Dell

Dell 400-AEFD 1TB 2.5" SATA Internal Hard Drive

Name: Dell 400-AEFD 1TB 2.5" SATA Internal Hard Drive
Brand: Dell
SKU: 400-AEFD

Enterprise-grade 1TB 2.5" SATA drive with 7.2K RPM speed and hot-plug convenience.

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Overview

The Dell 400-AEFD is a 1TB 2.5-inch internal hard drive built for Dell enterprise server and storage environments. With a 7.2K RPM spindle speed and SATA 6Gbps interface, it occupies a practical middle ground—offering more throughput than slower 5.4K RPM mobile drives while fitting into the compact 2.5-inch bays common in modern rack servers. Hot-plug support means failed or aging drives can be swapped out during live operation, minimizing downtime in production environments where availability matters.

This drive is best suited for workloads that prioritize capacity and sequential access over raw IOPS—think file storage, backups, log archives, and media repositories. For database-heavy or latency-sensitive applications, an SSD would be more appropriate. As a Dell-branded component, it integrates cleanly with Dell's server management tools and PERC RAID controllers, simplifying deployment in existing Dell infrastructure. If you are expanding storage in a PowerEdge environment and need reliable, cost-effective capacity, the 400-AEFD fills that role without overcomplicating your setup.

Key Features

400-AEFD

DELL

Specifications

Capacity

1TB

Form Factor

2.5 inch

Spindle Speed

7,200 RPM

Interface

SATA 6Gbps

Hot Plug

Yes

Brand

Dell

Model

400-AEFD

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

Hot-plug capability allows drive replacement without powering down the server.
7.2K RPM spindle speed delivers faster throughput than standard 2.5-inch drives.
1TB capacity provides solid storage in a compact 2.5-inch form factor.
SATA 6Gbps interface ensures broad compatibility with enterprise RAID controllers.
Designed for continuous enterprise operation with reliability-focused firmware.

👎 Cons

Mechanical drive is significantly slower than SSD alternatives for random I/O workloads.
2.5-inch 7.2K RPM drives are generally slower than their 3.5-inch counterparts at the same spindle speed.
May require a Dell-specific hot-plug tray that is not always included.
Spinning platters generate more heat and vibration than solid-state alternatives in dense server configurations.
1TB is modest capacity for modern data storage needs in enterprise environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What servers or systems is the Dell 400-AEFD compatible with?

This drive is designed for Dell PowerEdge rack and tower servers that support 2.5-inch SATA hot-plug drive bays with Dell carrier trays.

Does the drive come with a mounting tray or caddy?

Compatibility varies by listing—check whether a Dell hot-plug tray is included, as some configurations ship the bare drive only.

What is the advantage of 7.2K RPM in a 2.5-inch form factor?

It provides faster sequential read and write speeds than typical 5.4K RPM 2.5-inch drives while fitting into compact server chassis that cannot accommodate 3.5-inch bays.

Can I use this drive in a RAID configuration?

Yes, the SATA 6Gbps interface works with Dell's PERC RAID controllers, supporting RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10 configurations depending on your controller model.

Is this drive suitable for use as a desktop or laptop hard drive?

Physically it fits any 2.5-inch SATA bay, but it is optimized for 24/7 enterprise server workloads and its pricing reflects that—a consumer drive may be more cost-effective for personal use.