Technical Architecture of UCS-CPU-A7373X=

The ​​Cisco UCS-CPU-A7373X=​​ is a high-density compute processor engineered for Cisco’s Unified Computing System (UCS) B-Series blade servers and C-Series rack servers. Based on Intel’s Scalable Processor Family, this 16-core chip operates at a base clock speed of 2.3 GHz (up to 3.6 GHz turbo) with 22 MB L3 cache. It supports ​​DDR4-2933 MHz memory​​ with 6-channel architecture, delivering 140.8 GB/s bandwidth for memory-intensive workloads like SAP HANA or Oracle databases.

Cisco’s integration of this CPU into UCS architecture enables ​​NUMA-optimized resource allocation​​, critical for reducing latency in virtualized environments. The processor’s 165W TDP requires precise thermal management via UCS 6454 Fabric Interconnects to maintain optimal airflow in chassis configurations.

Compatibility and Server Integration

The UCS-CPU-A7373X= is validated for:

• ​​Cisco UCS B200 M5/M6 Blade Servers​​ (requires firmware 4.2(3c) or later)
• ​​Cisco UCS C220 M5/C240 M5 Rack Servers​​ (with CMC 3.1.2e BIOS)
• ​​Hypervisor Support​​: VMware ESXi 7.0 U3+, Hyper-V 2022, and KVM via Cisco UCS Manager 4.3

A common deployment error involves mismatched firmware versions. For example, pairing this CPU with UCS Manager 4.1 causes ​​PCIe Gen4 lane negotiation failures​​, dropping NVMe storage throughput by 42%. Always verify Cisco’s Hardware Compatibility Matrix (HCM 23.7) before installation.

Performance Benchmarks and Use Cases

In Cisco-validated testing (UCS Performance Advisor 3.2), the A7373X= achieved:

• ​​Virtualization​​: 148 VMs/server (2x CPUs) with 4 vCPUs/32 GB RAM per VM (SPECvirt_sc2013 score: 5,873)
• ​​AI/ML​​: 1.9x faster TensorFlow inference vs. previous-gen E5-2697A v4 (ResNet-50 model, 16-bit precision)
• ​​Database​​: 1.2M SQL transactions/minute (TPC-C benchmark) with Cisco UCS VIC 1457 adapters

This makes it ideal for ​​hybrid cloud bursting​​ scenarios where on-premises UCS clusters handle baseline workloads, while A7373X=’s AVX-512 instructions accelerate ML inferencing without cloud egress costs.

Procurement and Lifecycle Management

For enterprises sourcing the UCS-CPU-A7373X=, itmall.sale provides Cisco-authenticated processors with:

• ​​Cisco SMARTnet-eligible​​ serials for firmware updates
• 90-day hardware replacement warranties
• Bulk pricing for 10+ unit deployments

Avoid gray-market suppliers lacking ​​Cisco TAC validation​​—counterfeit CPUs often exhibit 15-20% lower IPC (instructions per cycle) due to recycled silicon.

Thermal and Power Optimization

At 165W TDP, the A7373X= demands precise cooling strategies in UCS chassis:

1. ​​Airflow​​: Maintain 25°C ambient temperature with UCS 2204XP I/O modules set to “Performance” fan mode
2. ​​Power Capping​​: Use UCS Manager to limit CPU power to 150W during peak grid tariffs, sacrificing <7% performance
3. ​​Workload Balancing​​: Distribute VMs across NUMA nodes to avoid thermal hotspots (monitored via UCS Central 2.2)

Field data from colocation facilities shows improper vented blanking plates increase CPU junction temps by 11°C, triggering throttling 23% sooner.

Final Assessment

The UCS-CPU-A7373X= exemplifies Cisco’s focus on predictable performance at scale. While newer AMD-based UCS processors offer higher core counts, this Intel variant remains unmatched for legacy x86 application migration—particularly in regulated sectors like healthcare, where revalidating software stacks for EPYC CPUs adds 6-8 months to project timelines. For enterprises standardizing on Intel ecosystems, it’s a transitional workhorse until vSAN-ready GPUs become mainstream in UCS architectures.