Intel Xeon E5-2696 v3 socket: LGA 2011-v3
The Intel Xeon E5-2696 v3 uses the LGA 2011-v3 socket. It is an eighteen core Haswell-EP server part with 36 threads from 2.3 GHz to 3.8 GHz at 145 W with 45 MB of cache.
- Socket
- LGA 2011-v3
- Launched
- September 2014
- Cores and threads
- 18 and 36
- Base power
- 145 W
- Codename
- Haswell-EP
- Segment
- Server
- Family
- Intel Xeon E5
- Clocks
- 2.3 / 3.8 GHz
Intel Xeon E5-2696 v3 specifications
| Cores | 18 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 36 |
| Core architecture | Haswell-EP cores on 22 nm |
| Clocks | 2.3 GHz base, up to 3.8 GHz turbo |
| Cache | 45 MB Smart Cache |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 145 W |
| Manufacturing process | 22 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4, four channels, ECC |
| PCI Express | PCIe 3.0, 40 lanes |
| Integrated graphics | None (server board graphics) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| Package | FCLGA2011-3 |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Xeon E5-2696 v3 needs a motherboard with a LGA 2011-v3 socket. The table shows which chipset series accept it.
| Series | Chipsets | Support |
|---|---|---|
| C612 series | C612 | Works out of the box |
Board makers publish a CPU support list for every model. Check it for your exact board before buying. Chipset details for LGA 2011-v3.
LGA 2011-v3 at a glance
| Type | LGA, 2,011 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 52.5 × 45 mm |
| Introduced | August 2014 |
| Memory | DDR4-2400, four channels, up to 128 GB |
| Cooler mounting holes | 80 × 80 mm |
What the Xeon E5-2696 v3 is
The Xeon E5-2696 v3 is an OEM Haswell-EP eighteen core with wide turbo for vendor clouds on LGA 2011-v3. Listings place eighteen cores and 36 threads at 2.3 GHz base with turbo to 3.8 GHz. Forty five megabytes of Smart Cache cover the largest tenants. Power is 145 W on 22 nm from September 2014. Very wide turbo for eighteen cores suits vendor tenants that mix parallel guests with single thread bursts.
Eighteen cores top the density chart per socket for consolidation ratios. Low base holds power while bursts to 3.8 GHz lift control steps well above typical eighteen core ceilings. Huge cache trims memory waits. ECC DDR4 guards data. No integrated graphics exist. OEM validation gates stepping to vendor matrices, so generic board support varies. Used buyers meet this SKU in system pulls.
DDR4 ECC over four channels feeds each socket with two QPI links between dual nodes. The mix is a server socket for vendor clouds where maximum OEM threads with wide turbo at 145 W are specified.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The E5-2696 v3 fits LGA 2011-v3 on vendor C612 Grantley systems. OEM stepping may fail on generic boards. Confirm the exact matrix and turbo behavior before purchase, since wide turbo on eighteen cores needs vendor power delivery. X99 desktop never accepts this OEM server chip.
ECC RDIMMs over four channels carry memory. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide is desktop focused, so follow vendor rules. Cooling uses vendor 145 W heatsinks with strong rack airflow.
Retail eighteen core E5 v3 offer wider support where OEM locks bind. Verify microcode first.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
DDR4 ECC quad channel per socket suits massive guests. Even maps protect NUMA fairness. Large RDIMMs reach high counts. Speed steps per manual.
Forty PCIe lanes per socket feed fabric and NVMe for cloud storage. NUMA placement across QPI links matters at eighteen cores. Vendor manuals detail slots.
Vendor 145 W cooling sustains loads with cool inlets. No retail cooler exists. Wide turbo needs per core headroom and inlet air.
Upgrade paths
On the same socket the Intel Xeon E5-2699 v3 with eighteen retail threads offers broader board support. The Intel Xeon E5-2686 v3 with eighteen OEM threads is a lower power sibling. Both need platform checks.
Newer sockets replace Grantley. The E5-2696 v3 covers OEM clouds where wide turbo eighteen cores at 145 W are specified.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Xeon E5-2696 v3 use?
It uses LGA 2011-v3 on vendor C612 systems.
How many cores does the Xeon E5-2696 v3 have?
Eighteen cores and 36 threads at 2.3 GHz base with turbo to 3.8 GHz.
How much cache does the Xeon E5-2696 v3 have?
45 MB of Smart Cache.
What is the TDP of the Xeon E5-2696 v3?
145 W as an OEM vendor part.
Sources and verification
- List of Intel Xeon processors Haswell-based (Wikipedia, E5-2696 v3 data)
- Haswell microarchitecture (Wikipedia, Haswell-EP data)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .