Dell 7GM2H 24 TB 7.2K RPM SATA 6 GBPS Hard Disk Drive.

Core Specifications of the Dell 7GM2H Enterprise HDD

This high-capacity storage unit is engineered for demanding server applications, delivering exceptional reliability and performance.

Manufacturer and Product Identification

• Brand: Dell
• Model SKU: 7GM2H
• Device Type: 3.5-inch Internal Hard Disk Drive

Technical Attributes and Build

Storage Architecture

• Total Capacity: 24 Terabytes
• Physical Size: 3.5-inch Form Factor
• Drive Enclosure: Internal, Hot-pluggable

Interface and Data Integrity

• Host Connection: SATA 6.0 Gb/s interface
• Sector Format: 512e Emulation
• Recording Method: Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR)
• Security Protocol: Base (SE)

Performance Metrics and Operational Speed

Designed for high-duty cycles, this drive offers a robust set of performance characteristics suitable for data-intensive tasks.

Speed and Data Throughput

• Spindle Velocity: 7200 Revolutions Per Minute (RPM)
• Average Latency: 4.16 milliseconds
• Maximum External Transfer Rate: 600 MB/s
• Sustained Data Rate: Up to 298 MB/s

Caching and Input/Output Operations

• Integrated Buffer Memory: 512 Megabytes
• Random Read Performance (4KB, QD32): 212 IOPS
• Random Write Performance (4KB, QD32): 565 IOPS
• Mixed Workload Performance (4KB, QD4): 220 IOPS

Reliability Engineering

• Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF): 2.5 Million Hours

Intended Deployment and Use Cases

This enterprise-grade hard drive is optimized for a vast array of modern computing environments.

Primary Application Ecosystems

• Public and Private Cloud Storage Infrastructures
• Hyperscale Computing and Massive Scale-Out (MSO) Data Centers
• Software-Defined Storage and Distributed File Architectures

Data Analytics and Infrastructure

• Primary and Secondary Storage Nodes for Apache Hadoop®
• Big Data Processing and Analytical Workloads
• Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI) Server Platforms
• Hybrid Cloud Deployment Models

Expansion and Physical Integration

Connectivity Options

• Interface Port: 1 x SATA 6Gb/s

Installation and Form Factor

• Compatible Mounting: 1 x Hot-swap 3.5-inch Bay
• Included Hardware: Mounting Tray for Dell Systems

Compatible Dell PowerEdge Server Platforms

This hard disk drive is certified for seamless integration with the following Dell PowerEdge generations:

Supported Server Models

Tower and Rackmount Solutions (14th/15th/16th Generation)

1U and 2U Rack Servers

• PowerEdge R240, R250, R340, R350
• PowerEdge R440, R450, R540, R550
• PowerEdge R640, R650, R650xs, R660
• PowerEdge R740, R740xd, R740xd2
• PowerEdge R750, R750xs, R760

AMD-Based Platform Support

• PowerEdge R6515
• PowerEdge R6525
• PowerEdge R7515
• PowerEdge R7525

Tower Server Solutions

• PowerEdge T350

Product overview and category focus

This category centers on the Dell 7GM2H 24 TB 7.2K RPM SATA 6 Gbps 512e 512MB Buffer 3.5" Hot-plug Hard Disk Drive with Tray, a high-capacity, enterprise-class storage unit designed specifically for Dell PowerEdge 14G, 15G and 16G server platforms. It belongs to a family of mechanical SATA drives optimized for large-scale data stores where cost-per-terabyte, compatibility with existing server backplanes, and robust hot-swap capability are priority buying criteria. The collection emphasizes genuine OEM parts, verified compatibility, and the trays and carrier assemblies required for tool-less serviceability in modern rack and tower server architectures.

Key technical identity

• Capacity: 24 TB (nearline/archival-class density)
• Rotation speed: 7,200 RPM for balanced performance and durability
• Interface: SATA 6.0 Gbps (SATA III) for wide compatibility and simple integration
• Sector format: 512e (512-byte emulation) to maximize compatibility with legacy OS and RAID controllers
• Cache: 512 MB DRAM buffer to smooth sustained sequential workloads
• Form factor: 3.5-inch, hot-pluggable with Dell-compatible tray/carrier
• Server compatibility: Engineered for PowerEdge 14G / 15G / 16G generations

Typical deployment scenarios

These 24 TB 7.2K SATA drives are commonly deployed in the following use cases:

• Nearline storage appliances — economical expansion of capacity for cold datasets.
• Backup targets and deduplicated vaults — large sequential writes with predictable throughput needs.
• Archive nodes — storing infrequently accessed objects where latency is acceptable.
• Hybrid storage tiers — paired with SSD caching to deliver cost-efficient storage tiers that still deliver acceptable I/O for capacity-driven workloads.
• Video surveillance and media repositories — long-term retention of high-volume sequential data streams.

