833928-B21 HPE 4TB 7.2K RPM SAS 12GBPS Hard Drive LFF

HPE 4TB 7.2K RPM SAS 12GBPS Hard Drive

The HPE 833928-B21 is a robust enterprise-class hot-swap hard drive engineered for midline workloads. With 4TB of storage, a 12Gbps SAS interface, and 7200 RPM rotational speed, it ensures dependable performance and seamless integration with HPE ProLiant servers.

General Information

• Brand: Hewlett Packard Enterprise 
• Part Number: 833928-B21
• Category: Hot-Swap Internal Hard Drive

Technical Specifications

• Capacity: 4 Terabytes
• Interface Type: SAS 12Gbps
• Form Factor: 3.5-inch Large Form Factor (LFF) Low Profile
• Bytes per Sector: 512
• Format Type: 512n
• Drive Technology: Air-filled
• Carrier Type: Low Profile (LP)
• Workload Type: Midline
• Plug Type: Hot Plug
• Features: Advanced Format 512n, Digitally Signed Firmware
• Bundled With: HPE Low Profile Carrier (LPC)

Performance Highlights

Speed & Efficiency

• Transfer Rate (Max): 12Gb/sec
• Maximum Sequential Throughput: 200 MiB/s
• Random Read (IOPs): 110
• Random 70% Read / 30% Write (IOPs): 110
• Random 50% Read / 50% Write (IOPs): 110
• Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM

Expansion & Connectivity

Interface Options

• Connection Port: 1 x SAS 12Gb/s
• Compatible Bay Size: 3.5-inch LFF

Environmental Parameters

Operating Temperature Range

• Minimum: 50°F (10°C)
• Maximum: 95°F (35°C)

Power Requirement

Energy Usage

• Idle: 4.70 Watts
• Random Read/Write: 6.10 Watts
• Sequential Read: 6.30 Watts
• Sequential Write: 6.30 Watts

Dimensions

Physical Measurements

• Height: 1.028 inches (26.1 mm)
• Width: 4.15 inches (105.5 mm)
• Depth: 6.16 inches (156.58 mm)

Compatibility Information

Designed For

HPE ProLiant DL (Rack) Series

• DL20 Gen10
• DL20 Gen10 Entry
• DL20 Gen10 Performance
• DL20 Gen10 Solution

HPE ProLiant ML (Tower) Series

Gen10 Models

• ML110 Gen10
• ML110 Gen10 Performance
• ML110 Gen10 Solution
• ML30 Gen10
• ML30 Gen10 Entry
• ML30 Gen10 Performance
• ML30 Gen10 Solution
• ML350 Gen10
• ML350 Gen10 Base
• ML350 Gen10 Entry
• ML350 Gen10 Performance
• ML350 Gen10 Solution
• ML350 Gen10 Sub-Entry

HPE ProLiant XL Series

• XL190r Gen10
• XL450 Gen10

HPE 833928-B21 4TB SAS-12Gbps LFF Hard Drive Overview

Enterprise-Class Midline Storage Architecture and Deployment Context

The HPE 833928-B21 4TB 7200RPM 3.5inch LFF SAS-12Gbps Midline Hard Drive is designed to operate within enterprise-grade storage infrastructures where reliability, scalability, and consistent throughput are essential. Built as part of the HPE Midline (MDL) family, this drive is optimized for bulk data storage environments, including archival systems, backup repositories, and large-scale data lakes deployed across modern data centers. The combination of a large 4TB capacity and a rotational speed of 7200RPM ensures a balance between storage density and performance efficiency, making it suitable for organizations managing expanding datasets without transitioning entirely to higher-cost flash storage solutions.

This storage device integrates seamlessly with HPE ProLiant servers and storage arrays that support SAS 12Gbps interfaces, enabling high-speed data transfer and robust connectivity within enterprise SAN and DAS architectures. Its LFF (Large Form Factor) 3.5-inch design supports higher capacity per drive bay compared to SFF alternatives, allowing organizations to maximize physical storage density while maintaining predictable operational performance across workloads.

