ML350 G5 Memory

[John D. Kulakowski]

I'm going to be upgrading the memory of my server from 4gig to 8gig. (PC2-5300 ECC 240 pin). Currently the server has 8 sticks of 512mb RAM (4GIG total / all memory banks are occupied). The 'new' 8gig memory will be 2 - 4gig sticks (8gig total). With this 'setup' 6 memory banks will be 'empty'.
Questions:
. Does the 6 empty memory banks need 'dummy' memory sticks?
. Should the 8gig of memory occupy 'all' 8 memory banks?
I can not find any documentation on this memory upgrade other than the system can handle a total of 32gig.

The purpose of the memory upgrade is to install VMWare AND Windows 2008. (System currently has MS Windows 2003 R2 Standard and will be kept).

Current ML350 G5 setup:
. 2 - Dual core 3.0 processors
. Raid 5 setup
4 - 160gig of Dasd
3 - active
1 - spare
. MS Windows 2003 R2 Standard
. 4gig of Ram

[Antonio de Martino · Accepted solution]

Hello,
in general server model ML350G5 can accept max 5 memory kits (1 memory kits for 1 Gb RAM 2x512Mb normally is already installed, this depend on wich server you have now).

Anyway you should have a look to the official Hp QuickSpecs for this machine

http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12475_div/12475_div.HTML

Pls advice that at a glance:
Memory:
Eight PC2-5300 Fully Buffered DIMMs (DDR2 667) sockets with online-spare support for cost-effective memory configuration and expansion and 2:1 interleaving
Up to 16 GB of memory supported on Dual-Core 5000 and 5100 series
Up to 32 GB of memory supported on Dual-Core 5200 series, Quad-Core 5300 and 5400 series

and normally this should be common memory installation table:

Common Memory Configuration
Valid DIMM pair combinations use slots 1/5, slots 2/6, slots 3/7, and slots 4/8. Maximum supported memory is 16 GB for Dual-Core 5000 and 5100 series models and 32 GB on Quad-Core 5300 and 5400 series models.
NOTE: Chart does not represent all possible memory configurations.
 
Following are memory options available from HP:
 
1 GB FBD PC2-5300 2 x 512 MB Single Rank Kit
397409-B21
2 GB FBD PC2-5300 2 x 1 GB Dual Rank Kit
397411-B21
2 GB FBD PC2-5300 2 x 1 GB Low Power Single Rank Kit
461826-B21
4 GB FBD PC2-5300 2 x 2 GB Dual Rank Kit
397413-B21
4 GB FBD PC2-5300 2 x 2 GB Low Power Dual Rank Kit
461828-B21
8 GB FBD PC2-5300 2 x 4 GB Dual Rank Kit
397415-B21
8 GB FBD PC2-5300 2 x 4 GB Low Power Dual Rank Kit
466440-B21

[TTr]

> Does the 6 empty memory banks need 'dummy' memory sticks?
No.
> Should the 8gig of memory occupy 'all' 8 memory banks
No.
You can also take out only two 512mb sticks to install the two 4gb stick and leave the remaining six 512mb stick in. This way you will have 11gb total memory.

http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12475_div/12475_div.HTML#Memory
These are three examples only. Many other memory combinations are possible.
Ensure that the two 4gb sticks are installed in slots 1A and 5A.