•
Unbalanced memory configurations result in a performance loss so always populate memory channels identically with identical DIMMs
for best performance.
•
Populate six identical memory modules per processor (one DIMM per channel) at a time to maximize performance.
Mode-specific guidelines
The configurations allowed depend on the memory mode selected in the System BIOS.
Table 40. Memory operating modes
Memory Operating Mode
Description
Optimizer Mode
The
Optimizer Mode
if enabled, the DRAM controllers operate
independently in the 64-bit mode and provide optimized memory
performance.
Mirror Mode
The
Mirror Mode
if enabled, the system maintains two identical
copies of data in memory, and the total available system memory is
one half of the total installed physical memory. Half of the installed
memory is used to mirror the active memory modules. This feature
provides maximum reliability and enables the system to continue
running even during a catastrophic memory failure by switching
over to the mirrored copy. The installation guidelines to enable
Mirror Mode require that the memory modules be identical in size,
speed, and technology, and they must be populated in sets of 6
per processor.
Single Rank Spare Mode
Single Rank Spare Mode
allocates one rank per channel as a
spare. If excessive correctable errors occur in a rank or channel,
while the operating system is running, they are moved to the spare
area to prevent errors from causing an uncorrectable failure.
Requires two or more ranks to be populated in each channel.
Multi Rank Spare Mode
Multi Rank Spare Mode
allocates two ranks per channel as a
spare. If excessive correctable errors occur in a rank or channel,
while the operating system is running, they are moved to the spare
area to prevent errors from causing an uncorrectable failure.
Requires three or more ranks to be populated in each channel.
With single rank memory sparing enabled, the system memory
available to the operating system is reduced by one rank per
channel.
For example, in a dual-processor configuration with sixteen 16 GB
dual-rank memory modules, the available system memory: 16 GB x
16(memory modules) - 8GB(1 rank sparing/channel) x 12(channel)
= 256 GB - 96 GB = 160 GB
For multi rank sparing, in a dual-processor configuration with
sixteen 64 GB quad-rank memory modules, the available system
memory: 64 GB x 16(memory modules) - 32 GB(2 rank sparing/
channel) x 12 (channel) = 1024 GB - 384 GB = 640 GB
NOTE:
To use memory sparing, this feature must be
enabled in the BIOS menu of System Setup.
NOTE:
Memory sparing does not offer protection
against a multi-bit uncorrectable error.
Dell Fault Resilient Mode
The
Dell Fault Resilient Mode
if enabled, the BIOS creates an
area of memory that is fault resilient. This mode can be used by an
OS that supports the feature to load critical applications or enables
the OS kernel to maximize system availability.
NOTE:
This feature is only supported in Gold and
Platinum Intel processors.
102
Installing and removing system components
