400-BQSW Dell 3.84TB Gen4 NVMe PCI-E SSF RI Solid State Drive

Dell 400-BQSW 3.84TB Gen4 NVMe PCI-E U.2 SSD Overview

Enterprise-Grade Storage Performance

The Dell 400-BQSW represents the pinnacle of enterprise solid-state drive technology, specifically engineered for demanding data center environments and high-performance computing applications. This 3.84TB Gen4 NVMe PCI-E U.2 form factor drive delivers exceptional throughput and reliability metrics that far exceed conventional consumer-grade SSDs. Built with Dell's rigorous quality standards, this storage solution is optimized for read-intensive workloads while maintaining consistent performance under sustained operations.

Capacity and Form Factor

With a substantial 3.84TB storage capacity, this U.2 2.5-inch form factor drive provides ample space for enterprise applications while maintaining compatibility with standard server bays. The 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SSF) design ensures seamless integration into existing server infrastructure without requiring specialized mounting hardware or adapters.

Interface and Protocol

Leveraging the PCI Express Gen4 x4 interface with NVMe 1.4 protocol support, the 400-BQSW achieves significantly higher bandwidth compared to previous generation SSDs. This advanced interface enables reduced latency and increased input/output operations per second (IOPS), making it ideal for latency-sensitive applications and high-transaction databases.

Performance Characteristics and Capabilities

Speed and Throughput Metrics

The Dell 400-BQSW delivers exceptional sequential read speeds up to 6,800 MB/s and sequential write speeds up to 3,200 MB/s, ensuring rapid data access and transfer capabilities. These performance characteristics make it particularly well-suited for read-intensive applications where fast data retrieval is critical to operational efficiency.

Random Performance Capabilities

With random read performance reaching 1,000,000 IOPS and random write performance of 250,000 IOPS, this SSD can handle substantial workloads with minimal latency. The consistent performance profile ensures that applications maintain responsiveness even during peak demand periods.

Endurance and Reliability Specifications

1DWPD Endurance Rating

The 1 Drive Write Per Day (DWPD) endurance rating signifies that users can write the entire drive capacity (3.84TB) once per day throughout the warranty period without exceeding designed wear limits. This endurance level positions the 400-BQSW as an ideal solution for read-intensive workloads while still providing substantial write capability for mixed-use scenarios.

TBW Rating and Lifespan

With a Total Bytes Written (TBW) rating of approximately 7,008TB, the drive offers exceptional longevity for enterprise environments. This translates to years of reliable service under normal operating conditions, reducing total cost of ownership through extended service life and reduced replacement frequency.

NAND Flash Technology

The 400-BQSW utilizes enterprise-grade 3D TLC NAND flash memory, balancing performance, endurance, and cost-effectiveness. This advanced NAND technology provides the density required for the 3.84TB capacity while maintaining consistent performance characteristics across the entire storage array.

Controller and Firmware

Dell's proprietary controller architecture, combined with optimized firmware, ensures efficient management of data flow, wear leveling, and error correction. The sophisticated algorithms maximize performance while extending the operational lifespan through intelligent data placement and garbage collection mechanisms.

Data Integrity and Protection

End-to-End Data Protection

The drive implements comprehensive end-to-end data protection, safeguarding information from the host interface through all internal data paths to the NAND flash memory. This multi-layered approach prevents data corruption and ensures information integrity throughout the storage ecosystem.

Advanced ECC and RAID

Sophisticated Error Correction Code (ECC) algorithms correct potential bit errors, while built-in RAID protection within the drive architecture provides additional data redundancy. These features work in concert to maintain data accessibility and prevent loss due to media errors or component failures.

Security Capabilities

TCG Enterprise Compliance

Compliant with TCG Enterprise security standards, the 400-BQSW offers robust data protection features including hardware-based encryption. This ensures that sensitive information remains secure both during active operation and when drives are retired or repurposed.

Sanitization and Crypto Erase

For enterprise security requirements, the drive supports instant crypto erase and sanitization commands that render data permanently inaccessible. These features are essential for regulatory compliance and data protection standards in financial, healthcare, and government sectors.

Data Center Deployment

Server Boot Drives

The combination of high capacity and exceptional read performance makes the 400-BQSW an ideal choice for server boot drives in enterprise environments. Rapid boot times and responsive system performance enhance overall server efficiency while providing ample space for operating systems and critical applications.

Database Storage Tier

Database applications benefit significantly from the low latency and high IOPS characteristics of this SSD. Whether supporting OLTP systems, data warehouses, or in-memory databases, the 400-BQSW accelerates query performance and reduces transaction completion times.

Hypervisor Storage

In virtualized environments, the drive excels as storage for hypervisor installations and virtual machine images. The high random read performance enables rapid provisioning of virtual machines and supports higher virtual machine density per host server.

Container Storage

For containerized applications and microservices architectures, the consistent low-latency performance ensures responsive application behavior. The capacity supports numerous container images while maintaining fast access to application data.

High-Performance Computing

Scientific and Research Applications

Research institutions and scientific computing facilities utilize the 400-BQSW for applications requiring rapid access to large datasets. The high throughput capabilities accelerate data analysis and computational tasks across various scientific disciplines.

Media and Entertainment Workflows

In media production environments, the drive supports high-resolution video editing, rendering, and content distribution workflows. The sustained transfer rates prevent bottlenecks when working with large media files and complex project structures.

Certified Platform

The 400-BQSW is fully certified and tested with Dell PowerEdge server platforms, ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance. Compatibility extends across multiple generations of PowerEdge systems, providing flexibility for infrastructure upgrades and expansions. Deep integration with Dell OpenManage systems management solutions enables comprehensive monitoring, provisioning, and maintenance capabilities. This unified management approach simplifies storage administration and enhances operational visibility.

Standards Compliance and Interoperability

Industry Standard Form Factors

The U.2 2.5-inch form factor ensures broad compatibility with enterprise server platforms from multiple vendors. This standardization prevents vendor lock-in and provides deployment flexibility across heterogeneous data center environments.

NVMe Specification Compliance

Full compliance with NVMe 1.4 specifications guarantees interoperability with compliant host systems and infrastructure components. This standards-based approach future-proofs investments and ensures long-term compatibility.