Intel Xeon E5-2620 v4: Compatibility, Firmware and Value Guide

The Intel Xeon E5-2620 v4 is the entry point of the E5-2600 v4 family and one of the most common processors in the DL380 Gen9, R730 and x3650 M5 generation. This covers what it is, where it fits, and the firmware trap that catches people upgrading to it.

What is the Intel Xeon E5-2620 v4?

An 8-core, 16-thread processor from the Broadwell-EP generation on socket LGA 2011-3. It sits at the lower end of the E5-2600 v4 range in clock speed and core count, with a correspondingly low power rating, which is why it shipped in enormous numbers as a default configuration.

It supports DDR4 registered memory across four channels and works in dual-socket configurations. Confirm the exact stepping and spec code on the heat spreader when matching a second processor — our processor matching guide covers why.

Which servers support the E5-2620 v4?

Any LGA 2011-3 server with v4 firmware support. That includes the HPE DL360 and DL380 Gen9, Dell PowerEdge R630 and R730, Lenovo x3550 and x3650 M5, and their siblings.

The trap: a v4 processor fits physically in a board shipped for v3, and the board will not post without firmware support for the v4 family. Update firmware before installing, because if it will not post you cannot then apply the update. Our E5-2680 v4 guide covers this in detail, and it applies identically here.

Our DL380 Gen9 guide and R730 guide cover the two most common hosts.

Is the E5-2620 v4 worth buying today?

Honestly, in specific situations.

Adding a second processor to a single-socket machine that already has one. This is the most common reason to buy it, and it unlocks the other twelve memory slots. Match the exact model, budget for the heatsink, and check the fan requirement.

Replacing a failed processor in an existing machine, matching what is there.

Lab and test environments, where the price is the point.

Where it is not: as an upgrade target. If you are choosing a v4 processor to improve performance, the E5-2620 v4 is the floor of the range. The E5-2680 v4 and similar mid-range parts deliver considerably more for a modest difference in used price.

E5-2620 v4 vs E5-2620 v3

Same socket, same core count, one generation apart.

The v4 has higher memory speed support, minor architectural improvements and somewhat better efficiency. In practice, on a machine that already has a v3, the upgrade rarely justifies the cost and the firmware work. On a machine being populated from empty, v4 is the sensible choice since it is the last generation for this socket.

And they cannot be mixed in one machine. Both sockets must have the same model.

Memory with the E5-2620 v4

DDR4 registered ECC, four channels per processor, twelve slots per socket on most platforms. Populate channels evenly. The E5-2620 v4 supports a lower maximum memory speed than the higher-tier v4 parts, so faster modules will run at the processor’s ceiling, not their rated speed.

Our memory guide covers population rules, and our 16GB DDR4 RDIMM guide covers a module commonly paired with this processor.

What to check before buying

Five things.

Firmware level on the host supports v4.

Exact model match if adding a second processor.

Heatsink included or sourced, since it is chassis-specific and rarely comes with a bare processor.

Additional fans if the platform requires them for a second socket.

Thermal paste, which is trivial and forgotten.

Our fans guide covers the cooling side.

Frequently asked questions