HP BL460c Gen8 Intel Xeon E5-2640 (2.50GHz/6-core/15MB/95W) Processor Kit

HP BL460c Gen8 Intel Xeon E5-2640 (2.50GHz/6-core/15MB/95W) Processor Kit

The HP BL460c Gen8 Intel Xeon E5-2640 Processor Kit represents Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s next-generation processor upgrade solution for the ProLiant BL460c Generation 8 blade server platform, delivering advanced Sandy Bridge-EP microarchitecture performance with Intel’s Xeon E5-2640 processor operating at 2.50GHz base frequency with enhanced Turbo Boost 2.0 capability reaching up to 3.0GHz, six physical cores with Hyper-Threading technology supporting twelve simultaneous execution threads, 15MB shared L3 cache for improved data access and reduced memory latency, 95-watt thermal design power balancing performance with blade server power and cooling infrastructure, 7.2 GT/s QuickPath Interconnect bandwidth (28.8 GB/s bidirectional), DDR3-1333/1600 memory controller supporting up to 768GB maximum capacity with LRDIMM technology, 32nm process technology, Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX) for enhanced floating-point and scientific computing performance, AES-NI hardware encryption acceleration, and comprehensive Intel virtualization technologies including VT-x and VT-d, providing IT administrators with significant performance, scalability, and feature enhancements over previous generation processors for virtualized environments, database workloads, high-performance computing, enterprise applications, and multi-threaded business applications within HP BladeSystem c-Class infrastructure deployments.

This Gen8 processor kit provides substantial performance and capability improvements for HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8 blade servers in modern enterprise data centers.

Key Features

• Intel Xeon E5-2640 processor
• Sandy Bridge-EP architecture
• 6 cores / 12 threads
• 2.50GHz base frequency
• Up to 3.0GHz Turbo Boost 2.0
• 15MB L3 cache (25% more than E5649)
• 95W TDP
• LGA2011 socket (next-gen)
• 7.2 GT/s Intel QPI
• DDR3-1333/1600 support
• Up to 768GB memory capacity
• AVX instruction set
• AES-NI encryption
• Advanced virtualization

Intel Xeon E5-2640 Architecture

Processor Specifications:

• Model: Intel Xeon E5-2640
• Code Name: Sandy Bridge-EP
• Manufacturing: 32nm process
• Base Frequency: 2.50GHz
• Max Turbo Frequency: 3.0GHz
• Physical Cores: 6
• Logical Threads: 12
• L3 Cache: 15MB
• TDP: 95W
• Socket: FCLGA2011 (LGA2011, Socket R)
• Product Family: Xeon E5-2600 series
• Launch: Q1 2012

Sandy Bridge-EP Benefits:

• Next-generation microarchitecture
• Improved IPC (Instructions Per Clock)
• Enhanced power efficiency
• AVX floating-point performance
• Better memory controller
• Advanced power management
• Proven enterprise reliability

Generation 8 vs Generation 7

Key Improvements:

• New LGA2011 socket (vs LGA1366)
• Sandy Bridge-EP vs Westmere-EP
• 15MB cache vs 12MB
• Faster 7.2 GT/s QPI vs 5.86 GT/s
• DDR3-1600 support vs DDR3-1333 only
• 768GB max memory vs 192GB
• AVX instructions (new)
• Enhanced Turbo Boost 2.0
• Better virtualization performance
• Improved power efficiency

Six-Core Sandy Bridge Performance

Enhanced Core Architecture:

• 6 physical cores
• Improved execution units
• Better branch prediction
• Enhanced cache hierarchy
• Reduced latency
• Higher IPC
• Better single-thread performance

12-Thread Capability:

• Intel Hyper-Threading
• 2 threads per core
• 12 logical processors
• Improved resource utilization
• Enhanced VM density
• Better throughput
• Responsive multitasking

Turbo Boost 2.0 Technology

Enhanced Dynamic Frequency:

• Base frequency: 2.50GHz
• Maximum turbo: 3.0GHz
• 500MHz turbo headroom (20% boost)
• Improved turbo algorithm
• Better thermal awareness
• Enhanced power management
• Opportunistic performance

Turbo Characteristics:

• More aggressive boosting
• Multiple bin levels
• Core-count aware
• Thermal-based scaling
• Power-based scaling
• Improved responsiveness
• Better single-thread performance

15MB L3 Cache

Larger Shared Cache:

• 15MB Level 3 cache (vs 12MB in E5649)
• 25% cache increase
• Shared across all cores
• Reduced memory latency
• Improved hit rates
• Better performance consistency
• Enhanced multi-core communication

Cache Benefits:

• Database performance improvement
• Application responsiveness
• Reduced memory bandwidth demand
• Better virtualization performance
• Enhanced consolidation density
• Lower latency operations

95W Thermal Design Power

Power Characteristics:

