878136-B21 HPE DL580 120W Xeon-Gold 20-core 2.0GHz Processor

The HPE 878136-B21 DL580 120W Xeon Gold 6138 processor is engineered for demanding data center applications, ensuring exceptional reliability, consistent performance, and long-term scalability. Designed with a balanced blend of efficiency and power, this 20-core processor supports high-intensity enterprise workloads and mission-critical computing. Its compatibility with the HPE ProLiant DL580 Gen10 server makes it a cornerstone for businesses aiming to enhance their IT infrastructure.

General Specifications  

• Brand Name: Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
• Part Number: 878136-B21
• Product Type: Processor

Key Features

• Processor Model: Intel Xeon Gold 6138
• Processor Family: Intel Xeon Scalable Series
• Number of Cores: 20 cores for parallel workload execution
• Base Clock Speed: 2.0GHz for stable performance
• Power Rating: 120W optimized for server efficiency
• Compatible Systems: HPE ProLiant DL580 Gen10

Advantages of the Xeon Gold 6138 in Enterprise Environments

This processor balances power and performance, making it suitable for enterprise-scale deployments. It is especially efficient in supporting:

• Cloud computing frameworks
• Big data processing and analytics
• Database servers and virtualization environments
• AI-driven workloads and machine learning operations
• Transactional applications with heavy concurrency

Business Benefits

• Supports enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems
• Handles large-scale virtualization deployments efficiently
• Provides stability for high-performance computing (HPC)
• Enhances real-time analytics and business intelligence
• Future-proof design for long-term IT investment

Technical Highlights

• 20-core architecture designed for intensive enterprise workloads
• Base frequency of 2.0GHz for stable task execution
• Compatible with HPE DL580 Gen10 servers
• 120W energy-optimized power rating
• Part number: 878136-B21 for easy identification and procurement

Category Outline of HPE Xeon-Gold 20-core Processor

The HPE 878136-B21 DL580 120W Xeon-Gold 6138 20-core 2.0GHz category groups servers, processors, upgrade kits, and compatible components built around Intel's Xeon Gold 6138 CPU and the HPE ProLiant DL580 platform. This category is aimed at IT professionals, data center managers, system integrators, and enterprises seeking a balance of dense compute, robust memory capacity, and predictable power/thermal behavior for mixed workloads such as virtualization, large databases, in-memory analytics, and consolidated business applications.

Category represents

At its core, this category covers:

• Servers and blade systems that accept the Intel Xeon Gold 6138 processor series (20 cores, 2.0GHz base frequency).
• Factory or aftermarket upgrade kits, including heatsinks, mounting brackets, and power/thermal modules denoted by HPE part numbers (example SKU prefix 878136-B21).
• Compatible memory kits (RDIMM/LRDIMM) and large capacity DIMMs tuned for four-socket configurations common in DL580 systems.
• Firmware, BIOS updates, and management utilities tailored to optimize the Xeon Gold family on HPE platforms.

Key benefits and buyer motivation

Enterprise-grade performance

The Xeon-Gold 6138 is engineered to deliver strong multi-threaded throughput thanks to its 20 physical cores and broad support for modern server features. Within this category, buyers typically prioritize:

• Multi-core density: Efficient parallel processing for virtualization hosts and containerized services.
• Large memory footprints: Support for high memory capacity per socket enables large datasets, in-memory caches, and high-concurrency database operations.
• Predictable TDP: 120W thermal design power provides consistent cooling and rack power planning.

Cost of ownership and longevity

Systems and components in this category are often selected for predictable lifecycle economics. Factors influencing total cost of ownership (TCO) include repairability, modular upgrades, and wide availability of compatible parts. HPE's serviceability features for the DL580 line—such as hot-swappable components and centralized iLO management—help reduce downtime and administrative overhead.

Technical breakdown: processor, platform, and power

Intel Xeon-Gold 6138 — processor highlights

While the short product name signals the essential specifications (20 cores, 2.0GHz base), buyers need to consider additional architectural and platform details:

• Core and thread architecture: Many workloads benefit from the Xeon Gold's multi-core layout and simultaneous multithreading (where applicable), enabling better thread-level parallelism.
• Cache hierarchy: On-chip caches and inter-core communication affect database and latency-sensitive tasks; higher cache helps reduce memory access penalties.
• Memory channels and capacity: Typical enterprise sockets provide multiple memory channels; choosing the correct RDIMM/LRDIMM configurations unlocks maximum bandwidth.

HPE DL580 platform characteristics

The DL580 family (a four-socket server class) is targeted at mission-critical deployments where redundancy, I/O aggregation, and memory scale matter. Important platform considerations include:

• Four-socket flexibility: Ability to populate multiple sockets for linear scaling of cores and memory.
• I/O expandability: Multiple PCIe lanes permitting high-bandwidth NICs, NVMe storage controllers, and accelerator cards (GPUs, FPGAs).
• Advanced management: HPE Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) and system health telemetry for proactive maintenance.

