HPE 741170-001 400GB SAS-12GBPS MLC HE SFF SC Internal SSD

Advanced Enterprise-Class Storage Solution

The HPE 741170-001 Internal Solid State Drive delivers exceptional performance and durability for data-intensive environments. Engineered for high endurance and reliability, this 400GB SSD is ideal for mission-critical applications.

Key Attributes of the HPE 741170-001 SSD

• Storage Capacity: 400GB
• Interface Type: SAS 12Gb/s for rapid data transfer and minimal latency
• Form Factor: Compact SFF design for space-efficient deployment
• Carrier Type: Integrated Smart Carrier for enhanced manageability and thermal control

Brand and Identification Details

• Manufacturer: HPE
• Part Identifier: 741170-001
• Drive Category: Enterprise-grade SSD with Multi-Level Cell technology

Performance and Endurance Highlights

Designed for environments requiring sustained performance and long-term reliability, this SSD features:

• High Endurance EP (Enterprise Performance) rating for intensive workloads
• MLC NAND architecture optimized for balanced speed and longevity
• Smart Carrier integration for streamlined installation and monitoring

Compatibility and Deployment Benefits

• Ideal for servers, storage arrays, and high-performance computing systems
• Supports scalable infrastructure with consistent throughput
• Reduces downtime with robust error correction and wear-leveling algorithms

Choose This HPE SSD

• Trusted brand with proven enterprise-grade solutions
• Optimized for SAS 12Gbps environments requiring dependable speed
• Compact yet powerful—perfect for dense data center configurations

Technical Excellence Meets Operational Efficiency

Whether you're upgrading legacy systems or building a new high-performance platform, the HPE 741170-001 SSD offers the reliability, speed, and endurance needed to keep your operations running smoothly.

Key Specifications

Interface and Throughput — SAS 12Gb/s

The drive uses a SAS-12Gbps (SAS-3) interface, offering full-duplex operation and enterprise-class link reliability. Compared with SATA-based SSDs, SAS-based HPE 741170-001 drives provide improved command queuing, dual-port capabilities on certain platforms, and tighter integration with RAID controllers designed for enterprise workloads. For latency-sensitive applications and multi-host environments, the 12Gb/s link reduces command contention and maximizes throughput under sustained load.

Form Factor — Small Form Factor (SFF) with Smart Carrier

The SFF (2.5") form factor combined with HPE's Smart Carrier allows hot-plug replacement, drive presence detection, and front-panel LED integration for rapid identification and replacement. The HPE Smart Carrier further ensures secure mechanical mounting and chassis-level compatibility across HPE ProLiant and HPE storage enclosures, simplifying inventory management for enterprise fleets.

Flash Type — MLC High Endurance Enterprise-Grade

Multi-Level Cell (MLC) NAND in a high-endurance configuration is tuned for enterprise write-intensive use cases. Compared to mainstream TLC, MLC provides superior program/erase cycle life and better write amplification characteristics under heavy sustained writes. The “High Endurance EP” designation indicates firmware and over-provisioning strategies optimized to extend drive longevity while maintaining consistent performance for enterprise-class applications.

Capacity — 400GB and Storage Tiering

At 400GB usable capacity, these drives are often deployed as a performance tier within all-flash arrays or hybrid storage systems. They are ideal for write-heavy caching layers, database transaction logs, metadata stores, and virtual machine delta disks where high IOPS and low latency are crucial. When planning capacity, account for over-provisioning and RAID parity overhead; effective usable capacity will be lower after array-level protections are applied.

Performance Characteristics

IOPS and Latency Under Sustained Load

HPE 741170-001 drives are designed to deliver low single-digit millisecond (sub-ms) latencies for small random reads and writes and high IOPS under mixed workloads. The MLC high-endurance flash combined with enterprise controllers and firmware reduces variability and avoids performance cliffs common to consumer-grade SSDs. This makes the drive suitable for business-critical applications such as OLTP databases, virtualization hosts, and caching where consistent latency matters.

