Lenovo 4XB7A76940 ThinkSystem ST50 240GB S4520 Read Intensive SATA SSD
Overview
The Lenovo 4XB7A76940 is a 240GB S4520 Read Intensive SATA solid-state drive in a 3.5-inch non-hot-swap (NHS) form factor, validated for the ThinkSystem ST50 tower server. If your ST50 deployment runs read-heavy workloads — OS boot volumes, application binaries, surveillance video index files, or lightweight database reads — this drive is sized and tiered for exactly that use case. The SATA interface keeps it compatible with the ST50's native drive bays without requiring additional HBA hardware, and the Read Intensive rating signals the NAND endurance profile is optimized for high read-to-write ratios rather than mixed or write-heavy workloads. Explore the full Lenovo server storage line for additional capacity and endurance tiers.
Key Features
- 240GB Capacity, Read Intensive Tier: Right-sized for OS and application storage on an entry tower server — RI-class NAND is spec'd for workloads where reads dominate, which keeps cost down without over-engineering endurance you won't consume.
- SATA Interface: Plugs directly into the ST50's onboard SATA ports — no SAS expander, no additional controller card needed. Straightforward to integrate into a tower server storage build.
- 3.5-Inch Non-Hot-Swap Form Factor: Fits the ST50's 3.5-inch drive bays natively. NHS means the server must be powered down for a drive swap — plan maintenance windows accordingly if uptime is critical.
- S4520 Drive Family: Lenovo's S4520 is a data-center-validated SSD line, factory-new and sourced through channel-direct distribution — no grey-market, no parallel imports.
- UNSPSC 43201830: Correctly classified as a computer storage device, which simplifies procurement tagging in enterprise purchasing systems.
Integration and Compatibility
The 4XB7A76940 is validated for the ThinkSystem ST50 server. Before ordering, confirm your ST50's firmware level supports the S4520 drive via Lenovo's server compatibility matrix. NHS drives are not interchangeable with hot-swap trays — verify your chassis bay type. The SATA interface is broadly compatible with standard server storage accessories and RAID controllers that support SATA SSDs. For surveillance NVR applications on the ST50, pair with adequate system RAM and confirm your NVR software supports SSD boot volumes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What server is the Lenovo 4XB7A76940 validated for?
A: The 4XB7A76940 is designated for the ThinkSystem ST50 tower server based on the product name and distribution feed classification.
Q: What does RI (Read Intensive) mean for this SSD?
A: Read Intensive indicates the NAND endurance profile is optimized for workloads where reads significantly outnumber writes — such as OS boot drives, application storage, or surveillance index volumes. It is not recommended for high write-cycle workloads like active database transaction logs.
Q: Is this a hot-swap drive?
A: No. NHS stands for Non-Hot-Swap, meaning the server must be powered down before installing or removing this drive.
Q: What interface does the 4XB7A76940 use?
A: SATA. No additional HBA or controller card is required for the ThinkSystem ST50's native bays.
Q: What form factor is this drive?
A: 3.5-inch, matching the standard drive bay configuration of the ThinkSystem ST50.
The 4XB7A76940 is a straightforward storage add-in for the ThinkSystem ST50 — 240GB of SATA SSD capacity in a 3.5-inch NHS bay. The Read Intensive designation is the spec that matters most here: RI-class NAND is binned for high-endurance reads, not sustained write throughput, which makes it a sensible fit for boot-and-application roles but a poor choice for anything writing continuously at volume.
Technical Highlights:
- SATA Interface: Native compatibility with the ST50's onboard ports — no controller card spend, no driver complexity. Lowest-friction install path for an entry tower.
- Read Intensive Endurance Class: Appropriate for OS volumes and read-dominant application tiers; plan a different drive tier if your workload write percentage exceeds ~30%.
- Non-Hot-Swap Design: At 10 lb shipping weight, this ships as a complete drive-in-tray assembly — confirm tray compatibility with your specific ST50 bay configuration before racking.
Deployment Considerations:
- NHS requires a planned maintenance window for any drive swap — if the ST50 is running a live surveillance recording role, schedule the install during a low-activity period and verify your NVR can resume cleanly after a cold restart.
- Confirm via Lenovo's ServerProven compatibility matrix that your ST50 firmware revision supports the S4520 drive before installing — server-validated SSDs occasionally require a firmware baseline update to register correctly.
Best fit: ThinkSystem ST50 deployments where the server handles OS hosting, application serving, or surveillance software with a read-heavy storage profile — and where the simplicity of SATA NHS outweighs the flexibility of hot-swap.
