Dell PERC
Dell's proprietary RAID controller series for PowerEdge servers.
Dell’s PowerEdge RAID Controller (PERC) lineup consists of RAID and disk array controllers built for Dell’s PowerEdge server family. These controllers work with both SAS and SATA hard drives as well as solid-state drives.
The Series 5 family works with 9th and 10th Generation PowerEdge servers. It includes the PERC 5/E (external) and the PERC 5/I (internal, available as integrated or adapter).
Series 6 controllers are compatible with 10th and 11th Generation servers. This group contains the software-based PERC S100, the external PERC 6/E (adapter), and the internal PERC 6/I (modular or adapter).
Series 7 also supports 10th and 11th Generation servers. It features the software-based PERC S300, the internal PERC H200 (integrated/adapter or modular), the internal PERC H700 (integrated/adapter or modular), and the external PERC H800 (adapter).
Series 8 controllers are designed for 12th Generation PowerEdge servers. This family includes the software-based PERC S110, the PERC H310 (adapter, mini mono, or mini blade), the internal PERC H710 (adapter, mini mono, or mini blade), the internal PERC H710p (adapter, mini mono, or mini blade), and the external PERC H810.
Series 9 works with 13th Generation servers. It includes the software-based PERC S130, the internal PERC H330 (adapter for tower servers, mini-mono for rack servers; no battery backup unit), the internal PERC H730 (adapter for tower servers and secondary controllers, mini-mono for rack servers), the internal PERC H730p, and the external PERC H830. All Series 9 cards support RAID 6 except the PERC H330.
Series 10 controllers are compatible with 14th and 15th Generation PowerEdge servers. This family includes the PERC H840, PERC H345, PERC H740p, PERC H745, and PERC H745p MX.
Series 11 works with 16th Generation servers. It includes the PERC H750, PERC H750 ADAPTER SAS, PERC H755 ADAPTER, PERC H755 FRONT SAS, PERC H755N FRONT NVME, and PERC H755 MX ADAPTER.
Series 12 includes the PERC H965I ADAPTER, PERC H965I FRONT, PERC H965I MX, and PERC H965E ADAPTER.
- Families
- Series 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
- Compatible generations
- 9th through 16th Generation Dell PowerEdge servers
- Interface types
- SAS, SATA
- Drive types
- HDDs, SSDs
- Software based models
- PERC S100, S300, S110, S130
- External models
- PERC 5/E, 6/E, H800, H810, H830, H840, H965E
Lore & Background
The PERC line began with the Series 5 family, compatible with 9th and 10th Generation Dell PowerEdge servers, offering external (5/E) and internal (5/I) variants. The Series 6 family introduced software-based controllers (S100) alongside external and internal adapters, supporting 10th and 11th Generation servers. Series 7 continued compatibility with 10th and 11th Generation servers, adding models like the H200, H700, H800, and the software-based S300. Series 8 shifted to 12th Generation servers, featuring the S110 software controller and H310, H710, H710p, and H810 hardware controllers. Series 9, for 13th Generation servers, included the S130, H330, H730, H730p, and H830; notably, all Series 9 cards except the H330 support RAID 6. Series 10 supported 14th and 15th Generation servers with models such as the H840, H345, H740p, H745, and H745p MX. Series 11, for 16th Generation servers, introduced the H750, H755, and H755N variants. Series 12 includes the H965I and H965E adapters.
Reader's Guide
The Dell PERC series represents a long-standing, proprietary RAID solution tightly integrated with Dell's PowerEdge server ecosystem. Its significance lies in providing a consistent, Dell-branded hardware and software RAID option across multiple server generations, from 9th to 16th Generation. The series evolved from basic internal and external controllers to include software-based models (S100, S300, S110, S130) for cost-sensitive deployments, and high-performance internal and external adapters (H700, H710p, H730p, H740p, H965I) for demanding workloads. The inclusion of NVMe support in later models (e.g., H755N FRONT NVME) reflects adaptation to modern storage interfaces. The PERC line's legacy is its role as a standard component in Dell PowerEdge servers, offering a range of RAID levels and form factors (integrated, adapter, modular, mini-mono, mini blade) to suit different server chassis and performance needs. The note that all Series 9 cards except the H330 support RAID 6 highlights a deliberate feature differentiation within a single family.
Did You Know?
- The PERC Series 9 family includes the H330, which does not support RAID 6, while all other Series 9 cards do.
- The PERC H755N FRONT NVME is a Series 11 model that supports NVMe drives.
- Software-based PERC controllers include the S100, S300, S110, and S130.
- The PERC H710p is an internal adapter available in adapter, mini mono, or mini blade form factors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dell PERC?
Dell PERC (PowerEdge RAID Controller) is Dell's proprietary family of RAID and disk array controllers built exclusively for the PowerEdge server line. It spans multiple product generations, from Series 5 all the way through Series 12.
What drive types and interfaces does Dell PERC support?
Every PERC controller handles both SAS and SATA interfaces, and it works with traditional hard disk drives as well as solid-state drives. This dual-media, dual-interface support lets a single controller manage mixed storage arrays inside one server.
Which PowerEdge server generations are compatible with PERC controllers?
The full PERC family covers 9th through 16th Generation Dell PowerEdge servers, with each controller series mapped to a specific generation window. For instance, Series 5 targets 9th and 10th Gen, while the latest Series 12 reaches into the 16th Gen.
What's the difference between PERC internal and external models?
Internal variants (the /I suffix) live inside the server chassis, either soldered onto the motherboard or slotted in as a modular adapter. External variants (the /E suffix) connect to drive enclosures outside the main box, and the lineup includes models like the H800, H810, H830, H840, and H965E.
What are the software-based PERC models?
Dell offers four software-defined PERC options: the S100, S110, S130, and S300. Instead of a dedicated hardware RAID chip, these rely on the host CPU to handle array management, giving administrators a lower-cost storage path on PowerEdge platforms.
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