Found a really well put together IBM document on Nehalem performance configuration*, highlights and link below:
RAM Configuration
1. Identical configuration for each memory channel (3 channels per Proc), and same speed RAM across the board. Within a memory channel you can mix sizes, but each memory channel must have an identical configuration. For best performance, each channel would have a single DIMM.
RAM Configuration
1. Identical configuration for each memory channel (3 channels per Proc), and same speed RAM across the board. Within a memory channel you can mix sizes, but each memory channel must have an identical configuration. For best performance, each channel would have a single DIMM.
2. If a dual Proc machine only has RAM in one bank, there is a significant performance hit for the second Proc to access the “Remote RAM.”
3. The optimal configurations for dual Proc Nehalem servers are
a. 6GB (6x1GB)
b. 12GB (6x2GB)
c. 18GB (6x2GB, 6x1GB)
d. 24GB (6x4GB or 12x2GB)
e. 48GB (6x8GB or 12x4GB)
f. 72GB (6x4GB, 6x8GB)
g. 96GB (6x16GB or 12x8GB)
b. 12GB (6x2GB)
c. 18GB (6x2GB, 6x1GB)
d. 24GB (6x4GB or 12x2GB)
e. 48GB (6x8GB or 12x4GB)
f. 72GB (6x4GB, 6x8GB)
g. 96GB (6x16GB or 12x8GB)
4. For single Proc Database servers, the best configs would be
a. 3GB ( 3x1GB sticks)
b. 6GB (3x2GB sticks)
c. 9GB (3x2GB, 3x1GB sticks)
d. 12GB (3x4GB sticks)
e. 24GB (6x4GB sticks)
f. 36GB (3x8GB, 3x4GB sticks)
g. 48GB (6x8GB sticks)
5. In general, avoid populating DIMM slots 1 (the first slot), 4, 9, or 12. Doing so unbalances the memory channels and decreases performance, so it is preferable to increase the DIMM size across the board rather than add more sticks.
6. Populate the furthest slots first, in this order: (3, 6, 8) and then (2, 5, 7)
7. Always use dual rank memory if available (e.g. 2Rx4, 2Rx8, etc).
*This is for x3650 M2/x3550 M2&M3/dx360 M2. HS22’s have other requirements.
a. 3GB ( 3x1GB sticks)
b. 6GB (3x2GB sticks)
c. 9GB (3x2GB, 3x1GB sticks)
d. 12GB (3x4GB sticks)
e. 24GB (6x4GB sticks)
f. 36GB (3x8GB, 3x4GB sticks)
g. 48GB (6x8GB sticks)
5. In general, avoid populating DIMM slots 1 (the first slot), 4, 9, or 12. Doing so unbalances the memory channels and decreases performance, so it is preferable to increase the DIMM size across the board rather than add more sticks.
6. Populate the furthest slots first, in this order: (3, 6, 8) and then (2, 5, 7)
7. Always use dual rank memory if available (e.g. 2Rx4, 2Rx8, etc).
BIOS Settings (more analysis to come):
Setting | Maximum Performance Setting per IBM |
Memory Speed | Auto |
Memory Channel Mode | Independent |
Socket Interleaving | NUMA |
Patrol Scrubbing | Disabled |
Demand Scrubbing | Enabled |
C-States | Enabled |
Turbo Mode | Enabled |
Thermal Mode | Performance |
Hyper Threading | Dependent upon App |
*This is for x3650 M2/x3550 M2&M3/dx360 M2. HS22’s have other requirements.
Optimizing Nehalem Performance (Dead link?)
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