Selecting the right Dell NVMe PCIe SSD for your server and storage infrastructure is critical to achieving high performance, endurance, and scalability in a data center environment.
Dell NVMe PCIe SSDs - Save up to 80%
Whether you need high-speed U.2 drives for enterprise storage or M.2 NVMe SSDs for boot drives and caching, Dell offers a wide range of Gen3 and Gen4 SSDs with varying endurance levels and capacities.
Dell NVMe PCIe SSD Form Factors: U.2 vs. M.2 for Data Centers
When choosing a Dell NVMe PCIe SSD, one of the most important decisions is the form factor. Dell enterprise SSDs primarily come in two formats:
Form Factor | Use Case | Pros | Cons |
U.2 (2.5") | Data center & enterprise storage | Hot-swappable, high endurance, better power management | Larger physical size |
M.2 (2280, 2230) | Boot drives, caching, workstations | Compact, fits in more systems | Not hot-swappable, lower endurance |
Which One Should You Choose?
For enterprise storage & large-scale applications: Go with U.2 NVMe SSDs.
For boot drives & specialized caching needs: Choose M.2 NVMe SSDs.
Gen3 vs. Gen4 Dell NVMe PCIe SSDs: Performance & Compatibility
Dell provides both PCIe Gen3 and Gen4 SSDs, and choosing between them depends on your server hardware and workload needs.
Generation | Max Speed (Theoretical) | Best Use Case |
PCIe Gen3 | ~3,500 MB/s | General-purpose enterprise workloads |
PCIe Gen4 | ~7,000 MB/s | HPC, AI, big data, virtualization |
🔹 Before upgrading to Gen4 SSDs, check if your Dell PowerEdge server supports PCIe 4.0 (e.g., PowerEdge R750, R760). If your server only supports PCIe 3.0, you won’t benefit from Gen4 speeds.
Understanding Dell NVME PCIe SSD Classes: Class 25, 35, 40, 50
Dell categorizes its enterprise NVMe SSDs based on performance and endurance:
Class | Best For | Write Endurance (DWPD) |
Class 25 | Read-intensive workloads | ~0.3 DWPD |
Class 35 | Mixed workloads | ~0.5 DWPD |
Class 40 | Write-heavy workloads | ~1 DWPD |
Class 50 | High-endurance, AI/ML workloads | 1+ DWPD |
🛠️ Key Takeaway: Choose Class 40 or 50 for frequent write operations, and Class 25 or 35 for read-intensive tasks like archival storage.
Dell NVMe PCIe SSD Compatibility with PowerEdge Servers
Below is a quick compatibility guide showing which Dell NVMe SSDs fit in popular Dell PowerEdge servers:
Dell SSD Model | PowerEdge Compatibility |
Dell 1.92TB U.2 P5500 Gen4 | R750, R760, R740XD |
Dell 3.84TB U.2 Read Intensive | R750, R740, R660 |
Dell 960GB U.2 AG Drive | R640, R650, R750 |
Dell M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen4x4 2280 1TB | R650, R750 (for boot drives) |
📌 Ensure your server supports U.2 drives via a backplane or adapter. Some models require specific carrier brackets.
Comparison Table: Best Dell NVMe PCIe SSDs for Servers & Storage
Model | Form Factor | Capacity | Speed (Read/Write) | Best For |
Dell 1.92TB U.2 P5500 Gen4 | U.2 | 1.92TB | 6400 MB/s | Virtualization, VMs |
Dell 3.84TB U.2 Gen4 Read Intensive | U.2 | 3.84TB | 7000 MB/s | Enterprise Storage |
Dell 960GB U.2 Gen4 AG Drive | U.2 | 960GB | 5000 MB/s | AI & HPC Workloads |
Dell M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen4x4 2280 1TB | M.2 | 1TB | 7000 MB/s | Boot drive, OS caching |
FAQs: Dell NVMe PCIe SSDs for Data Centers
What is an NVMe server?
An NVMe server is a server that supports NVMe-based storage, offering high-speed, low-latency SSD performance over PCIe compared to traditional SATA or SAS drives. It is ideal for high-performance computing (HPC), virtualization, and database applications.
What is the throughput of Dell NVMe SSDs?
Dell NVMe SSDs vary in throughput depending on the model and generation. PCIe Gen3 NVMe SSDs typically offer speeds of up to 3,500 MB/s, while PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSDs can reach speeds of up to 7,000 MB/s, making them suitable for data-intensive applications.
Does NVMe store data?
Yes, NVMe is a high-speed storage interface that allows SSDs to store and retrieve data faster than traditional SATA or SAS SSDs. It is widely used in enterprise servers, data centers, and high-performance computing environments.
What is Dell NVMe?
Dell NVMe refers to NVMe SSDs designed and certified for Dell servers and storage systems. These SSDs are optimized for high-performance applications, offering low latency, high IOPS, and superior reliability in Dell PowerEdge and other enterprise systems.
Which Dell servers support NVMe?
Many Dell PowerEdge servers support NVMe SSDs, including models like the PowerEdge R750, R760, R650, and R640. Compatibility depends on PCIe slot availability, backplane configuration, and BIOS support.
Can NVMe SSD be used in PCIe slots?
Yes, NVMe SSDs connect via PCIe slots, but they require an M.2, U.2, or PCIe add-in card (AIC) interface. Ensure your server has the appropriate slot and firmware support for NVMe SSDs.
What are NVMe servers?
NVMe servers are enterprise-grade servers equipped with NVMe SSDs to maximize storage performance, reduce latency, and support high-speed workloads such as virtualization, AI, and big data processing.
Are PCIe SSDs better than NVMe?
NVMe is a protocol that runs over PCIe, meaning NVMe SSDs are a type of PCIe SSD. Compared to older AHCI-based PCIe SSDs, NVMe SSDs deliver much higher performance and efficiency.
Does NVMe use SATA or PCIe?
NVMe SSDs use PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) for high-speed data transfer. Unlike SATA SSDs, NVMe SSDs can leverage PCIe Gen3 and Gen4 lanes for significantly higher bandwidth and lower latency.
Can I use an NVMe SSD as storage?
Yes, NVMe SSDs are commonly used as primary storage in servers, enterprise storage systems, and high-speed computing environments due to their superior speed and reliability.
What is the storage capacity of NVMe?
Dell NVMe SSDs come in a variety of capacities, typically ranging from 240GB to 15TB, depending on the model and intended use case.
What is the largest storage NVMe SSD?
Enterprise-grade NVMe SSDs can go up to 15TB+ in capacity, offering high-density storage for AI, machine learning, and large-scale data processing.
Does NVMe support PCIe?
Yes, NVMe SSDs are specifically designed to use PCIe lanes, providing low-latency and high-bandwidth access to data compared to traditional storage interfaces.
What is the difference between PCIe NVMe and NVMe SSD?
PCIe is the interface used by NVMe SSDs, while NVMe is the protocol that optimizes how data is read and written. All NVMe SSDs use PCIe, but not all PCIe SSDs are NVMe-based.
Dell NVMe PCIe SSDs - Save up to 80%
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