Lenovo 4XG7A72929 ST650 V2 Gold 5318S 24C 165W 2.1GHZ

Lenovo 4XG7A72929 Intel Xeon Gold 5318S 24-Core Processor Option Kit

Overview

The Lenovo 4XG7A72929 is an Intel Xeon Gold 5318S 24-core processor option kit designed for the Lenovo ThinkSystem ST650 V2 tower server. Running at a 2.1 GHz base frequency with a 165W TDP, the 5318S targets compute-dense workloads where thread count and sustained throughput matter more than raw single-core clock speed — database middleware, virtualization hosts, and security analytics backends are the primary fit. If you're speccing a second processor for an ST650 V2 or populating a single-socket build with a part that scales headroom, this is the SKU to evaluate.

Sourced factory-new through channel-direct distribution, the 4XG7A72929 is a genuine Lenovo option kit — not a grey-market OEM tray unit. That distinction matters for ThinkSystem firmware compatibility and service entitlement.

Key Features

• 24 Cores / 48 Threads at 2.1 GHz Base: The 5318S gives you 48 logical processors to schedule across under the OS. On a VMware ESXi or Hyper-V host, that translates directly to more vCPUs available for guest VMs without oversubscription penalties. For workloads running 10–20 concurrent VMs, this core count keeps CPU-ready time low.
• 3.4 GHz Intel Turbo Boost: Under single- or lightly threaded loads — query compilation, certificate operations, license server daemons — the processor steps up to 3.4 GHz automatically. You don't lose responsiveness on bursty serial tasks just because you're running a high-core-count part.
• Asymmetric Core Architecture (8 High-Priority + 16 Standard): The 5318S implements Intel's hybrid priority core design: 8 cores clock at 2.3 GHz base while 16 efficiency cores run at 1.8 GHz. The OS and hypervisor can schedule latency-sensitive threads to the high-priority cores, which reduces jitter for real-time analytics, video decoding pipelines, or database OLTP workloads sharing the box with batch jobs.
• 36 MB Intel Smart Cache: The large L3 cache reduces main memory round-trips for working sets that fit within cache — relevant for in-memory databases, VMS recording index operations, and analytics engines that repeatedly access hot data structures. Less cache pressure means fewer cycles stalled on memory latency.
• 10 nm Ice Lake Architecture: Built on Intel's 10 nm SuperFin process, the 5318S delivers improved instructions-per-clock efficiency versus the prior generation. Practically: more useful compute per watt at the same TDP envelope, which matters when the ST650 V2 chassis thermal budget is fixed.
• 165W TDP — High-Performance Envelope: At 165W, this processor is toward the upper end of the ST650 V2's power budget. Plan your chassis cooling accordingly — confirm your ST650 V2 configuration supports the high-wattage thermal module before ordering. In a properly configured chassis, the thermal design handles sustained all-core loads without throttling.
• 11.2 GT/s UPI Bus: The 11.2 GT/s Intel Ultra Path Interconnect rate sets the ceiling for socket-to-socket communication in a dual-processor ST650 V2. Higher UPI bandwidth reduces NUMA latency penalties when workloads access memory attached to the remote socket — relevant for any application that isn't fully NUMA-aware.
• LGA 4189 Socket, 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable: The LGA 4189 platform supports up to 8-channel DDR4 memory per socket and PCIe 4.0. Pairing this processor with DDR4-3200 RDIMMs across all eight channels delivers peak memory bandwidth — critical for throughput-bound workloads like video stream processing or large matrix operations in AI inference.
• 64-Bit Operating Mode: Full 64-bit instruction set support across all mainstream enterprise operating systems — RHEL, Windows Server, VMware ESXi, Ubuntu Server. No compatibility caveats for standard datacenter OS deployments.

Integration & Compatibility

The 4XG7A72929 is a Lenovo ThinkSystem ST650 V2 option kit. It is not a standalone product — it installs into the ST650 V2's processor socket 1 or socket 2 (LGA 4189). Before ordering, verify your ST650 V2's current processor configuration: single-socket builds require only one unit; dual-socket builds require a matched pair or two compatible 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable processors. Mixed processor configurations in the same chassis are not supported by Intel's platform design.

The LGA 4189 platform supports DDR4 registered ECC memory up to DDR4-3200 across eight channels per socket. Memory population rules for the ST650 V2 apply — consult Lenovo's memory configuration guide for that chassis to ensure your DIMM layout achieves full bandwidth. PCIe 4.0 slots on the ST650 V2 mainboard become available at full Gen4 speeds with this processor installed, which matters if you're adding NVMe storage or high-throughput network cards.

For NVR and video management server deployments on the ST650 V2 platform, the 24-core count and 48 threads provide substantial headroom for concurrent stream decoding, analytics processing, and database I/O — the combination of large cache, high thread count, and PCIe 4.0 storage bandwidth makes this a practical foundation for mid-to-large VMS builds running Milestone, Genetec, or similar enterprise VMS platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What server is the Lenovo 4XG7A72929 compatible with?

A: The 4XG7A72929 is a processor option kit for the Lenovo ThinkSystem ST650 V2 tower server. It uses the LGA 4189 socket and is based on Intel's 3rd Generation Xeon Scalable (Ice Lake) platform. It is not compatible with prior-generation ThinkSystem servers using LGA 3647.

Q: Can the 5318S be used in a dual-processor ST650 V2 configuration?

A: Yes. The ST650 V2 supports dual LGA 4189 sockets. For a two-socket build, you need two compatible 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable processors. A matched pair of 5318S units is supported. Mixed-processor configurations are generally not supported on Intel's platform — both sockets should use the same or a platform-validated compatible processor.

Q: What is the TDP of the Xeon Gold 5318S, and does the ST650 V2 chassis support it?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 5318S has a 165W TDP. This is toward the upper end of the ST650 V2's thermal envelope. Confirm your ST650 V2 is configured with the appropriate high-wattage thermal module (fan and heatsink) before installing this processor. Lenovo's ST650 V2 product configurator specifies which thermal kits are required for 165W processors.

Q: What memory type and speed does the 5318S support?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 5318S supports DDR4 ECC registered memory at speeds up to DDR4-3200, accessed via an 8-channel memory controller per socket. Full 8-channel population provides peak bandwidth. Use Lenovo's memory compatibility guide for the ST650 V2 to select validated DIMM configurations.

Q: Does this processor support PCIe 4.0?

A: Yes. As a 3rd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable (Ice Lake) processor on the LGA 4189 platform, the 5318S supports PCIe 4.0, enabling full Gen4 bandwidth for NVMe SSDs, high-throughput NICs, and GPU or accelerator cards installed in the ST650 V2's expansion slots.

Q: Is the 4XG7A72929 a Lenovo option kit or a standalone OEM tray processor?

A: The 4XG7A72929 is a Lenovo-branded processor option kit, sourced through channel-direct distribution. It is factory-new and genuine — not a grey-market OEM tray unit. This matters for ThinkSystem firmware validation and service entitlement on the ST650 V2 platform.