Dell Precision T3500 Memory Configuration

ESANELAHI,

BIOS: I'm not certain of the enhancements, but I'm quite certain updating to the latest BIOS is recommended.Much has happened since the T3500 was made- operating systems, commonality of SSD's and etc.

Memory:  The T3500 may use up to 24GB ECC or non DDR3 ECC RAM at speeds up to 1333.:

www.dell.com/.../q2wk6_dell_precision_t3500_spec_sheet.pdf

 As far as I know, DDR3 1600 speed memory if used may be recognized, but would run at 1333 as the Xeon 5600-series support 1066 and 1333 speeds.   In my experience, the best way to ensure successful memory upgrades is to concult the specifications- see above, and then remove a RAM module and record the exact information on the RAM used in the system. You will see if it's single or dual ranked, that's the "1R X8 or "2R x8", ECC or non-ECC, and if it's ECC, if registered or unbuffered. If it's ECC and used with the X58 chipset which uses triple-channel RAM,  I have a vague memory that you need to use "registered" memory which was more common in servers.  I've never used non-ECC RAM,  but I believe that ECC and non-ECC use different slots, and you would have to use whichever type the slots mounted on the motherboard require.

If the RAM is ECC, the best specification might be something like: "1Rx8 PC3-10600R"- single rank DDR3 1333 registered ECC.  Single rank is a bit faster as the signal is passing through fewer chips. That is not a certainty for the T3500- I hope others will comment,  but an example. And, again, in a T3500, the memory should be in sets of three and installed in the order shown in the manual- typically the first three and largest modules in slots 1,3, and 5, and the second three and if smaller, in slots 2,4, and 6.

If anyone finds faults in this description, please correct.

PoultryLogistics

ESANELAHI,

BIOS: I'm not certain of the enhancements, but I'm quite certain updating to the latest BIOS is recommended.Much has happened since the T3500 was made- operating systems, commonality of SSD's and etc.

Memory:  The T3500 may use up to 24GB ECC or non DDR3 ECC RAM at speeds up to 1333.:

www.dell.com/.../q2wk6_dell_precision_t3500_spec_sheet.pdf

 As far as I know, DDR3 1600 speed memory if used may be recognized, but would run at 1333 as the Xeon 5600-series support 1066 and 1333 speeds.   In my experience, the best way to ensure successful memory upgrades is to concult the specifications- see above, and then remove a RAM module and record the exact information on the RAM used in the system. You will see if it's single or dual ranked, that's the "1R X8 or "2R x8", ECC or non-ECC, and if it's ECC, if registered or unbuffered. If it's ECC and used with the X58 chipset which uses triple-channel RAM,  I have a vague memory that you need to use "registered" memory which was more common in servers.  I've never used non-ECC RAM,  but I believe that ECC and non-ECC use different slots, and you would have to use whichever type the slots mounted on the motherboard require.

If the RAM is ECC, the best specification might be something like: "1Rx8 PC3-10600R"- single rank DDR3 1333 registered ECC.  Single rank is a bit faster as the signal is passing through fewer chips. That is not a certainty for the T3500- I hope others will comment,  but an example. And, again, in a T3500, the memory should be in sets of three and installed in the order shown in the manual- typically the first three and largest modules in slots 1,3, and 5, and the second three and if smaller, in slots 2,4, and 6.

If anyone finds faults in this description, please correct.

PoultryLogistics

You didn't say what version of BIOS you have now but A17 adds these enhancements:

• Updated PSA-Diag from A4521 to A4527  (= improved diagnostic testing - nice but not essential)
• Enhanced Broadcom onboard NIC 5761 support (= improved support for Ethernet card, assuming you have the 5761 NIC - check Device Manager for specifics of your Ethernet card)
• Enhanced CCTK support for Turbo Boost setting (= improved support in "Client Configuration Tool Kit for Turbo Boost; used for enterprise management of systems on a network, probably not necessary in a home environment)

Of all those, only the NIC enhancement might be useful if you have that 5761 card. If not, you probably should skip this upgrade because there's always a (small) risk a flash upgrade will brick the motherboard.

