879595-B21 HPE Xeon-Silver 11MB L3 Cache Socket 85W 8-core 2.1GHz Scalable Processor

Outline of HPE 879595-B21 Xeon-Silver Processor Kit  

The HPE 879595-B21 is a processor kit built around the Intel Xeon Silver 4110 (formerly Skylake-based) CPU engineered for balanced enterprise workloads. This category covers server processors and CPU kits tailored to mid-range data center deployments where predictable performance, power efficiency, and platform compatibility are essential. The kit typically includes the processor module and any HPE-specific mounting accessories, firmware identifiers, and validated compatibility with ProLiant server families. Merchants and IT teams catalog this SKU under replacement parts, upgrades, or OEM-specific processor kits—making it a common choice for administrators focused on consolidation, virtualization, and throughput-centric infrastructure.

Intended Audience and Typical Use Cases

This category is primarily aimed at IT professionals, system integrators, and enterprise buyers who manage HPE ProLiant servers. Use cases include:

• Small to medium virtual machine (VM) farms where core efficiency and per-core performance matter.
• Database frontends and OLTP systems benefiting from strong integer performance and consistent cache behavior.
• Distributed application servers, middleware stacks, and container hosts that rely on dependable multi-threaded performance.
• Hardware refresh or replacement parts management—keeping spare processor kits for rapid field replacement.

Key Features & Specifications

Processor Core and Clock Characteristics

The Intel Xeon Silver 4110 in HPE’s 879595-B21 kit is an 8-core processor with a base clock typically around 2.1 GHz and support for Intel Turbo Boost Technology. Its core count and clock balance make it suitable for workloads that scale across multiple threads without demanding the thermal headroom of higher-tier CPUs. The processor’s per-core performance is adequate for single-threaded tasks while offering multi-threaded scalability for background services and parallel workloads.

Cache and Memory Subsystem

The package includes a sizeable shared L3 cache (11 MB nominal) which reduces memory access latency and improves throughput for cache-sensitive workloads like databases, web services, and in-memory caching layers. The processor supports DDR4 memory, ECC DIMMs, and benefits from multi-channel memory topologies when installed in compatible HPE platforms. Memory performance directly impacts many server applications, and the Silver-class CPU provides a balanced memory interface for mixed workloads.

Thermal Design Power (TDP) and Power Management

This kit is specified for an 85W TDP envelope, which places it in the energy-efficient segment of the Xeon lineup. The 85W rating allows for reasonable thermal headroom in rack and dense chassis designs while maintaining steady clock behavior under load. HPE firmware and power management profiles, available on ProLiant servers, let administrators tune power capping, c-state behavior, and boost policies to match data center energy objectives.

Platform Compatibility and Validation

Being an HPE part number, 879595-B21 is validated for specific ProLiant generations. The kit is engineered to fit the socket and thermal interface used in those servers and is tied into HPE’s firmware/BIOS updates and service packs. Compatibility information is critical: buying the right SKU ensures the server recognizes the CPU, firmware updates apply correctly, and HPE support processes are available when required.

Performance Characteristics and Workload Suitability

The Xeon Silver 4110 is designed for balanced performance across single and multi-threaded workloads. Its strength lies in:

• Throughput for concurrent tasks: Eight physical cores (and hyper-threading support on certain SKUs) provide the threading density needed for application servers, microservices, and hypervisor hosts.
• Cache locality: The 11 MB L3 cache improves repetitive dataset access, reducing main memory transactions and improving responsiveness for database and caching layers.
• Predictable latency: Enterprise silicon prioritizes deterministic performance under steady loads—important for latency-sensitive microservices and synchronous replication tasks.

Where this processor is less optimal is in extremely high frequency-sensitive single-thread tasks or massively parallel HPC workloads that demand many more cores or AVX/FP heavy capabilities. For those scenarios, HPE customers typically opt for higher-tier Gold or Platinum Xeons or specialized accelerator cards.

Virtualization and Cloud Workloads

With adequate core counts and efficient cache, the Silver 4110 is a common choice for virtualization hosts running VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, KVM, or other hypervisors. It supports the virtualization extensions required for efficient VM scheduling and benefits from HPE platform features such as enhanced power profiles and system firmware tuned for virtual workloads. Density planners should balance VM vCPU allocations per core and account for memory bandwidth when sizing hosts.

Thermal Monitoring and Power Optimization

Monitor thermal readings post-installation and use HPE iLO (Integrated Lights-Out) management or equivalent to set up thresholds and alerts. Power optimization strategies include enabling Intel SpeedStep, configuring c-states, and applying power caps where necessary for thermally constrained racks. These measures preserve system longevity while maintaining application performance.

Compatibility, Interoperability, and Upgrading Considerations

HPE Servers Accept This Kit

The 879595-B21 part number is tailored for specific ProLiant models—often Gen9/Gen10 era platforms and similar chassis families that support the Skylake-EP/LGA socket architecture. Buyers should consult HPE compatibility matrices or product documentation to match server models, BIOS revisions, and memory configurations to ensure full functionality.

Memory and DIMM Planning

To extract maximum performance, configure memory in matched sets and follow the server’s recommended DIMM population rules. Use ECC Registered DIMMs (RDIMMs) or LRDIMMs as supported, and prefer balanced channel population across sockets for multi-CPU systems. The processor’s memory controller benefits from dual/quad/penta channel topologies depending on platform; therefore, careful DIMM selection is critical in multi-VM or memory-heavy workloads.

BIOS, Firmware, and Driver Dependencies

The platform’s BIOS/UEFI firmware and microcode updates are important for stability, security mitigation (e.g., speculative execution mitigations), and performance improvements. Update server firmware using HPE’s Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP) and validate after updates in a staging environment where possible.

Upgrading Path and Compatibility with Other CPUs

Administrators planning upgrades should consider the entire CPU family roadmap. The Xeon Silver 4110 sits below Gold and Platinum SKUs in core count and feature set; moving to higher tiers may require firmware, power, and cooling evaluations. Likewise, mixing different CPU steppings or models in a multi-CPU system is typically unsupported; ensure symmetry across sockets to avoid performance or stability issues.

Comparisons and Alternatives

How the Xeon Silver 4110 Compares to Adjacent SKUs

When evaluating the Silver 4110 against nearby processors, consider:

• Xeon Bronze/Entry SKUs: The Silver 4110 offers higher core speeds, more cache, and better memory capabilities than many Bronze-class parts—resulting in improved throughput for real workloads.
• Xeon Gold: Gold parts usually have more cores, larger caches, and sometimes higher memory channel counts—beneficial for heavily parallel or memory-bound applications but with greater power and cost implications.
• Modern CPU Families: Newer Intel generations and competing AMD EPYC processors may offer significant IPC, core, and I/O gains, but migration to those platforms often means a server redesign and different vendor part numbers.