719050-L21 HPE Intel Xeon E5-2630v3 2.4GHz 8-Core Processor.

Product overview: HPE 719050-L21 — Intel Xeon E5-2630 v3 for the DL380 Gen9

The HPE 719050-L21 is the OEM part number for the Intel® Xeon® E5-2630 v3 processor tailored for the HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen9 family and similar LGA2011-v3 server platforms. This CPU blends energy efficiency with multi-threaded performance — offering 8 physical cores, 16 threads (via Hyper-Threading), a 2.4 GHz base clock, and Intel® Turbo Boost up to 3.2 GHz. With 20 MB of shared L3 cache, quad-channel DDR4 memory support, and a modest 85 W TDP, it is a pragmatic choice for mixed workload server environments where density, reliability, and virtualization capabilities matter.

Key specifications

• Brand / Part: HPE — 719050-L21
• Model: Intel® Xeon® E5-2630 v3
• Cores / Threads: 8 cores / 16 threads
• Base / Turbo Frequency: 2.4 GHz base, up to 3.2 GHz Turbo
• Cache: 20 MB L3
• Socket: LGA 2011-v3
• Memory Support: DDR4 quad-channel, up to 768 GB (platform dependent), ECC
• PCIe Lanes: Up to 40 lanes, PCIe 3.0
• Thermal Design Power (TDP): 85 W
• Process Node: 22 nm
• Virtualization / Security: VT-x, VT-d, EPT, AES-NI, Intel® Trusted Execution

Strengths and practical advantages

• Energy efficiency: 85 W TDP keeps cooling and power budgets reasonable in dense rack deployments.
• Virtualization ready: Full support for Intel® VT-x, VT-d and Extended Page Tables (EPT) enhances VM performance and isolation.
• Memory capacity & ECC: Quad-channel DDR4 with ECC support enables large, resilient memory footprints for databases and in-memory workloads.
• Balanced compute: 8 cores / 16 threads provide a strong baseline for multi-threaded applications without the cost of higher-core SKUs.
• Wide platform support: Commonly available for HPE DL380 Gen9 systems — simplifies upgrades and spares management.

Ideal use cases

The HPE 719050-L21/E5-2630 v3 is well suited for:

• Virtual machine hosts running a moderate number of VMs per socket
• Web and application servers with mixed single- and multi-threaded work
• Small to medium databases and caching layers where large memory and ECC matter
• Compute nodes for development, CI pipelines, and build servers
• Edge and branch office servers where power and cooling are constrained

In-depth technical breakdown

Processor architecture and lithography

Built on Intel’s 22-nanometer process and based on the Haswell-EP microarchitecture (E5 v3 family), the E5-2630 v3 benefits from architectural improvements including AVX2 instruction support for integer and floating point vector operations. These ISA extensions accelerate cryptography, media processing, and vectorized workloads when the software stack is optimized.

Instruction set extensions

• AVX 2.0 — doubles single-instruction multiple data (SIMD) width for many workloads.
• AES-NI — hardware acceleration for AES encryption and decryption, reducing CPU overhead for secure data channels.

Memory subsystem and bandwidth

The CPU supports quad-channel DDR4 memory, native ECC, and memory speeds of 1600 / 1866 MHz depending on the platform configuration. On properly configured Gen9 servers the supported maximum internal memory per socket reaches very high capacities (platform dependent), enabling large dataset caching and in-memory processing.

Memory performance considerations

• Populate memory channels evenly to achieve the best bandwidth and latency.
• Use matched DIMMs and follow the server vendor’s memory population rules for RDIMM/LRDIMM to get full quad-channel benefits.
• ECC is strongly recommended for production workloads to prevent silent data corruption.

I/O capabilities and PCI Express lanes

With up to 40 PCIe 3.0 lanes, the processor enables a mix of network adapters, storage controllers, and accelerators without being overly constrained on I/O. For many Gen9 configurations this supports high-bandwidth NICs and NVMe/SAS controllers while leaving lanes for onboard devices.

PCIe deployment tips

• Map critical I/O devices to direct CPU lanes when possible for lowest latency.
• In multi-processor systems, balance I/O load across sockets to avoid QPI bottlenecks.

Thermal and power characteristics

The 85 W TDP signals a moderate thermal envelope that fits well within Gen9 1U/2U thermal budgets. Tcase (maximum case temperature) of approximately 72.1 °C should be respected; maintain adequate airflow and use server-grade heatsinks and validated cooling profiles to ensure longevity and stable turbo behavior.

Power and cooling recommendations

• Verify server firmware and BIOS thermal profiles after installation.
• Monitor inlet and CPU temperatures via iLO or equivalent management interface.
• Use redundant fans and maintain clean airflow paths to reduce thermal throttling risk.

