X13 by Supermicro: Scalable & Efficient Solutions

In this and some following articles, we will take a closer look at the new X13 product line from Supermicro. It delivers a particularly powerful and efficient solution for many application areas. It achieves this by using the latest technologies, such as:

• Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors of the 4th generation,
• Various accelerators integrated in the CPU or also
• PCIe 5.0, CXL 1.1, EDSFF backplanes and DDR5 memory (including 8 Memory Channel support).

In this article, we focus on the use of the X13 product line for data centers and cloud service providers.

What you can expect:

Background: The importance of data centers

In the modern digitized world, data centers and cloud service providers are the powerhouses that enable continuous data processing and storage. These special environments require systems that offer high computing power, storage capacity, energy efficiency and failover.

Computing power, a key element in these scenarios, includes not only processor performance, but also I/O bandwidth and memory performance. These determine how quickly and efficiently data can be processed and stored. High computing power has a direct impact on the quality of services offered and end-user satisfaction. At the same time, energy efficiency and heat dissipation play an important role, influencing not only the environmental impact but also the operating costs of the infrastructure. In view of these requirements, the Supermicro X13 server series for 4th generation Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors offers a powerful, efficient and reliable solution perfectly suited to the needs of data centers and cloud service providers.

The most important facts about the Supermicro X13 product line for Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors of the 4th generation

• Powerful 4th generation Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors with up to 60 cores (compared to 40 cores for the previous generation) and 350 W TDP per CPU.
• Accelerators integrated into the CPU:
  • Intel® AMX - for up to 8x performance improvement on matrix multiplication microbenchmarks.
  • Intel® DSA - for up to 2.5x improvement in data movement performance.
  • Intel® Dynamic Load Balancer - improves system performance when processing network data on Intel® Xeon® Scalable multi-core processors.
  • Intel® Quick Assist Technology - for up to 98% core workload capacity for encryption and related workloads.
  • Intel® vRAN Boost - reduces vRAN power consumption by up to 20%.
  • Intel® IAA - for faster queries and resource utilization for more efficient business decision making.
• Faster communication between CPU and other components: through support for PCIe 5.0 (up to 80 lanes), which is twice as fast as the previous generation of CPUs with PCIe 4.0.
• Very high energy efficiency: Various products in the X13 series use different cooling systems from conventional (CRAC) to free-air and liquid cooling and thus achieve a PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) of 1.1 or even 1.05 in combination with optimized air circulation, energy-saving design and other features.
• Improved memory performance: thanks to support for DDR5-4800MHz memory (vs. max. 3200MHz of 3rd generation).
• Increased addressable memory capacity of up to 4 TB DRAM per socket.
• Faster communication between CPUs: more and faster Ultra Path Interconnects with the new generation of Intel processors.
• Support of latest technologies like CXL 1.1 and DDR5.

Why X13 systems are particularly well suited for data centers and cloud service providers

The Supermicro X13 server series offers a number of features that make it particularly attractive for use in data centers and by cloud service providers.

The high computing power enabled by the use of 4th generation Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors is a decisive factor. It enables efficient and fast data processing, which has a direct impact on the performance and quality of the services offered.

The X13 series also offers improved memory performance through the use of DDR5 technology and doubled communication speed between the CPUs and other components thanks to 80 PCIe Gen 5 lanes per CPU. This enables faster and more efficient data transfer within the system and supports the processing and analysis of large amounts of data, which is of great importance for data centers and cloud services.

Efficient cooling plays a crucial role in optimizing system performance and longevity in server environments such as data centers and cloud services. Supermicro has made significant progress in this regard with the X13 series. A key component of the X13 systems' cooling concept includes EDSFF backplanes, which are used in a range of particularly high-performance all-flash EDSFF storage systems. Unlike traditional backplanes, which are installed vertically, the EDSFF backplanes are mounted parallel to the airflow direction. This allows larger volumes of air to reach the CPUs, resulting in more effective cooling and consequently improved performance.

