Random access memory (RAM)
The amount of RAM you have and the memory architecture of your system determines:
ECC memory is a feature for high-end systems that detects and corrects single bit errors. It also reports memory errors without interrupting other system operations.
This is important for:
Registered memory (RDIMM)
The amount of RAM you have and the memory architecture of your system determines:
- How many programs can be executed at one time
- How much data is readily available to a program
- How quickly applications perform
- How many applications you can toggle between at once
- Maximum memory speed depends on the processor.
- 2400 MHz NECC or ECC memory automatically clocks down to 2133 MHz when paired with a 6th Gen Intel® Core™ i or Xeon E3-1200 V5 Class of Processor on Dell Precision Tower 3000 Series workstations.
- With 32-bit workstations, the maximum addressable memory is only 4GB, of which a maximum of 3GB is available to applications. That's often far too little room for large files.
- The 64-bit technology in Dell Precision workstations feature Intel® Xeon® and Core™ processors that dramatically expand this space, shattering the 4GB limit.
- Gives additional lanes of access to the processor, which translates to better output.
- Allows you to quickly access larger data sets.
- Should be purchased in equal sets of four to take advantage of all the lanes available.
ECC memory is a feature for high-end systems that detects and corrects single bit errors. It also reports memory errors without interrupting other system operations.
This is important for:
- Highly detailed tasks
- Simultaneously maximizing system availability
- Minimizing system crashes due to single bit error faults
Registered memory (RDIMM)
- Available on mainstream tower and rack workstations
- Similar to ECC memory
- Provides additional data protection and reliability
- Has a register used as a pass-through for address and command signals, to support more RDIMMs per channel
- Consumes more power but is available in larger capacities and higher ranks
- Allows for extremely large memory configurations up to 512GB on select Dell Precision workstations
For memory-intensive workstation applications, Dell recommends installing as much memory as possible, populating all memory channels for maximum performance.
The system you are configuring may or may not include all of the options listed here:
The system you are configuring may or may not include all of the options listed here:
| If you want ... | Choose ... |
| Peak performance and the ability to take advantage of 64-bit applications in highly specialized areas of oil and gas, digital content creation, high-end CAD and medical imaging. | 128GB* or more |
| Great performance for large files and multitasking with high-end CAD, animation, analysis software and other extremely demanding applications. | 64GB* |
| Good performance for multitasking with relatively large files and demanding workstation applications. | 32GB* |
| Adequate performance with relatively large files and mainstream workstation applications. | 16GB* |
| Acceptable performance with office productivity applications and basic workstation applications. | 8GB* |