Core Technical Attributes of HPE 833928-B21 Midline Hard Drive

4TB Storage Capacity for High-Density Data Environments

The 4TB capacity is engineered for environments requiring extensive data retention without frequent hardware expansion. It is particularly effective in workloads involving backup retention, compliance storage, media repositories, and virtualization support systems. The large capacity allows enterprises to reduce the total number of drives required per storage system, thereby optimizing power consumption, cooling requirements, and rack space utilization.

7200RPM Rotational Speed Optimization

Operating at 7200 revolutions per minute, the drive provides a balanced performance profile suitable for sequential read and write operations common in enterprise storage scenarios. While not designed for ultra-low latency transactional databases, the spindle speed is optimized for sustained workloads where throughput consistency is more critical than microsecond-level access times. This makes it suitable for bulk data streaming, backup restoration, and large-scale file serving environments.

SAS 12Gbps Interface Bandwidth Efficiency

The Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) 12Gbps interface significantly enhances communication efficiency between the drive and host systems. This high-bandwidth interface ensures reduced bottlenecks in multi-drive configurations and enables full-duplex data transmission capabilities. SAS architecture also provides superior reliability compared to traditional SATA interfaces, especially in mission-critical enterprise deployments where error handling and command queuing are essential.

3.5-inch Large Form Factor Design

The 3.5-inch LFF design allows for greater platter surface area, which directly contributes to higher storage capacities per drive unit. This form factor is widely used in enterprise-grade storage arrays where density per rack unit is a priority. The LFF configuration also supports improved thermal dissipation characteristics, enabling sustained performance under continuous workloads in data center environments.

Midline Storage Positioning and Workload Optimization

Designed for Read-Intensive and Sequential Workloads

Midline drives such as the HPE 833928-B21 are optimized for workloads that involve frequent reading operations and moderate write activity. These include backup storage systems, archival repositories, and content distribution environments. The drive’s architecture is not intended for high-frequency transactional databases but excels in environments where sustained throughput and reliability are more important than extreme random IOPS performance.

Balanced Performance and Energy Efficiency

Energy consumption is a critical consideration in large-scale data centers. The 7200RPM design ensures lower power usage compared to higher-speed enterprise drives while still delivering sufficient throughput for bulk storage operations. This balance contributes to reduced total cost of ownership over long deployment cycles.

SAS 12Gbps Interface and Enterprise Connectivity Advantages

High-Speed Data Transfer Architecture

The SAS 12Gbps interface provides a significant performance advantage over previous-generation storage protocols. It supports faster data transfer rates, improved command queuing, and enhanced scalability in multi-drive configurations. This ensures that storage arrays built using these drives can handle concurrent workloads without significant performance degradation.

Dual-Port Connectivity and Redundancy Support

Enterprise SAS drives typically support dual-port connectivity, allowing multiple paths between the drive and storage controller. This redundancy improves system reliability by ensuring continuous operation even if one path experiences failure. Such redundancy is critical in mission-critical environments where downtime is unacceptable.

Integration with HPE Smart Array Controllers

The HPE 833928-B21 drive is designed to integrate seamlessly with HPE Smart Array controllers, enabling optimized performance tuning, advanced caching mechanisms, and intelligent workload distribution. This integration enhances overall system efficiency and ensures consistent performance across large storage deployments.

Enterprise Storage Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

Backup and Disaster Recovery Infrastructure

This drive is highly suitable for backup and disaster recovery systems where large volumes of data must be stored reliably over long periods. Its high capacity and stable throughput make it ideal for scheduled backup operations and long-term retention strategies that require predictable performance.

Archival Storage Systems for Compliance Data

Organizations operating under data retention regulations often require secure, high-capacity storage solutions. The HPE 833928-B21 supports archival workloads by providing consistent data integrity and long-term storage stability, making it suitable for compliance-driven environments.

Media and Content Repository Storage

In industries such as media production, broadcasting, and digital content management, large storage volumes are required to manage high-resolution video, audio, and image files. This drive supports such workloads by delivering reliable sequential performance and large storage capacity per unit.

Virtualization and Secondary Storage Layers

While not typically used for primary virtual machine storage, this drive is well-suited for secondary storage layers in virtualized environments. It can store snapshots, backups, and archival VM data efficiently, contributing to overall infrastructure optimization.