2T51W Dell 1TB 7200RPM 64MB Buffer SATA-6GBPS 3.5-Inch Low Profile With Tray HDD.

Dell 2T51W 1TB Enterprise Hard Disk Drive

The Dell 2T51W represents a high-performance 1TB hard disk drive solution engineered for enterprise environments requiring reliable data storage with consistent throughput. This 3.5-inch form factor drive combines Dell's quality assurance with robust mechanical design to deliver dependable performance for server storage, network-attached storage (NAS) systems, and data center applications.

Key Specifications and Performance Characteristics

Designed for 24/7 operation in demanding environments, the Dell 2T51W incorporates enterprise-grade components and firmware optimizations that distinguish it from consumer-grade storage solutions. The drive's mechanical architecture is specifically tuned for vibration resistance and thermal management in multi-drive configurations.

Capacity and Form Factor Details

With a formatted capacity of 1 terabyte (1,000,000,000,000 bytes), this hard drive provides substantial storage space for business applications, virtual machine images, database storage, and archival data. The 3.5-inch low-profile design ensures compatibility with a wide range of server chassis and storage enclosures while maintaining optimal airflow characteristics.

Physical Dimensions

The drive measures approximately 101.6mm x 146mm x 26.1mm (4.0 x 5.75 x 1.028 inches), conforming to the standard 3.5-inch hard drive form factor. The inclusion of a factory-installed tray facilitates quick integration into Dell PowerEdge servers and compatible storage systems without requiring additional mounting hardware.

Storage Technology and Areal Density

Utilizing perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) technology, the Dell 2T51W achieves optimal data integrity and reliable long-term storage. The drive's platter configuration and head technology are engineered for enterprise workloads with enhanced error correction capabilities.

Rotational Speed and Data Transfer Performance

The 7200 RPM spindle speed ensures rapid data access with an average latency of just 4.17ms. This rotational velocity, combined with advanced caching algorithms, delivers responsive performance for read-intensive applications and mixed workloads commonly found in business environments.

Sustained Transfer Rates and Interface Bandwidth

With a SATA 6Gbps interface, the drive supports maximum interface transfer rates up to 600MB/s, eliminating potential bottlenecks for sequential read and write operations. The actual sustained transfer rates typically range between 150-210MB/s depending on data location on the platters and workload characteristics.

Random Access Performance Metrics

The drive delivers average random read access times of 8.5ms and average random write access times of 9.5ms. These performance characteristics make it suitable for applications requiring frequent access to distributed data across the storage medium.

Buffer Cache and Memory Technology

Equipped with a 64MB DDR SDRAM cache buffer, the Dell 2T51W efficiently manages data between the host system and physical media. This substantial cache size helps improve performance for both sequential and random operations by reducing the physical head movement through advanced caching algorithms.

Cache Implementation Strategies

The drive employs sophisticated write caching with read-ahead capabilities to anticipate data requests and optimize head positioning. The cache architecture includes error correction code (ECC) protection to ensure data integrity throughout the caching process.

Adaptive Memory Management

Dynamic cache allocation allows the drive to adjust resource distribution between read and write operations based on current workload patterns. This intelligent cache management contributes to consistent performance under varying operational conditions.

SATA Interface Technology

The Serial ATA 6Gbps interface provides backward compatibility with previous SATA generations (3Gbps and 1.5Gbps), ensuring broad compatibility with existing server infrastructure. The interface supports Native Command Queuing (NCQ) with 32 command depth for optimized command execution order.

Interface Protocol Features

Full implementation of the SATA International Organization specifications ensures compliance with industry standards. The interface includes support for hot-plug capability in appropriately designed systems, although this functionality depends on host system implementation.

Data Integrity Assurance Mechanisms

The drive incorporates SATA features including Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) for enhanced data integrity across the interface connection. Error correction and retry mechanisms automatically handle transmission issues without host intervention.

Durability Features

Designed for enterprise deployment, the Dell 2T51W undergoes rigorous testing and qualification processes to ensure reliable operation in demanding 24/7 environments. The drive mechanics include specialized features to enhance longevity and data protection.

Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) Rating

With an MTBF rating of 1.4 million hours, this hard drive demonstrates exceptional reliability for continuous operation. This rating reflects the robust design and quality components used throughout the drive's construction.

Annualized Failure Rate (AFR) Statistics

The drive maintains an annualized failure rate of 0.63% based on standardized testing methodologies, providing IT administrators with predictable reliability metrics for storage planning and lifecycle management.

Acoustic Performance Metrics

Acoustic noise levels measure 2.7 bels during idle mode and 3.0 bels during seek operations. These acoustic characteristics make the drive suitable for environments where noise reduction is a consideration.

Power Consumption and Efficiency Features

Power efficiency is engineered into the Dell 2T51W through multiple power management states and optimized electrical design. These features help reduce total cost of ownership through lower energy consumption.

Power Requirement Specifications

The drive requires +5V and +12V power inputs with specific current requirements: +5V ±5% at 0.65A (typical) and +12V ±10% at 0.45A (typical). Total typical power consumption during random read operations is approximately 6.8 watts.

Power Management States

Multiple power states include Active, Idle, Standby, and Sleep modes, allowing the drive to reduce power consumption during periods of low activity. Transition times between power states are optimized to balance responsiveness with energy savings.

Data Integrity and Protection Features

The Dell 2T51W incorporates multiple layers of data protection to ensure information integrity throughout the storage and retrieval process. These features work in concert to prevent data loss and maintain consistency.

Error Correction and Recovery Systems

Advanced error correction code (ECC) implementation corrects both single-bit and multi-bit errors with sophisticated algorithms optimized for enterprise workloads. The drive employs multiple retry strategies for marginal sectors before reallocation.

Bad Sector Management and Reallocation

Comprehensive defect management identifies and reallocates marginal sectors before they impact data integrity. The drive maintains both primary and secondary spare sectors distributed across the media surface for optimal reallocation efficiency.

Write Protection and Data Security

The drive includes optional power-loss protection circuits that help protect data in the write cache during unexpected power interruptions. While not a full capacitor-backed solution, these features enhance data integrity in common failure scenarios.

End-to-End Data Protection

Data protection spans from the host interface through the drive's internal data paths to the physical media. Protection information verification helps ensure data consistency throughout the storage subsystem.

Compatibility and Integration Specifications

The Dell 2T51W is designed for seamless integration into Dell PowerEdge server platforms and compatible storage systems. The drive undergoes extensive compatibility testing to ensure reliable operation in target environments.

Server Platform Compatibility

Verified compatibility includes multiple generations of Dell PowerEdge servers and storage arrays. The drive firmware includes optimizations specific to Dell's management interfaces and monitoring systems.

Storage Array Integration Features

Specific firmware optimizations support efficient operation in RAID environments, including timely error recovery control and staggered spin-up coordination. These features help maintain array stability and performance during drive operations.