Sequential vs Random Workloads

Sequential throughput benefits from the 12Gbps SAS interface, allowing high sustained megabytes-per-second transfers for backup, replication, or large file transfers. For random I/O, these drives are optimized to retain steady-state performance thanks to intelligent garbage collection, wear-leveling algorithms, and firmware that prioritizes write endurance. Use cases with heavy small-block random writes (4K–8K) will see the strongest advantage over commodity SSDs.

Endurance Metrics — DWPD and TBW

Enterprise-grade MLC SSDs are specified with endurance metrics like Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD) and Total Bytes Written (TBW). The "High Endurance" class of the HPE 741170-001 means the drive can sustain multiple DWPD for several years under recommended operational conditions. When sizing for endurance, calculate expected write amplification from your array/RAID layer, snapshot/backup policies, and deduplication/ compression efficiency to ensure the drive meets lifetime write requirements.

Compatibility

HPE Server and Storage Compatibility

The HPE 741170-001 is validated for HPE ProLiant servers and specific HPE storage arrays. Compatibility with HPE Smart Array controllers, firmware revisions, and chassis versions should be confirmed via HPE’s compatibility matrices. Using OEM-approved drives ensures full support and avoids compatibility pitfalls such as degraded performance, invalid firmware interactions, or unsupported RAID modes.

Controller and Firmware Pairing

Enterprise SSD performance is influenced by the controller and firmware used in the server or array. HPE often provides certified firmware bundles for both drives and controllers to ensure optimal performance. Regularly review firmware updates released by HPE to benefit from performance improvements, bug fixes, and updated endurance algorithms; however, follow change-control procedures and test in staging before rolling into production.

Hot-Swapping and Serviceability

The SFF form factor with Smart Carrier enables hot-swap serviceability in supported enclosures. Quick replacement reduces Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) and supports non-disruptive maintenance when used with redundant controllers and proper RAID configurations. Labeling, inventory tagging, and drive-tray standardization improve field service efficiency.

Use Cases

Database Systems (OLTP and Mixed Workloads)

The HPE 741170-001 is well-suited to OLTP environments where sustained random writes and low latency are critical. Its high-endurance MLC flash helps ensure that write-heavy transaction logs, index updates, and frequent small-block updates do not prematurely consume drive endurance.

Virtualization and VDI

In virtualized environments, this drive acts as a high-performance tier for boot storms, desktop pools, and IOPS-hungry VM images. When deployed as part of a caching tier, it can dramatically accelerate VM boot times and reduce latency for user workloads.

Enterprise Caching and Tiering

Use as a read/write cache in hybrid arrays or as a hot-tier in all-flash configurations to accelerate hot data while keeping colder capacity on high-capacity HDDs. The combination of endurance and SAS reliability minimizes the risk of cache wear-out even under aggressive write caching policies.

Metadata and Log Stores

File-system metadata and log stores benefit from the drive’s endurance and consistent latency. These small-block, high-frequency writes are ideal for a high-endurance MLC SSD that can sustain long-term performance without significant wear-related degradation.

Comparisons and Alternatives

HPE 741170-001 vs Consumer SATA SSDs

Consumer SATA drives are optimized for cost per GB and occasional bursty workloads. They lack enterprise-grade power-loss protection, firmware tuned for sustained write endurance, and the compatibility assurance provided by HPE Smart Carrier integration. The HPE 741170-001 is a more reliable and supported choice for production servers.

MLC High Endurance vs TLC or QLC Options

TLC and QLC offer greater density and lower cost but at reduced endurance and higher write amplification under heavy writes. For write-intensive and latency-sensitive workloads, MLC high-endurance remains the preferred choice for predictable long-term performance.

Comparing SAS and NVMe

NVMe drives provide superior latency and parallelism but may require NVMe-specific infrastructure and controllers. SAS-12Gbps drives maintain broad compatibility with existing server backplanes and RAID controllers and are often the practical choice for many HPE environments, especially where dual-port availability and legacy controller interoperability are needed.