Also remember that Dell does not set the rules - the memory controller's specifications come from INTEL and Dell's BIOS may vary slightly from that.
We are used to thinking of populating memory in pairs for greatest performance with as popular and common as dual-channel memory is, but some systems, including the R410, support three channels, meaning that configurations with 3 DIMM's (or multiples thereof) are the IDEAL configurations, as it allows the system to take advantage of 3-channel performance. Non-ideal - or unbalanced - configurations result from not populating the memory the way the controller works best.
Remember also that ALL processors must have the EXACT same memory configuration. So, if you put one DIMM in slot 1 of processor 1, then processor 2 must have a single (and matching) DIMM in its slot 1. Like wise, if you have an 8GB DIMM in slot 1 and a 4GB DIMM in slot 2, this is considered "unbalanced" and will give you a warning in BIOS, but will work, however, processor 2 must also have 8GB in slot 1 and 4GB in slot 2.
If you want to use 16GB DIMM's, to eventually upgrade to the max, that is fine, but you MUST use RDIMM's (UDIMM's larger than 2GB are not supported), for starters. According to the docs, you put as many 16GB DIMM's in as you can afford right now, but with 2 processors, you can only do the following:
1x16GB per processor (2 total) for 32GB of RAM - populate in slot 1, which is channel 0 2x16GB per processor (4 total) for 64GB of RAM - populate in slots 1 and 2, which populates channels 0 and 1 3x16GB per processor (6 total) for 96GB of RAM - populate in slots 1, 2, and 3, which populates channels 0, 1, and 2 4x16GB per processor (8 total) for 128GB of RAM - populate in slots 1, 2, 3, and 4, adds a second DIMM to channel 0
Slots are labeled, starting nearest the processor, as 4 | 1 | 2 | 3.
The 3-DIMM/processor configurations are ideal, because it take advantage of all channels AND keeps memory running at 1333MHz ... if you use the 4-DIMM/processor configurations, yes, you will have more memory available, but it will clock down to 1067MHz. You may or may not see much affect/difference from the memory speed, but you may in some applications.
I want to make sure I understand you correctly. So I need one stick of memory for each processor and three sticks of memory per processor would be ideal. So ideally, I would get 6 x 16 memory at 1333 mhz.
I just bought and installed 8x8GB identical R2x4 PC3-10600R. The BIOS disabled DIMMS in B1 and B4, giving me only 48GB. Before the upgrade I had 8x4GB identical R2x4 PC3-10600R for a total of 32GB working fine. What am I doing wrong? Do I need to set something differently in the BIOS Memory Config? Right now it has Optimization and Node Interleaving enabled. I have 2 Xeon E5620 at 2.4GHz. According to the technical guidebook, it should work.
I have a PowerEdge R-410 with 8x4GB PC3-10600R installed, 32GB memory working. I put 8x8 PC3-10600R. The BIOS disabled DIMMS in B1 and B4 with error is "Memory size may be reduced." and the server now runs with only 48GB. POST shows: Two E5620 processors Memory: 48GB Sped: 1067 Voltage: 1.5v BIOS: 1.12.0. MEMBIST failure: Memory size may be reduced. DIMMS in B1 abd B4 disabled. See the Hardware Owner's Manual. I have it. I read it. It does not say anything about this. My memory configuration 8x8GB PC3-10600R is in Table 3-2 p. 122 of 190 pages.
The sticker and the BIOS both show a Service Tag but DELL.COM does not recognizes it. I have a QR code as well. The LCD on the front panel has a lablel "R-410" (nothing about a roman numeral II). A sticker shows Model: E07S, Reg. E07S001.
Inside I can see 2 Xeon E5620. CPU1 is towards the front of the chasis, CPU2 near the back panel.
I assume the memory bank B is next to CPU2? I can't find that info in the docs. I have 2 docs. Hardware Owner's Manual and Technical Guidebook.
As I undestand the docs, each processor has 3 channels, channel 0 has 2 DIMMS, one has a black lever (closest to the processor), the other white like the rest. Channel 1 and 2, one DIMM each, all white levers.
