Lenovo 4XB7A80533 ST50 3.5 4TB 7.2K Non-hs SATA HDD REP

Lenovo 4XB7A80533 3.5" 4TB 7.2K SATA Server Hard Drive

Overview

The Lenovo 4XB7A80533 is a 4TB, 7,200 RPM, 3.5-inch SATA hard drive designed as a factory-configured storage option for the ThinkSystem ST50 tower server. If you're speccing storage for an ST50 — whether for a branch-office file server, a compact NVR backend, or an on-premises surveillance archive — this drive is pulled directly from Lenovo's validated component list, which matters for firmware compatibility and system-level support. Non-hot-swap configuration means the ST50 must be powered down for a drive swap, so plan your maintenance windows accordingly.

The drive ships as a single unit and installs in the ST50's 3.5-inch bay. At 2.05 lb and 7.90 x 10.40 x 3.80 inches, it's a standard large-form-factor desktop/server drive — no surprises on the physical side.

Key Features

• 4TB Capacity: Four terabytes of raw storage covers roughly 30–60 days of continuous 1080p footage from a 4–8 camera system at moderate bitrates, or serves as a cost-effective general-purpose volume for file and application data on an ST50 deployment. If your retention requirement pushes past that, consider adding a second drive or moving to a larger capacity option in the server storage lineup.
• 7,200 RPM Spindle Speed: The 7.2K spindle delivers meaningfully better sequential throughput than a 5,400 RPM NAS drive — relevant if the ST50 is handling concurrent read/write from multiple video streams or serving files to several clients simultaneously. This isn't a 10K or 15K SAS drive, but for a cost-conscious tower server workload it hits the right balance of performance and longevity.
• SATA 6 Gb/s Interface: The 6 Gb/s SATA III interface keeps pace with the drive's mechanical throughput without bottlenecking on the bus. The ST50's onboard SATA controller supports this natively — no additional HBA required, which simplifies the BOM and keeps the build clean.
• 3.5-Inch Large Form Factor: The 3.5-inch form factor maximizes areal density per dollar compared to 2.5-inch alternatives at this capacity tier. In the ST50's internal bays, this is the standard size — no adapter bracket needed.
• Non-Hot-Swap Design: The non-hot-swap configuration trades bay flexibility for a lower per-unit price point. In a single-server branch deployment where planned downtime is acceptable, this is a sensible tradeoff. If your environment demands zero-downtime drive replacement, evaluate hot-swap variants instead.
• Lenovo-Validated Component: Using a Lenovo-sourced drive (rather than a consumer or grey-market alternative) keeps the ST50 within Lenovo's hardware compatibility list. This matters for warranty coverage on the server itself and avoids firmware-level incompatibilities that can surface with off-list drives in enterprise server environments.

Integration & Compatibility

The 4XB7A80533 is designed as a replacement and upgrade drive for the Lenovo ThinkSystem ST50 tower server. It installs in the ST50's 3.5-inch internal SATA bays and is managed through the server's onboard storage controller — no RAID card or external enclosure required for basic single-drive use. If you're building a RAID array inside the ST50, confirm the onboard controller's RAID level support before purchasing multiple drives, as the ST50's base configuration has specific RAID capability tiers.

For surveillance deployments pairing an ST50 with a software NVR (such as Milestone, Genetec, or Digifort), this drive functions as primary or archive storage. At 4TB per drive and up to four internal bays on the ST50, the system can scale to 16TB raw before requiring external expansion — sufficient for most small-to-mid-size camera deployments. See our NVR storage planning resources for retention calculators and bitrate guidance.

This drive is not compatible with hot-swap backplane configurations. If you're populating a rack server or a system with an expander backplane, source the appropriate hot-swap caddy-equipped variant. Also note that while the SATA interface is universal, Lenovo server firmware may log warnings for non-validated drives — a reason to stay on-list for production deployments.

For complementary components, explore server accessories including additional drive trays, rail kits, and memory upgrades for the ST50 platform. If your storage needs exceed what internal bays can provide, network-attached storage arrays offer scalable capacity without server downtime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What server is the Lenovo 4XB7A80533 designed for?

A: The 4XB7A80533 is a validated replacement and upgrade drive for the Lenovo ThinkSystem ST50 tower server. It installs in the ST50's internal 3.5-inch SATA bays.

Q: Is this drive hot-swappable?

A: No. The 4XB7A80533 is a non-hot-swap drive. The server must be powered down before installing or removing this drive. If your deployment requires live drive replacement, you will need a hot-swap variant with the appropriate drive caddy.

Q: What is the interface and transfer rate for the 4XB7A80533?

A: The drive uses a SATA interface with a 6 Gbit/s maximum transfer rate (SATA III). This is compatible with the ThinkSystem ST50's onboard SATA controller.

Q: How much does this drive weigh and what are its dimensions?

A: The 4XB7A80533 weighs 2.05 lb. Its dimensions are 7.90 x 10.40 x 3.80 inches (L x W x H), standard for a 3.5-inch large-form-factor HDD.

Q: Can this drive be used for surveillance video storage?

A: Yes, as primary or archive storage inside a ThinkSystem ST50 running a software NVR. At 4TB capacity and 7,200 RPM, it handles continuous write workloads typical of 4–8 camera systems at 1080p. For higher camera counts or longer retention windows, plan for multiple drives or external storage expansion.

Q: Does using a Lenovo-sourced drive affect the ST50 server warranty?

A: Using components from Lenovo's validated hardware compatibility list helps ensure the server remains within supported configurations. Installing off-list drives in some Lenovo server configurations can trigger firmware warnings and may affect system-level support eligibility. Consult the ST50 hardware compatibility list for your specific firmware revision.

Karl Wilson

The 4XB7A80533 is a straightforward but important spec decision for anyone building or servicing a ThinkSystem ST50. The non-hot-swap designation is the line item that bites people — I've seen integrators order this assuming the ST50's bay supports tool-less hot-swap, and it doesn't. Power down, swap, power up. If that's acceptable in your maintenance model, the 4TB at 7,200 RPM and 6 Gb/s SATA is a solid, validated match for the platform.

Technical Highlights:

• 4TB / 7,200 RPM: At this spindle speed, sequential write throughput is adequate for continuous multi-stream recording workloads — more headroom than a 5,400 RPM drive, which matters when the ST50 is writing video from several IP cameras simultaneously.
• SATA 6 Gb/s: Runs native on the ST50's onboard controller with no additional HBA needed. That keeps the system BOM lean and avoids introducing another component into the failure chain.
• 2.05 lb / 3.5-inch LFF: Standard desktop tower form factor — fits the ST50's internal bays without an adapter sled. At 7.90 x 10.40 x 3.80 inches, no bay fitment surprises.

Deployment Considerations:

• The non-hot-swap design means you must schedule a maintenance window for any drive replacement or addition. In a 24/7 surveillance environment, build a backup recording path or alert suppression plan before pulling the server offline.
• Lenovo's ST50 firmware can log health warnings for drives not on the validated HCL. Even if an off-list drive works electrically, stay on validated components for production servers to avoid support complications down the line.

Best fit: a ThinkSystem ST50 deployed as a compact NVR backend or branch-office file server where planned maintenance windows are acceptable and the 4TB capacity tier covers the retention requirement without needing external expansion.