0U738K Dell 1TB 7200 SAS 6GBPS 3.5 Inch Internal HDD

Dell 0U738K 1TB Near Line SAS Hard Disk Drive

The Dell 0U738K represents enterprise-grade storage technology designed for reliable performance in demanding server environments. This 1TB Near Line SAS hard disk drive combines the robustness of SAS interface with cost-effective high-capacity storage, making it an ideal solution for businesses requiring dependable data storage without the premium cost of full enterprise SAS drives.

Key Specifications

Manufacturer Part Number: 0U738K | Capacity: 1TB | Form Factor: 3.5-inch | Interface: SAS 6Gb/s | Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM | Buffer Size: 16MB | Drive Type: Near Line SAS | Sector Size: 512e | Average Latency: 4.16ms

Near Line SAS Storage Technology

Near Line SAS (NL-SAS) technology bridges the gap between enterprise SAS and SATA drives, offering the reliability features of SAS with the cost structure closer to SATA. The Dell 0U738K implements this hybrid approach to deliver optimal value for capacity-oriented applications where consistent performance and data integrity remain critical requirements.

SAS 6Gb/s Interface Architecture

The Serial Attached SCSI interface operating at 6 gigabits per second provides full-duplex connectivity, meaning data can be read from and written to the drive simultaneously. This dual-port capability ensures continuous operation even if one connection path fails, a crucial feature for mission-critical storage environments where uptime is non-negotiable.

Dual-Port Reliability

Unlike SATA drives that feature single-port connectivity, the Dell 0U738K's dual-port SAS design allows for redundant connection paths to storage controllers. This architecture prevents single points of failure in the connection pathway, enabling high-availability configurations and multipath I/O implementations that maintain data accessibility during controller or cable failures.

7200 RPM Performance Characteristics

Operating at 7200 revolutions per minute, the Dell 0U738K delivers balanced performance for read-intensive and write-intensive operations. This rotational speed provides the optimal balance between performance requirements and power consumption, making it suitable for 24/7 operation in data center environments where both throughput and operational costs are considerations.

1TB Storage Capacity Architecture

The 1 terabyte capacity point represents an optimal balance between storage density and performance for mid-range enterprise applications. Utilizing advanced perpendicular magnetic recording technology, the Dell 0U738K delivers this capacity while maintaining the reliability standards expected in business-critical environments.

Sector Format Technology

This drive employs 512e sector formatting (512-byte emulation) which maintains compatibility with existing systems while utilizing the efficiency of larger physical sectors. The 4KB physical sectors with 512-byte emulation provide enhanced error correction capabilities and improved areal density compared to legacy 512-byte native sector drives.

Advanced Format Benefits

The transition to 4KB sectors enables stronger Error Correction Code (ECC) algorithms, resulting in better data integrity and reduced soft error rates. This formatting approach also reduces the overhead associated with gap and sync fields between sectors, increasing the effective storage area on each platter.

Areal Density Optimization

Through precision engineering of read/write head technology and media formulation, the Dell 0U738K achieves high areal density that enables the 1TB capacity in a cost-effective package. This density optimization ensures that the drive delivers competitive performance while maintaining mechanical reliability through controlled head fly heights and precise tracking.

Comprehensive Performance Specifications

The Dell 0U738K is engineered to deliver consistent performance under varying workload conditions, with specific attention to the requirements of near-line storage applications where sustained transfer rates and quick access times contribute to overall system responsiveness.

Data Transfer Performance

With a SAS 6Gb/s interface, the drive supports burst transfer rates up to 600MB/s, though sustained rates are typically in the 120-180MB/s range depending on data patterns and access characteristics. The interface bandwidth ensures that the drive rarely becomes the bottleneck in storage subsystems, allowing full utilization of the mechanical performance capabilities.

Sustained Transfer Rates

The sustained transfer rate from the media surface ranges from 120MB/s on the inner diameters to 180MB/s on the outer diameters. This variation is characteristic of Constant Angular Velocity recording, where data density remains consistent across the platter, resulting in higher linear velocity and transfer rates on the outer tracks.

Access Time Characteristics

Average seek times for the Dell 0U738K measure approximately 8.5ms for read operations and 9.5ms for write operations. When combined with the 4.16ms average latency inherent to 7200 RPM rotation, these specifications deliver responsive performance for applications requiring frequent access to stored data.

Command Processing Efficiency

The drive's command processing pipeline efficiently handles both simple and complex I/O patterns, with support for multiple simultaneous commands through Native Command Queuing. This capability allows the drive to reorder operations for minimal mechanical movement, reducing service times for mixed workloads common in server environments.

16MB Buffer Implementation

The 16 megabyte DDR SDRAM buffer serves multiple purposes in the drive's operation, including read look-ahead caching, write caching with appropriate protection, and command queuing support. This buffer size represents the optimal balance for the drive's performance category, providing sufficient caching for typical access patterns without excessive cost.

