Intel
®
Xeon™ Processor 5500 Series
What’s new about the Intel Xeon Processor 5500 Series (codenamed Nehalem)?
Integrated Memory Controller featuring QuickPath Interconnect (QPI)
QuickPath Technology means that each processor core features an integrated memory controller and highspeed interconnect, linking processors and other components to deliver dynamically scalable interconnect
bandwidth, outstanding memory performance and flexibility, and tightly integrated interconnect reliability,
availability, and serviceability (RAS).
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
Turbo Boost delivers additional performance automatically when needed by taking advantage of the processor's
power and thermal headroom. This enables increased performance of both multi-threaded and single-threaded
workloads.
Intel®Hyper-Threading Technology
Hyper-Threading allows thread-level parallelism on each processor resulting in more efficient use of processor
resources. With higher processing throughput, you enjoy substantially improved performance.
DDR3 Memory
The move to DDR3 memory offers increased performance due to higher memory speeds, and reduced power
consumption compared to FB-DDR2 memory operating at the same speed.
Improved Energy Efficiency
The new Intel microarchitecture allows for more efficient load and idle performance. Core states are managed in
response to demand in order to remain within the thermal envelope.
Dramatically Increased Performance
Dramatically Decreased Energy Consumption
Intel
®
Xeon™ Processor 5500 Series
Product Specifications
Value-add features available on higher-end processors.
g
Max Turbo Boost frequency based on number of 133-MHz increments above base frequency (+2 = 0.266 GHz, +3 = 0.400 GHz)
TDP CPU Number Usage Cores Cache Link Speed
Max Mem
Speed
Turbo
Boost
g
HT
95W
X5570 (2.93 GHz)
Advanced
4 8MB 6.4 GT/s 1333 MHz +3
9
X5560 (2.80 GHz)
X5550 (2.66 GHz)
80W
E5540 (2.53 GHz)
Standard
4 8MB 5.86 GT/s 1066 MHz +2
9
E5530 (2.40 GHz)
80W 60W
E5520 (2.26 GHz) L5520
Low
Power
E5506 (2.13 GHz) L5506
2 - 4 4MB 4.8 GT/s 800 MHz No Turbo No HT
80W
E5504 (2.00 GHz)
Basic
E5502 (1.86 GHz)
2 cores
Intel
®
Xeon™ Processor 5500 Series
Matching Processor to Memory: Selection Guidance
Memory Requirement Max Bandwidth Balanced Performance Max Capacity
Sample Deployments HPC
General Purpose Enterprise
Workloads
Virtualized Environment
Memory Technology
DDR3 1333 DDR3 1066 DDR3 800
32 GB/s 25.5 GB/s 19.2 GB/s
48GB (max) 96 GB (max) 144 GB (max)
Available CPU Options
Advanced 95W
● 8M cache
● 6.4 GT/s QPI
● HT
● Turbo Boost
Standard 80W
● 8M cache
● 5.86 GT/s QPI
● HT
● Turbo Boost
Basic 80W
● 4M cache
● 4.8 GT/s QPI
X5570 2.93 GHz X5570 2.93 GHz X5570 2.93 GHz
X5560 2.80 GHz X5560 2.80 GHz X5560 2.80 GHz
X5550 2.66 GHz X5550 2.66 GHz X5550 2.66 GHz
E5540 2.53 GHz E5540 2.53 GHz
E5530 2.40 GHz E5530 2.40 GHz
E5520 2.26 GHz E5520 2.26 GHz
E5506 2.13 GHz
E5504 2.00 GHz
E5502 1.86 GHz 2 cores
Intel
®
Xeon™ Processor 5500 Series
Memory Population Scenarios
Maximum Bandwidth:
● DDR3 1333 across 3 channels per CPU
● 1 DIMMs per channel (6 DIMMs)
Balanced Performance:
● DDR3 1066 across 3 channels per CPU
● Up to 2 DIMMs per channel (12 DIMMs)
Maximum Capacity:
● DDR3 800 across 3 channels per CPU
● Up to 3 DIMMs per channel (18 DIMMs
total)
g
CPU CPU
10.6 GB/s
10.6
10.6
CPU CPU
8.5 GB/s
8.5
8.5
CPU CPU
6.4 GB/s
6.4
6.4
CPUs
E5520
and
above
All
5500
SKUs
X5550
and
above
For maximum bandwidth, you want the fastest memory speed, which requires one of the Advanced CPU SKUs (X55xx). Since
1333MHz memory is only supported at up to 1 DIMM per channel, the maximum installation with 2 CPUs would be 6 DIMMs.
For maximum capacity, you want to be able to install as many DIMMs as possible. Populating 3 DIMMs per channel will result in the
memory running at a maximum of 800MHz, meaning you can choose any of the Xeon 5500 SKUs, since they all support 800MHz or
higher, and will clock down memory speed if necessary, to support 3 DIMMs per channel.
g For systems offering 18 DIMMs, please contact your Silicon Mechanics sales representative.
Intel
®
Xeon™ Processor 5500 Series
Balanced vs. Unbalanced Memory Population Considerations
CPU CPU
CPU CPU
Recommended: Balanced Memory Population
● Use a “balanced” platform configuration: populate the same number of DIMMs for each channel and each socket.
● Use identical DIMM types throughout the platform: same size, speed, and number of ranks.
Alternatives: Unbalanced Memory Population “2-1-1” (not recommended)
Balanced 1-1-1 Memory Population
CPU CPU
Option 1 Option 2
Population Scenario
● Interleave the first 3 DIMMs equally across the 3 channels
and add the 4thDIMM to the first channel.
Performance Consideration: Unpredictable Performance
● If your application uses only the first three DIMMs, your
results will be the same as in a balanced 1-1-1 memory
population scenario.
● If the 4
th
DIMM is used, your performance will be reduced
to the equivalent of a single channel.
Population Scenario
● Interleave across all four DIMMs equally.
Performance Consideration: Bandwidth Bottleneck
● For every memory request the application makes to channels
2 and 3, channel 1 will need to handle two requests.
● The doubled number of requests to channel 1 will result
in a bottleneck of your bandwidth.
Intel Xeon Processor 5500 Series
For answers regarding processor selection,
memory matching, or other questions you may have,
contact one of the Experts at Silicon Mechanics:
Email: sales@siliconmechanics.com
Toll Free: 866.352.1173
www.siliconmechanics.com
Contact Silicon Mechanics
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