HPE P11873-L21 BL460c Gen10 Intel Xeon Gold 6238 OEM

Product Overview

The HPE P11873-L21 is a high-performance server processor module designed for the HPE ProLiant BL460c Gen10 blade platform. Built around the Intel Xeon Gold 6238, this CPU delivers enterprise-grade compute for virtualization, database workloads, and demanding virtualization and analytics applications. With a base clock of 2.1 GHz and 22 physical cores (44 threads), it balances multi-threaded throughput with energy-aware operation at a 140W TDP.

Ideal for IT teams, data center managers, and systems integrators who need:

High-density compute in blade chassis deployments
Reliable multi-core performance for virtual machines and containers
Scalable processing for analytics, ERP, and transactional databases

Technical Specifications & Key Attributes

Core Specifications

Manufacturer: Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
Part Number / SKU: P11873-L21
Processor Model: Intel® Xeon® Gold 6238
Base Frequency: 2.1 GHz
Cores / Threads: 22 cores / 44 threads
Socket Type: LGA3647
Thermal Design Power (TDP): 140 W
Compatible Platform: HPE ProLiant BL460c Gen10 blade server

Extended Capabilities

Advanced vector extensions for accelerated workloads
Large core-count ideal for dense virtualization
Memory and I/O scalability when paired with Gen10 blade architecture

Performance Highlights

The Xeon Gold 6238 is tuned for throughput-oriented workloads. Its high core count and hyper-threading support make it excellent for:

VM consolidation and multi-tenant environments
Real-time analytics, in-memory databases, and big data pipelines
Compute-heavy microservices and container orchestration

Practical Benefits

Scalability: Add processing density without compromising per-core efficiency.
Reliability: Engineered to meet enterprise availability and error-mitigation needs.
Compatibility: Plug-and-play fit for HPE BL460c Gen10 modules with validated firmware.

Compatibility & Integration Notes

When planning upgrades or replacements, confirm the following compatibility factors to ensure smooth integration into your blade chassis or rack environment.

Compatibility Checklist

Server Model: HPE ProLiant BL460c Gen10 — validated chassis and power profiles
Socket: LGA3647 — ensure motherboard and heatsink match this socket type
BIOS / Firmware: Update to the vendor-recommended firmware to support Xeon Gold features
Cooling & Power: Verify blade chassis can support a 140W TDP processor per slot

Recommended Pairings

Enterprise DDR4 memory with matched ECC modules for data integrity
HPE iLO management for remote monitoring and firmware management
NVMe or SAS storage backplanes supported by the Gen10 blade for low-latency storage

Deployment Use Cases

This processor excels in environments that demand predictable multi-core throughput and enterprise reliability.

Common Deployments

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) farms
High-performance web servers and application stacks
Database servers — OLTP and analytical read-heavy workloads
HPC nodes for parallel compute where per-node core density matters

Decision Factors for Procurement Teams

Workload profile: prioritize core count for concurrency-heavy tasks
Total cost of ownership: assess power, cooling, and consolidation savings
Supportability: HPE-certified SKUs often include firmware and technical validation

Core specifications and what they mean for performance

At the heart of the P11873-L21 is the Cascade Lake-generation Intel Xeon Gold 6238. The chip’s 22 cores and 44 threads let administrators consolidate more virtual machines or containers per blade without compromising per-thread work. A 2.10 GHz base clock with a 3.70 GHz Turbo Boost ceiling provides headroom for bursty loads while the 30.25 MB Intel Smart Cache optimizes shared-data access patterns — a vital advantage for in-memory databases and caching layers. The 140 W TDP places the part in a performance-optimized thermal bracket that HPE balances with the BL460c Gen10 chassis cooling design. These attributes translate into strong multi-threaded throughput and reliable single-thread performance for mixed enterprise workloads.

22 cores: balancing consolidation and licensing

The 22-core count is a deliberate sweet spot for many data centers: enough physical cores to consolidate dozens of virtual machines, yet not so many that per-socket software licensing costs make dual-socket configurations prohibitively expensive. For organizations that license software per core or per-socket, the Gold 6238 often represents a pragmatic balance between raw compute capacity and predictable licensing economics.

