Intel Xeon E5-4610 socket: LGA 2011

What the Xeon E5-4610 is

Intel Xeon E5-4610 is a six core Sandy Bridge-EP server processor that Intel released in May 2012 for quad socket servers. It runs at 2.4 GHz base with turbo to 2.9 GHz, with 15 MB cache and Hyper-Threading for 12 threads. Power is rated at 95 W per ARK on a 32 nm process, not the 130 W some list entries claim. The 4600 numbering allows four socket operation.

No integrated graphics are present. Memory is DDR3 at 800, 1066 or 1333 MT/s over four channels with ECC. The chip gives 40 PCIe 3.0 lanes plus two 7.2 GT/s QPI links. Forty-eight threads across four sockets handle scale out databases and virtualization.

Boards are four socket Romley designs with vendor firmware. The turbo headroom helps interactive management tasks while batch work sits near base. The How to find your CPU socket type guide shows how to confirm the socket before ordering.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The Xeon E5-4610 fits LGA 2011 in FCLGA2011 form. Quad socket Romley boards with the C600 series controller carry it. The vendor list must show the exact E5-4610 string with Sandy Bridge-EP microcode.

At 95 W per socket, chassis cooling must cover four populated sockets. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide covers server pairing.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory support is DDR3 at 800, 1066 or 1333 MT/s, four channels per socket, with ECC and registered DIMMs. Balance DIMMs across all four sockets.

PCI Express is 40 lanes of PCIe 3.0 per socket. Two QPI links at 7.2 GT/s join four sockets. NUMA tuning matters greatly.

Cooling is vendor qualified for 95 W per socket. No retail mount exists.

Upgrade paths

Within LGA 2011 the Xeon E5-4610 can move to faster Sandy Bridge-EP or Ivy Bridge-EP four socket parts on the same board, where vendor lists allow. All sockets should match stepping. Memory and storage carry over.

A platform move means a DDR4 multi socket generation. Keep the cluster for scale out duty.