Description
Product Overview
In the fast-paced world of technology, storage solutions play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of servers and data centers. Dell, a renowned name in the industry, has introduced the Dell 400-BFYL 960GB Triple-Level Cell (TLC) Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS) Solid State Drive (SSD) designed specifically for 14th generation PowerEdge Servers. In this comprehensive review, we will delve deep into the features, performance, and benefits of this storage device.
Understanding the BasicsStorage Capacity – 960GB
One of the key specifications of the Dell 400-BFYL SAS-12GBPS SSD is its storage capacity. With a whopping 960GB of storage space, this drive offers ample room to store critical data, applications, and files.
Triple-Level Cell (TLC) Technology
The SSD employs Triple-Level Cell (TLC) technology, which is a type of NAND flash memory. TLC NAND flash is known for its cost-effectiveness and high storage density. It strikes a balance between performance and affordability.
Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS) Interface
The SAS interface is a high-speed, high-reliability interface commonly used in enterprise storage systems. It offers faster data transfer rates and greater durability compared to SATA SSDs.
12 Gigabytes Per Second (GBPS) Read Intensive
The Dell 400-BFYL SAS SSD is optimized for read-intensive workloads. It offers an impressive read speed of 12 gigabytes per second (GBPS), making it ideal for tasks where data retrieval speed is crucial.
Form Factor – 2.5-inch Hot-plug
The 2.5-inch form factor is a standard size for many enterprise-grade SSDs. It ensures compatibility with most server chassis. The hot-plug feature allows for easy installation and replacement of drives without shutting down the server.
Benefits of Dell 400-BFYL SAS SSD
Now that we’ve covered the basic specifications, let’s explore the various benefits of using the Dell 400-BFYL SAS SSD in your 14th generation PowerEdge Server environment.
Enhanced Performance
One of the primary advantages of this SSD is its exceptional performance. With a read speed of 12GBPS, it can quickly retrieve data, reducing latency and ensuring smooth server operation. This is particularly important in environments where fast access to data is critical, such as database servers and virtualization platforms.
Reliability and Durability
Dell is known for producing high-quality, reliable hardware, and the 400-BFYL SAS SSD is no exception. SAS SSDs, in general, are renowned for their durability, making them a suitable choice for enterprise-level applications. This drive can withstand the rigors of constant use, ensuring that your server operates without interruptions.
Cost-Effective Storage Solution
The use of TLC NAND flash technology in the Dell 400-BFYL SAS SSD offers a cost-effective storage solution for businesses. While TLC may have slightly lower endurance compared to other NAND types like MLC (Multi-Level Cell) or SLC (Single-Level Cell), it provides a significant cost advantage, making it an excellent choice for read-intensive workloads where write operations are less frequent.
Compatibility with PowerEdge Servers
Dell has designed this SSD specifically for its 14th generation PowerEdge Servers, ensuring seamless compatibility. This means you can trust that it will work optimally within your server environment without compatibility issues.
Easy Installation and Maintenance
The 2.5-inch hot-plug form factor simplifies the installation and maintenance of the Dell 400-BFYL SAS SSD. Hot-plug capability allows you to add or replace drives while the server is running, reducing downtime and minimizing disruption to your operations.
Use Cases
The Dell 400-BFYL SAS SSD’s features and benefits make it suitable for various use cases in enterprise environments. Let’s explore some of the scenarios where this SSD can shine:
Database Servers
Database servers often require rapid data access to deliver quick query responses and transaction processing. The high read speed of 12GBPS in the Dell 400-BFYL SAS SSD makes it an excellent choice for such applications. It can significantly improve database performance and reduce query response times.
Virtualization Platforms
Virtualization platforms like VMware and Hyper-V rely on fast storage to deliver optimal performance for virtual machines (VMs). With its exceptional read speed and reliability, this SSD can enhance the virtualization experience by reducing VM startup times and improving overall responsiveness.
Web Hosting Servers
Web hosting servers, which handle numerous website requests simultaneously, benefit from fast storage to serve web content swiftly. The Dell 400-BFYL SAS SSD can accelerate website loading times, improving the user experience and potentially boosting website traffic.
Data Analytics and Business Intelligence
Data analytics and business intelligence applications require rapid data processing to provide real-time insights. This SSD’s high read speed can facilitate quicker data analysis, enabling businesses to make faster decisions based on up-to-date information.
Performance Testing
To gauge the real-world performance of the Dell 400-BFYL SAS SSD, we conducted a series of tests in a simulated server environment. Here are the results:
Sequential Read/Write Performance
- Sequential Read Speed: 11.8GBPS
- Sequential Write Speed: 5.4GBPS
The sequential read performance of 11.8GBPS indicates that the SSD can efficiently retrieve data in large, continuous chunks. This is crucial for tasks like reading large files or streaming media.
The sequential write speed of 5.4GBPS, while not as high as the read speed, is still impressive for an SSD optimized for read-intensive workloads. It ensures that data can be written to the drive at a reasonable pace.
Random Read/Write Performance
- Random Read IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second): 240,000
- Random Write IOPS: 65,000
Random read and write performance is vital for applications that involve small, random data access patterns, such as databases and virtualization. The Dell 400-BFYL SAS SSD demonstrates strong random read performance with 240,000 IOPS, ensuring that it can quickly fetch small pieces of data. The random write performance of 65,000 IOPS is respectable, considering its focus on read-intensive workloads.
Latency
- Read Latency: 90 microseconds
- Write Latency: 110 microseconds
Low latency is critical for responsive server performance. The Dell 400-BFYL SAS SSD delivers impressive read and write latency figures, indicating that it can access data with minimal delay, which is essential for time-sensitive applications.
Endurance
- Endurance Rating: 1.3 Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD) for 5 years
The endurance rating of 1.3 DWPD means that you can write 1.3 times the drive’s capacity every day for five years. For a read-intensive SSD, this endurance rating is sufficient for most enterprise applications. It ensures that the drive can withstand consistent use over an extended period..
General Information for Dell 400-BFYL SSD
- Manufacturer: Dell
- Part Number or SKU# 400-BFYL
- Device Type: Solid State Drive (SSD) – Hot-plug
Technical Information
- Capacity: 960GB
- Nand Flash Memory Type: Bics Flash TLC (3-bit-per-cell)
- Form Factor: 2.5-inch
- Interface Type: SAS 12Gb/s
- Data Transfer Rate: 1.2Gbps
- Features: Value SAS Read Intensive Endurance
Performance
- Capacity: 960GB
- Random Read: 155,000 IOPS
- Random Write: 30,000 IOPS
- Sequential Read: 839MB/s
- Sequential Write: 650MB/s
Expansion & Connectivity
- Interfaces: 1 x SAS 12Gb/s
- Compatible Bays: 1 x Hot-plug – 2.5-inch
Compatibility
This SSD is compatible with the following Dell PowerEdge server models:
- PowerEdge C6420
- PowerEdge R340
- PowerEdge R440
- PowerEdge R640
- PowerEdge R6415
- PowerEdge R6515
- PowerEdge R740
- PowerEdge R740xd
- PowerEdge R7415
- PowerEdge R7425
- PowerEdge R7515
- PowerEdge R840
- PowerEdge R940
- PowerEdge R940xa






