EP2C602-4L/D16 memory installation

picto wrote: Hi, I'm very new to PC build (Mac user) and I don't know where to install my 4 8Go memory modules on the EP2C602-4L/D16 which provides 16 slots. _ A1,A2 and E1, E2? or _ A1, B1 and E1, F1? ... I read the doc but I'm still confused. Thanks.

I must agree that the manual is not at all specific about which DIMM slots to use.

You seem to have four, 8GB DIMMs, so you'll use two per CPU. You have two CPUs, right?

One thing I can tell you with certainty is, you should install your memory in as many memory channels as possible. Your board and processors each support four memory channels, channels A, B, C, and D for one CPU, channels E, F, G, and H for the other CPU. Each CPU can more efficiently use memory when it is installed in as many different channels as possible, rather than more memory in just one or fewer channels.

So putting two DIMMs in the A1 and A2 slots, or E1 and E2 slots, for example, will result in running your memory in single (one) channel mode for each CPU.

Since you only have four DIMMs so far, you can run dual (two) channel memory for each CPU.

But first, which slots should you use, in general. The usual suggestion by Intel and ASRock, including socket 2011 processors, is to populate the DIMM slots that are physically the farthest away from the CPU first. Technically why that is preferred, I'm not 100% sure, but that is what I have seen suggested many times.

So in your situation, you would use the A1 and C1 slots, and the E1 and G1 slots, for two CPUs.

The order of the channels used does not matter, meaning it makes no difference that you skipped channel B or channel F. Remember we are fulfilling the "use the slots farthest from the CPU first" as the first priority, and then populating as many channels as possible, second.

Intel "Mainstream/Performance" type processors (not socket 2011 Xeon or HEDT processor models, that you are using) usually need the memory installed in the '2' slot of each channel, A2 and B2 for example. That is not the case for socket 2011 processors, and the DIMM slots are numbered with the '1' slots farther from the CPU.

The "Mainstream/Performance" type processor mother boards have the '2' DIMM slots farthest from the CPU. Just FYI in case you see information for those processor models, and are wondering about the difference.

Start the board for the first time using the A1, C1, E1, and G1 slots for your memory. If that does not seem to work, we need to check your memory for compatibility first.

What is the full model number of your memory? Also, what processors are you using?

For a new PC builder, you have chosen a rather complex system. That's Ok, but be extra careful. I won't mention the "Mac user" part... oops...

Hints:

Check each CPU socket for bent pins. Be SUPER careful installing the CPUs, if you drop it in the socket, the damage to the pins will be horrendous and likely not repairable by you. There are 2,011 pins in each CPU socket.

You MUST have a power cable from the PSU for BOTH processors. That is the 4/8 pin 12V ATX cable, you must have two of them, plus the standard 24 pin power cable connected. Do not confuse the 4/8 pin CPU power cables with the 8 pin PCIe (video card) power cables. They are NOT compatible.

Full part list:
http://pcpartpicker.com/list/6g29KZ


Edited by picto - 09 Oct 2016 at 2:08am

johnsmith wrote: 1. Can I use just one CPU? I don't need at this moment 2 CPUs but in future for sure it will happen