Poweredge R710 Memory Upgrade Configuration

Hei Andrew,

The reason you are getting the invalid or non-optimal memory configuration is because the memory channels are not balanced. Refer to the diagram below:

That means that the memory installed in slots A1, A4 &A7 must match those in slots A2, A5 &A8 and A3, A6 &A9 on CPU1. The same logic applies to CPU2 moreover memory on Slots A1, A4 &A7 must match B1, B4 &B7 and so forth. Therefore to achieve 64 GB of memory capacity, you need 2 additional 16 GB of memory such that you will have A1, A4, B1 &B4 populated or A1, A2, B1 &B2 with 16 GB modules

You can even use the available 4 GB DIMMs for more memory such that you have:

A1 &A2 =16 GB

A4 &A5 = 4GB

B1 &B2 = 16 GB

B4 &B5 = 4GB.

Otherwise, for optimal configuration with the current DIMMs, you should have:

A1 =16 GB, A4 = 4 GB and B1 =16 GB, B4 = 4 GB which gives you total memory capacity of 40 GB

Let me know if you any additional questions.

Have almost this exact situation.  I am am reading your answer properly Robert that it would be possible to use the following configuration:

A1,B1,A2,B2 = 16 GB sticks

A4,B4,A5,B5 = 4 GB sticks

A7,B7,A8,B8 = 4 GB sticks

Achieving a total of 96 GB of RAM?

Based on the memory population guidelines, that is correct! For more information see pages 129 - 134 of the Users' Guide: http://downloads.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_ser_stor_net/esuprt_poweredge/poweredge-r710_owner%27s%20manual_en-us.pdf 

Thank you.

What about the remaining (6) 4Gb Sticks, in this case.

Would it be OK to also add (2) of those to A7 &B7 = 4Mb each for a total of 48 Gb instead of just 40 Gb..!?

So each Channel A1, B1 would be configured:   16Gb/4Gb/4Gb = 48Gb total

Then, with (2) more 16Gb sticks (and the (4) 4Gb sticks)

Channels A2, B2 would be configured to match A1, B1 for a total of 96 Gb

Is this all correct, Robert (or Dell Support) - did you neglect to mention filling slots A7 and B7 with 4Gb sticks for a reason?

This is incorrect.

I have an R710 with A1-8GB A2-8GB A3-null and get no optimal configuration warning. 

If I move the configuration to A2 and A3 and leave A1 empty, I get the optimal configuration warning. 

There is more to the configuration that includes A1.

I currently have 6 - 16GB chips in the server located in slots A1, A2, A3 & B1, B2, B3. I need to add either 2 or 6 more sticks of 16GB to this mix. If I do this how should I spread out the RAM for best performance.

Add 2 = A4, A7, A5, A8 & B4, B7, B5, B8 ?

Add 6 = A4, A7, A5, A8, A6, A9 & B4, B7, B5, B8, B6, B9?

Do I skip the 1,2 and 3 slots, in these configs?

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

I am doing something similar. I am removing 8- 8GBs and wanting to add 12 - 16GB's, 1333MHz. I found this link below helpful, but I am still unsure if it lowers the speed by populating A4,5,6 and B4,5,6

http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/pedge/en/server-pedge-installing-upgrading-memory-11g.pdf

Well, according the doc, I guess all the speeds loqwer to the lowest speed installed dimm

I'm also upgrading memory to but using 6 16G RDIMM only and removing all older memory in a dual CPU configuration.  Am I to understand from your diagram here that I should use:

3 using slots A1, A2, A3

and

3 using slots B1, B2, B3?

The boot up screen is giving me a suggested configuration which I tried to follow, but right now it says only 32GB is usable.

I'm also realizing that a bios upgrade may be necessary to see the 16GB RDIMM?  Currently I'm at ver 6.1

Thanks.

Just want to make sure of something ... are you seeing that only 32GB is usable in the OS? Or in the BIOS?

In the OS. Computer property and also under task manager. Is this a limitation on 2008 R2 standard server?

The BIOS is showing 96G.

Thanks.. This worked for me.. Had 128 GB (16*8) placed as =>

A1, A4, A2, A3

B1, B4, B2, B3

Upon bootup, the server showed only 96 GB.. Reconfigured as per your explanation to :

A1, A4, A2, A5

B1, B4, B2, B5

And it Worked..

Many Thanks Robert..

Varad Gupta

Hello all

I have an R710 II that i was gifted some time ago on which i installed opnsens and It currently has in  A1 A2 B1 B2 with 4gb sticks and A4 A5 A7 A8 and B4 B5 B7 B8 with 2gb sticks and nothign in A3 A6 A9 AND B3 B6 B9. and all is working fine.

I was just introduced to proxmox and its benefits. I installed proxmox and both opnsens and home assistant as vm on an ssd. It is working fine with this configuration.

However I would like to add truenas as a vm and populate all the drives of the 710 with 4tb drives in each bay. 

Therefore I will need toadd ram to this machine

I undersyand that i can have the following configuration 

A1 B1 16GB stick each wich equals 32

A4 B4 4GB stick each which equals 16

A3 B3 4GB stick each wich equals 16

This should give me 64 gb in total

Am I correct?

what can i do with th othet 2gb sticks?

thank you in advance for your help 

Hello, for the best results I would follow the memory guide from page 129 onwards. https://dell.to/3y8Iy36

Hope that helps!

Thank you @Dell-ErmanO  for your reply.

Your reply would be great for someone who knows what they are doing. This is not my case. In the example here above I should have said first that the total should be 48gb

Hence 24 for each cpu

This would be sufficient for what i need to do.

Hence i expected a simple yes or no if my configuration would work. 

Then my question what to do with the remainig ram would be nice to have a simple response.

Table 3.2 or 3.3 i do not see a response to my question. I interpret this as my configuration will not work. How ever i see many post ehre they do mix and match memory sticks per cpu. Now i am fully confused. by this thread