As I uderstand the docs, white lever is always DIMM 1 for each channel. So the DIMMS seem to be numbered starting with black-lever B4, then white B1, completing channel 0, then white B2 (single DIMM channel 1), and finally further from the processor, white-lever B3 (single DIMM channel 2). I can't find a drawing showing the configuration 4/1/2/3. Or is it somethings else?.
On this post: https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-us/sln72211/memory-configuration-errors-on-a-poweredge-server?lang=en#InitWarning I found: Memory Initialization Warning: Memory size may be reduced Causes: Invalid memory configuration. The system will run but with less memory than is physically available. Solution: Ensure that the memory modules are installed in a valid configuration. HOWEVER, I have the DIMMS are in a valid configuration as per Table 3-2 in the R-410 Hardware Owner's Manual. I tried disabling the Interleaving. No luck. --- This document: https://downloads.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_ser_stor_net/esuprt_poweredge/poweredge-r410_user%27s%20guide6_en-us.pdf says that R410 does not support Xeon 5600 1.3V processors. However, I have 2 x E5620 Xeon processors working fine as long as I use 32GB. I guess my 5620 are not 1.3v. --- I can make it reach 56GB by using 2 of my old 4GB DIMMS in slots A4/B4. Got 56GB. Swapped the 4GB by 8GB DIMM's that were working OK on A1/B1. Success, still 56 GB. Swapped the two 8GB DIMM's that were out of the server by the two 4GB DIMMS. Sucess! 64GB. Looks like a bad sitting problem. MEMTEST running. Done!
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
1
December 7th, 2012 09:00
Yes, although, according to the docs, doing 2 sticks per processor is also supported, as is 4 sticks per processor.
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
1
December 7th, 2012 09:00
Take a look at the manual for the R410 regarding memory population:
support.dell.com/.../HOM.pdf
And take a look at the UPDATED memory information from Dell regarding 16GB DIMM's:
support.dell.com/.../TSen.pdf
Also remember that Dell does not set the rules - the memory controller's specifications come from INTEL and Dell's BIOS may vary slightly from that.
We are used to thinking of populating memory in pairs for greatest performance with as popular and common as dual-channel memory is, but some systems, including the R410, support three channels, meaning that configurations with 3 DIMM's (or multiples thereof) are the IDEAL configurations, as it allows the system to take advantage of 3-channel performance. Non-ideal - or unbalanced - configurations result from not populating the memory the way the controller works best.
Remember also that ALL processors must have the EXACT same memory configuration. So, if you put one DIMM in slot 1 of processor 1, then processor 2 must have a single (and matching) DIMM in its slot 1. Like wise, if you have an 8GB DIMM in slot 1 and a 4GB DIMM in slot 2, this is considered "unbalanced" and will give you a warning in BIOS, but will work, however, processor 2 must also have 8GB in slot 1 and 4GB in slot 2.
If you want to use 16GB DIMM's, to eventually upgrade to the max, that is fine, but you MUST use RDIMM's (UDIMM's larger than 2GB are not supported), for starters. According to the docs, you put as many 16GB DIMM's in as you can afford right now, but with 2 processors, you can only do the following:
1x16GB per processor (2 total) for 32GB of RAM - populate in slot 1, which is channel 0
2x16GB per processor (4 total) for 64GB of RAM - populate in slots 1 and 2, which populates channels 0 and 1
3x16GB per processor (6 total) for 96GB of RAM - populate in slots 1, 2, and 3, which populates channels 0, 1, and 2
4x16GB per processor (8 total) for 128GB of RAM - populate in slots 1, 2, 3, and 4, adds a second DIMM to channel 0
Slots are labeled, starting nearest the processor, as 4 | 1 | 2 | 3.
