AMD Opteron 6386 SE socket: Socket G34

What the Opteron 6386 SE is

AMD Opteron 6386 SE is a 16 core Abu Dhabi server part that AMD released in November 2012 for two and four socket servers. It uses the Piledriver core design on a 32 nm process in a two die multi chip module, running at 2.8 GHz base with turbo to 3.5 GHz. The cache is 16 MB L2 and 8 MB L3 per die. Power is 140 W. There are no integrated graphics, so console output depends on the board controller.

The cores have no Hyper-Threading, so threads equal cores at 16. The multi chip module carries two Piledriver dies with HyperTransport links between them, and the quad channel ECC memory controller splits two channels per die. The package integrates four HyperTransport 3.1 links for socket topologies on die.

At 140 W the Opteron 6386 SE belongs to the 140 W top bin group. The clocks suit scale out racks with directed airflow. Boards are vendor qualified designs with ECC RDIMM slots. The How to find your CPU socket type guide shows how to confirm the socket before ordering parts.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The Opteron 6386 SE fits Socket G2 in LGA form with 1,944 lands. Boards are two and four socket server designs from system vendors, qualified per model with a board BIOS that lists the exact string. The Abu Dhabi generation needs a BIOS of the right age on boards bought for Interlagos parts.

Power delivery at 140 W suits 1U and 2U chassis with directed airflow and vendor heatsinks. Memory support decides more builds than power: the board must accept ECC RDIMMs. The CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide notes server sockets use board specific heatsinks. Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works covers the platform rules.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory support is ddr3 up to 1600 mt/s, four channels (two per die), ecc. ECC RDIMMs are the server choice, since they catch single bit errors in long running guests. Four channels per socket feed the cores, two per die.

PCI Express comes from the chipset, not from the Opteron dies. HyperTransport links tie the sockets together and feed the SR5600 series chipset, while PCIe Gen 2 slots hang off the board. Storage standards beyond SATA follow the board as well.

Cooling uses 1U and 2U server heatsinks with directed airflow. The 140 W envelope sizes the heatsink and fan wall.

Upgrade paths

Within Socket G34 the Opteron 6386 SE sits in the sixteen core group at the top of the stack. A same socket move adds cores or clocks where the board BIOS lists the target. AMD Opteron 6328 shows another Abu Dhabi option on the same socket.

A real upgrade means a new platform. AMD moved servers to EPYC on SP3 and beyond with DDR4 memory and many more cores. That move needs a new board, new memory and often a new chassis. Keep the node for secondary duty or retire it whole.