3.1Intel® 5000P/5000X Memory Controller Hub (MCH)

The Memory Controller Hub (MCH) is a single 1432-pin FCBGA package, which includes the following core platform functions:

System Bus Interface for the processor subsystem

Memory Controller

PCI Express* Ports including the Enterprise Southbridge Interface (ESI)

FBD Thermal Management

SMBUS Interface

This section provides a high-level overview of some of these core functions as they pertain to this server board. Additional information can be obtained from the Intel® S5000 Server Board Family Datasheet and the Intel® 5000 Series Chipset Memory Controller Hub Datasheet.

3.1.1System Bus Interface

The MCH is configured for symmetric multi-processing across two independent front-side bus interfaces that connect to the Intel® Xeon® processors. Each front-side bus on the MCH uses a 64-bit wide 667-MHz, 1066-MHz, or 1333-MHz data bus. The 1333-MHz data bus is capable of transferring data at up to 10.66 GB/s. The MCH supports a 36-bit wide address bus, capable of addressing up to 64 GB of memory. The MCH is the priority agent for both front-side bus interfaces, and is optimized for one processor on each bus.

3.1.2Processor Support

The server board supports the following processors:

One or two Intel® Xeon® Processors 5000 series with a 667, 1066, or 1333-MHz frontside bus with frequencies starting at 2.67 GHz.

One or two Intel® Xeon® Processors 5100 series with a 1066 or 1333-MHz front-side bus with frequencies starting at 1.60 GHz.

One or two Intel® Xeon® Processors 5300 series with a 1066 or 1333-MHz front-side bus with frequencies starting at 1.60 GHz.

One or two Intel® Xeon® Processors 5200 series with a 1066 or 1333-MHz front-side bus with frequencies starting at 1.86 GHz. – only product codes ending with “R” support this processor series.

One or two Intel® Xeon® Processors 5400 series with a 1066 or 1333-MHz front-side bus with frequencies starting at 2.33 GHz. – only product codes ending with “R” support this processor series.

Previous generations of the Intel® Xeon® Processors are not supported on the server board. For a complete updated list of supported processors, see http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s5000psl/. (On the Support tab, look for “Compatibility”, and then click “Supported processor list”.).

Note: Only Intel® Xeon® processors with 667 MHz, 1066 MHz or 1333 MHz front-side bus are supported.

3.1.2.1Processor Population Rules

When two processors are installed, both must be of identical revision, core voltage, and bus/core speed. When only one processor is installed, it must be in the socket labeled CPU1. The other socket must be empty.

The board is designed to provide up to 130A of current per processor. Processors with higher current requirements are not supported.

No terminator is required in the second processor socket when using a single processor configuration.

3.1.2.2Common Enabling Kit (CEK) Design Support

The server board complies with Intel’s Common Enabling Kit (CEK) processor mounting and heatsink retention solution. The server board ships with a CEK spring snapped onto the underside of the server board, beneath each processor socket. The heatsink attaches to the CEK, over the top of the processor and the thermal interface material (TIM). See the following figure for the stacking order of the chassis, CEK spring, server board, TIM, and heatsink.

The CEK spring is removable, allowing for the use of non-Intel heatsink retention solutions.

Note: The processor heatsink and CEK spring shown in the following figure are for reference purposes only. The actual processor heatsink and CEK solutions compatible with this generation server board may be of a different design.

Heatsink assembly

Thermal Interface

Material (TIM)

CEK Spring