791437-003 HPE 3PAR 1.2TB 10K RPM SAS 12GBPS 2.5in HDD

Overview of 791437-003 HPE 1.2TB SAS 12Gbps Internal Hard Drive 

Category Outline of HPE 791437-003 1.2TB SAS 12Gbps SFF Internal HDD

This category covers the HPE-branded 1.2TB, 10,000 RPM, SAS (12 Gbps) small-form-factor (2.5") internal hard disk drives used primarily in HPE 3PAR / StoreServ enterprise storage arrays. These drives are sold under HPE part numbers such as 791437-003 (and frequently cross-referenced to vendor option numbers like 875659-001, K2P85B, or OEM model IDs), and appear in both new and refurbished conditions. They are designed and qualified for dense, high-IOPS, low-latency workloads inside HPE 3PAR StoreServ families (including the 7000/8000 series and similar platforms) as hot-pluggable SFF spindles.  

This subcategory matters for enterprise storage

Within a storage procurement or upgrade plan, the 1.2TB 10K SAS 12Gbps drives occupy an important middle-ground: they provide higher capacity than legacy 600–900GB 10K spindles while still offering better random I/O and lower latency than larger, slower nearline drives. System architects and procurement teams often pick these drives when they need predictable, consistent I/O performance for mixed OLTP/virtualization workloads without the cost or endurance requirements of SSD tiers. Their 2.5" SFF form factor enables higher drive density per chassis, which helps maximize usable storage capacity while keeping power, cooling, and rack space efficient. 

Key technical specifications (at-a-glance)

• Capacity: 1.2 TB (formatted capacity variant depending on vendor labeling and sectoring scheme).
• Rotational speed: 10,000 RPM — tuned for lower latency and stronger random I/O than 7.2K or 5.4K drives.
• Interface: SAS 12 Gbps (SAS-3) — enterprise-class serial attached SCSI link with full duplex capabilities.
• Form factor: 2.5" SFF (hot-pluggable in 3PAR drive trays / caddies).
• Typical uses: HPE 3PAR / StoreServ arrays (8000/7000 families), enterprise SAN arrays, tier-2 block storage for virtualization and databases.
• Security / variants: FIPS/SED (self-encrypting drive) variants may exist for environments requiring hardware encryption and compliance.
• HPE / OEM compatibility: Often cross-listed with HPE option numbers (e.g., 875659-001, K2P85B) and OEM vendor models used in certified server/storage BOMs.  

Detailed technical breakdown

Interface and throughput: These drives use a 12 Gbps SAS physical layer, commonly called SAS-3, which supports high-throughput enterprise interconnects and advanced command sets for reliability and error handling. While a single spindle will not saturate 12 Gbps on sustained sequential transfers, the SAS-3 interface ensures maximum compatibility with modern HPE controllers and backplanes and reduces protocol overhead for small-block random workloads.

Performance profile: At 10,000 RPM, the spindle latency and average seek characteristics are substantially better than 7.2K disks. This results in improved IOPS for random read/write operations, making them suitable for host-facing volumes that require consistent response times — for example, mixed virtualization environments, database log volumes, and metadata volumes for higher-performance tiers within a hybrid array. Unlike SSDs, these drives still have mechanical latency and are best used where cost-per-GB vs performance trade-off favors spinning media.

Form factor & mechanical compatibility: The 2.5" SFF form factor (SAS SFF) supports dense drive population in modern 2U/4U/large scale storage enclosures. In HPE 3PAR trays these drives are hot-pluggable and typically installed in caddies that include the vendor-specific carrier latches and status LED interfaces. When purchasing replacement drives, always check that the drive either ships in an HPE-compatible caddy or that the vendor provides the correct carrier so the drive will fit and signal properly in the array.  

Compatibility and cross-references

When managing inventory and replacements for HPE arrays, the same physical drive may appear under several different part numbers and vendor SKUs. Common cross-reference identifiers seen in the market for this class of disk include the HPE spare/option numbers (example: 875659-001, 873888-001), internal HPE catalog numbers, and OEM model codes from suppliers (sometimes shown as HCBF1200... or Ultrastar model derivatives). Many resellers and marketplaces list the 791437-003 as a certified module for 3PAR/StoreServ series and show both new boxed and refurbished options; because of this, buyers often compare price vs warranty and vendor refurb certification when choosing a source. Always confirm firmware compatibility with your specific 3PAR model and controller firmware revision before large-scale replacement.    

Typical use cases and deployment patterns

Primary application tiers: These drives are commonly deployed in mid-performance tiers of HPE 3PAR StoreServ configurations. Typical deployment patterns include:

• Mixed VM platforms: Hosting many small virtual machines where random I/O is more important than peak sequential throughput.
• Database working sets: Databases with moderate IOPS demand where SSD cost would be prohibitive for the entire dataset.
• Capacity-optimized hot tier: Hybrid arrays that use SSDs for hot data and 10K SAS spindles for large warm datasets.
• RAID groups and reliability: Frequently used in RAID-10 or RAID-6 groupings inside the array to provide a balance between endurance, rebuild performance, and usable capacity.