Additionally, the E1.S SSD enclosures contribute to efficient cooling. The E1.S enclosure features a larger surface area and built-in cooling fins designed to allow efficient airflow and heat dissipation. This enables the use of higher TDP (Thermal Design Power) processors in the server, which in turn leads to improved computing performance.

In addition, the compact size and high storage capacity of X13 servers help optimize rack space utilization, which helps reduce total cost of ownership.

The X13 series also excels in scalability and flexibility, as it is prepared for future storage solutions. This enables data centers and cloud service providers to easily adapt and expand their infrastructure to keep pace with the ever-changing demands and growth of the digital world.

Which products of the line are particularly suitable for HPC as well as edge computing

X13 FatTwin systems
The highly configurable FatTwin systems are explicitly tailored to data center needs. They are easy to maintain and energy-saving due to improved thermal management with new, optimized airflow designs and have maximum packing density for optimal use of the available rack resources in the DC.

You can find more information here:
https://www.supermicro.com/datasheet/datasheet_X13_FatTwin.pdf

X13 CloudDC systems
The all-in-one rackmount platform for cloud data centers are designed with tool-less brackets for easy maintenance. They also support hot-swapping for power supplies, fans, and storage trays, and have redundant titanium-level power supplies that provide significantly more stability and efficiency across the entire load curve from idle to full load, keeping maintenance and carbon footprint at the lowest level in data centers.

You can find more information here:
https://www.supermicro.com/datasheet/datasheet_X13_CloudDC.pdf

Application scenario: Cloud service provider

Let's say we have a global technology company. The cloud service provider collects terabytes of data every day from various sources such as social media, sensors and customer interactions. Analyzing this data in real time requires an infrastructure capable of delivering both high computing power and fast data processing and transmission.

How the X13 series can help
The X13 series, equipped with 4th generation Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors and supported by the latest DDR5 technology, provides the performance and bandwidth needed to handle such demanding tasks. With support for PCIe 5.0 and integrated accelerators such as Intel® AMX or Intel® Quick Assist Technology, data movement within the system is optimized and complex calculations can be performed in the shortest possible time.

In addition, the advanced cooling concept of the X13 series, ranging from conventional to liquid cooling systems, helps maintain system performance, even under high load conditions. The EDSFF backplanes ensure efficient heat dissipation in the latest ESF generation Hiog Performance All-Flash systems and enable the use of processors with higher TDP.

The high storage capacity combined with the flexibility in terms of future storage solutions makes the X13 series a scalable and future-proof choice. This enables the technology company to continuously expand and adapt its infrastructure to keep pace with growing requirements.

In this scenario, the X13 series not only delivers the required performance and efficiency, but also helps to reduce operating costs and increase environmental sustainability, thanks to its high energy efficiency and optimized air circulation. This makes the X13 series the ideal solution for data centers looking for a robust, powerful and sustainable server solution, perfectly adapted to the dynamic and demanding requirements of the digital world.

Conclusion: adapted to the needs of data centers

The Supermicro X13 product line represents an innovative and powerful solution for data centers and cloud service providers. With 4th generation Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors, integrated accelerators, and support for the latest technologies such as PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 memory, it offers a significant increase in computing power and efficiency. Special features such as various cooling systems, high energy efficiency, and the ability for fast communication between CPUs and other components make the X13 series the optimal choice for modern, demanding server environments.

The product line is flexible and future-proof so that it can be adapted to constantly changing requirements. The explicit focus on the needs of data centers and cloud service providers, combined with factors such as optimized air circulation and energy-saving design, makes the X13 series a compelling solution in terms of both performance and sustainability.

Choosing the right server for your use case is a complex matter. Therefore, our Custom Server Solutions team is always available to answer your questions. Together we will find the ideal server for your respective application scenario with the desired performance and/or packing density at the lowest possible power consumption and investment costs!

You can also find more information about the X13 product line on Supermicro's website.