Hardware specifications and what they mean

Capacity and physical form factor

A 24 TB platter set in a 3.5-inch form factor offers one of the highest single-drive capacities available for SATA enterprise lineups. Using higher-density recording technologies and multiple platters, such a drive reduces rack space utilization by delivering more terabytes per bay versus smaller-capacity spindles.

Rotation speed (7,200 RPM)

7.2K RPM class drives strike a balance between sustained sequential throughput, power consumption, heat generation, and reliability. While slower than 10K/15K enterprise spindles in random IOPS, 7.2K drives deliver excellent sequential MB/s rates and better cost/GB metrics — ideal for capacity-first workloads.

SATA III 6 Gbps interface

The SATA 6 Gbps interface ensures broad compatibility with RAID controllers and server backplanes found across Dell PowerEdge models. Although a single drive rarely saturates the 6 Gbps bus, the interface compatibility simplifies replacement and upgrades and supports hot-plug protocols used by Dell carriers.

512e sector emulation

512e (512-byte emulated sectors) preserves compatibility with older OSes, legacy RAID metadata layouts, and management tools that expect 512-byte sector sizes, while internally the drive uses larger physical sectors to increase density and efficiency. This hybrid approach maximizes interoperability with a wide range of software-defined storage solutions and hypervisors.

512 MB buffer

A large 512 MB DRAM buffer improves streaming and sequential write coherency. For large, contiguous file writes — common in backups and archiving — the cache can absorb bursts and reduce write amplification, leading to more consistent throughput across long operations.

Compatibility with Dell PowerEdge servers

Why OEM compatibility matters

Genuine Dell-labeled drives, such as the 7GM2H, include firmware optimizations and the correct carrier/tray mounting features to integrate seamlessly with PowerEdge server management frameworks — iDRAC, Lifecycle Controller and the server's backplane presence detection. Choosing OEM or Dell-qualified parts reduces the risk of drive rejections, false predictive failure reporting, or warranty complications.

Supported generations

This drive and tray assembly are specified for Dell PowerEdge 14th, 15th and 16th generation servers. These server families share similar backplane designs and drive carrier mechanics, enabling tool-less swaps and predictable hot-swap behavior. Always confirm chassis and backplane revision compatibility before purchase (especially for older or heavily customized racks).

Performance characteristics

Throughput and latency expectations

Expect strong sustained sequential throughput, particularly when streaming large files or executing backup window operations. Random IOPS per drive will be lower than enterprise SAS 10K/15K drives or NVMe SSDs; however, in RAID groups or distributed object stores, the aggregate IOPS can deliver acceptable response times for read-mostly or write-once-read-rarely patterns.

Best-fit workloads

• Cold and warm object stores
• Long-term backup retention
• Bulk media libraries
• Archival file systems and data lakes

Power draw and thermal profile

High-capacity 3.5" spindles typically draw more power than 2.5" equivalents, especially during spin-up. The 7.2K speed mitigates peak rotational current compared to faster spindles but still requires consideration in dense drive enclosures. Best practice: verify chassis power and cooling margins and stagger spin-up where possible to avoid inrush current issues.

Reliability, MTBF, and operating life

Enterprise nearline drives are engineered for continuous operation and high duty cycles. While specific MTBF and workload rating depend on the exact OEM spec sheet, buyers should expect:

• Design for 24x7 operation with thermal and vibration tolerance matched to server-class environments.
• Workload ratings expressed in TB/year (e.g., hundreds of TB per year) — confirm with vendor documentation.
• Advanced error recovery timeouts tuned for RAID arrays and enterprise backplanes.

Monitoring and SMART reporting

Modern enterprise drives expose SMART attributes and telemetry that integrate with server management tools (iDRAC, OMSA) to present pre-failure warnings and health metrics. Use these signals in proactive replace-on-failure policies and to maintain predictable RPOs/RTOs.

Integration with RAID and storage controllers

RAID level recommendations

When deploying 24 TB spindles, consider RAID level selection carefully:

• RAID 6 — offers double parity tolerance and is commonly recommended for large-capacity spindles to mitigate rebuild risk.
• RAID 10 — delivers better write performance at the expense of usable capacity; useful when low-latency random access is required.
• Erasure coding / software-defined layouts — distributed systems (Ceph, MinIO, Scality) benefit from object-level redundancy schemes that can improve rebuild times and efficiency.