• 95-watt TDP
• Higher than E5649 (80W)
• Justifiable for performance gain
• Blade cooling compatible
• Enhanced performance/watt vs prior gen
• Efficient for capability delivered
• Manageable in dense deployments

Power Management:

• Advanced power states
• Dynamic frequency scaling
• Core parking
• Package C-states
• Enhanced SpeedStep
• Reduced idle power
• Intelligent power allocation

7.2 GT/s Intel QPI

Enhanced Interconnect:

• 7.2 GT/s transfer rate
• 28.8 GB/s bandwidth (bidirectional)
• 23% faster than 5.86 GT/s
• Lower latency
• Better dual-socket scaling
• Enhanced NUMA performance
• Improved coherency traffic

Multi-Socket Benefits:

• Faster inter-processor communication
• Better cache coherency
• Enhanced memory bandwidth
• Improved scalability
• Reduced bottlenecks
• Better dual-socket efficiency

Advanced Memory Support

DDR3-1333/1600 Controller:

• Integrated memory controller
• DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1600 support
• Quad-channel architecture (4 channels!)
• Up to 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth per socket
• Massive capacity support
• Enhanced bandwidth vs Gen7

Memory Capacity:

• Up to 768GB maximum (Gen8 BL460c)
• 24 DIMM slots per processor
• RDIMM support (up to 16GB)
• LRDIMM support (up to 32GB)
• Unprecedented blade server memory
• Enhanced virtualization capacity

Quad-Channel Architecture:

• 4 memory channels per processor
• 6 DIMMs per channel
• Improved bandwidth
• Better parallelism
• Enhanced throughput
• Reduced latency

LGA2011 Socket (Socket R)

Next-Generation Platform:

• LGA2011 socket
• 2011 contact points
• Larger socket vs LGA1366
• Intel C600 chipset series
• Dual-socket capable
• Modern architecture
• Enhanced capabilities

Platform Benefits:

• More memory channels
• Higher memory capacity
• Better I/O connectivity
• PCIe 3.0 support
• Enhanced RAS features
• Future-proof design

Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)

AVX Instructions:

• 256-bit wide vectors
• 2x SSE width
• Enhanced floating-point
• Scientific computing boost
• HPC performance
• Parallel data processing
• Computational workloads

AVX Benefits:

• Up to 2x FP performance vs SSE
• Better for mathematics
• Engineering applications
• Financial modeling
• Scientific simulations
• Media encoding
• Cryptographic operations

AES-NI Hardware Encryption

Hardware Acceleration:

• AES-NI instruction set
• Hardware encryption/decryption
• Faster cryptographic operations
• Reduced CPU overhead
• Enhanced security
• Better throughput

Security Benefits:

• Full-disk encryption acceleration
• VPN performance
• SSL/TLS acceleration
• Database encryption
• Compliant security
• Minimal performance impact

Enhanced Virtualization

Intel VT-x2:

• Second-generation VT-x
• Enhanced virtualization
• EPT (Extended Page Tables)
• Unrestricted guest
• Better VM performance
• Reduced overhead

Intel VT-d2:

• Enhanced I/O virtualization
• Interrupt remapping
• DMA remapping
• Posted interrupts
• SR-IOV optimization
• Direct device assignment

Virtualization Advantages:

• Higher VM density
• Better per-VM performance
• Enhanced I/O performance
• Improved security isolation
• Better consolidation ratios
• Production-ready platform

HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8 Platform

Target Blade Server:

• ProLiant BL460c Generation 8
• Half-height blade form factor
• Dual-socket capable
• 24 DIMM slots per processor (48 total)
• 2x 2.5″ drive bays (optional storage blade)
• FlexibleLOM + mezzanine expansion
• HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosure

Gen8 Enhancements:

• New system board design
• Enhanced power delivery
• Better cooling
• SmartMemory support
• iLO 4 management
• UEFI firmware
• Unified Extensible Firmware Interface

Processor Kit Components

What’s Included:

• Intel Xeon E5-2640 processor
• Blade-optimized heatsink assembly
• Thermal interface material pre-applied
• Installation documentation
• HPE certification label
• Part identification

Heatsink Design:

• Optimized for Gen8 airflow
• Enhanced fin design
• Better thermal transfer
• Blade-specific engineering
• High-efficiency cooling
• Reliable operation

Ideal Workloads

High-Density Virtualization:

• VMware vSphere 5.x/6.x
• Microsoft Hyper-V 2012/2016
• XenServer 6.x/7.x
• KVM/QEMU
• VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure)
• Massive VM consolidation
• Production virtualization

Database Servers:

• Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014/2016
• Oracle Database 11g/12c
• MySQL 5.x
• PostgreSQL 9.x
• SAP HANA (memory capacity)
• In-memory databases
• OLTP and OLAP

High-Performance Computing:

• Scientific simulations
• Engineering analysis
• Financial modeling
• Weather prediction
• Computational fluid dynamics
• Molecular modeling
• AVX-optimized applications

