Dell NKN20 Precision T5820 T7820 U.2 NVME Flexbay Backplane Kit

Overview

The Dell Precision T5820 / T7820 U.2 NVME Flexbay Backplane Kit (part number NKN20) adds high performance storage flexibility to your workstation. Designed for the Precision T5820 and T7820 platforms, this kit replaces the standard drive bay with a versatile backplane that supports up to four U.2 NVMe drives. It enables faster data access, higher bandwidth, and expanded capacity without compromising the robust build quality of Dell workstations.

Key Features

• Supports up to four U.2 NVMe SSDs for enterprise class storage performance
• PCIe Gen3 x4 lanes per drive delivering up to 32 GB/s aggregate throughput
• Hot swap capable - replace drives without powering down the system
• Integrated power and data connectors reduce cable clutter
• Compatible with both Precision T5820 and T7820 chassis
• Tool-less installation for quick upgrades or maintenance

Technical Specifications

• Model / Part Number: NKN20
• Form factor: 2.5 inch U.2 (SFF-8643) backplane
• Interface: PCIe Gen3 x4 per slot, NVMe 1.3 compliance
• Maximum supported drives: 4 x U.2 NVMe SSDs
• Power requirement: 12 VDC from workstation power supply
• Operating temperature range: 0 to 40 degrees Celsius (32 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Dimensions: fits standard T5820 / T7820 rack mount chassis

Applications

This backplane kit is ideal for professionals who need rapid access to large data sets, such as video editors, 3D artists, engineers, and scientific researchers. It also benefits IT environments that require high-speed local storage for virtualization, database workloads, or AI model training. By upgrading to U.2 NVMe drives, users experience reduced load times, smoother multitasking, and future-proof storage scalability.