Memory Technologies; Ddr3 Memory Enhancements; Controlled Fan Speed; Reduced Operating Voltage - HP ProLiant SL6000 series User Manual

Figure 12. Diagram showing how the processor installation tool simplifies installation

Memory technologies

Xeon 5500 Series processors connect directly to memory rather than through a chipset. These
processors support only DDR3 dual inline memory modules (DIMMs). DDR3 is part of the synchronous
dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) group of technologies. Administrators control all processor
functionality options, including memory mirroring and memory channel interleaving, through the G6
server RBSU.

DDR3 memory enhancements

DDR3 has several key enhancements over DDR2 memory, including an 8-bit prefetch buffer for storing
data before it is requested. DDR2 has a 4-bit buffer. For DDR3, the data signal rate can increase to
1333 megatransfers per second (MT/s). Although this is commonly referred to as having a speed of
1333 MHz, the maximum clock speed for the DIMMs is actually 667 MHz. The signal is double-
pumped to achieve the data rate of 1333 MT/s. DDR3-1333 DIMMs can operate at clock speeds of
667 MHz, 533 MHz, and 400 MHz with corresponding data rates of 1333, 1066, and 800 MT/s.

Controlled fan speed

HP DDR3 DIMM modules have an integrated thermal sensor that signals the chipset to limit memory
traffic to the DIMM if the DIMM temperature exceeds a programmable critical trip point. Using the
data from these thermal sensors, ProLiant G6 servers can reduce fan speed when memory is idle,
which reduces power consumption. The BIOS in ProLiant G6 servers verifies the presence of the
thermal DIMM sensor during POST. Some third-party DIMMs may not include this DIMM thermal
sensor. If the thermal sensor is absent, a POST message will warn that the DIMM does not have a
thermal sensor, and the fans will run at higher speeds (requiring more power).

Reduced operating voltage

Operating voltage for DDR3 has been reduced: DDR2 operates at 1.8V, while at this writing DDR3
operates at 1.5V and consumes less power than DDR2 DIMMs at the same capacity and speed. Even
though DDR3 DIMMs and DDR2 DIMMs are the same size and have the same number of pins, they
have different key notch locations and are electrically incompatible.
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