HPE ProLiant DL380a Gen12 Processors

Genuine HPE processor option kits for the HPE ProLiant Compute DL380a Gen12, new and refurbished. The server takes two Intel Xeon 6 processors and only two — HPE does not support a single-processor configuration — from three families that trade core count, clock and memory rules differently.

DL380a Gen12 Processor Specifications

• Sockets: two, dual-processor configurations only, and both processors must be the same model
• Intel Xeon 6700-series E-core: 6710E (64 cores, 205W), 6740E (96), 6746E (112), 6756E (128), and the 144-core 6766E (250W) and 6780E (330W)
• Intel Xeon 6500-series P-core (HCC, LCC): 6507P (8 cores, 3.5GHz, 150W), 6515P and 6517P (16), 6520P and 6527P (24), 6530P (32 cores, 225W)
• Intel Xeon 6700-series P-core (XCC): nineteen kits from the 8-core 4.0GHz 6714P through 16-, 24-, 32-, 36-, 48- and 64-core parts to the 86-core 6787P and 6788P at 350W
• Range: 8 to 144 cores, 150W to 350W, L3 cache 48MB to 336MB, three or four UPI links
• Memory: DDR5 at 6400 MT/s on every listed processor except the 6710E and 6746E at 5600 MT/s; E-core allows 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 DIMMs per CPU, P-core 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 or 16
• I/O: six PCIe 5.0 x16 slots — primary riser (slots 1 to 3) on processor 2, secondary (4 to 6) on processor 1
• Cooling: air baffle and heatsinks are part of the chassis; the CPU Direct Liquid Cooling kit is a factory-integrated option that occupies rear PCIe slot 1
• Chassis: P-core processors are not available on the P74461-B21 8DW server; the 6776P is listed for host-CPU use in AI servers only, and general-compute use invalidates its warranty

Two processors, one model, and the chassis limits the family. HPE supports dual-processor configurations only and does not support mixing two different Xeon 6 models, so an upgrade is always two identical kits. P-core processors are not available on the P74461-B21 8DW server, which takes the 6700-series E-core parts only; the P76706-B21 takes all three families. The 6710E and 6746E also cap memory at 5600 MT/s where every other kit supports 6400.

E-core or P-core for a DL380a Gen12?

On an accelerator server the processor is the host for the GPUs, and the families map onto that. E-core parts put the most threads behind data preparation and serving; P-core XCC parts bring the high clocks — 4.0GHz on the 6714P, 3.8GHz on the 6732P — and 336MB caches for single-threaded stages. The 6500-series P-core parts are the economical hosts, topping out at 32 cores and 255W.

Choosing the Right DL380a Gen12 Processor

• Buy two identical kits. Dual-processor configurations only, no mixing of models — an upgrade replaces both.
• Let the processor family set the memory plan. E-core allows DIMM totals of 4, 8, 16 or 32 and no 16GB kit; P-core adds 24. The 6710E and 6746E cap memory at 5600 MT/s.
• Check the chassis before buying P-core. The P74461-B21 8DW server is E-core only.
• Read the 6776P's restriction. Host-CPU use in AI servers only; general compute invalidates the warranty.
• Feed the wattage into the power plan. Two 350W processors beside eight GPUs is why HPE points buyers at the Power Advisor and eight supplies.
• Do not budget for a heat sink kit. None is listed; the chassis includes its air baffle and heatsinks, and liquid cooling is factory-only.

Complete Your DL380a Gen12 Build

Processor choice sets the DIMM counts and memory clock — see DL380a Gen12 memory — and hangs three PCIe slots off each socket, which matters for DL380a Gen12 networking adapters. Also available: DL380a Gen12 drives, storage controllers and power supplies, or the full DL380a Gen12 parts listing with the GPUs themselves. Siblings: DL380 Gen12 processors and DL580 Gen12 processors; every model is under HPE parts by server model.

DL380a Gen12 Processors FAQ

Which processors does the DL380a Gen12 support?
Intel Xeon 6 processors in three families: 6700-series E-core from the 64-core 6710E to the 144-core 6766E and 6780E, 6500-series P-core from the 8-core 6507P to the 32-core 6530P, and 6700-series P-core XCC from the 8-core 6714P to the 86-core 6787P and 6788P. All are sold as HPE processor kits.

Can I run a DL380a Gen12 with one processor?
No. HPE states that the DL380a Gen12 supports dual-processor configurations only. Both sockets must be populated, and with the same processor model.

Can I mix two different Xeon 6 processors?
No. HPE states that mixing two different processor models is not supported, so an upgrade means two identical kits.

What is the difference between E-core and P-core Xeon 6 processors?
E-core parts pack more cores at lower clocks - up to 144 cores in this server - while P-core parts give fewer cores at higher clocks and larger caches, up to 86 cores, 4.0GHz and 336MB of L3. The families also differ in memory rules: E-core allows 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 DIMMs per CPU and does not support the 16GB kit, P-core allows 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 or 16.

What memory speed do DL380a Gen12 processors support?
DDR5 at 6400 MT/s for every listed processor except the Xeon 6710E and 6746E, which HPE rates at 5600 MT/s. Actual speed also depends on the number and type of DIMMs installed: one DIMM per channel runs at up to 6400 MT/s, two per channel at up to 5200 MT/s.

Which processors work in the P74461-B21 chassis?
Only the 6700-series E-core processors. HPE states that Intel Xeon 6500 and 6700-series P-core processors are not available on the P74461-B21 server SKU; the P76706-B21 8DW/16SW server takes all three families.

Does the DL380a Gen12 need a separate heat sink kit?
No heat sink kit is listed as an option for this server. HPE describes the air baffle and heatsinks as part of the chassis, and the only alternative cooling it lists, the CPU Direct Liquid Cooling kit, is a factory-integrated option that also occupies rear PCIe slot 1.

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