Thermal and power planning (120W TDP)

A 120W TDP per CPU is an important planning metric — it influences rack density, cooling strategy, and power distribution in a datacenter. Practical implications include:

• Rack density limits: Multiply TDP by the number of populated sockets when estimating heat and power draw.
• Airflow requirements: Proper front-to-rear airflow and redundant fans are essential to maintain safe operating temperatures under sustained loads.
• Power redundancy: Dual or triple redundant power supplies are commonly used to mitigate single-point failures.

Consider components from this category

Primary target audiences

The HPE 878136-B21 DL580 Xeon-Gold 6138 ecosystem suits:

• Virtualization and cloud hosts: Consolidating multiple VMs or containers on a robust, multi-socket host.
• Database and analytics engines: Running OLTP/OLAP workloads that require sustained throughput and large memory pools.
• Enterprise applications: ERP, CRM, and line-of-business software where availability and performance stability are critical.
• System integrators: Building custom racks and appliances that need certified HPE hardware and compatible Intel processors.

Secondary use cases

While primarily enterprise-oriented, these systems can also be repurposed for:

• High-performance computing (HPC) testbeds: For CPU-bound, tightly coupled simulations at modest scales.
• Edge compute appliances: When remote sites require significant compute and memory in a single, managed chassis.
• Software development and CI/CD runners: Accelerating parallel builds and test suites with multi-core hosts.

Compatibility, firmware, and lifecycle management

Compatibility checklist

Before purchasing, verify the following compatibility items:

• HPE server firmware revision and BIOS compatibility with Intel Xeon Gold processors.
• Supported memory types (RDIMM vs LRDIMM) and maximum capacity per slot.
• Power supply wattage and redundancy to support fully populated CPU and expansion cards.
• HPE validated parts list (spare numbers, heatsinks, and rail kits) for the DL580 chassis.

Firmware, drivers, and management tools

Regular updates to system firmware, microcode, and management agents (like HPE iLO and agents for OS integration) are essential to ensure stability and security. Recommended practices include:

• Keeping BIOS and microcode current to benefit from performance and reliability fixes.
• Installing vendor-supplied drivers for OS and hypervisor platforms to enable full feature support.
• Using centralized monitoring (HPE OneView, iLO federation) to automate inventory, firmware rollouts, and alerts.

Patch cadence and validation

Have a controlled update process: test patches in a staging environment; schedule maintenance windows; and monitor system telemetry post-update to catch regressions quickly.

Performance tuning and workload optimization

Operating system and hypervisor tuning

To squeeze the best performance from Xeon-Gold CPUs on an HPE DL580:

• NUMA awareness: Configure OS and hypervisor NUMA policies so memory and CPU affinities favor local access and reduce cross-socket latency.
• CPU pinning and workload isolation: Pin latency-sensitive processes or VMs to cores to avoid contention with batch jobs.
• Interrupt moderation: Optimize NIC and storage interrupt settings to balance latency and throughput.

BIOS and microcode settings

BIOS choices (power profiles, frequency scaling, C-states) can have a direct effect on measured throughput and response time:

• Performance mode: Disable aggressive power saving to keep CPUs at higher base frequencies for latency-sensitive workloads.
• Turbo settings: Use selectively — turbo can improve single-threaded peaks but may increase thermal output.
• Advanced platform features: Enable hardware prefetchers and chipset optimizations when tested and validated for your workload.

Reliability and serviceability 

Hardware redundancy and failover design

For mission-critical deployments, design for failure tolerance:

• Redundant power supplies and dedicated UPS per rack or row.
• Multipath I/O for storage connectivity to prevent single path outages.
• Clustering and replication for application-level high availability.

Accessories and complementary products to consider

Memory kits

RDIMM and LRDIMM kits matched to HPE validated lists deliver predictable performance. Purchase matched kits per server population guidance to ensure balanced channel loading.

Cooling and thermal modules

Replacement heatsinks, airflow shrouds, and chassis fan kits keep systems operating within safe thermal envelopes. These accessories are especially important when upgrading to higher TDP CPUs or populating all sockets.

Management and monitoring

HPE iLO licenses, OneView management appliances, and hardware monitoring subscriptions increase visibility across multiple DL580 systems and automate routine maintenance tasks.

Related categories and cross-sell opportunities

Memory expansion kits (RDIMM / LRDIMM)

Offer matched memory kits with channel-balanced configurations for the DL580 to help customers achieve predictable performance without troubleshooting memory population rules.

High-performance NVMe storage

NVMe arrays and controllers are natural complements, especially for workloads where storage latency and throughput are the limiting factors.

Networking and acceleration cards

25GbE/40GbE NICs, smart NICs, and accelerator cards (GPU/FPGA) can increase throughput and offload specialized workloads.