VO007680KYMMC HPE 7.68TB Read Intensive NVMe SSD.

HPE VO007680KYMMC 7.68TB Read-Intensive SSD

The HPE VO007680KYMMC represents a significant advancement in enterprise solid-state storage technology, specifically engineered to deliver optimal performance in read-intensive workloads. With a substantial 7.68TB capacity housed in a 2.5-inch small form factor (SFF) design, this SSD provides the perfect balance of high-density storage, exceptional read performance, and enterprise-grade reliability. As organizations increasingly rely on data-driven applications, the demand for storage solutions that can deliver consistent low-latency access to large datasets has never been greater. This HPE SSD directly addresses these requirements through its carefully calibrated architecture and compatibility with the latest server platforms.

Key Specifications 

Form Factor

The HPE VO007680KYMMC utilizes the industry-standard 2.5-inch small form factor (SFF) design, measuring 15mm in thickness. This physical configuration ensures broad compatibility with existing server infrastructure while maximizing storage density within constrained rack space. The 2.5-inch form factor has become the de facto standard for enterprise storage bays, allowing organizations to deploy these drives across heterogeneous server environments without requiring specialized mounting hardware or chassis modifications. The 15mm thickness accommodates the higher component density necessary for the 7.68TB capacity while maintaining standard form factor compliance.

Interface and Protocol Implementation

PCIe 4.0 NVMe Interface

This SSD leverages the PCI Express 4.0 interface with NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) protocol, delivering significant performance advantages over previous generation storage technologies. The PCIe 4.0 interface doubles the bandwidth compared to PCIe 3.0, with theoretical transfer rates of up to 64 Gbit/s per lane in x4 configuration. The NVMe protocol is specifically designed for flash-based storage, reducing command overhead and latency while increasing input/output operations per second (IOPS). This combination enables the drive to achieve performance metrics that saturate the bandwidth capabilities of many enterprise applications, eliminating storage bottlenecks in data-intensive workflows.

U.3 Connector Compatibility

The drive features a U.3 connector interface, which represents a significant advancement in enterprise storage interoperability. The U.3 standard combines SAS, SATA, and NVMe protocols into a single connector system, providing unprecedented flexibility for data center operators. This tri-mode capability allows the same drive bay to support any of the three interface types, simplifying procurement and deployment while future-proofing infrastructure investments. For the HPE VO007680KYMMC, the U.3 connector specifically enables NVMe over PCIe functionality while maintaining physical compatibility with existing backplane designs that may have previously supported SAS or SATA drives.

Performance Characteristics

Sustained Read and Write Performance

As a read-intensive drive, the HPE VO007680KYMMC is engineered to deliver exceptional sequential read speeds exceeding 3,500 MB/s and random read performance of up to 750,000 IOPS. These metrics ensure that data retrieval operations occur with minimal latency, accelerating application responsiveness and user experience. Write performance, while secondary to read optimization, remains robust with sequential write speeds typically reaching 1,200 MB/s and random write performance up to 180,000 IOPS. This balanced approach ensures that while read operations receive priority, write activities necessary for system operations and data updates do not become performance bottlenecks.

Data Protection and Error Correction

Data integrity is paramount in enterprise storage, and the HPE VO007680KYMMC incorporates multiple layers of protection to ensure data reliability. The drive employs sophisticated Error Correction Code (ECC) algorithms capable of correcting multiple bit errors per memory page, significantly reducing the probability of uncorrectable errors. Additional protection mechanisms include end-to-end data path protection, which safeguards data from the host interface through the controller to the NAND flash memory. This comprehensive approach prevents data corruption from electrical signal degradation, controller malfunctions, or flash memory anomalies, ensuring that data retrieved matches what was originally written.

Power Loss Protection Implementation

Enterprise environments require protection against unexpected power events, and the HPE VO007680KYMMC incorporates robust power loss protection circuitry. This system includes strategically placed capacitors that provide sufficient temporary power to complete in-progress write operations and commit data from volatile buffers to non-volatile memory in the event of sudden power loss. This capability prevents data corruption and ensures write consistency, maintaining data integrity even during unplanned power interruptions. The power loss protection system is designed to function across the drive's operational temperature range and throughout its specified lifespan.

Deployment Scenarios

Server Platform Compatibility

HPE Gen10 Plus and Gen11 Server 

The HPE VO007680KYMMC is specifically validated and qualified for use with HPE Gen10 Plus and Gen11 server families, ensuring optimal performance, management integration, and reliability. For Gen10 Plus systems, the drive delivers enhanced storage performance that complements the processing capabilities of these platforms. With Gen11 servers, the drive operates at its full potential, leveraging the latest in server architecture advancements. This compatibility guarantee provides IT administrators with confidence in deployment, knowing that the drives have undergone extensive testing within HPE's engineering laboratories to ensure seamless operation, firmware compatibility, and management integration.

NAND Flash Technology and Controller Architecture

The HPE VO007680KYMMC utilizes state-of-the-art 3D NAND flash memory, which stacks memory cells vertically in multiple layers to achieve higher densities and improved performance characteristics compared to planar NAND technology. This 3D architecture enables the substantial 7.68TB capacity within the standard 2.5-inch form factor while maintaining excellent endurance and data retention properties. The specific cell type used in this read-intensive drive is optimized for balance between cost, endurance, and performance, providing the ideal characteristics for its target workloads without the premium expense associated with write-intensive cell technologies.

Power Consumption and Efficiency

Power efficiency is a critical consideration in modern data centers, and the HPE VO007680KYMMC is engineered to deliver high performance per watt. During active operation, the drive typically consumes between 8-12 watts depending on workload intensity, significantly less than comparable performance hard disk drives while delivering orders of magnitude higher IOPS. During idle periods, advanced power management features reduce consumption to as low as 4 watts, contributing to overall data center energy efficiency. This power profile enables higher storage density within fixed power and cooling budgets, reducing total cost of ownership while maintaining performance requirements.

Comparison with Alternative Storage Tiers

Positioning Within HPE Storage Portfolio

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

Within HPE's comprehensive SSD portfolio, the VO007680KYMMC occupies the read-intensive performance tier, positioned between value-oriented read-intensive SSDs and higher-endurance mixed-use and write-intensive SSDs. This strategic positioning offers the optimal balance of performance, endurance, and cost for workloads dominated by read operations. Compared to mixed-use SSDs, the read-intensive variant provides similar read performance at a lower cost with slightly reduced write endurance. Against write-intensive SSDs, it offers significant cost savings while maintaining the read performance necessary for most enterprise applications. This tiered approach allows organizations to match storage characteristics precisely to application requirements, optimizing both performance and total cost of ownership.

Performance Relative to Alternative Technologies

Advantages Over SAS and SATA SSDs

The HPE VO007680KYMMC delivers significant performance advantages compared to SAS and SATA-based solid-state drives. The NVMe over PCIe 4.0 interface provides substantially higher bandwidth than the SAS 12Gb/s or SATA 6Gb/s interfaces, reducing latency and increasing throughput for I/O-intensive applications. The NVMe protocol further enhances performance by reducing command overhead and supporting massively parallel operations, which is particularly beneficial in virtualized environments with concurrent access patterns. These advantages make the drive particularly suitable for applications that have outgrown the performance capabilities of SAS or SATA SSDs but do not require the extreme write endurance of more expensive NVMe drive classes.