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Memory module installation rules and order

Memory modules must be installed in a specific order based on the memory configuration that you implement and the number of processors and memory modules installed in the server.

Supported memory types

For information on the types of memory module supported by this server, see Memory section in Technical Specifications.

Your server has 24 memory slots with 24 channels. For a list of supported memory options, see:

Lenovo ServerProven website.

Information about optimizing memory performance and configuring memory is available at the Lenovo Press website:

Memory - Lenovo Press

In addition, you can take advantage of a memory configurator, which is available at the following site:

Lenovo Enterprise Solutions Configurator (Memory Configurations)

Specific information about the required installation order of memory modules in your server based on the system configuration is shown below.

Memory modules and processors layout​

Figure 1. Memory modules and processors layout
Memory module and processor location

The memory-channel configuration table below shows the relationship between the processors, memory controllers, memory channels, and memory module slot numbers.

Table 1. Memory slot and channel identification
ProcessorProcessor 2 Processor 1
UMC No.2150439106117821504391061178
Channel No.FEDCBAGHIJKLFEDCBAGHIJKL
DIMM No.242322212019181716151413121110987654321

General DIMM mixing rules​

DIMMsCoexist in a system
9x4 RDIMMs and other RDIMM typesx
3DS RDIMMs and other RDIMM typesx
128 GB 3DS RDIMMs and 256 GB 3DS RDIMMsx
x4 RDIMMs and x8 RDIMMsx
Different DRAM density (16Gbit, 24Gbit, and 32Gbit)1,2,5x (for 9004 series processors)
√ (for 9005 series processors)
RDIMMs of different capacity3,4√
RDIMMs of different ranks (1R and 2R)4,5√
RDIMMs manufactured by different vendors√
Note

  1. The 16Gbit DRAM is used in 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB RDIMMs. The 24Gbit DRAM is used in 48 GB and 96 GB RDIMMs. The 32Gbit DRAM is used in 128 GB 2Rx4 RDIMMs.

  2. Before installing 24Gbit-based RDIMMs, make sure to apply the UEFI firmware version KAE106S or later to the server first and remove all existing 16Gbit-based RDIMMs.

  3. When installing RDIMMs of different capacity, install the RDIMM of the highest capacity first following the population sequence.

  4. For optimal performance, it is recommended to install RDIMMs of identical capacity and rank in the same channel of the two processors.

  5. Mixing 1R and 2R RDIMMs or mixing RDIMMs based on different DRAM density in a system equipped with 9005 series processors may have an impact on performance.

  6. Servers with 9004 series processors do not support 6400 MHz RDIMMs.

Memory module installation order​

Note
In the following tables:

  • S1–S24 indicate DIMM slots 1–24.

  • 1–24 indicate the installation order.

For example, when 12 DIMMs are installed for two processors, the installation order is slot 7, 19, 6, 18, 9, 21, 4, 16, 8, 20, 5, 17.

With one processor

The following table shows the DIMM population sequence when one processor is installed.

Table 2. DIMM population sequence for one processor
Total DIMMsProcessor 1
S12S11S10S9S8S7S6S5S4S3S2S1
1 DIMM1
2 DIMMs     12     
4 DIMMs3124
6 DIMMs   351264   
8 DIMMs73512648
10 DIMMs 79351264108 
12 DIMMs117935126410812

With two processors

The following table shows the DIMM population sequence when two processors are installed.

Table 3. DIMM population sequence for two processors
Total DIMMsProcessor 1
S12S11S10S9S8S7S6S5S4S3S2S1
2 DIMMs1
4 DIMMs     13     
8 DIMMs5137
12 DIMMs   5913117   
16 DIMMs13591311715
20 DIMMs 131759131171915 
24 DIMMs2113175913117191523
Total DIMMsProcessor 2
S24S23S22S21S20S19S18S17S16S15S14S13
2 DIMMs2
4 DIMMs     24     
8 DIMMs6248
12 DIMMs   61024128   
16 DIMMs146102412816
20 DIMMs 1418610241282016 
24 DIMMs22141861024128201624