HPE 300GB SAS 10K SFF BC HDD - P40430-B21

HPE P40430-B21 300GB SAS 10K SFF Hard Drive

Overview

The HPE P40430-B21 is a 300GB SAS hard drive designed for surveillance and data center environments where reliability and consistent performance matter. This small-form-factor (SFF) drive operates at 10,000 RPM, balancing speed and endurance in 24/7 recording systems and enterprise storage arrays. The P40430-B21 delivers the throughput needed for multi-camera NVR systems and surveillance servers that demand predictable latency and rapid seek times across thousands of access patterns per hour.

Key Features

• 300GB capacity: Sufficient for 48–72 hours of continuous recording from 4–8 simultaneous HD camera streams on a single drive, depending on bitrate and codec. Real math: a 4MP H.265 stream at 8 Mbps consumes roughly 3.6GB per hour per camera, so 300GB gives you runway for extended retention without forcing immediate archival.
• SAS interface: Serial Attached SCSI delivers predictable, low-latency access patterns critical to surveillance NVR performance. Unlike SATA, SAS supports dual-port configurations and higher queue depths, reducing bottleneck risk when the NVR is ingesting from 8, 16, or 32 cameras simultaneously.
• 10,000 RPM spindle speed: Faster rotational speed means quicker access to data blocks scattered across the platter. For surveillance playback and forensic review—where you're jumping between timestamps and camera angles—this translates to sub-100ms seek times instead of the 150–200ms typical of 7,200 RPM drives.
• SFF form factor (2.5-inch equivalent dimensions): Compact geometry fits into dense 2U/4U rackmount NVR enclosures and surveillance-grade server chassis without consuming extra rack space. HPE SFF drives slot into blade servers and compact storage arrays where 3.5-inch enterprise drives simply won't fit.
• 3-year limited manufacturer warranty: Factory-new units include warranty coverage typical of HPE enterprise storage, providing peace of mind on a 24/7 surveillance recording stack where drive failure directly translates to lost forensic evidence.
• Enterprise-class build quality: Optimized for continuous operation in always-on surveillance deployments. The P40430-B21 is rated for the thermal and vibration profiles of data center and NVR enclosures, not consumer PC environments.

Deployment Considerations

This drive is purpose-built for surveillance NVRs, DVRs, and enterprise storage arrays that mandate SAS connectivity. It is not a consumer SATA drive and cannot be dropped into a standard PC without a SAS adapter card. Verify that your NVR or storage controller has SAS backplane slots; many mid-range NVRs use SATA exclusively, in which case you'll need a higher-capacity SATA 7,200 RPM surveillance drive instead.

The 300GB capacity is modest by modern standards—a single drive fills in 2–3 days on a moderately loaded system. Plan for multi-drive RAID-5 or RAID-6 arrays to achieve both fault tolerance and meaningful retention windows (7–30 days is typical for high-resolution multi-camera surveillance). Populate the array with matching drives and matching firmware to avoid RAID rebuild bottlenecks.

What's in the Box

The P40430-B21 ships as a bare drive. No cables, no brackets, no mounting hardware are included. You will need to source a SAS data cable and power connector compatible with your NVR or storage enclosure backplane.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the P40430-B21 compatible with my HPE ProLiant server or Synology NVR?

A: This drive uses SAS interface, which is standard in HPE ProLiant servers and enterprise storage arrays. Synology NVRs typically use SATA, not SAS—verify your specific model's backplane connector type before ordering. Mixing SAS and SATA on the same backplane usually requires adapters or separate controllers.

Q: What's the warranty coverage for the P40430-B21?

A: HPE includes a 3-year limited manufacturer warranty on factory-new units. This covers defects in materials and workmanship, but does not cover data recovery or environmental damage (overheating, power surges, physical shock).

Q: How long will 300GB retain video from a multi-camera system?

A: Retention depends entirely on bitrate, resolution, and codec. A rough benchmark: a single 4MP H.265 stream at 8 Mbps consumes 3.6GB per hour. With four cameras at that rate, you'll fill 300GB in roughly 20–24 hours. For longer retention, deploy a RAID array with multiple drives or move to higher-capacity models.

Q: Can I use the P40430-B21 in a standard PC?

A: Not without a dedicated SAS HBA (host bus adapter) card. Consumer motherboards and budget NVRs don't have SAS controllers—only SATA. If your system has only SATA slots, this drive is incompatible.

Q: Does the P40430-B21 include any monitoring tools?

A: The drive supports standard S.M.A.R.T. monitoring via any SAS-compatible NVR software or storage management platform. Monitor temperature, reallocated sectors, and load cycles to predict failures before they happen.

Karl Wilson

The HPE P40430-B21 is a pragmatic choice for enterprise surveillance and data center environments where SAS backplane architecture is already in place. The 10,000 RPM spindle speed and SAS interface are the real differentiators here—they eliminate the I/O bottleneck you'd hit with SATA drives when your NVR is juggling simultaneous record/playback streams across 8+ cameras. The P40430-B21 won't saturate your SAS controller, and you won't see the seek-time creep that degrades playback performance on slower 7,200 RPM drives.

Technical Highlights:

• 10,000 RPM with SAS interface: Sub-100ms average seek times mean your surveillance NVR doesn't stall when jumping between camera feeds or performing forensic scrubbing. SATA alternatives at the same capacity typically see 150–200ms seek latency, which compounds across multi-camera arrays.
• 300GB capacity in SFF form factor: Fits blade server and compact 2U/4U NVR enclosures without stealing rack space. Dense surveillance deployments that can't afford full-size 3.5-inch drives benefit immediately from the geometry.
• 3-year manufacturer warranty: Enterprise-grade coverage that reflects HPE's confidence in continuous-duty surveillance operation. Data center-class reliability means fewer unplanned failures and simpler RMA logistics.

Deployment Considerations:

• This is a SAS drive—not SATA. Do not assume it will slot into a consumer NVR or any system with SATA-only backplanes. Verify controller type before purchase.
• 300GB is a modest single-drive capacity. In a live 24/7 surveillance system, expect 48–72 hours of retention per camera depending on bitrate. Architect with RAID-5 or RAID-6 arrays to achieve both redundancy and meaningful retention windows (7–30 days typical).

Deploy the P40430-B21 in HPE ProLiant-based surveillance appliances, enterprise video management centers, or dense blade-server NVR clusters where SAS infrastructure is non-negotiable and 300GB fits the hot-storage tier of your retention pyramid.