From an architectural perspective, the 1.2TB 10K SAS spindle is a pragmatic compromise: better randomness and lower latency than NL-SAS nearline drives, but at a much lower cost per GB than enterprise SAS SSDs — making it attractive for storage tiers that are performance-sensitive but still cost-conscious.

Capacity planning and density considerations

Because these drives are 2.5" SFF, an obvious advantage is the number of drives that can be packed into a given chassis. A modern 3PAR chassis can host a high count of 2.5" drives, and filling with 1.2TB spindles yields significant usable capacity while keeping power draw and heat per TB lower than older 3.5" 10K alternatives. When planning capacity, pay attention to RAID group overhead (e.g., RAID-6 vs RAID-10), hot-spare allocations, and expected rebuild times — rebuild times for 1.2TB spindles are shorter than multi-terabyte nearline drives but still considerably longer than SSDs. This affects spare policy and RPO/RTO considerations.  

Firmware, reliability and lifecycle management

Enterprise drives intended for array use often ship with firmware tuned by the OEM to match array controller expectations (command queuing behavior, error recovery timeouts). When purchasing replacements outside of HPE's official channels, verify whether the drive carries OEM-flashed firmware and whether the reseller will flash authentic HPE-compliant firmware if required. Mismatched firmware can cause the array to declassify a drive or exhibit degraded behavior during rebuilds. Vendors often list the exact firmware version shipped — keep firmware records and specify the required image during procurement to ensure consistent array behavior.  

Resale, refurbishment, and procurement notes

The 791437-003 and cross-referenced SKUs are commonly available as both new and refurbished units on secondary markets (eBay, specialized server hardware resellers). Pricing varies widely — refurbished caddies often appear at a fraction of new-box pricing, while new boxed units with OEM warranty command premium pricing. Buying refurbished drives can be economical but carries risk: check for reseller testing procedures, warranty length, and whether the drive is sold with the HPE carrier/caddy and any required firmware. Bulk buys from reputable refurbishers often include burn-in tests, SMART validation, and short warranties (30–90 days); certified refurb vendors may provide longer terms.  

Practical shopping checklist (what to verify before purchase)

• Exact part number and cross-reference: Confirm 791437-003 vs 875659-001 vs any other vendor SKU and ensure it matches the array's compatibility list.
• Firmware compatibility: Ask the seller about the firmware version and whether it is HPE-certified for your controller firmware revision.
• Form-factor and carrier: Ensure the drive ships with or without the correct HPE hot-swap caddy — many 3PAR trays require the vendor-specific carrier for correct mechanical and LED behavior.
• Encryption variant (if needed): If FIPS/SED is required, confirm the drive is the FIPS-certified variant, and that the array supports it.
• Condition & warranty: New vs refurbished, testing done, return policy, and warranty length.
• Quantity & pricing strategy: Price-per-unit often drops when buying in bulk — but balance savings with the risk profile of refurbished inventory.

Ooperational tips

When replacing or adding drives in 3PAR arrays, follow these operational best practices:

• Perform a full health check of the controller and array before initiating replacements.
• Stage replacements during maintenance windows if possible to avoid peak load rebuilds.
• Verify array firmware and drive firmware compatibility to avoid unnecessary drive dropouts or degraded modes.
• After insertion, monitor rebuild rates, background scrubbing, and SMART attributes for several days to detect early failures.

Comparisons: 1.2TB 10K SAS vs alternatives

Vs SSDs: SSDs provide far higher IOPS and lower latency but at a significantly higher cost per GB. Choose SSDs for the hottest workloads (caching, DB log volumes, latency-sensitive control planes). Use 1.2TB 10K SAS spindles for larger warm data sets where predictable I/O for many concurrent small-block operations remains important and cost is a factor.

Vs NL-SAS (7.2K) drives: 10K spindles deliver lower latency and higher random IOPS — beneficial for transactional workloads. NL-SAS provides higher capacity per spindle and better cost-per-GB for cold or archival data. Use 10K in tiered/hybrid designs where hot and warm data sets must be balanced across tiers.

Lifecycle, decommissioning and secure disposal

For end-of-life drives, especially those that held confidential or regulated data, follow organization-compliant sanitization procedures. If drives have hardware encryption, ensure keys are securely destroyed and encryption is validated. For non-encrypted drives, apply NIST-recommended wipe procedures or certified physical destruction when required by policy. Consider resale only after secure sanitization and documentation of data destruction if regulatory needs demand such proof.  

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