The 3-DIMM/processor configurations are ideal, because it take advantage of all channels AND keeps memory running at 1333MHz ... if you use the 4-DIMM/processor configurations, yes, you will have more memory available, but it will clock down to 1067MHz. You may or may not see much affect/difference from the memory speed, but you may in some applications.
shooman332
1 Rookie
•
7 Posts
0
December 7th, 2012 09:00
Thanks for the lesson and your expertise in memory! I won't soon forget.
shooman332
1 Rookie
•
7 Posts
0
December 7th, 2012 09:00
I want to make sure I understand you correctly. So I need one stick of memory for each processor and three sticks of memory per processor would be ideal. So ideally, I would get 6 x 16 memory at 1333 mhz.
Echeban
6 Posts
0
May 29th, 2020 17:00
I just bought and installed 8x8GB identical R2x4 PC3-10600R. The BIOS disabled DIMMS in B1 and B4, giving me only 48GB. Before the upgrade I had 8x4GB identical R2x4 PC3-10600R for a total of 32GB working fine. What am I doing wrong? Do I need to set something differently in the BIOS Memory Config? Right now it has Optimization and Node Interleaving enabled. I have 2 Xeon E5620 at 2.4GHz. According to the technical guidebook, it should work.
Echeban
6 Posts
0
June 2nd, 2020 07:00
Problem solved.
I have a PowerEdge R-410 with 8x4GB PC3-10600R installed, 32GB memory working. I put 8x8 PC3-10600R.
The BIOS disabled DIMMS in B1 and B4 with error is "Memory size may be reduced." and the server now runs with only 48GB.
POST shows:
Two E5620 processors
Memory: 48GB
Sped: 1067
Voltage: 1.5v
BIOS: 1.12.0.
MEMBIST failure: Memory size may be reduced. DIMMS in B1 abd B4 disabled. See the Hardware Owner's Manual. I have it. I read it. It does not say anything about this. My memory configuration 8x8GB PC3-10600R is in Table 3-2 p. 122 of 190 pages.
The sticker and the BIOS both show a Service Tag but DELL.COM does not recognizes it. I have a QR code as well. The LCD on the front panel has a lablel "R-410" (nothing about a roman numeral II). A sticker shows Model: E07S, Reg. E07S001.
Inside I can see 2 Xeon E5620.
CPU1 is towards the front of the chasis, CPU2 near the back panel.
I assume the memory bank B is next to CPU2? I can't find that info in the docs.
I have 2 docs. Hardware Owner's Manual and Technical Guidebook.
As I undestand the docs, each processor has 3 channels, channel 0 has 2 DIMMS, one has a black lever (closest to the processor), the other white like the rest. Channel 1 and 2, one DIMM each, all white levers.
As I uderstand the docs, white lever is always DIMM 1 for each channel. So the DIMMS seem to be numbered starting with black-lever B4, then white B1, completing channel 0, then white B2 (single DIMM channel 1), and finally further from the processor, white-lever B3 (single DIMM channel 2). I can't find a drawing showing the configuration 4/1/2/3. Or is it somethings else?.
On this post:
https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-us/sln72211/memory-configuration-errors-on-a-poweredge-server?lang=en#InitWarning
I found: Memory Initialization Warning: Memory size may be reduced
Causes: Invalid memory configuration. The system will run but with less memory than is physically available.
Solution: Ensure that the memory modules are installed in a valid configuration.
HOWEVER, I have the DIMMS are in a valid configuration as per Table 3-2 in the R-410 Hardware Owner's Manual.
I tried disabling the Interleaving. No luck.
---
This document:
https://downloads.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_ser_stor_net/esuprt_poweredge/poweredge-r410_user%27s%20guide6_en-us.pdf
says that R410 does not support Xeon 5600 1.3V processors. However, I have 2 x E5620 Xeon processors working fine as long as I use 32GB. I guess my 5620 are not 1.3v.
---
I can make it reach 56GB by using 2 of my old 4GB DIMMS in slots A4/B4. Got 56GB.
Swapped the 4GB by 8GB DIMM's that were working OK on A1/B1. Success, still 56 GB.
Swapped the two 8GB DIMM's that were out of the server by the two 4GB DIMMS. Sucess! 64GB. Looks like a bad sitting problem. MEMTEST running. Done!