Lenovo 4XB7A80536 3.5" 480GB 5300 Series SSD for ThinkSystem ST50
Overview
The Lenovo 4XB7A80536 is a 3.5-inch, 480GB solid-state drive from the Lenovo 5300 series, validated for use as a replacement or expansion drive in the Lenovo ThinkSystem ST50 tower server. It ships as a non-hot-swap (NHS) unit, meaning installation requires the server to be powered down — a standard maintenance procedure for the ST50's fixed-bay architecture. If you're sourcing storage for a ThinkSystem ST50 build or refresh, this is the Lenovo-qualified part to specify.
Key Features
- 480GB Capacity (5300 Series SSD): The 5300 is Lenovo's enterprise-class SATA SSD line — designed for mixed-use server workloads where you need more endurance than a consumer drive but don't require NVMe throughput. At 480GB, it's sized for OS volumes, application installs, or lightweight data tiers in a single-socket tower deployment.
- 3.5" Form Factor: Fits the ST50's native 3.5" bays without an adapter carrier — the correct physical match for direct installation into the server's drive cage. Mismatched form factors are a common ordering error on server SSDs; this unit eliminates that risk for ST50 deployments.
- Non-Hot-Swap (NHS) Design: The NHS designation means no hot-swap backplane hardware is required. For server storage in low-uptime environments like edge deployments or small office servers where planned maintenance windows are routine, NHS is the appropriate and more cost-effective choice over hot-swap variants.
- ThinkSystem ST50 Qualified: Sourced as a Lenovo-validated component for the ST50 platform. Using validated storage avoids firmware compatibility issues and keeps the server within Lenovo's supported hardware matrix — relevant if your ST50 is under a service contract.
Integration & Compatibility
The 4XB7A80536 is specified for the ThinkSystem ST50. Verify your ST50's current drive bay population and available slots before ordering. The NHS designation requires a full server shutdown for installation — confirm your maintenance window accommodates this. For environments running the ST50 as a network video recorder or edge compute node, pair this with adequate RAM and confirm your workload's IOPS requirements align with SATA SSD throughput characteristics rather than NVMe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What server is the 4XB7A80536 compatible with?
A: The 4XB7A80536 is validated for the Lenovo ThinkSystem ST50 tower server. It is specified as a replacement or expansion SSD for that platform.
Q: What does "NHS" mean on this SSD?
A: NHS stands for Non-Hot-Swap. The drive must be installed while the server is powered off. It does not support hot-swap replacement while the system is running.
Q: What is the form factor and capacity of the 4XB7A80536?
A: The 4XB7A80536 is a 3.5-inch SSD with 480GB of storage capacity, from Lenovo's 5300 series enterprise SSD line.
Q: Can this SSD be used in servers other than the ST50?
A: The 4XB7A80536 is validated specifically for the ThinkSystem ST50. Lenovo validates storage components per platform — using it in other Lenovo server models is outside the stated compatibility scope.
The 4XB7A80536 is a platform-specific storage component — the 3.5" form factor and NHS designation are the two specs that matter most at the point of order. Get either wrong and you're returning the drive.
Technical Highlights:
- 3.5" NHS Form Factor: Matches the ST50's native bay size without a carrier adapter. The NHS design keeps cost down versus hot-swap variants — appropriate when the ST50 is in a role where planned downtime is acceptable.
- 5300 Series SSD: Lenovo's 5300 line targets enterprise SATA mixed-use workloads. It's positioned above consumer SSDs for endurance but doesn't carry the cost premium of NVMe — the right tier for OS and application storage in a single-socket tower.
- 480GB Capacity: Practical sizing for an ST50 used as a branch office server, edge NVR host, or lightweight application node where storage density isn't the primary constraint.
Deployment Considerations:
- Confirm available 3.5" bays in the ST50 before ordering — the ST50 supports a limited number of drive positions and bay allocation depends on the server's configured storage backplane.
- NHS means a full shutdown is required for installation. If you're running the ST50 in a 24/7 environment with no maintenance window, evaluate whether the hot-swap variant of the 5300 line is a better fit for your uptime requirements.
Best suited for ThinkSystem ST50 deployments in branch offices or edge locations where the server runs standard business hours and a scheduled maintenance window for storage swaps is operationally feasible.
