Optimizing the Performance of System Memory

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Compute-intensive applications typically require as much system memory bandwidth as can be provided. For this reason, it is very important that system memory be correctly configured and installed. Microway reviews all systems to ensure proper performance (both during the sales and production/integration stages), however we provide this resource as a reference for those who would like to understand the options.

Improperly-configured memory can result in significant performance reductions. For example, a misconfiguration on the latest Intel Xeon CPUs with 6-channel memory controllers can result in a 65% reduction in memory throughput. This can result in an application running at half the anticipated speed. As you're considering a new system deployment, please <a href="https://www.microway.com/contact/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">work with our experts</a> to ensure success.

The correct configuration depends upon several factors, including the type of CPUs, the product generation, and the design of the system motherboard. To use the tables below, first select which type and generation of system CPUs will be in use. Then look to the rows which show the optimal memory capacities.

[tabby title="Intel Xeon Scalable 'Skylake-SP' CPUs"]
<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Memory Capacity</th>
      <th>1-socket Xeon Scalable</th>
      <th>2-socket Xeon Scalable</th>
      <th>4-socket Xeon Scalable</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">24GB</td><td>&#10004;</td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">32GB</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">48GB</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td><td></td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">64GB</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">96GB</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">128GB</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">192GB</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">256GB</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">384GB</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">512GB</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">768GB</td><td>&#9452;</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">1TB</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">1.5TB</td><td></td><td>&#9452;</td><td>&#10004;</td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">2TB</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">3TB</td><td></td><td></td><td>&#9452;</td></tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
&#10004; <em>supported in all standard platforms (these provide at least 6 DIMM slots per CPU socket)</em>
&#9452; <em>only supported in platforms with 12 DIMM slots per CPU socket</em>

[tabby title="Intel Xeon E5-series 'Broadwell' CPUs"]
<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Memory Capacity</th>
      <th>1-socket Xeon E5-2600v4</th>
      <th>2-socket Xeon E5-2600v4</th>
      <th>4-socket Xeon E5-4600v4</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">24GB</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">32GB</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td><td></td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">48GB</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">64GB</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">96GB</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">128GB</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">192GB</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">256GB</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">384GB</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">512GB</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">768GB</td><td>&#9452;</td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">1TB</td><td></td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">1.5TB</td><td></td><td>&#9452;</td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">2TB</td><td></td><td></td><td>&#10004;</td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">3TB</td><td></td><td></td><td>&#9452;</td></tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
&#10004; <em>supported in all standard platforms (these provide at least 8 DIMM slots per CPU socket)</em>
&#9452; <em>only supported in platforms with 12 DIMM slots per CPU socket</em>

[tabby title="AMD EPYC 7000-series 'Zen' CPUs"]
<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Memory Capacity</th>
      <th>1-socket EPYC 7000-series</th>
      <th>2-socket EPYC 7000-series</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">24GB</td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">32GB</td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">48GB</td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">64GB</td><td>&#10004;</td><td></td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">96GB</td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">128GB</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">192GB</td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">256GB</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">384GB</td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">512GB</td><td>&#10004;</td><td>&#10004;</td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">768GB</td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">1TB</td><td>&#9456;</td><td>&#10004;</td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">1.5TB</td><td></td><td></td></tr>
    <tr><td class="rowhead">2TB</td><td></td><td>&#9456;</td></tr>
    <tr class="exclude"><td class="rowhead">3TB</td><td></td><td></td></tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
&#10004; <em>supported in all standard platforms (these provide at least 8 DIMM slots per CPU socket)</em>
&#9456; <em>only supported in platforms with 16 DIMM slots per CPU socket</em>

[tabbyending]

<em>It should be noted that we consider a 64GB DIMM to be the largest available capacity in a single memory slot. Although 128GB and 256GB DIMMs are available, their extreme price and limited availability have made them impractical for most customer use cases.</em>

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