Populating DIMM Sockets
There are four DIMM sockets on the system board, with two sockets per channel. The sockets are labeled DIMM1, DIMM2, DIMM3, and DIMM4. Sockets DIMM1 and DIMM2 operate in memory channel A. Sockets DIMM3 and DIMM4 operate in memory channel B.
Figure 2-10 DIMM Socket Locations
Table 2-1 DIMM Socket Locations
Item | Description | Socket Color |
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1 | DIMM1 socket, Channel A | Black |
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2 | DIMM2 socket, Channel A | White |
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3 | DIMM3 socket, Channel B | White |
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4 | DIMM4 socket, Channel B | White |
NOTE: A DIMM must occupy the black DIMM1 socket. Otherwise, the system will display a POST error message indicating that a memory module must be installed in the black socket.
The system will automatically operate in single channel mode, dual channel mode, or flex mode, depending on how the DIMMs are installed.
●The system will operate in single channel mode if the DIMM sockets are populated in one channel only.
●The system will operate in a
●The system will operate in flex mode if the total memory capacity of the DIMMs in Channel A is not equal to the total memory capacity of the DIMMs in Channel B. In flex mode, the channel populated with the least amount of memory describes the total amount of memory assigned to dual channel and the remainder is assigned to single channel. For optimal speed, the channels should be balanced so that the largest amount of memory is spread between the two channels. If one channel will have more memory than the other, the larger amount should be assigned to Channel A. For example, if you are populating the sockets with one 1GB DIMM, and three 512MB DIMMs, Channel A should be populated with the 1GB DIMM and one 512MB DIMM, and Channel B should be populated with the two 512MB DIMMs. With this configuration, 2GB will run as dual channel and 512MB will run as single channel.
●In any mode, the maximum operational speed is determined by the slowest DIMM in the system.
ENWW | Installing Additional Memory 19 |