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Independent memory mode

In independent memory mode, memory channels can be populated with DIMMs in any order and you can populate all channels for each processor in any order with no matching requirements. Independent memory mode provides the highest level of memory performance, but lacks failover protection. The DIMM installation order for independent memory mode varies based on the number of processors and memory modules installed in the server.

Figure 1. Processor and memory module layout: processor 1 and 2

Table 1. Processor and memory module layout: processor 1 and 2
1 DIMM 1-64 DIMM 7-18
2 DIMM 19-245 Processor 1
3 Processor 2 
Figure 2. Processor and memory module layout: processor 3 and 4

Table 2. Processor and memory module layout: processor 3 and 4
1 Processor 34 DIMM 43-48
2 DIMM 31-425 DIMM 25-30
3 Processor 4 
Table 3. Channel and slot information of DIMMs around a processor
Slot010101Processor101010
ChannelChannel 2Channel 1Channel 0Channel 0Channel 1Channel 2
DIMM number (Processor 1)123456789101112
DIMM number (Processor 2)131415161718192021222324
DIMM number (Processor 3)252627282930313233343536
DIMM number (Processor 4)373839404142434445464748
Independent memory mode guidelines:
  • Individual memory channels can run at different DIMM timings, but all channels must run at the same interface frequency.

  • Populate memory channel 0 first.

  • Memory channel 1 is empty or identically populated as memory channel 0.

  • Memory channel 2 is empty or identically populated as memory channel 1.

  • In each memory channel, populate slot 0 first.

  • If a memory channel has two DIMMs, populate the DIMM with a higher number of ranks in slot 0.

The independent memory mode DIMM population sequences for each supported processor configuration are: