Acti PHDD-3C11 128GB mSATA SSD System Drive with Windows 10
The Acti PHDD-3C11 is a 128GB mSATA solid-state drive designed as a replacement system module for Acti GNR-330 network video recorders. Windows 10 and NVR management software ship pre-installed and pre-configured, enabling technicians to swap the drive and resume recording operations within minutes—no OS installation, no driver hunting, no licensing delays. This product targets integrators managing fleet NVR deployments where mean-time-to-recovery matters and spare capacity rotation is standard practice.
Key Features
- 128GB mSATA SSD: Rapid read/write performance vs. mechanical storage. Suitable for OS, application binaries, and metadata cache on compact appliances where footprint and power draw are constrained.
- Windows 10 Pre-installed: Operating system and NVR software arrive factory-configured and tested. Zero software provisioning time on replacement or refresh cycles.
- Acti GNR-330 Compatibility: Direct replacement module for GNR-330 and select Acti NVR platforms. Verify model compatibility with datasheet before ordering.
- PoE 802.3af Powered: Draw under 13W; no dedicated power supply or UPS branching required when NVR chassis supports PoE delivery to internal modules.
- 3-Year Warranty: Manufacturer warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship; covers return shipping on failures within warranty period.
- Factory-Imaged Software: NVR management application pre-loaded; configuration and camera-provisioning tools ready on first boot. Eliminates image-deployment bottlenecks in multi-site rollouts.
This drive is a system component, not a standalone recording storage tier. It replaces the boot/OS volume in compatible Acti appliances. Organizations operating multiple GNR-330 units benefit from keeping one or two spare PHDD-3C11 modules on hand; in case of SSD failure or OS corruption, a pre-configured swap takes less than 15 minutes versus hours of rebuild from scratch. The mSATA form factor and PoE integration eliminate the auxiliary infrastructure (external enclosures, power adapters, cabling) that would accompany a standard 2.5" SATA SSD replacement.
Deployment scenarios include: emergency NVR restoration at remote sites (e.g., retail chains, parking facilities), rapid expansion of recording capacity where additional GNR-330 units are deployed in parallel, and planned preventive replacement before SSD end-of-life in high-utilization environments. Because Windows 10 and the NVR software stack arrive pre-configured, integrators sidestep OS licensing delays and software compatibility uncertainty common when building replacement drives from bare metal.
Integration with the Acti GNR-330 is plug-and-play at the hardware level; the NVR's BIOS and firmware recognize the mSATA interface without additional drivers. Network configuration (IP, DNS, NTP) persists from the previous installation or can be re-entered on first boot. Camera streams and recording schedules must be re-provisioned if the NVR database was lost; if you are simply replacing a failed drive mid-deployment, the system typically resumes recording automatically after the swap. Backup your camera configuration and recording policies before any maintenance; this product is a drive replacement, not a backup or disaster-recovery solution in itself.
The Acti PHDD-3C11 is sold as a factory-new component covered under Acti's standard warranty. No grey-market, parallel imports, or refurbished inventory. Sourced direct from the manufacturer or US authorized distributor. For integrators standardizing on Acti NVR platforms across multiple customer sites, maintaining spare PHDD-3C11 inventory reduces downtime and eliminates the cost and complexity of emergency software provisioning contracts.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
In our experience, the Acti PHDD-3C11 solves a real operational headache: the cost and complexity of NVR recovery when storage fails or the OS becomes corrupted. We've seen integrators spend 4–6 hours imaging a replacement SSD, installing Windows, licensing, configuring drivers, and provisioning NVR software on site — all while the customer's recording is down. A pre-configured drive cuts that mean-time-to-recovery to 10–15 minutes: power down, swap the module, power up, and the NVR is running again with the previous configuration intact (assuming you have a current backup of camera settings, which you should). The PoE integration is elegant — the GNR-330 delivers power to the drive over the internal backplane, so you're not adding wall outlets or extensions. The mSATA form factor is compact and purpose-built for appliances with limited physical space. The real differentiator versus a generic 128GB mSATA SSD is that this arrives pre-imaged with Windows 10 and the Acti NVR software stack, validated and tested by the manufacturer. No OS licensing delays, no driver guessing games, no version mismatches between the OS and the NVR application. For fleet environments — retail chains with 10+ locations, parking facilities, warehouse networks — spare PHDD-3C11 modules become essential consumables in your kit. The 3-year warranty means you have some coverage if the drive fails prematurely, though it's a solid-state device and failures are rare if kept in a reasonably cool environment (avoid hot cabinets). The main caveat: this is a system/OS drive, not a recording-capacity expansion. If you need more video storage on a GNR-330, you're looking at external USB or network storage, not swapping this module. Also, this is locked to the GNR-330; it won't work in other Acti appliances (e.g., GNR-200, GNR-500) without verification — always check the datasheet before ordering for your specific model.
Technical Highlights:
- 128GB mSATA SSD: Provides OS and application boot performance that mechanical drives cannot match, and eliminates seek-time delays when the NVR logs or caches metadata. On 24/7 recording appliances, fast storage reduces CPU load and improves responsiveness during playback and search operations.
- Windows 10 + Pre-configured NVR Software: Manufacturer factory-image means zero OS provisioning, zero software license delays, and zero driver compatibility guessing. The image is tested by Acti engineers against the GNR-330 hardware — no surprises on first boot.
- PoE 802.3af Delivery: Standard power draw under 13W integrates seamlessly with the GNR-330's internal power distribution. No auxiliary power supplies, no cable clutter, no UPS branch management — the appliance's existing PoE infrastructure handles the drive.
- Drop-In Replacement Form Factor: mSATA physical and electrical interface is standardized. Swapping a failed drive takes under five minutes — no custom cabling, no firmware flashing, just a physical slot swap and reboot.
- 3-Year Manufacturer Warranty: Covers SSD media and electronics defects. Return shipping included on failures within the warranty period, reducing out-of-pocket spares inventory pressure on the integrator.
Deployment Considerations:
- GNR-330 Compatibility Only (for this SKU): Verify in the datasheet that your Acti appliance model is explicitly listed. mSATA modules from different manufacturers are not cross-compatible; do not assume backward or forward compatibility across Acti product lines.
- Camera Configuration and Recording Policies Must Be Re-Provisioned: If the NVR database was lost before the swap, you'll need to re-enter camera IP addresses, credentials, and recording schedules. If you're doing emergency recovery, have a documented list of your cameras and recording policies on hand.
- Operating Environment — Keep Cool: SSDs perform best and live longest in well-ventilated enclosures. If the GNR-330 is in a hot cabinet (above 35°C sustained), consider adding intake fans or moving the appliance to a cooler location. Thermal stress shortens SSD lifespan.
- Back Up Your NVR Configuration Before Maintenance: The pre-configured software is factory-default. If you have custom analytics, recording rules, or user accounts configured in your existing NVR, export or document them before any hardware swap — restoring from a backup is faster and safer than manual re-entry.
- No Video Recording Storage on This Drive: This is the system drive only. Video recording still goes to external USB or network storage configured in the NVR software. Don't expect this 128GB to hold hours of footage — it won't.
The Acti PHDD-3C11 is the right choice for integrators managing multi-location Acti GNR-330 deployments who want to minimize downtime on SSD failure or OS corruption. It's a spare-parts staple, not a primary upgrade driver. Keep one or two on hand in your kit, and you'll thank yourself when a customer site has a drive failure and you can restore service in under 20 minutes instead of canceling the rest of your day. Explore the broader Acti catalog for compatible NVR appliances and recording storage options.
