345-BHZH Dell 15.36TB Gen4 NVMe SFF U.2 RI SSD

High-Capacity NVMe SSDs for Enterprise Workloads

The Dell 345-BHZH 15.36TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe 2.5-inch U.2 Read Intensive Enterprise SSD represents a cutting-edge solution for data-centric environments requiring ultra-fast access, high endurance, and scalable storage. As part of the read-intensive NVMe SSD category, this drive is engineered for workloads that demand rapid retrieval of large datasets with minimal latency. Its massive 15.36TB capacity, combined with PCIe Gen4 performance, positions it as a cornerstone for modern enterprise infrastructures including hyperscale data centers, cloud platforms, and virtualized environments.

NVMe Technology and PCIe Gen4 Interface

NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) revolutionizes SSD performance by eliminating legacy SATA bottlenecks and leveraging the full potential of NAND flash. The Dell 345-BHZH SSD utilizes the PCIe Gen4 x4 interface, doubling bandwidth over Gen3 and enabling sequential read speeds exceeding 7,000MB/s. This leap in throughput is critical for applications such as real-time analytics, AI inference, and high-frequency trading platforms.

Advantages of PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSDs

• Up to 2x faster data transfer compared to Gen3 SSDs
• Reduced latency for time-sensitive workloads
• Improved IOPS for read-intensive operations
• Enhanced scalability for multi-tenant environments

U.2 Form Factor and Hot-Swap Capability

The 2.5-inch U.2 form factor ensures compatibility with enterprise-grade servers and storage arrays. U.2 drives support hot-swap functionality, allowing IT administrators to replace or upgrade SSDs without system downtime. This is particularly valuable in mission-critical deployments where uptime is paramount.

Read Intensive SSDs: Optimized for Performance and Efficiency

Read-intensive SSDs are tailored for environments where data is accessed frequently but written infrequently. The Dell 345-BHZH excels in scenarios such as media streaming, database querying, and boot volumes. Its endurance rating is optimized for high read cycles, offering a cost-effective balance between performance and longevity.

Key Use Cases for Read-Intensive NVMe SSDs

• Content delivery networks (CDNs)
• Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
• Web hosting and cloud storage
• Data warehousing and OLAP systems

Endurance and Reliability Metrics

The Dell 345-BHZH SSD features advanced wear-leveling algorithms and thermal throttling mechanisms to maintain consistent performance under heavy workloads. With a DWPD (Drive Writes Per Day) rating tailored for read-intensive tasks, it ensures predictable lifespan and reduced TCO (Total Cost of Ownership).

Enterprise-Grade Reliability Features

• Power loss protection (PLP)
• End-to-end data path protection
• SMART monitoring and predictive failure analysis
• Advanced ECC (Error Correction Code)

Massive 15.36TB Capacity for Data-Driven Enterprises

With 15.36TB of raw capacity, the Dell 345-BHZH SSD enables consolidation of workloads and reduction in physical footprint. Enterprises can store vast datasets on fewer drives, simplifying infrastructure and lowering power and cooling costs. This capacity tier is ideal for archival storage, large-scale indexing, and AI model repositories.

Benefits of High-Capacity NVMe Storage

• Reduced rack space utilization
• Lower energy consumption per TB
• Improved density for hyperconverged systems
• Faster access to large files and datasets

Compatibility with Dell PowerEdge Servers

The 345-BHZH SSD is validated across multiple generations of Dell PowerEdge servers, including R750, R760, and R660 platforms. Its firmware is optimized for seamless integration with Dell’s iDRAC management suite, enabling real-time health monitoring and firmware updates.

Supported Server Models and Backplanes

• Dell PowerEdge R750 with U.2 NVMe backplane
• Dell PowerEdge R760xs with PCIe Gen4 support
• Dell PowerEdge R660 with hybrid NVMe/SAS configuration

Security and Data Protection Features

Enterprise SSDs must safeguard sensitive data against unauthorized access and corruption. The Dell 345-BHZH includes Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) capabilities, compliant with TCG Opal 2.0 and IEEE 1667 standards. These features ensure data-at-rest encryption without performance degradation.

SED and Encryption Standards

• TCG Opal 2.0 for policy-based access control
• IEEE 1667 for Microsoft eDrive compatibility
• Instant Secure Erase for rapid decommissioning
• Hardware-based AES 256-bit encryption

Data Integrity and Redundancy

The SSD employs end-to-end CRC protection and RAID-like parity schemes to detect and correct errors. These mechanisms are essential for maintaining data fidelity in high-availability environments such as financial services and healthcare IT.

Compliance and Certifications

• FIPS 140-2 Level 2 validation (select SKUs)
• RoHS and CE environmental compliance
• ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 manufacturing standards

Thermal Management and Power Efficiency

The Dell 345-BHZH SSD incorporates advanced thermal sensors and dynamic power throttling to maintain optimal operating conditions. Its active power draw is significantly lower than traditional SAS drives, contributing to greener data center operations.

Thermal Design and Cooling Requirements

• Integrated heat spreader for passive cooling
• Thermal throttling to prevent overheating
• Compatible with Dell airflow-optimized chassis
• Real-time temperature telemetry via SMART

Power Consumption Metrics

Typical active power consumption ranges between 8W–12W depending on workload intensity. Idle power draw is under 5W, making it suitable for energy-conscious deployments. The drive supports NVMe power states for dynamic scaling.

Green IT and Sustainability Benefits

• Lower carbon footprint per TB stored
• Reduced cooling requirements
• Extended lifecycle through firmware optimization
• Recyclable components and packaging

Performance Benchmarks and Latency Profiles

The Dell 345-BHZH SSD delivers exceptional performance across key metrics. Sequential read speeds exceed 7,000MB/s, while random read IOPS surpass 1 million. Latency is consistently below 100µs, ensuring responsiveness for real-time applications.

Benchmark Highlights

• Sequential Read: Up to 7,100MB/s
• Sequential Write: Up to 3,800MB/s
• Random Read IOPS: >1,000,000
• Random Write IOPS: ~180,000

Latency Optimization Techniques

The SSD leverages NVMe queue depth tuning, firmware-level optimizations, and NAND parallelism to minimize latency. These features are critical for latency-sensitive workloads such as transactional databases and real-time telemetry systems.

Performance in Virtualized Environments

• Supports VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V
• Optimized for multi-VM I/O isolation
• Low queue latency under mixed workloads
• Consistent performance across virtual volumes