Virtualization and security features

This SKU implements a comprehensive virtualization and security feature set — important for modern multi-tenant and secure hosting environments. Hardware-assisted virtualization (VT-x), directed I/O virtualization (VT-d), Extended Page Tables (EPT), and Intel® Trusted Execution Technology provide isolation, performance and trust anchors for VMs and containers.

Security features worth noting

• Intel® AES-NI for fast, low-overhead encryption — beneficial for IPSec, TLS termination, and encrypted storage.
• Intel® OS Guard and Intel® Secure Key add layers of integrity checking and hardware random number generation.
• Trusted Execution provides measured launch and attestation capabilities when used with compatible platforms.

Best practices for virtualization hosts

• Enable VT-x/VT-d in BIOS and allocate IRQs and SR-IOV resources thoughtfully for network/storage acceleration.
• Use EPT-aware hypervisors and tune guest memory overcommit carefully to avoid excessive page-table overhead.
• Consider CPU pinning for latency-sensitive VMs to reduce scheduling jitter and maximize cache reuse.

Compatibility, upgrade path and platform notes

The E5-2630 v3 requires LGA2011-v3 motherboards and is commonly deployed in HPE ProLiant Gen9 servers (for example, DL380 Gen9). When upgrading from earlier E5 v2 or earlier platforms, attention must be paid to BIOS/firmware versions, power provisioning, and thermal profiles. In multi-CPU configurations make sure all installed processors in a system are from the same microarchitecture family and supported by the server BIOS.

Upgrade checklist

1. Verify your chassis and motherboard have the correct socket (LGA2011-v3) and BIOS release supporting E5 v3 CPUs.
2. Confirm that your cooling solution (heatsink, fan caddies) and power supply are adequate for the target configuration.
3. Use vendor-validated DIMMs (RDIMM/LRDIMM) and follow memory population guidelines for quad-channel operation.
4. Update system firmware, BMC/iLO, and microcode to the latest vendor releases before production deployment.

Performance tuning and optimization

Out of the box this processor provides solid general-purpose performance. Further gains come from right-sized system configuration, BIOS tuning, and application-level optimization.

BIOS and OS tuning tips

• Enable Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 when burst performance is needed; disable it for strictly deterministic latency targets.
• Enable or tune Enhanced Intel SpeedStep and Demand Based Switching to reduce power during idle periods while allowing rapid frequency scaling under load.
• Use huge pages for memory-heavy database workloads to reduce TLB pressure and improve throughput.
• Pin critical processes or VMs to specific cores to reduce cross-core cache coherence penalties.

Application optimization

Applications that are vectorized to use AVX2 instructions or that benefit from multi-threading will show the most direct gains. Consider compiler flags and runtime libraries that exploit AVX2 and tune thread pools to match the 8-core / 16-thread topology.

Reliability, serviceability and enterprise support

HPE servers paired with this processor benefit from the vendor’s enterprise features such as iLO remote management, proactive health monitoring, and field-replaceable units. Use genuine HPE spare parts and follow recommended service procedures to preserve warranty and support coverage.

Maintenance and monitoring

• Regularly review hardware logs accessible via iLO or your management stack for early signs of temperature, power, or memory errors.
• Keep firmware and drivers updated to address stability and security fixes.
• Test redundant power and cooling failover regularly as part of your data center maintenance cycle.

Checklist for procurement

• Source reputation: Buy from authorized resellers or reputable refurbishers and verify part numbers (719050-L21).
• Testing and burn-in: Ask for proof of power-on testing and burn-in where possible.
• Warranty & returns: Prefer items with at least a short-term warranty or return window to avoid DOA risks.
• Compatibility verification: Confirm BIOS support lists for your DL380 Gen9 or equivalent chassis.
• Quantity and spares: Keep at least one spare CPU for systems requiring high availability.

Comparisons and positioning

Within the E5 v3 family, the E5-2630 v3 sits in the mid-range: more cores and cache than entry SKUs but more energy efficient and less expensive than the highest core-count parts. It balances per-core frequency and multi-threaded capacity in a way that often outperforms higher-core, lower-frequency chips in common server workloads per dollar.

How it compares to higher and lower SKUs

• Compared to lower SKUs: Offers significantly better multi-threaded throughput and larger cache, suitable for heavier database and virtualized workloads.
• Compared to higher SKUs: Lower absolute core counts but better power efficiency; better value when core count beyond eight cores isn't required.

Maintenance, lifecycle and end-of-support considerations

As with any hardware, plan for lifecycle events: firmware updates, spare part availability, and eventual replacement. Using widely adopted server parts like the E5-2630 v3 helps with sourcing spares and technicians experienced with the platform, but always factor in vendor end-of-life timelines when planning multi-year deployments.

Serviceability tips

• Keep firmware and microcode versions consistent across identical servers to simplify troubleshooting.
• Document CPU serials and purchase receipts for warranty claims.
• Retain at least one compatible spare CPU for clustered or HA environments to shorten recovery time.