Adaptive Cache Algorithms

Sophisticated caching algorithms monitor access patterns and adapt prefetch strategies accordingly. Sequential detection logic identifies streaming operations and preloads subsequent sectors, while random access patterns trigger different caching behaviors to maximize cache hit rates and reduce mechanical operations.

Write Cache Protection

Despite being a near-line product, the Dell 0U738K implements protected write caching to ensure data integrity during power loss scenarios. Critical write cache contents are protected to prevent data corruption, with some implementations featuring capacitor-based emergency flush mechanisms in compatible storage systems.

Enterprise Reliability

Designed for continuous operation in demanding environments, the Dell 0U738K incorporates multiple reliability technologies that exceed consumer-grade storage products. From mechanical design to error correction, every aspect is optimized for maximum uptime and data availability.

Mechanical Durability Features

The drive's mechanical platform is engineered for 24/7 operation with enhanced component specifications throughout. From the spindle motor bearing system to the actuator voice coil assembly, each mechanical component is designed and tested to exceed the requirements of enterprise workload profiles.

Head Parking Technology

During non-operation periods or system power-down, the read/write heads are securely parked on ramps away from the data surface. This technology prevents contact between heads and media during transportation or shock events, reducing the risk of physical damage or data loss.

Error Prevention and Correction

Advanced Error Correction Code algorithms protect against both soft errors (temporary) and hard errors (permanent media defects). The ECC implementation can correct multi-byte errors within each sector, with additional protection across sectors for enhanced data integrity.

Background Media Scanning

During idle periods, the drive performs background media scans to identify potential weak sectors before they become problematic. Identified sectors are either corrected through rewrite operations or reallocated to spare sectors, maintaining data integrity without impacting foreground operations.

Environmental Specifications

Rated for operation in typical data center environments, the Dell 0U738K operates reliably across a temperature range of 5°C to 55°C with appropriate airflow. Non-operating shock tolerance of 250G and operating shock tolerance of 70G ensure survival through typical handling and installation scenarios.

Acoustic Management

Enterprise acoustic profiles prioritize performance over noise reduction, though the drive implements seek quieting technologies that reduce acoustic emissions during sequential operations. Different acoustic modes can be selected based on deployment environment requirements.

System Compatibility and Integration

The Dell 0U738K is designed for seamless integration into Dell PowerEdge servers and PowerVault storage systems, with broad compatibility across enterprise storage infrastructure. The standard SAS interface ensures interoperability with SAS controllers and expanders from major storage component manufacturers.

Dell Ecosystem Integration

As a genuine Dell component, the 0U738K drive is fully compatible with Dell management infrastructure including OpenManage, iDRAC, and storage management tools. This integration enables comprehensive monitoring, predictive failure analysis, and streamlined replacement procedures within Dell server environments.

Firmware Interoperability

Dell-specific firmware ensures optimal performance and reliability when used in Dell systems. This firmware includes customizations for Dell backplanes, controllers, and management interfaces that may not be available in generic SAS drives, providing enhanced functionality within the Dell ecosystem.

SAS Connectivity Standards

Compliant with SAS-2 (6Gb/s) specifications, the drive maintains backward compatibility with 3Gb/s SAS infrastructure while capable of connecting to 12Gb/s SAS environments with negotiated speed operation. This compatibility ensures broad interoperability across multiple generations of storage hardware.

SAS Topology Support

The drive functions effectively in both direct-attach configurations and expanded SAS domains. Support for SAS address frames and expander configuration pages enables seamless operation in complex storage architectures with multiple initiators and expanded device counts.

Workload Optimization Characteristics

The performance and reliability characteristics of the Dell 0U738K make it particularly suitable for specific workload patterns common in enterprise environments. Understanding these optimization points helps in proper deployment for maximum effectiveness and value.

Capacity-Optimized Storage Tier

As a Near Line SAS drive, the 0U738K excels in capacity-oriented roles where cost-per-terabyte is a consideration but SAS reliability features are still required. Typical deployments include secondary storage tiers, archive repositories, and backup targets where the balance of capacity and performance meets application requirements.

Sequential Workload Performance

The drive delivers strong performance for sequential read and write operations, making it well-suited for streaming media, backup applications, and large file processing. The sustained transfer rates efficiently utilize the SAS interface bandwidth during large block transfers.

Mixed Workload Capability

While optimized for sequential patterns, the drive competently handles mixed workloads with random I/O components. The combination of 7200 RPM spindle speed, sophisticated caching algorithms, and command queuing support provides responsive performance for applications with diverse access patterns.

RAID Performance Characteristics

Designed for operation in RAID environments, the drive includes features that enhance RAID performance and reliability. These include controlled error recovery time limits that prevent RAID timeout during media errors, and staggered spin-up support that manages power distribution in multi-drive enclosures.

TLER Implementation

Time Limited Error Recovery controls how long the drive attempts error recovery procedures before reporting back to the controller. This prevents the drive from being dropped from RAID arrays due to extended recovery attempts, maintaining array integrity during media error events.