It looks to me like the one at Amazon is "Crucial" brand and the one at Crucial.com is their "Ballistic" brand. Ballistic is usually faster with lower latency, and usually more expensive.

Keep in mind that if you mix DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1600 RAM, it will all run at the speed of the slowest. So if what's there now is 1333 MHz, you might want to check to see if Crucial is offering DDR3-1333 for this system at a lower price. If all they're offering is 1600 MHz, you won't be taking full advantage unless everything installed is 1600 MHz.  Whether you'd actually notice...maybe, maybe not. :emotion-5:

Point is that the ram MUST BE non registered and non buffered.  Max ram is 24 gigs aka 6 X 4 gig.

8 Gig and larger modules are NOT supported.  Its Tri channel ram so you want to use 3 or 6 matched modules.

I end up buying 6 x  4 gig modules so that I don't have to do it again.  Max Speed is DDR3 1600 putting faster ram in DOES NOT make it run at the faster FSB.

As you mentioned above that ECC and non-ECC use different slots. Does Dell t3500 comes in two different motherboars with ECC and non-ECC slots? or it takes both ecc and non ecc?

I don't want to mix DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1600 RAM, I want to upgrade more memory with same one module i.e PC3 12800 at 1600 MHz. My question is that:

Does Dell T3500 can run a ram at 1600 MHz or 1600 MHz ram operate at 1333 MHz due to bios or chipset?

The ram speed is the speed its not over clockable or changeable in bios.

Its DDR3 1600 aka PC3 12800 

Also ram for this should be purchased as 3 gig or 6 gig or 12 gig

aka sets of 3 max ram being 24 gig aka 6 X 4 gig.

 You cannot mix ecc and non ecc and the ram must NOT BE buffered or registered.  You can use ALL NON ECC Ram and it works fine.

Any ole joes crab shack ram isnt compatible.  If you get it from cruical or from dell its guaranteed to be compatible.  The speed you need depends on which cpu you have and its FSB.  Ranks count also you cannot mix single rank and 2 rank and 4 rank ram.  Its not required but being all from the same vendor for the sets of 3 helps. There are also processors that the 3500 motherboard supports that do not support ECC ram.

Neither Dell nor crucial support more than 24 gigs on this unit and they do not support 8 gig dimms.

24 Gig is the max ram and 8 gig modules are not supported.  There are 6 slots and 6 x 4 =24

I can supply a screen shot of mine running with 32 gig ram if you think I am making it up, 2 * 8 gig and 4 * 4 gig.

The warranty on this 5-6 year old machine has long since expired and as a previous employee of Dell I know well the support boundaries, I was merely pointing out that 8 gig sticks do indeed work and that more than 24 gig ram is possible if folk who have spare ram and out of warranty machines then it is very likely this machine will run on 6 sticks of 8 ( I cannot confirm this currently as I have no more 8 gig sticks) whether or not it is officially supported.

My machine has now been running for the last few days non stop with 32 gig ram and has only briefly been re-booted to allow for Windows hotfixes.

@Sudz2,  I know that this is not officially supported, but can you provide me the reference of the 8GB DDR3 RAM that is working for you in T3500?

It wont let me attach photos but they were standard DDR3 non ecc ram modules manufactured by hyperam and were quite cheap at the time of purchase part number is HYUK313512816GBOE and were a 16 gbyte kit, the 4 x 4 gbyte ram sticks I no longer have as I sold the machine on to fund my current dual Xeon e5 machine and these procs only support ecc or registered ram but support 32 gig sticks if they can be found for reasonable cash.

I believe you maybe have luck with more than just this manufacturer and it may be worth pointing out that these 8 gig sticks are double sided with ram modules on both sides of stick.

This still doesn't mean of course that they are supported just that it is very likely they will work as mine did. I never had 6 sticks of 8 gigs but would have tried them if I had.