Server Resellers
Dell H965i 17G Front RAID Card (PERC 12) for PowerEdge R470, R570, R670 and R770
The H965i RAID Card is Dell’s 17G front RAID controller, built on the PERC 12 architecture for PowerEdge R470, R570, R670, and R770 servers. It mounts in the dedicated front controller position and provides hardware RAID across SAS, SATA, and NVMe drives — one controller managing the full drive mix in a modern 17G chassis.
Key Specifications
| Item | Detail |
| Dell Part Number | H965i |
| Architecture | PERC 12 |
| Product Type | 17G front RAID card (front controller slot) |
| Supported Drives | SAS / SATA / NVMe |
| Host Interface | PCIe (server internal) |
| Cache | Onboard hardware cache with cache data power protection |
| Compatibility | PowerEdge R470, R570, R670, R770 |
PERC 12: The 17G RAID Generation
PERC 12 is the RAID architecture behind Dell’s 17G servers, designed for all-flash and high-drive-count configurations. Compared with previous generations, it is built for faster links, larger drive populations, and the management workflow of iDRAC-based fleets. If you are standardizing on R470, R570, R670, or R770 platforms, the H965i is the front RAID card that matches them.
NVMe and SAS in One Controller
The practical value of this card is consolidation. Older designs split the server between a RAID card for SAS/SATA disks and separate direct-attach paths for NVMe. The H965i manages SAS, SATA, and NVMe drives in the same RAID domain, so you can build hybrid pools — NVMe for hot tiers, SAS/SATA for capacity — without juggling multiple controller types, and manage them through the same BIOS, iDRAC, and firmware tooling.
Cache Protection Built In
The card carries onboard hardware cache, and that cache is protected: pending writes survive a power loss, so a sudden outage does not leave the array with half-written stripes. For databases and virtualization hosts, cache protection is the difference between an inconvenient reboot and a lengthy filesystem repair.
Before You Order: Chassis, Slot and Firmware
Three checks before you commit. First, confirm your server is a 17G model — the front RAID card is designed for the dedicated front controller slot of R470, R570, R670, and R770 chassis, not for older 15G/16G servers. Second, confirm which front RAID card your specific chassis and drive configuration requires; front and internal variants differ. Third, plan the firmware: match the card’s firmware level to the system version and update through Dell’s supported tooling. If you are unsure, send us your service tag or chassis model and we will confirm the correct card.
Ideal Applications
- New 17G server builds with mixed SAS/SATA/NVMe drives
- All-flash R470 / R570 / R670 / R770 deployments
- Fleet standardization on PERC 12 hardware RAID
- Replacement of a failed front RAID card
Testing, Warranty and Support
Every card is tested before shipment and matched to 17G PowerEdge platforms. Units ship with our warranty and technical support, and volume pricing is available for fleet builds.
Not sure which PERC fits your chassis? Read about RAID fundamentals, or shop more PowerEdge RAID controllers and cards from our catalog.
