873370-005 HPE SAS 12GBPS 800GB Mixed Use SFF DS Internal SSD

Product Overview And Core Specifications

The HPE 873370-005 is an enterprise-grade internal solid state drive designed for ProLiant servers and storage arrays that demand a balance of high performance, endurance and reliability. Marketed in the HPE Value SAS Mixed Use family, this drive ships in a 2.5-inch small form factor (SFF) and targets mixed-read/write workloads such as virtualization, databases, transactional systems and tiered storage caches. The model is part of HPE’s 12 Gb/s SAS SSD portfolio — providing an industry-standard SAS interface, digitally-signed firmware for secure interoperability with HPE controllers, and enterprise features like full data-path error detection and surprise power-loss protection.

Deep dive interface, protocol and form factor explained

The 12 Gb/s Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) interface remains the preferred enterprise interconnect for server-class storage due to its robust enterprise feature set (dual-port capability, multipath, and better error reporting) and backwards compatibility with SAS controllers. SAS SSDs at 12 Gb/s offer higher sustained bandwidth and lower latency compared with legacy SATA devices, and they often support advanced command sets useful for RAID controllers and storage managers. For mixed-use SSDs such as the 873370-005, the SAS interface helps drive higher IOPS at both random read and write operations and ensures dependable integration in HPE ProLiant server backplanes.

2.5-inch small form factor (SFF) advantages

The 2.5-inch SFF form factor allows dense drive populations in modern rack and blade servers. The reduced thickness (commonly 7mm–15mm variants) supports multi-drive enclosures and hot-swap trays while reducing power and cooling demands compared with 3.5-inch drives. HPE’s smart carrier designs for SFF make SAN and server maintenance simpler — trays align firmware signing and mechanical latches for quick replacement in production environments. 

Performance characteristics and benchmarks

IOPS, throughput and latency considerations

Mixed Use SSDs are engineered to deliver strong random I/O performance (IOPS) across both read- and write-dominant patterns. Typical enterprise-class mixed use drives in the HPE family target high sustained IOPS numbers suitable for virtualization, OLTP databases, and caching tiers. While exact performance numbers depend on firmware, server BIOS, HBA/RAID controllers and workload profiles, product listings and reseller spec pages cite peak random-read and random-write IOPS figures in the five-figure range for similar 800 GB HPE mixed use models — illustrating why these drives are chosen for latency-sensitive tasks.

Mixed Use endurance class explained

Mixed Use class SSDs sit between read-heavy (value) and write-intensive classes. They offer higher write endurance than read-optimized models but are more cost-effective than dedicated write-intensive drives. This makes them ideal for mixed transactional workloads where both reads and writes are frequent. HPE positions mixed use drives for applications such as virtualization and database workloads where predictable endurance and a reasonable cost-per-GB are important.

Data integrity and power-loss protection

Enterprise SSDs must preserve in-flight data and metadata in the event of unexpected power loss. The HPE mixed use series implements surprise power-loss protection and full data-path error detection to maintain data accuracy and accelerate recovery. These protections reduce the risk of corruption during sudden power interruptions and help maintain RAID integrity during rebuilds. HPE datasheets emphasize these features as part of the enterprise value proposition.

Digitally signed firmware and security

Digitally-signed firmware is a critical compatibility and security layer in HPE drives — it prevents installation of unauthorized firmware that could destabilize server ecosystems. For HPE customers operating at scale, digitally-signed firmware reduces the risk of incompatible drive firmware being loaded into ProLiant controllers and ensures drives meet HPE’s validation for platform interoperability.

Compatibility servers, controllers and backplanes

HPE ProLiant and HPE storage systems

The 873370-005 is designed for certified compatibility with HPE ProLiant G9/G10 (and later compatible) server generations and HPE storage backplanes that accept 2.5-inch SAS drives. HPE’s server BIOS and firmware ecosystems often include validated driver stacks and controller firmware optimized for their SSD lineup; using non-certified drives can lead to suboptimal performance or unsupported configurations. HPE product pages and reseller datasheets explicitly list ProLiant compatibility for drives in this family.

