Intel Data Center SSDs

Intel DC S-series SATA and DC P-series NVMe drives for servers and storage nodes

About Data Center SSDs

Intel data center SSDs are named in a way that tells you most of what you need before you read the spec sheet. Two letters and four digits identify the interface and the endurance class.

S-series and P-series: the interface

DC S-series (S3500, S3610, S3700) connects over SATA 6Gb/s. It drops into any 2.5-inch SATA bay, which is why it remains the straightforward capacity upgrade for older servers.
DC P-series (P3600, P4501, P4610) connects over PCI Express as NVMe. Far higher throughput and far lower latency, but the chassis has to be wired for it.

This distinction is not a preference. A P-series drive will not work in a SATA backplane no matter that it is the same physical size, and a server built only for SAS and SATA cannot accept one in a hot-plug bay.

The last two digits are endurance

Within the S-series the pattern is consistent and worth knowing:

3500 — read intensive. The lowest drive-writes-per-day rating and the lowest cost per gigabyte.
3610 — mixed use. The middle tier, for virtualisation and general database work.
3700 — write intensive. The highest endurance, for logging, caching and heavy transactional writes.

Choosing on capacity alone is how a drive burns through its endurance budget years ahead of plan. Match the class to the write profile first, then pick the size.

Form factors in stock

2.5-inch — the bulk of our Intel SSD inventory, both SATA and U.2 NVMe
U.2 — the 2.5-inch NVMe connector, requires a U.2-capable backplane
M.2 2280 — boot and cache roles, on boards with an M.2 slot

Listings state the NAND type, usually MLC on the older drives and TLC on later ones. MLC generally carries higher endurance per cell; TLC generally carries more capacity per pound.

We also hold Intel client SSDs (320, 530, 545s, Pro 2500). Those are not data center parts and carry neither the endurance rating nor the power-loss protection, so they should not be substituted into a server on the basis of matching capacity.

Send us the server model and your write profile and we will confirm the interface, the endurance class and whether the backplane supports NVMe at all.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Intel DC S-series and P-series?

The interface. S-series drives such as the S3500 and S3610 are SATA 6Gb/s and fit any 2.5-inch SATA bay. P-series drives such as the P3600 and P4610 are NVMe over PCI Express, which is much faster but requires a chassis and backplane wired for PCIe. They are not interchangeable despite the identical physical size.

How do I read the Intel DC model numbers?

Within the S-series the last digits indicate endurance: 3500 is read intensive, 3610 is mixed use, and 3700 is write intensive. Pick the class from how much you write per day, then choose capacity. A read-intensive drive under a write-heavy workload will consume its endurance budget far faster than planned.

Can I use an Intel 530 or 545s in a server?

We would not recommend it. Those are client SSDs. They lack the endurance rating and the power-loss protection capacitors that the DC series carries, so a sudden power failure can lose writes that the drive had acknowledged. They are stocked for desktop and laptop use, not for servers.

What is U.2 and do I need it?

U.2 is the connector that carries NVMe over PCI Express to a 2.5-inch drive bay. You need a backplane and cabling built for it. If your server only has SAS and SATA wiring, a U.2 drive will physically fit the bay and will not be detected. Tell us the server model and we will confirm before you order.