Dell New Enterprise 0N660 14G 8TB 7.2K NL SAS 12Gbps 512e 3.5in

In this review the Dell New Enterprise 0N660 is examined as a straightforward, high-capacity nearline drive for 14G PowerEdge servers. The bottom line: this 8TB, 7,200RPM SAS drive is for IT teams and system administrators who need large, reliable internal storage for database archives, backup nodes, or high-capacity virtual machine datastores; the single biggest reason to buy is its combination of 8TB capacity and 12Gbps SAS interface that integrates cleanly into compatible PowerEdge systems as a hot-plug 3.5in drive.

Key Features

• 8TB Nearline Capacity: Provides a large single-disk store ideal for archive volumes or high-density server storage without increasing rack complexity.
• SAS 12Gbps Interface: Delivers consistent throughput for sequential reads and writes and integrates with server backplanes designed for enterprise workloads.
• Hot-plug 3.5in Form Factor: Enables easy replacement or addition in supported 14G PowerEdge bays without powering down the server.
• 7200 RPM Performance: Balances performance and thermal efficiency for mixed read/write tasks common in backup and nearline scenarios.
• 512e Sectoring: Compatibility with many enterprise OS and RAID controllers that expect 512e sector emulation for legacy alignment and performance.

Who It's For

This drive is best for IT administrators running Dell PowerEdge 14G servers such as R640, R740, R740xd and the listed C and Powervault systems who need a large-capacity nearline SAS drive for bulk storage, backups, or dense VM datastores. It suits environments that prioritize capacity per bay and enterprise-grade connectivity over the lowest possible latency.

Users who need the absolute highest IOPS for latency-sensitive databases or transactional workloads should consider enterprise SAS SSDs or higher-RPM HDDs. Desktop users or small office setups without SAS backplanes will find the interface and hot-plug tray unnecessary.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• High 8TB capacity in a single 3.5in drive helps reduce the number of drives required for large pools.
• 12Gbps SAS interface ensures compatibility with modern PowerEdge backplanes and reliable throughput.
• Hot-plug design with tray allows quick serviceability in rack servers without downtime.

Cons

• Rotational 7200 RPM performance is not as responsive as enterprise SSDs for latency-critical workloads.
• Designed specifically for 14G PowerEdge compatibility, so it is less useful outside supported server families.

Specifications

Device Type	Hard Drive - Hot-plug - Nearline
Storage Capacity	8 TB
Interface	SAS - 12Gbps
Bytes Per Sector	512e
Form Factor	3.5 in - Hot-plug
Compatible Systems	PowerEdge R640, R740, R740xd, C6420, R440, R540 and listed 14G models

Our Verdict

The Dell 0N660 8TB nearline SAS drive is a practical, cost-effective choice for server teams needing large-capacity, hot-pluggable storage in 14G PowerEdge racks; it delivers the right balance of capacity, enterprise SAS connectivity, and serviceability. Choose it when you need bulk storage density and proven compatibility rather than peak SSD-class performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this drive compatible with 14G PowerEdge servers?
Yes; the drive is specified for a range of 14G PowerEdge models including R640, R740, R740xd and others listed in the product compatibility.

Can this drive be used as a hot spare or in RAID arrays?
Yes; it is a hot-plug nearline SAS drive intended for use in server bays and can be integrated into RAID arrays or configured as a hot spare by the server RAID controller.

Is this suitable for latency-sensitive database workloads?
Not ideal; the 7200 RPM nearline design favors capacity and throughput for sequential tasks rather than the low latency of SAS SSDs for transactional databases.