Controller and RAID considerations

For maximum compatibility and support, pair the drive with HPE-supported RAID controllers or HBAs that expose the SAS feature set (including dual ports for multi pathing). Many HPE deployments rely on HBA passthrough to software-defined storage layers or use HPE Smart Array controllers tuned for SSD utilization and thermal management. Always verify controller firmware revision compatibility in HPE’s support matrices before mass deployment.

Use cases where the HPE 873370-005 shines

Virtualization and VDI

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and virtualized server farms benefit from the mixed read/write profile of this SSD. The 800 GB capacity supports many virtual machines per device when paired with thin-provisioning, while the drive’s low latency and high IOPS keep boot storms and random I/O bursts under control. Value-oriented mixed-use SSDs often produce the best price-performance for these environments compared with write-intensive enterprise SSDs.

Databases and transactional systems

OLTP databases and transaction processing systems require fast, deterministic I/O and strong write endurance. The mixed use classification provides a durable platform for moderate-to-heavy write volumes without the cost premium of write-intensive products. Coupled with HPE’s power-loss protection and data-path integrity, these drives reduce the risk of transactional corruption and improve overall system resilience.

Caching, tiering and hybrid arrays

Mixed use SSDs make excellent cache tiers in hybrid arrays and can accelerate hot datasets in tiered storage architectures. Using the 873370-005 as a cache provides the low latency hot-tier performance needed for frequently accessed data while allowing larger HDD tiers to deliver cost-effective bulk capacity.

Deployment Hot-swap and tray

The 2.5-inch SFF format and HPE smart carrier enable hot-swap replacement in supported ProLiant and HPE storage platforms. When installing drives into racks or blade chassis, follow HPE’s recommended insertion torque and ensure firmware and controller compatibility to avoid drive fencing or firmware signature mismatches. Resellers often ship drives with carrier trays to simplify mounting into HPE trays and enclosures.

Firmware updates and lifecycle management

Keep SSD firmware updated according to HPE guidance — updates can include performance improvements, thermal management tweaks, and critical stability fixes. Because HPE uses digitally-signed firmware, always download updates from HPE’s official support site or follow your reseller’s validated update bundles to maintain supportability. Document firmware versions and update cycles as part of your change-control process to avoid surprises during large-scale refreshes.

Comparisons and buying guidance

Mixed Use vs. Write-Intensive vs. Read-Optimized

Choosing between mixed-use, write-intensive (WI), and read-optimized (RO) SSDs depends on workload profile and total cost of ownership. The 873370-005 is positioned in the MU bucket for buyers who want a cost-effective yet durable solution for a wide variety of enterprise workloads. HPE’s product family pages and value messaging highlight MU drives as a balanced option for many production environments.

Drive showing higher than expected

Ensure adequate airflow in the chassis, confirm fan speed policies in BIOS, and verify that the drive firmware includes proper thermal throttling behavior. SSDs reduce performance if they reach thermal thresholds — designing for sufficient front-to-back airflow is essential in dense deployments.

Best practices for RAID and rebuilds

Coverage depends on whether the drive is purchased as new from HPE or through a third-party reseller. New HPE parts generally include HPE’s specified terms; refurbished units may carry third-party or limited warranties from the reseller. Always validate duration and return policies before purchase. Reseller and auction listings make clear distinctions between, and used condition, and pricing will reflect those conditions. 

End-of-life and refresh planning

Track firmware EOL announcements and HPE support lifecycle notifications: planning a proactive refresh before drives near end-of-support simplifies large-scale replacements and firmware incompatibility scenarios. Maintain asset records mapping drive serials, firmware versions, and installation dates to simplify RMA processes if needed.

Understanding HPE part numbering and related variants

HPE often releases multiple SKU variants for capacity, firmware and controller-signature versions. The same family can appear under part numbers such as 873370-002, 873370-005, 873370-006, etc., with subtle differences in capacity, generation validation or signed firmware. Always confirm the exact SKU required by referencing HPE Quick Specs or the official datasheet for the target server family. HPE datasheets and product pages provide the authoritative details on each SKU and their certified server lists.

Where to find official documentation

Download product datasheets and Quick Specs from HPE’s official pages or validated reseller PDF datasheets. These PDF datasheets include endurance ratings (TBW or lifetime writes), power consumption curves, supported temperatures and physical/mechanical drawings for rack integration. Always store the datasheet version associated with the firmware level you plan to deploy.