P86710-005 HPE DL380 2.4GHz Gen11 4510 12c 1P 2x32GB 8SFF Server

Decoding the Compute Engine: 4th Gen Intel® Xeon®

At the heart of the HPE P86710-005 DL380 Gen11 lies a single 4th Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable processor, clocked at a base frequency of 2.4GHz and featuring 12 cores. This processor family represents a significant leap in data center CPU technology, introducing specialized accelerators that offload and improve performance for specific common workloads.

Core Advantages for Modern Workloads

The move to a 12-core, single-processor (1P) configuration in this model offers an excellent balance of core density, performance per watt, and cost-effectiveness for a wide array of applications. It provides substantial multithreading capability for virtualized environments and containerized microservices while maintaining a streamlined power and licensing footprint.

Integrated Accelerators: A Game Changer

Unlike traditional CPUs, the 4th Gen Xeon Scalable processors include built-in accelerators:

Intel® Advanced Matrix Extensions (AMX): Drastically accelerates AI inferencing tasks, enabling the server to efficiently run machine learning models without requiring discrete GPUs for many use cases.
Intel® Data Streaming Accelerator (DSA): Optimizes data movement and transformation operations, improving performance for streaming data, storage, and networking workloads.
Intel® QuickAssist Technology (QAT): Provides hardware acceleration for cryptography and compression, enhancing security and efficiency for SSL/TLS web services, data storage, and content delivery networks.

Understanding the 1P Configuration

The choice of a single-socket platform offers distinct advantages. It reduces total cost of ownership (TCO) by lowering initial hardware cost, power consumption, and software licensing fees that are often per-socket. For many mid-market businesses and specific workload deployments, a high-core-count 1P system like this provides ample performance without the complexity and cost of a dual-processor configuration.

Memory & Storage: A Symphony of Speed and Capacity

The configuration 2x32GB 8SFF 1x7.68TB NVMe SSD highlights the critical balance of memory and storage that defines the DL380 Gen11's capability. This is a platform built for speed, large data sets, and high transaction throughput.

Revolutionary Memory with DDR5

The server is equipped with two 32GB DDR5 memory modules. DDR5 memory represents a generational shift, offering significantly higher speeds (starting at 4800 MT/s), improved bandwidth, and greater power efficiency compared to DDR4. The dual-channel configuration from the two modules ensures optimal memory throughput for the CPU. The DL380 Gen11 platform supports expansive memory capacities, allowing this base configuration to be scaled up to meet the demands of in-memory databases like SAP HANA or large virtualization hosts.

Storage Architecture: Flexibility and Extreme Performance

The "8SFF" designation indicates an eight-bay Small Form Factor (2.5-inch) drive chassis. This provides tremendous flexibility for storage configuration.

The NVMe Performance Tier

Pre-installed is a single 7.68TB NVMe SSD. NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) drives connect directly via PCIe lanes, bypassing traditional SATA/SAS controllers to deliver sub-millisecond latency and massive IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second). This drive is ideally suited for:

Primary Storage for High-Transaction Databases: Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and NoSQL databases benefit immensely from the low latency.
Hypervisor Boot and Fast Logging: Hosting VMware ESXi or Microsoft Hyper-V on this drive ensures rapid boot and superior VM performance.

Form Factor, Power, and Resiliency

The DL380 maintains its industry-standard 2U rack form factor, ensuring it fits seamlessly into existing data center infrastructure. This model specifies critical power and redundancy features essential for 24/7 operation.

High-Efficiency Power Subsystem

The server is configured with 2x800W Platinum AC Power Supplies (PS NA). The "NA" indicates a North American power cord type. The Platinum efficiency rating ensures that over 94% of the incoming AC power is converted to usable DC power for the server, reducing electricity costs and heat output. The 800W capacity provides substantial headroom for full configuration of drives, GPUs, and additional PCIe cards.

Redundancy and Availability

The inclusion of two power supplies is a key feature for business continuity. They are configured in a 1+1 redundant mode (typically), meaning if one power supply fails or its power source is interrupted, the other instantly takes the full load without any disruption to server operation. This is a non-negotiable feature for production environments.

Serviceability and Thermal Design

The DL380 Gen11 is renowned for its serviceability. Key components—drives, power supplies, fans—are hot-swappable and front-accessible. The advanced thermal design with variable-speed fans responds intelligently to component temperatures and power consumption, ensuring optimal cooling with minimal acoustic noise and energy use. This directly contributes to system longevity and reliability.

Primary Use Cases and Applications

The specific configuration of the HPE P86710-005 makes it ideally suited for several key enterprise and mid-market applications.

Virtualization and Private Cloud Consolidation

With 12 cores/24 threads, 64GB of fast DDR5 RAM (expandable), and ultra-fast NVMe storage, this server is an excellent virtualization host. It can comfortably run numerous virtual machines, supporting server consolidation projects that reduce physical footprint and complexity. The NVMe drive provides exceptional performance for VSAN or other hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) implementations.

Mid-Tier Database and Business Application Server

It is a powerhouse for departmental or mid-sized business databases like Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, or PostgreSQL. The low-latency NVMe storage drastically improves query times and transaction speeds, while the CPU's accelerators can handle associated analytics and reporting workloads efficiently.

Edge Computing and AI Inferencing Platform

The combination of the CPU's AMX accelerators, high-speed memory, and fast storage makes this DL380 a strong candidate for edge deployments where AI models are run on incoming data streams (e.g., in manufacturing, retail, or healthcare). Its manageable 1P power draw and robust HPE iLO management allow for remote, lights-out operation in distributed environments.

Software, Management, and HPE GreenLake Integration

The value of a modern HPE server extends far beyond its physical hardware. It is part of a comprehensive software-defined ecosystem.

HPE ProLiant Essentials and iLO Advanced

The server includes HPE iLO Advanced, which unlocks critical features like remote console, virtual media, and advanced security auditing. It can be further enhanced with HPE Insight Management software for holistic fleet management, providing automated discovery, monitoring, and firmware compliance across the entire server estate.

The HPE GreenLake Connection

This DL380 Gen11 server is fully compatible with the HPE GreenLake platform. This means it can be consumed as-a-service, with HPE managing the infrastructure on the customer's premises. Even if purchased traditionally, it can connect to GreenLake for cloud-based monitoring, analytics, and operational insights. The HPE GreenLake Central portal provides a unified view of usage, health, and recommendations, turning Capex into Opex and providing a cloud experience for on-premises infrastructure.

Security Ecosystem

Security is baked in, starting with the HPE Silicon Root of Trust. This is complemented by features like secure boot, firmware resilience, and iLO's role-based access control and audit logging. The system is designed to meet stringent compliance requirements and protect against sophisticated threats at the hardware level.