Chipset Overview / Description | Dell T610 specification

Dell™ PowerEdge™ T610 Technical Guidebook

Section 8. Chipset

A. Overview / Description

The PowerEdge T610 planar incorporated the Intel 5520 chipset for I/O and processor interfacing. Intel 5520 Chipset is designed to support Intel's 5500 series processors (code named Nehalem-EP), QPI interconnect, DDR3 memory technology, and PCI Express Generation 2.

The Intel 5520 Chipset

The planar uses the Intel® 5520 chipset to provide a link between the 5500 series 2S processor (Nehalem EP) and I/O components. The main components of the IOH consist of two full-width QuickPath Interconnect links (one to each processor), 36 lanes of PCI Express Gen2, a x4 Direct Media Interface (DMI), and an integrated IOxAPIC.

IOH QuickPath Interconnect (QPI)

The QuickPath Architecture consists of serial point-to-point interconnects for the processors and the IOH. The PowerEdge T610 has a total of three QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) links: one link connecting the processors and links connecting both processors with the IOH. Each link consists of 20 lanes (full-width) in each direction with a link speed of up to 6.4 GT/s. An additional lane is reserved for a forwarded clock. Data is sent over the QPI links as packets.

The QuickPath Architecture implemented in the Chipset and CPUs features four layers. The Physical layer consists of the actual connection between components. It supports Polarity Inversion and Lane Reversal for optimizing component placement and routing. The Link layer is responsible for flow control and the reliable transmission of data. The Routing layer is responsible for the routing of QPI data packets. Finally, the Protocol layer is responsible for high-level protocol communications, including the implementation of a MESIF (Modify, Exclusive, Shared, Invalid, Forward) cache coherence protocol.

Intel Direct Media Interface (DMI)

The DMI (previously called the Enterprise Southbridge Interface) connects the Intel 5520 Chipset with the Intel I/O Controller Hub (ICH). The DMI is equivalent to a x4 PCIe Gen1 link with a transfer rate of 1 Gb/s in each direction.

T610 specifications

The Dell PowerEdge T610 is a versatile tower server that caters to the needs of small to medium-sized businesses as well as remote offices. Designed to deliver a balance of performance, reliability, and expandability, the T610 is notable for its ease of use and management features.

Equipped with Intel’s Xeon processor, the T610 supports dual-socket configurations allowing users to install a pair of processors to boost computational power. This configuration can accommodate a wide range of Xeon CPUs, thus making it adaptable to various workloads. The system can support up to 192 GB of DDR3 memory in 18 DIMM slots, providing ample RAM for demanding applications and virtualization tasks.

The T610 offers several storage options inclusive of both hard disk drives (HDD) and solid-state drives (SSD). The server features up to eight 3.5-inch drive bays or up to twelve 2.5-inch bays, giving users flexibility in terms of capacity and performance. It supports RAID configurations, enabling data redundancy and improved performance, and provides several RAID controller options, ensuring data integrity.

One of the standout aspects of the T610 is its management capabilities, facilitated by the Dell OpenManage suite. This comprehensive management tool allows for easy monitoring, configuring, and updating of server hardware and firmware. The integrated iDRAC (Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller) enables remote management, which is essential for maintenance and troubleshooting, especially in environments where physical access may be limited.

With robust network features, the T610 is equipped with integrated Gigabit Ethernet ports. Additional network interface cards can be added for increased bandwidth and redundancy, ensuring uninterrupted network connectivity. The server is also designed with various expansion slots including PCIe, giving the flexibility to adapt to future needs by adding more functionality through expansion cards.

Furthermore, energy efficiency is a key consideration in the design of the T610. It features energy-efficient power supplies and components that help reduce overall operational costs while minimizing environmental impact.

The Dell PowerEdge T610 serves as an efficient and reliable solution for businesses looking for a balance of power, flexibility, and manageability in their server infrastructure. Whether for file sharing, application hosting, or virtualization, the T610 provides the essential features needed to support a growing business landscape.