HPE ProLiant DL388 Gen9 Processors
Genuine HPE processor option kits for the HPE ProLiant DL388 Gen9, new and refurbished. Every kit listed is an Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 part, up to two per server, and each comes complete with heatsink and fans — the second-processor kit brings two additional chassis fans with it.
DL388 Gen9 Processor Specifications
- Sockets: up to two processors, from a range of 22 E5-2600 v3 kits spanning entry, base and performance tiers
- Range stocked: the 1.6GHz six-core E5-2603 v3 at 85W through to the 2.3GHz 18-core E5-2699 v3 at 145W, with core counts from four to eighteen per socket
- Wattage span: 55W on the E5-2630L v3 up to 160W on the E5-2687W v3, which is a wide enough range to change the power and cooling answer
- Heatsinks: parts drawing more than 120W ship with a High Performance heatsink; double-wide PCIe cards are only supported on risers with those heatsinks, and a standard-heatsink processor needs the Graphics Enablement Kit instead
- Hyper-Threading: supported on every kit listed except the E5-2603 v3 and the E5-2609 v3
- Memory clock: the processor sets DDR4 speed at 1600, 1866 or 2133MHz, and the DIMMs cannot exceed it
- Kit contents: heatsink and fans included, with two extra chassis fans in the second-processor kit
A second processor is not only about cores. It brings the second set of DIMM slots into use and it is required before the second riser's three PCIe slots can be populated, which is often the real reason to add one. Every kit ships with heatsink and fans, and the second-processor kit carries two extra chassis fans with it.
How Much Processor Does the Rest of the Build Need?
| Tier | Example kit | Memory clock | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | E5-2603 v3, 1.6GHz 6-core, 85W | 1600MHz | No Hyper-Threading, and it caps every DIMM in the server |
| Base | E5-2630 v3, 2.4GHz 8-core, 85W | 1866MHz | Standard heatsink, the mainstream virtualisation choice |
| Performance | E5-2650 v3, 2.3GHz 10-core, 105W | 2133MHz | Full memory clock on a standard heatsink |
| Top of range | E5-2699 v3, 2.3GHz 18-core, 145W | 2133MHz | High Performance heatsink, and a power budget to match |
The tier buys more than cores. It also fixes the memory clock, so an entry part holds DDR4-2133 modules at 1600MHz no matter what is fitted beside it, and it decides the heatsink, which in turn decides whether a double-wide graphics card can go in a riser at all. On a 12LFF server there is one more catch: rear 2SFF drives are not supported alongside the E5-2687W v3.
Choosing the Right DL388 Gen9 Processor
- A second processor unlocks more than cores. It brings the other half of the DIMM slots into play and it is required before the second riser's three PCIe slots can be used.
- Do not mix processor families. HPE does not support running E5-2600 v3 and E5-2600 v4 parts together, and only v3 kits are listed for this server.
- Check the wattage against the power supply. Two 160W parts and a full drive cage is a different budget from two 55W parts in the same chassis.
- Plan the heatsink around the cards. Above 120W the High Performance heatsink ships as standard and double-wide cards are supported; below it, the Graphics Enablement Kit is what makes them work.
- Buy the memory clock you need. If the DIMMs are already 2133MHz parts, an entry or base processor throws that away.
Complete Your DL388 Gen9 Build
Processor choice sets both the memory clock and the power draw, so read DL388 Gen9 memory and power supplies alongside this page. Also available: DL388 Gen9 drives, storage controllers and networking adapters, or the full DL388 Gen9 parts listing and the wider parts by server model index.
DL388 Gen9 Processors FAQ
Which processors does the HPE ProLiant DL388 Gen9 take?
Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 processors, up to two per server. 22 kits are listed, from the 1.6GHz six-core E5-2603 v3 at 85W to the 2.3GHz 18-core E5-2699 v3 at 145W.
Can I fit E5-2600 v4 processors instead?
Mixing E5-2600 v3 and E5-2600 v4 processors in one server is not supported by HPE, and only v3 kits are listed for this model. Treat the fitted family as the family to stay in.
Do the processor kits include a heatsink?
Yes. Every kit comes complete with heatsink and fans, and the second-processor kit ships with two additional chassis fans for the installation.
What does adding a second processor change?
Three things. It doubles the core count, it brings the second processor's DIMM slots into use, and it is required before the second riser's three PCIe slots can be populated.
Which processors support Hyper-Threading?
Every kit listed for this server except the E5-2603 v3 and the E5-2609 v3, which are the two entry parts.
Why does my memory run slower than its rating?
Because the processor caps it. An E5-2603 v3 or E5-2609 v3 runs memory at 1600MHz, the E5-2620 v3 to E5-2640 v3 class runs it at 1866MHz, and only the E5-2637 v3, E5-2643 v3 and faster kits reach 2133MHz.
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