CPU options based on PSU size

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The Gecko

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Jan 4, 2015
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I have an IBM x3650 with a 550W power supply. It currently uses two Xeon E5-2620 v1 processors at 95W each. I'd like to upgrade to dual v2 processors, but I don't know how far I can push it from a power (Watts) perspective.

Two E5-2650 v2 procs should work because it has the same TDP of 95W and it is mentioned here under 'Processor Options'.

But what about something like the E5-2667 v2? It too is mentioned in the 'Processor Options' section, but the TDP is 130W and I am wondering if two of these are too much for a single 550W PSU. But according to the Power Allocation photo (below), the PSU still has 121W remaining which could easily fit 70W (2x (130W - 95W)).

Can anyone speak from experience?

Details from IPMI with only 1 PSU active:
PowerPolicy.PNG PowerAllocation.PNG
 

alex_stief

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May 31, 2016
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Last time I built a dual Xeon 2667v2 setup, the maximum power I could draw from the wall (80+ Platinum PSU) with synthetic benchmarks was 430W.
This includes load on CPU and memory subsystem with 16 RDIMMs (1.5V) populated.
So CPUs and memory alone can not bring down your PSU. Additional components like GPU and storage can.
 
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The Gecko

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Jan 4, 2015
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I think I'm safe then. My storage is an external SE3016 SAS enclosure, and I have no plans to put a power sucking GPU in the server.
 

mantis454

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Feb 18, 2017
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I have an IBM x3650 with a 550W power supply. It currently uses two Xeon E5-2620 v1 processors at 95W each. I'd like to upgrade to dual v2 processors, but I don't know how far I can push it from a power (Watts) perspective.
Did you get around to doing this CPU upgrade? I have a x3650 M4 and am looking at going from E5-2620 v1 to a v2 processor but am struggling to find out if it's supported. Was it just a firmware/IMM upgrade first?
 

Evan

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Jan 6, 2016
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I can’t speak for IBM as I don’t use those systems any longer but I can’t iamgine the system uses any more than say HP. You would be still fine with pretty much any processors if not filled with drives.
 

DRAGONKZ

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Apr 9, 2018
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I’ve gone from v1 to v2 on a C220 m3 and DL360P G8, in both cases it’s just a matter of making sure the CIMC/iLO and BIOS/bootcoode were upgraded first.

I didn’t even need the v1 CPUs in the system to do the upgrades, just connect via OOB management and update both firmware, then the server should be good to go having had v2 CPUs in it during the upgrade.