Processors - IBM x3850 X6 Planning And Implementation Manual

The x3950 X6 is an eight-socket server but also supports four and six processors installed.
Figure 2-17 shows the x3950 X6 with only 4 processors installed. On the right of the figure,
the effective connectivity is shown, where each processor is connected either directly to a
processor or one hop away.
6
Figure 2-17 QPI connectivity - x3950 X6 with 4 processors installed
Figure 2-18 shows the x3950 X6 with only 6 processors installed. On the right of the figure,
the effective connectivity is shown, where each processor is connected either directly to a
processor or one hop away.
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6
Figure 2-18 QPI connectivity - x3950 X6 with 6 processors installed
In addition, the 8-socket server has ability to form two independent systems containing four
socket in each node, such as two independent x3850 X6 servers in one 8U chassis. This
partitioning feature is enabled using the IMM2 interface. While partitioning is enabled, each
partition can deploy its own operating system. Each partition uses its own resources and can
no longer access the other partition's resources.

2.3 Processors

The current models of the X6 systems use the Intel Xeon processor E7-4800/8800 v2 product
family. The Intel Xeon processors that are used in the X6 systems are follow-ons to the Intel
Xeon processor E7-4800/8800 product family. The new processors feature the new Intel
microarchitecture (formerly codenamed "IvyBridge-EX") and the new 22 nm manufacturing
process that provide higher core count, larger cache sizes, higher core frequencies, and
higher memory speeds. In addition, these new processors support more memory with up to
24 DIMMs per processor and faster low-latency I/O with integrated PCIe 3.0 controllers.
5 1
x3950 X6 with 4 processors
5 1
x3950 X6 with 6 processors
5 6
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2
3
7 5
2 3 1
6
2
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Chapter 2. Technology