Product guide

High-performance blade server optimized for virtualization

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core X5670 processor with 3-6 cores active can run the cores at 3.2GHz. With only one or two

cores active, the same processor can run those cores at 3.33GHz. Similarly, a 3.46GHz 4-core

X5677 processor can run at 3.6GHz or even 3.73GHz. When the cores are needed again, they

are dynamically turned back on and the processor frequency is adjusted accordingly.

Intelligent Power Capability powers individual processor elements on and off as needed, to

reduce power draw.

Execute Disable Bit functionality can help prevent certain classes of malicious buffer overflow

attacks when combined with a supporting operating system.

Intel’s Virtualization Technology (VT) integrates hardware-level virtualization hooks that allow

operating system vendors to better utilize the hardware for virtualization workloads.

DDR3 Registered Memory with Active Memory Protection

The HS22V uses registered double data rate III (DDR3) VLP (very-low-profile) DIMMs and provides

Active Memory features, including advanced Chipkill memory protection, for up to 16X better error

correction than standard ECC memory. In addition to offering triple the memory bandwidth of DDR2 or

fully-buffered memory, DDR3 memory also uses less energy. DDR2 memory already offered up to 37%

lower energy use than fully buffered memory. Now, a generation later, DDR3 memory is even more

efficient, using 10-15% less energy than DDR2 memory.

The HS22V supports up to 144GB of memory in eighteen DIMM slots. Redesign in the architecture of the

5500 series and 5600 series processors bring radical changes in the way memory works in these servers.

For example, the Xeon 5500 series and 5600 series processors integrate the memory controller inside

the processor, resulting in two memory controllers in a two-socket system. Each memory controller has

three memory channels. Depending on the type of memory, population of memory, and processor model,

the memory may be clocked at 1333MHz, 1066MHz or 800MHz.

Note: If only one processor is installed, only the first nine DIMM slots can be used. Adding a second

processor not only doubles the amount of memory available for use, but also doubles the number of

memory controllers, thus doubling the system memory bandwidth. If you add a second processor, but no

additional memory for the second processor, the second processor has to access the memory from the

first processor “remotely,” resulting in longer latencies and lower performance. The latency to access

remote memory is almost 75% higher than local memory access. So, the goal should be to always

populate both processors with an equal number of DIMMs, with matching pairs spanning the processors.

The L5640 and X56xx processor models support memory running at up to 1333MHz, while E56xx-and-up

models support memory at up to 1066MHz, and the E550x models support memory at 800MHz only.

Running memory at 1333MHz (where supported) versus 1066MHz offers up to 9% better performance,

while running memory at 1066MHz produces up to 28% better performance than memory running at

800MHz.

Xeon 5600 series and 5500 series processors access memory with almost 50% lower latency than the

previous generation 5400 Series processors. That can result in faster processing of latency-sensitive

workloads.

This new processor design comes with some trade-offs in memory capacity, performance, and cost: For

example, more lower-cost/lower-capacity DIMMs mean lower memory speed. Alternatively, fewer higher-

capacity DIMMs cost more but offer higher performance.

Regardless of memory speed, the Xeon 5600 series and 5500 series platform represents a significant

improvement in memory bandwidth over the previous Xeon 5400 platform. At 1333MHz, the improvement

16: DIMM population sequence;

D16: DIMM slot assignments