Enterprise Applications:

• SAP ERP
• Oracle E-Business Suite
• Microsoft Exchange
• SharePoint Server
• Business intelligence
• Analytics platforms
• Application servers

Cloud Infrastructure:

• OpenStack compute
• Private cloud platforms
• Hybrid cloud nodes
• Container hosts (Docker/Kubernetes)
• Microservices architecture
• DevOps platforms

Performance Positioning

Xeon E5-2600 Series Hierarchy:

• Entry: E5-2603 (4-core, 1.80GHz, 80W)
• Mainstream: E5-2640 (6-core, 2.50GHz, 95W) ← This processor
• Performance: E5-2670 (8-core, 2.60GHz, 115W)
• High-end: E5-2690 (8-core, 2.90GHz, 135W)
• Excellent balance point
• Strong price/performance
• Popular enterprise choice

Dual-Processor Configuration

Dual E5-2640 System:

• 12 physical cores total
• 24 logical threads
• 30MB combined L3 cache
• Up to 1536GB memory (with 32GB LRDIMMs)
• Massive virtualization capacity
• 100+ VMs per blade possible
• Enterprise-ready performance

NUMA Optimization:

• Two NUMA nodes
• Quad-channel per node
• Memory locality awareness
• Process affinity
• Enhanced scheduling
• Optimized performance

Installation Considerations

Prerequisites:

• Compatible BL460c Gen8 blade
• System ROM P70 or later
• iLO 4 firmware current
• BladeSystem firmware current
• Adequate enclosure cooling
• Sufficient power budget
• Qualified technician

Installation Process:

1. Review compatibility
2. Update firmware
3. Power down blade
4. Remove from enclosure
5. ESD precautions
6. Remove old processor/heatsink
7. Install E5-2640
8. Mount heatsink
9. Reinstall blade
10. Boot and configure
11. Verify operation
12. Load optimize

Memory Optimization

Best Practices:

• Populate all 4 channels
• Use matched DIMMs
• DDR3-1600 for best performance
• LRDIMMs for maximum capacity
• SmartMemory recommended
• Advanced ECC enabled
• Monitor for errors

Capacity Planning:

• 16GB RDIMMs: 384GB per socket
• 32GB LRDIMMs: 768GB per socket
• Balanced configuration recommended
• Consider workload requirements
• Plan for growth

System Management

HP Integrated Lights-Out 4 (iLO 4):

• Advanced remote management
• Agentless management
• Active Health System
• Integrated Remote Console
• Virtual media
• Power capping
• Firmware management

Gen8 Management Features:

• Intelligent Provisioning
• Active Health System logs
• InfoSight analytics compatible
• Enhanced diagnostics
• Predictive failure alerts
• Automated support

Part Numbers

HP Part Numbers:

• 660597-B21: Processor Kit
• 660597-L21: International version
• Various spare part numbers
• Region-specific variants
• FRU identifiers

Operating System Support

Certified Operating Systems:

• Windows Server 2008 R2/2012/2012 R2/2016
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.x/7.x
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11/12
• VMware ESXi 5.0/5.1/5.5/6.0
• Citrix XenServer 6.x/7.x
• Ubuntu Server LTS
• Debian

Why Choose E5-2640 for BL460c Gen8

1. Sandy Bridge-EP architecture
2. 6 cores / 12 threads
3. Strong 3.0GHz Turbo Boost
4. Large 15MB L3 cache
5. AVX for HPC workloads
6. Massive 768GB memory support
7. Quad-channel DDR3-1600
8. Enhanced virtualization
9. Excellent price/performance
10. Proven Gen8 platform

Upgrade Benefits Over Gen7

From BL460c G7:

• Better performance per core
• More memory capacity (768GB vs 192GB)
• Faster memory (DDR3-1600 vs 1333)
• AVX instructions
• Better virtualization features
• Enhanced management (iLO 4)
• Modern platform
• Better ROI

Warranty & Support

HPE Support:

• Standard HPE warranty
• Global support network
• Online resources extensive
• Firmware updates regular
• Driver downloads
• Active Health System
• Service parts available
• Enterprise-class support

Next-generation blade processor for HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8 – the Intel Xeon E5-2640 Processor Kit delivers advanced Sandy Bridge-EP architecture with 6 cores/12 threads, 2.50GHz base frequency (up to 3.0GHz Turbo Boost 2.0), 15MB L3 cache, 95W TDP, 7.2 GT/s Intel QPI, quad-channel DDR3-1333/1600 memory controller supporting up to 768GB capacity, AVX instructions for enhanced floating-point performance, AES-NI hardware encryption, comprehensive virtualization technologies (VT-x2, VT-d2), and blade-optimized heatsink assembly, providing IT administrators with substantial performance, scalability, and feature improvements over previous generation processors for high-density virtualization, database hosting, HPC workloads, enterprise applications, and mission-critical blade server deployments in modern data center environments!