400-BDNT Dell 960GB SATA 6GBPS Read Intensive TLC 512e 2.5inch Hot Plug SSD

Dell 400-BDNT 960GB Read Intensive SATA SSD

The Dell 400-BDNT 960GB Read Intensive SATA SSD represents a specialized storage solution engineered specifically for Dell EMC PowerEdge 14th generation servers. This 2.5-inch hot-swappable solid-state drive delivers exceptional performance for read-intensive workloads while maintaining the reliability and compatibility expected from genuine Dell storage components. With its 960GB capacity and TLC NAND technology, this drive strikes an optimal balance between performance, endurance, and cost-effectiveness for enterprise environments.

Key Specifications at a Glance

Form Factor: 2.5-inch with Hot-Swap Tray | Interface: SATA 6Gb/s | Capacity: 960GB | NAND Type: Triple-Level Cell (TLC) | Read Intensive Workload Rating | Sector Size: 512e | Compatible with Dell PowerEdge 14G Servers 

Storage Architecture and NAND Technology

The Dell 400-BDNT utilizes Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND flash technology, which stores three bits of data per memory cell. This architecture provides an excellent balance between storage density, performance, and cost-effectiveness for read-intensive applications. While TLC typically offers lower endurance compared to SLC or MLC alternatives, Dell's implementation includes advanced wear-leveling algorithms and over-provisioning to ensure reliable performance throughout the drive's operational lifespan in enterprise environments.

512e Sector

This SSD features 512e (512 byte emulation) sector formatting, which ensures broad compatibility with existing enterprise systems and applications while maintaining optimal performance characteristics. The 512e format allows the drive to work seamlessly with legacy operating systems and applications that expect traditional 512-byte sectors, while internally utilizing the more efficient 4K physical sectors common in modern NAND flash architecture.

Performance Metrics and Capabilities

SATA 6Gb/s Interface Performance

Leveraging the SATA 6Gb/s interface, the Dell 400-BDNT delivers sequential read speeds up to 560MB/s and sequential write speeds up to 510MB/s under typical operating conditions. While not matching the performance of NVMe solutions, this SATA-based drive provides substantial performance improvements over traditional hard disk drives and represents a cost-effective upgrade path for organizations with existing SATA infrastructure.

Included Hot-Swap Tray Assembly

Each Dell 400-BDNT 960GB SSD ships with a compatible hot-swap tray specifically designed for PowerEdge servers. This tray enables easy installation and removal without requiring server downtime, facilitating maintenance, upgrades, and capacity expansion while maintaining system availability. The tray is engineered to meet Dell's mechanical specifications and thermal requirements for optimal drive cooling and reliability.

Typical Endurance and Lifespan Expectations

With its 960GB capacity and read-intensive endurance rating, the 400-BDNT can withstand approximately 1.75 petabytes written (PBW) over its operational lifespan. This endurance level is sufficient for most read-centric applications while providing adequate write performance for necessary operational overhead, metadata updates, and background maintenance operations.

Ideal Application Scenarios

Boot Drives and Operating System Storage

The Dell 400-BDNT serves as an excellent boot drive for PowerEdge servers, providing fast system startup, rapid application loading, and responsive system operation. Its read-optimized performance accelerates operating system and hypervisor operations while maintaining the reliability required for continuous server operation.

Database and Application Servers

For database applications where frequently accessed data requires fast retrieval times, the 400-BDNT delivers significant performance improvements over traditional hard drives. It excels in scenarios involving read-heavy database queries, content delivery networks, web servers, and application servers where data is read more frequently than written.

Mixed-Use and Write-Intensive SSDs

Reliability

The Dell 400-BDNT incorporates sophisticated error correction code (ECC) mechanisms capable of correcting multiple bit errors per page. Combined with end-to-end data path protection, this ensures data integrity from the host interface through the DRAM buffer to the NAND flash memory. These protection mechanisms are critical for maintaining data accuracy in enterprise storage applications.

2.5-inch Form Factor with Hot-Swap Tray

The drive conforms to the standard 2.5-inch form factor (69.85mm x 100mm x 7mm) and includes a Dell-specific hot-swap tray that facilitates easy installation in PowerEdge server drive bays. The tray design incorporates proper airflow channels to maintain optimal operating temperatures and includes appropriate labeling and LED status indicators compatible with PowerEdge server front panels.

Environmental Operating Conditions

Power Consumption Characteristics

Typical power consumption during active operation ranges from 2.5W to 3.5W, with idle power consumption typically below 1W. These power characteristics contribute to overall server power efficiency while maintaining performance requirements. The drive supports advanced power management states through SATA interface power management features.

Firmware

Before deployment, administrators should verify compatibility with specific PowerEdge server models through Dell's official compatibility matrix. While designed for 14th generation PowerEdge servers, the drive may be compatible with other Dell systems with appropriate verification. Dell provides comprehensive compatibility documentation and configuration guidance for enterprise customers. Dell regularly releases firmware updates to address performance optimizations, security enhancements, and compatibility improvements. These updates are distributed through Dell's support website and can be applied using Dell Open Manage tools, iDRAC interfaces, or bootable update media. Regular firmware maintenance is recommended to ensure optimal performance and reliability.