HPE ProLiant BL490c G7 Processors
Genuine HPE processor option kits for the HPE ProLiant BL490c G7, new and refurbished. The blade takes up to two Intel Xeon 5600 series processors on the Intel 5520 chipset, every one of them carrying 12MB of shared L3 cache — and on a blade bought for memory, the second processor is what makes the other nine DIMM slots usable.
BL490c G7 Processor Specifications
- Sockets: two, on the Intel 5520 chipset; HPE shipped single-processor models that upgrade to two
- Family: Intel Xeon 5600 series with Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost, 12MB of shared L3 cache each; the letter before the model number sets the class — X for high performance, E for mainstream enterprise, L for lower wattage
- Six-core kits stocked: X5670 at 2.93GHz and 95W, X5650 at 2.66GHz and 95W, and the 60W L5640 at 2.26GHz
- Four-core kit stocked: the 40W L5630 at 2.13GHz, the lowest-wattage part HPE documents for this blade
- Memory clock: the six-core kits above are rated for DDR3-1333 and the L5630 for DDR3-1066, and HPE notes the processor rating is the ceiling whatever the DIMMs can do
- Kit contents: the kits listed here come complete with heatsink and fans, though HPE's note for this blade is to reuse the heatsink originally shipped with CPU 1 when upgrading or replacing it, applying sufficient thermal grease
A second processor is not only about cores. With one CPU fitted, only nine of the eighteen DIMM slots are usable, so on a blade bought for memory capacity the second socket is what opens the rest. HPE's note for this blade: reuse the heatsink originally shipped with CPU 1 when upgrading it.
Six cores or four, and at what wattage?
| Class | Kit stocked | Wattage | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| X — high performance | X5670 2.93GHz 6-core | 95W | Clock-sensitive guests, where the enclosure has the power and cooling |
| X — high performance | X5650 2.66GHz 6-core | 95W | The usual two-socket virtualisation build |
| L — lower wattage | L5640 2.26GHz 6-core | 60W | Six cores inside a tight enclosure power budget |
| L — lower wattage | L5630 2.13GHz 4-core | 40W | Density over core count, and the smallest draw of the four |
Wattage carries more weight in a blade than in a rack server, because up to sixteen of them share one enclosure's power and cooling. Two L5640s give twelve cores inside 120 watts of processor draw; two X5670s give twelve faster cores and ask for 190. Where a blade is being upgraded rather than rebuilt, the class already fitted is a fair guide to what the enclosure was provisioned for.
Choosing the Right BL490c G7 Processor
- A second processor opens the other nine DIMM slots. HPE's population rules leave half the slots unusable with one CPU fitted, which on this blade is usually the real reason to add one.
- -L21 kits are factory-installable options. HPE pairs one -L21 with one -B21 when a blade is built with two processors at the factory; the -B21 number is the option kit sold separately.
- Keep the heatsink from CPU 1. HPE's note for this blade is to reuse the heatsink originally shipped with that socket when upgrading or fitting a spare, with sufficient thermal grease applied.
- Watch the enclosure's power budget. A 95W part against a 40W part is a 55-watt difference per socket, multiplied by every blade sharing the enclosure.
Complete Your BL490c G7 Build
Processor count decides how much of the memory you can reach, and the processor rating caps its clock — see BL490c G7 memory alongside this page. Also available: BL490c G7 hard drives and storage controllers, or the full BL490c G7 parts listing. Adjacent blades: BL490c G6 processors, BL460c G7 processors and the full-height BL620c G7 processors, with every model indexed under HPE parts by server model.
BL490c G7 Processors FAQ
Which processors does the BL490c G7 support?
Up to two Intel Xeon 5600 series processors on the Intel 5520 chipset. HPE documents six-core X5675, X5670, X5650, E5649 and L5640 kits and four-core X5672 and L5630 kits, each with 12MB of shared L3 cache.
Does a second processor do anything besides add cores?
Yes. With one processor fitted, only nine of the eighteen DIMM slots are usable, so on a blade bought for memory capacity the second CPU is what unlocks the rest.
What do the X, E and L letters mean?
They are performance and wattage classes. X is high performance and high wattage, E is mainstream enterprise, and L is lower wattage for density or a constrained enclosure power budget.
Do BL490c G7 processor kits include a heatsink?
The kits listed here come complete with heatsink and fans. HPE adds a note for this blade: when upgrading or ordering a spare for CPU 1, reuse the heatsink originally shipped with it and apply sufficient thermal grease.
What does the -L21 suffix on an HPE processor kit mean?
It marks a factory-installable option. HPE pairs one -L21 kit with one -B21 kit when a blade leaves the factory with two processors, and the -B21 part number is the option kit.
Does the processor limit memory speed on this blade?
Yes. The six-core kits listed here are rated for DDR3-1333 and the L5630 for DDR3-1066, and HPE notes that the processor's rating is the maximum whatever the DIMMs are capable of.
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