345-BKYR Dell 240GB SATA-6GBPS Mixed-Use TLC 2.5 Inch Enterprise Class SSD

Outline of Dell 345-BKYR 240GB TLC SATA 6Gbps SFF SSD 

The DELL 345-BKYR 240GB solid state drive is a purpose-built, enterprise-class storage device engineered to deliver consistent, high-throughput performance for modern data-center workloads. Built as a 2.5-inch small form factor (SFF) 7mm drive using Triple Level Cell (TLC) NAND and a SATA 6Gbps interface, this SSD targets server environments such as 14G PowerEdge platforms and other compatible 2.5" bays. Because it blends cost-effective TLC density with enterprise-grade firmware, it offers an attractive balance of capacity, performance, durability, and price for mixed-use applications.

Mixed-Use Enterprise Workloads

Designed for mixed-use scenarios, the DELL 345-BKYR 240GB is optimized to support a broad spectrum of workloads that combine read-heavy and write-heavy activity. Typical deployments include:

Virtual machine (VM) boot volumes and OS images Database caching and metadata pools
Transactional applications with sustained I/O
Boot/system/utility volumes in PowerEdge servers
Storage tiering where low latency is required at an economical cost

Key Benefits at a Glance

Performance and Latency

The drive leverages enterprise-grade firmware and optimized NAND management to maintain low latency under mixed I/O patterns. While SATA 6Gbps caps raw link bandwidth relative to NVMe, well-tuned SATA enterprise SSDs still deliver predictable latency and high IOPS for many server-side roles.

Endurance & Reliability

Enterprise TLC with robust wear-leveling, power-loss protection (where provided in the assembly), and error-correction algorithms ensures reliable operation across demanding workloads. The SSD's endurance metrics (DWPD or TBW) are tuned for mixed use, giving organizations a favorable lifespan-to-cost ratio versus client-grade drives.

Compatibility & Form Factor

The 2.5-inch SFF 7mm height and standard SATA interface make this SSD highly compatible with a wide range of server trays, hot-swap bays, and legacy storage controllers—especially common in 14G PowerEdge and similar rack-mount servers where 2.5" sleds are widely used.

Technical Specifications 

Drive Type and NAND

Triple Level Cell (TLC) NAND stores three bits per cell, enabling higher density and lower cost per gigabyte than single-level (SLC) or multi-level cell (MLC) alternatives. In enterprise TLC SSDs, firmware and over-provisioning are configured to mitigate endurance trade-offs inherent to higher-density NAND.

Interface: SATA 6Gbps (SATA III)

SATA III provides mature, widely supported connectivity across legacy and modern servers. While it is not as fast as NVMe/PCIe, the interface remains perfectly suitable for system drives, caching tiers, and many enterprise applications where extreme bandwidth is unnecessary but predictability is essential.

Form Factor: 2.5-inch SFF, 7mm Height

The compact 7mm z-height enables installation in both thin 2.5" trays and thicker drive cages with caddies. It's a common standard for production servers and storage arrays that accept 2.5" enterprise drives.

Capacity: 240GB

240GB is a practical capacity for OS/boot volumes, hypervisor images, VM templates, database logs, and caching layers. In tiered architectures it is commonly used as a high-performance layer (hot tier) in front of larger spinning disk or higher-latency storage for frequently accessed data.

Performance Characteristics  

Although raw numbers will vary by firmware revision and system integration, mixed-use enterprise SATA TLC SSDs typically offer strong 4K random IOPS and solid sequential throughput up to the practical limits of the SATA interface. Key points to keep in mind:

Random I/O (IOPS)

For small-block, mixed-read/write workloads, expect significantly higher IOPS than HDDs, with response times measured in single-digit to low double-digit microseconds (under normal load). These characteristics make the drive ideal for metadata stores, database index files, and small-block transaction processing.

Sequential Throughput

Sequential reads/writes are limited by SATA 6Gbps but still provide strong throughput for bulk transfers and staging operations. Real-world throughput often ranges near the SATA ceiling for favorable block sizes, yet will drop under heavy mixed random workloads.

Latency & Consistency

Enterprise firmware focuses on latency consistency more than peak throughput. This drive is built to avoid latency spikes during garbage collection and sustained writes, offering smoother performance under steady-state mixed loads.

Compatibility: Servers, Controllers & Caddies

14G PowerEdge Server Compatibility

The DELL 345-BKYR form factor and electrical interface make it suitable for many 14th-generation PowerEdge servers equipped with 2.5" bays. When placing the drive into Dell server sleds or trays, verify firmware / part cross-reference with Dell’s compatibility matrix for the exact server model to ensure all features and RAID controller integrations operate correctly.

RAID Controllers and HBA Compatibility

SATA enterprise SSDs typically function behind software RAID, hardware RAID controllers, or host bus adapters (HBAs). For predictable performance in RAID arrays, choose controllers that support enterprise SSD features and TRIM, or use controller vendor guidance to tune stripe sizes and cache policies.

Adapter & Caddy Considerations

If using the drive in non-Dell chassis, ensure the drive adapter or caddy is designed to accept 7mm drives and provides correct mounting points and SATA connector orientation. Some chassis use proprietary sleds; in such cases an OEM adapter or compatible third-party caddy may be necessary.

Data Center Integration & Tiering Strategies

This SSD Fits in a Tiered Storage Model

Use the 240GB DELL 345-BKYR as a hot tier for frequently accessed data and performance-critical system volumes. Behind it, larger capacity drives (SATA HDDs, NL-SAS) or high-density SSD tiers can provide bulk storage for colder data. This approach reduces cost while preserving responsiveness for critical operations.

Cache & Read-Acceleration Roles

The drive is well-suited for read cache or metadata cache deployments in both software-defined and hardware-accelerated storage stacks. Its low latency and high random IOPS help accelerate read-heavy operations and database index lookups.

Virtualization & Containerized Workloads

In virtualized environments, using these drives for host OS, hypervisor images, or high-churn container registries improves responsiveness and VM boot times. Consider using multiple drives in RAID 1 or RAID 10 for redundancy of critical system volumes.

Data Protection Features

Secure Erase & Cryptographic Options

When secure data disposal is required, look for drives that support secure erase or cryptographic erase commands. If the model includes self-encrypting drive (SED) options, ensure key-management integration with your enterprise's security systems.

Data Integrity Mechanisms

Enterprise drives implement advanced ECC (error-correcting code), end-to-end CRC checks, and other integrity checks to minimize silent data corruption. These features are crucial when drives are used in RAID arrays or in distributed storage systems.

Comparisons: TLC SATA SSD vs Alternatives

TLC SATA vs MLC / SLC

- SLC/MLC: Offer higher endurance per cell and lower write amplification, but at a higher cost per GB. - TLC: Offers greater capacity at lower cost; enterprise TLC balances endurance with firmware features and over-provisioning to be suitable for mixed-use.

SATA SSD vs NVMe SSD

NVMe drives provide much higher parallelism and throughput using PCIe lanes and are ideal for I/O-heavy, latency-sensitive workloads. However, SATA enterprise SSDs remain relevant when compatibility, cost, and widespread support across older server fleets are primary concerns.