The BL460c Gen10 platform and system-level support

The P11873-L21 kit is validated for HPE ProLiant BL460c Gen10 blades — a mature, highly popular enterprise blade design. The BL460c Gen10 supports the Intel Xeon Scalable family and HPE’s DDR4 SmartMemory, flexible LOM networking options, multiple storage topologies (including NVMe options through mezzanine cards or onboard M.2) and integrated chassis management via HPE OneView. That platform-level compatibility means straightforward integration into existing c7000 or Synergy blade enclosures where the BL460c form factor is deployed. Administrators upgrading to the Gold 6238 find familiar firmware, iLO management, and driver stacks. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Platform features to pair with the processor

HPE iLO management and OneView integration for remote monitoring and firmware lifecycle management.
Support for HPE DDR4 SmartMemory — high speed memory channels tuned for the Xeon Scalable architecture.
FlexibleLOM and mezzanine slots for 10/25/40/100Gb networking depending on enclosure modules.
Multiple storage attach options including NVMe, SAS and onboard M.2 depending on blade configuration.

Memory and I/O

The Intel Xeon Gold 6238 supports high-bandwidth DDR4 memory (officially up to 2933 MT/s on supported platforms), and BL460c Gen10 blades are designed to take advantage of multi-channel DDR4 operation. Memory bandwidth matters for database workloads, large-scale in-memory caches, analytics and many HPC applications; pairing the Gold 6238 with matched HPE SmartMemory DIMMs in quad- or hex-channel configurations yields the best predictable latency and throughput. On the I/O front, the processor and platform support multiple UPI links and high-speed PCIe lanes for NVMe and accelerator cards (if the blade and chassis options provide the lanes), enabling scale-out storage and accelerator architectures. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Memory sizing guidelines

For virtualization-heavy deployments, plan memory capacity for peak consolidated VM working sets rather than average utilization; many architects recommend at least 128–256 GB per blade when running dozens of VMs, scaling to 512 GB or 1 TB where in-memory databases or large analytic workloads dominate. The BL460c Gen10 supports HPE SmartMemory modules that allow easy expansion without sacrificing performance.

Thermal design and power planning

The Gold 6238’s 140 W TDP requires careful power and cooling planning inside dense blade enclosures. HPE’s BL460c Gen10 chassis and c7000 enclosures provide engineered airflow and power distribution intended to support higher-TDP parts when populated and configured correctly. When specifying racks and blade enclosures, account for peak power draw, PSU redundancy preference (N+1 vs. 2N) and data center cooling capacity. Workload scheduling and steering (for example, not saturating all blades in a single drawer with sustained heavy floating-point loads) can reduce the risk of thermal throttling or increased cooling expense.

Choose the P11873-L21 over other SKUs

Choose the P11873-L21 when you need a single-socket performance-density balance inside the BL460c Gen10 ecosystem and when the platform-level integration (iLO/OneView, SmartMemory) is a priority. If your workloads are extremely latency-sensitive and require higher single-core clocks, a higher-frequency model may be preferable; conversely, if absolute core count is the primary goal and enclosure licensing costs permit, a higher-core Platinum SKU could be considered. The P11873-L21 sits firmly in the “balanced compute” lane for most enterprise shops.

Inventory considerations

When sourcing, note that some resellers may list the P/N with slight variations (P11873-L21, P11873-B21, P11873-B21 depending on region or packaging). Check manufacturer kit numbers and processor serial/stepping information to match warranty coverage and support entitlements.

Security and platform-level protections

The Cascade Lake family introduced mitigations and microcode updates for known speculative-execution vulnerabilities; paired with HPE’s integrated management and silicon-level features (such as Intel Trusted Execution and platform firmware security), the P11873-L21 can be part of a hardened compute estate. Ensure firmware and microcode updates are applied through trusted channels (HPE Service Pack for ProLiant or OneView-managed repositories) to keep mitigations current.

Operational guidance for secure deployments

Enable secure boot and iLO user-account hardening.
Apply microcode updates provided by HPE for the BL460c Gen10 platform when they are released.
Use role-based access control within management tools to limit firmware and BIOS change permissions.