A Dell PERC (PowerEdge RAID Controller) is chosen by server generation, form factor (mini, adapter or front-mount), drive interface (SAS/SATA or NVMe) and whether you need RAID at all. As a rule, the H730P appears in 13th generation builds, the H740P in 14th generation, the H755 and H750 in 15th generation, and the H965i in 16th and 17th generation PowerEdge servers.
The PERC models in our catalog
Specifications below come from Dell spec sheets and support lists held in our catalog.
| Controller | Part number | Form | Cache | Drive interface | Host interface |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PERC H730P mini | 405-AAEK | Integrated (mini) | 2 GB NV | 12Gb SAS/SATA | - |
| PERC H740P mini | 405-AANL | Mini card | 8 GB | 12Gb SAS/SATA | - |
| PERC H740P adapter | 405-AAMX | Adapter | 8 GB | 12Gb SAS/SATA | - |
| PERC H750 adapter | 405-ABCE | PCIe adapter | 8 GB NV | 12Gb SAS/SATA (no NVMe) | PCIe Gen4 |
| PERC H755 adapter | 405-AAXT | PCIe adapter | 8 GB NV | 12Gb SAS/SATA and NVMe Gen3/Gen4 | PCIe Gen4 |
| PERC H755 front | 405-AAXO | Front-mount | 8 GB NV | 12Gb SAS/SATA | PCIe Gen4 |
| PERC H755N front | 405-AAXN | Front-mount | 8 GB NV | NVMe only | PCIe Gen4 |
| PERC H965i front | 405-ABDM | Front-mount | 8 GB | 22.5Gb SAS/SATA and NVMe | PCIe Gen4 |
| PERC H965i adapter | 405-ABDE | PCIe adapter, low profile | 8 GB | 22.5Gb SAS/SATA and NVMe | PCIe Gen4 |
Every PERC in the table supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 and 60.
Which controller for which PowerEdge
13th generation (R630, R730, R730xd)
The H730P mini is an integrated controller with 2 GB of non-volatile cache and 8 internal ports. It sits in a dedicated slot on the system board, so it does not use a PCIe slot. See our 13th generation guide.
14th generation (R640, R740, R740xd)
The H740P has 8 GB of cache and comes in two forms: the mini card 405-AANL (FRU 4R84R) for the integrated slot, and the adapter 405-AAMX for a PCIe slot. See our 14th generation guide.
15th generation (R650, R750, R750xs, R450, R550)
Dell lists the H755 front for the R450, R550, R650, R650xs, R750, R750xa, R750xs and T550, among others. The front-mount design sits behind the drive backplane. The H755 adapter adds NVMe support and is listed for the R750 and R750xs, among others. The H750 adapter is a SAS/SATA-only option with 8 ports.
16th and 17th generation (R660, R760, R770)
The H965i is listed for models such as the R660, R660xs, R760, R7615, R7625 and R860. It supports 22.5Gb SAS as well as NVMe. The H755 adapter is also listed for the R660 and R760.
Always check your exact model against Dell's support list. A front-mount controller only fits chassis designed for it, and some chassis use a different cable kit for each controller.
Mini, adapter and front-mount: what is the difference?
- Mini (integrated): a small card in a dedicated system board slot. It keeps PCIe slots free. Used in 13th and 14th generation rack servers.
- Adapter: a standard PCIe card. It works in towers and in chassis without an integrated slot, but uses a PCIe slot. Bracket height (low profile or full height) must match the slot.
- Front-mount: used from the 15th generation. The controller mounts behind the drive cage, close to the backplane.
A mini card and an adapter of the same model are different part numbers and are not interchangeable.
RAID controller or HBA?
A RAID controller builds arrays in hardware and presents virtual disks to the operating system. An HBA (host bus adapter) passes each drive straight through.
- Choose a RAID controller for traditional servers running RAID 1, 5, 6 or 10, where the controller and its cache protect and speed up writes.
- Choose an HBA for software-defined storage, ZFS, Ceph, vSAN and similar platforms that manage drives themselves.
Dell HBAs in our catalog:
| HBA | Part number | Ports | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HBA355i front | 405-AAXV | 16 internal | Front-mount, 12Gb SAS/SATA |
| HBA355i adapter | 405-AAXW | 16 internal | Listed for R660, R750, R760 and others |
| HBA355e external | 405-AAZY | 16 external (4 x4) | Up to 240 drives; listed for R440, R540, R650, R750 and PowerVault ME5 |
The HBA355i supports up to 16 drives per controller, or 50 with an expander.
External controllers
Controllers with an "e" suffix have external SAS ports for JBOD enclosures and SAS-attached arrays. The PERC H965e (405-BBBT) is an external RAID controller with 8 GB cache and up to 240 SAS drives. The HBA355e is the external non-RAID option. See our PowerVault guide for enclosures.
Boot drives: BOSS cards
A BOSS (Boot Optimized Storage Solution) card holds two M.2 drives in a mirror for the operating system, so the front bays stay free for data.
- BOSS card 403-BCHD: listed for the R240, R340, R440, R540, R640, R740, R740xd and T140.
- BOSS card, blade 403-BBYO: listed for the MX750c, R450, R650xs, XR11 and XR12.
- BOSS-N1 (WW56V): for 16th generation models including the R660 and R760.
Cache and battery
PERC controllers with NV (non-volatile) cache protect cached writes during a power loss. When you buy a refurbished controller, check that the battery or cache protection module is included and healthy, and that the controller firmware is at a level your server supports.
Checklist for your request
- Server model and generation.
- Form factor: mini, adapter (low profile or full height) or front-mount.
- RAID or HBA, and the RAID levels you plan to use.
- Drive types: SAS, SATA or NVMe, and how many.
- Internal or external ports.
- Cables, if you are adding a controller to a server that did not have one.
Browse all RAID controllers or Dell parts. Need an older model such as the H330, H730 or HBA330? Use Source a Part or add the part number to an RFQ. We reply within 1 business day.
FAQ
What is the difference between the H730 and the H730P?
The "P" models carry more cache. The H730P in our catalog has 2 GB of non-volatile cache. If you are replacing a failed controller, match the exact model and form factor.
Can I use an H740P mini in an R730?
The H740P is a 14th generation controller and the R730 is 13th generation. Use a controller listed for your server, such as the H730P mini for 13th generation systems.
Does the H755 support NVMe drives?
The H755 adapter supports SAS, SATA and NVMe Gen3/Gen4. The H755 front (405-AAXO) is SAS/SATA only, and the H755N front is NVMe only.
Do I need a RAID controller for vSAN or Ceph?
These platforms usually expect drives passed through directly, so an HBA such as the HBA355i is the common choice. Check your software vendor's hardware list.