Chapter 2. IBM eX5 technology 17Table 2-1 Two-socket, 2-socket scalable, and 4-socket scalable Intel processors minimum configurationFor more information about processor options and the installation order of the processors,see the following links: IBM System x3850 X5: 3.7, “Processor options” on page 74 IBM System x3690 X5: 4.7, “Processor options” on page 130 IBM BladeCenter HX5: 5.9, “Processor options” on page 1922.2.1 Intel Virtualization TechnologyIntel Virtualization Technology (Intel VT) is a suite of processor hardware enhancements thatassists virtualization software to deliver more efficient virtualization solutions and greatercapabilities, including 64-bit guest OS support.Intel VT Flex Priority optimizes virtualization software efficiency by improving interrupthandling.Intel VT Flex migration enables the Xeon 7500 series to be added to the existing virtualizationpool with single, 2, 4, or 8-socket servers.For more information about Intel Virtual Technology, go to the following website:http://www.intel.com/technology/virtualization/2.2.2 Hyper-Threading TechnologyIntel Hyper-Threading Technology enables a single physical processor to execute twoseparate code streams (threads) concurrently. To the operating system, a processor core withHyper-Threading is seen as two logical processors, each of which has its own architecturalstate, that is, its own data, segment, and control registers and its own advancedprogrammable interrupt controller (APIC).Each logical processor can be individually halted, interrupted, or directed to execute aspecified thread, independently from the other logical processor on the chip. The logicalprocessors share the execution resources of the processor core, which include the executionengine, the caches, the system interface, and the firmware.Xeon 5500 Xeon 5600 Xeon 6500 Xeon 7500Used in x3400 M2x3500 M2x3550 M2x3650 M2HS22HS22Vx3400 M3x3500 M3x3550 M3x3650 M3HS22HS22Vx3690 X5HX5x3850 X5x3950 X5HX5Intel development name Nehalem-EP Westmere-EP Nehalem-EX Nehalem-EXMaximum processors per server 2 2 2 HX5: 2x3850 X5: 4CPU cores per processor 2 or 4 4 or 6 4, 6, or 8 4, 6, or 8Last level cache (MB) 4 or 8 MB 8 or 12 MB 12 or 18 MB 18 or 24 MBMemory DIMMs per processor (maximum) aa. Requires that the memory mezzanine board is installed along with processor two on x3690 X59 9 16 a 16
