware that supports long-term deployment. Drives intended for HPE platforms often include firmware tested and validated against HPE system BIOS and controllers to reduce unexpected compatibility or performance anomalies.

Power consumption and thermal behavior

SATA SSDs in enterprise chassis generally consume significantly less power than high-performance NVMe devices or equivalent HDDs under certain workloads. Consider power and thermal headroom when populating dense drive trays in blade or rack servers; SSDs like the P18420-X21 contribute to lower cooling and power budgets in large-scale deployments.

Placement and tiering strategy

Use the P18420-X21 for reading hot data, indexing, caching, and other tasks where reads dominate the I/O profile. When used in tiered storage, define clear policies for data movement so that writes and random write-heavy datasets remain on more durable mixed-use or write-optimized SSDs or HDD pools:

Firmware

Keep SSD firmware current with HPE-recommended releases. Firmware updates can include stability patches, performance improvements, and controller fixes that safeguard interoperability with the server platform. Follow an update policy:

Interpreting results and choosing thresholds

Focus on tail latency (p95, p99) in addition to average numbers, since user experience and SLA compliance are often governed by worst-case behavior rather than averages. Validate rebuild and degraded-mode performance as part of resilience planning.

These drives hot-swappable

When installed in a server chassis that supports hot-swap 2.5-inch bays, the drives can be replaced without powering down the host. Always follow the server vendor’s service procedures and ensure RAID rebuilds or data replication are in place before removal.

Title and metadata recommendations

For product listing pages and category pages, craft concise title tags and meta descriptions incorporating key phrases: “HPE P18420-X21 240GB SATA 6Gbps Read Intensive 2.5" SFF SSD” and brief benefits. Use unique alt text for product images that includes the model and short descriptors such as “HPE P18420-X21 240GB SATA SSD — Read-Optimized Enterprise Drive”.

Data center rack considerations

Plan for airflow and cooling around drive bays, especially in high-density servers. Even though SSDs produce less heat than high-speed HDDs or NVMe devices in many cases, correct airflow management and temperature monitoring ensures longevity and reliability.

Operating and storage temperature ranges

Enterprise SSDs have specified operating and non-operating temperature ranges. Adhere to manufacturer specifications for optimal reliability. Monitor ambient rack temperatures and use server telemetry to keep temperatures within recommended boundaries.

Features
Manufacturer Warranty:
None
Product/Item Condition:
New (System) Pull
ServerOrbit Replacement Warranty:
1 Year Warranty