Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 socket: LGA 2011-v3

What the Xeon E5-2640 v3 is

The Xeon E5-2640 v3 is a mainstream Haswell-EP eight core for dual socket servers on LGA 2011-v3. Intel set eight cores and 16 threads at 2.6 GHz base with turbo to 3.4 GHz. Twenty megabytes of Smart Cache serve virtual guests and threaded services. Power is 90 W on 22 nm from September 2014. It steps above the 85 W 2630 v3 on clocks for buyers who can spend a little more power.

Higher base clocks keep all core work moving in busy nodes. Turbo to 3.4 GHz covers single thread control tasks. Sixteen threads consolidate web and database guests with ECC memory. Cache size matches the 2630 v3 family for similar density. An SSD array shapes response for daily serving. It is a server socket for operators who want a small clock gain over efficient eight cores.

No integrated graphics exist. DDR4 ECC over four channels feeds each socket with two QPI links between dual nodes. The mix suits mainstream virtualization where 90 W fits rack plans.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The E5-2640 v3 fits LGA 2011-v3 on C612 Grantley boards for single and dual socket use. Firmware must carry v3 microcode. Check the vendor matrix for the minimum BIOS. X99 desktop boards never take this server chip.

ECC RDIMMs over four channels carry memory. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide is desktop focused, so follow server manuals for NUMA maps. Cooling is vendor 90 W heatsinks with rack airflow.

A ten core on the same socket adds threads where guests grow. Confirm power ceilings before moving from 90 W eight cores to 105 W and above.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

DDR4 ECC quad channel per socket suits virtual hosts. Balance DIMMs across channels and sockets. Registered DIMMs allow large counts. Speed follows population per manual.

Forty PCIe lanes per socket feed NICs, HBAs and accelerators. Dual socket placement should respect NUMA locality across QPI links. Board manuals show controller slot maps.

Vendor 90 W cooling handles sustained loads with front to back air. No retail cooler exists. Inlet temperature decides turbo residency during all core work.

Upgrade paths

On the same socket the Intel Xeon E5-2630 v3 at 2.4 GHz to 3.2 GHz is a slightly slower 85 W twin on identical boards. The Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 at 2.3 GHz to 3.4 GHz is a lower power 75 W sibling where watts matter. Both share C612 mounting.

Newer sockets replace Grantley. The E5-2640 v3 covers mainstream hosts where eight cores at 90 W are the target.