Question on dual socket server motherboards based on intel C612 chipset

[jamesp81]

Most dual socket motherboards have two different sets of dimm slots, one for each CPU. My question is, if such a motherboard has two CPUs mounted but memory only mounted for one CPU, will this configuration even run (ie, can CPU2 use CPU1's dimms)? If so, would you take a performance hit to run this way?

More specifically, the motherboard I have in mind is this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182967&cm_re=super_micro_x10dal-i-_-13-182-967-_-Product

The CPUs in question are 2x Xeon e5-2630 v3.

 

[Saberus]

It will run, but CPU 2 will have a huge performance hit as it will have to queue CPU1 for memory accesses constantly (this will impact CPU1's performance as well). Better to balance the memory across both CPUs or only use one. How much memory are you planning on using?

 

[jamesp81]

It will run, but CPU 2 will have a huge performance hit as it will have to queue CPU1 for memory accesses constantly (this will impact CPU1's performance as well). Better to balance the memory across both CPUs or only use one. How much memory are you planning on using?

32gb initially. At this point we will either see if newegg will take returns on memory that has been opened or we will just go up to 64gb. I think 64gb is complete, gross overkill for our purposes though.

 

[Saberus]

Is this a 2x16 kit or a 4x8 kit? If it's 4x8, you can spread the memory over both CPUs just fine.

 

[jamesp81]

2x 16gb. Thus my troubles.

Any chance I could run one dimm for each cpu?

 

[Saberus]

I don't think the system will like that too much, but going to a single DIMM is sometimes part of troubleshooting, so maybe. Have you already bought the kit?