Rebuild times and risk management

Large-capacity drives increase rebuild windows; a single-drive failure in a large RAID set can result in prolonged degraded operation. Mitigation strategies include:

• Using RAID levels with additional parity (RAID 6 or RAID-Z2).
• Employing spare drives or hot spares to begin rebuilds immediately.
• Leveraging snapshot-driven backups to reduce reliance on single RAID rebuilds for data recovery.

Installation, servicing, and hot-swap behavior

Tool-less drives and carrier requirements

The drive ships with a Dell-compatible tray/carrier that secures the drive into the server's backplane and provides the tactile ejection latch required for hot-swap maintenance. Using the correct carrier ensures drive presence is detected properly by chassis backplane sensors and avoids issues like false offline states or incorrect LED behavior.

Field replacement best practices

1. Confirm the drive LED and server management tag indicate a failed drive prior to replacement.
2. Initiate RAID controller offline/rebuild processes as necessary; some controllers support online rebuilds automatically.
3. Insert the replacement drive firmly until the carrier latch engages; monitor iDRAC/RAID utility for rebuild start confirmation.
4. Log serial and part numbers for asset tracking and warranty claims.

Firmware, updates, and management

OEM firmware for Dell-labeled drives often contains compatibility tweaks for specific PowerEdge firmware stacks. When available, apply firmware updates from Dell or the drive OEM to resolve known issues, improve stability, or enable new features. Always test firmware changes in a non-production environment when possible and follow vendor change control procedures.

Integration with server monitoring tools

iDRAC, OpenManage, and other server management suites will report drive health, temperature, and SMART attributes. Configure alerts and thresholds to align with operational policies — for example, generating non-disruptive warnings at elevated temperature and immediate alerts for reallocated sector counts that trend upward.

Purchasing guidance and SKU considerations

OEM vs. compatible aftermarket drives

While non-OEM or aftermarket drives can reduce initial spend, OEM components preserve warranty alignment, firmware compatibility, and predictable field behavior. Purchasing genuine Dell 7GM2H units ensures the tray matches the server chassis latching mechanism and reduces the administrative complexity of cross-vendor support.

What to verify before buying

• Exact server model and chassis revision (PowerEdge 14G/15G/16G).
• Whether the backplane expects a specific carrier latch or presence pin configuration.
• Firmware revision compatibility (both server BIOS/iDRAC and drive firmware).
• Warranty and return policies from the vendor or reseller.

Cost-per-gigabyte analysis

When calculating total cost of ownership (TCO), include:

• Drive purchase price per TB
• Expected lifespan and failure rates
• Power and cooling costs over the drive lifetime
• Operational labor for rebuilds and replacements

Large-capacity spindles often reduce rack-space and management overhead but may increase rebuild-related risk. For capacity-centric workloads, these drives frequently offer compelling cost-per-TB advantages versus small-capacity high-speed alternatives.

Security and data destruction considerations

Data-at-rest encryption support

Some OEM enterprise drives provide hardware encryption or support TCG Opal standards via the drive firmware. If encryption is a requirement, verify the specific 7GM2H SKU supports hardware encryption or whether you should employ controller-based encryption solutions. Ensure key management aligns with organizational security policies.

End-of-life and secure disposal

When decommissioning drives, adhere to regulatory and organizational data sanitization standards: secure erase, multiple-pass overwrites, or physical destruction depending on sensitivity. Maintain chain-of-custody documentation for drives removed from service in regulated industries.

Environmental and operational considerations

Temperature and humidity operating ranges

Enterprise drives are rated for the thermal envelope found in typical data centers. However, dense drive arrays or non-standard airflow can expose drives to elevated temperatures. Maintain recommended inlet temperatures, ensure unobstructed airflow across drive bays, and monitor environmental sensors to prolong drive life.

Vibration and enclosure density

High-density enclosures increase vibration exposure; enterprise drives include design mitigations, but for heavily populated chassis, verify vendor vibration tolerance and consider workload balancing to reduce concurrent drive stress.

Troubleshooting common issues

Drive not recognized after hot-swap

If a newly inserted drive is not detected:

• Confirm the tray is fully seated and the carrier latch engaged.
• Check backplane connectors for debris or bent pins.
• Verify server BIOS and RAID firmware versions; sometimes a microcode mismatch prevents recognition.
• Try the drive in another known-good bay to isolate potential backplane issues.

Unusual SMART attributes or reallocated sectors

Rising reallocated sector counts or other predictive SMART warnings should trigger immediate monitoring and, depending on trend, a proactive replacement policy. Use vendor tools to extract full SMART logs and coordinate RMA if OEM thresholds are exceeded.