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DRAM DIMM installation order

DRAM DIMMs must be installed in a specific order based on the memory configuration that you implement on your node.

The following memory configurations are available for DRAM DIMMs:

Independent Memory Mode population sequence​

Table 1. DRAM DIMM installation sequence (Independent mode/normal mode).

Two column table for documenting the number of processors and installation sequence (connectors).

Number of processorInstallation sequence (connectors)
Processor 1 installed6, 3, 7, 2, 8, 1, 5, 4
Processor 1 and 2 installed6, 14, 3, 11, 7, 15, 2, 10, 8, 16, 1, 9, 5, 13, 4, 12
Note
In addition, the following slot combinations are available with optimal performance when three or six identical DIMMs (the same Lenovo part number) are installed:

  • One processor and three DRAM DIMMs: slot 6, 7, and 8.

  • Two processors and six DRAM DIMMs: slot 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, and 16.

Memory mirroring population sequence​

Table 2. DRAM DIMM installation sequence (mirror mode/lockstep mode).

Two column table for documenting the number of processors and installation sequence (connectors).

Number of processorsInstallation sequence (connectors)
Processor 1 installed(6, 7), (2, 3), (8, 1)
Processor 1 and 2 installed(6, 7, 14, 15), (2, 3), (10, 11), (1,8), (9, 16)

If you are installing 3, 6, 9 or 12 identical DIMMs for the mirroring mode, comply with the following installation sequence to achieve the best performance.

Table 3. DRAM DIMM installation sequence (mirror mode/lockstep mode for 3, 6, 9 and 12 identical DIMMs).

Two column table for documenting the number of processors and installation sequence (connectors).

Number of processorsInstallation sequence (connectors)
Processor 1 installed(6, 7, 8), (1, 2, 3)
Processor 1 and 2 installed(6, 7, 8), (14, 15, 16), (1, 2, 3), (9, 10, 11)

Memory rank sparing population sequence​

Table 4. DRAM DIMM installation sequence (sparing mode).
Note
Single-rank RDIMM is not supported by sparing. If you install single-rank RDIMM, it switches to the independent mode automatically.

Two column table for documenting the number of processors and installation sequence (connectors).

Number of processorsInstallation sequence (connectors)
Processor 1 installed6, 3, 7, 2, 8, 1, 5, 4
Processor 1 and 2 installed6, 14, 3, 11, 7, 15, 2, 10, 8, 16, 1, 9, 5, 13, 4, 12