RAM configuration for dual quad

[The4thAggie]

The new Xeons (5500 and 5600 series) require tri-channel kits to operate on each chip (you got to install them in three stick kits). You can't just spread one kit over two sockets. So you need atleast one three-stick kit for each processor on your motherboard. Newegg doesn't exactly think its deals out too much.

[olson]

Xeon 5500 series and Opteron processors have built in memory controllers on the processor and use cache coherent non uniform memory access (ccNUMA). With ccNUMA processors can access memory from other processors. I would put all three sticks on one processor so its in triple channel mode. Cheers!

[meleseDESIGN]

I would put all three sticks on one processor so its in triple channel mode. Cheers!

What he said.
That´s how you set up the RAM for Dual Socket 1366 systems.
Make sure you buy RAM module with the correct clock rate depending on your CPUs.
If you have the X55XX, W55XX Xeons your RAM should support 1333MHz.
Take a look in your mainboard manual for further informations or come back here if you have some other questions for your new Dual-CPU System.

Maybe you have some questions related to the heatsinks comming, because most Dual Socket 1366 boards need special server heatsinks with screw springs. You will also watch out to get the right heatsinks for the CPUs. The X55XX have a TDP of 95Watts, the heatsinks should support them. The W55XX have an TDP of 130Watts and many cheap server heatsinks wont support them. If you have the E55XX or L55XX Xeons most server heatsinks will support them.

If some more questions will show up let us know!


;)

[mlager8]

I'm using 2 e5520 xeons in an asus z8na-d6c board, I bought the intel heatsinks reccomended for the CPUs as I read they are the only ones that fit on a dual socket 1366 atx board. The crucial kit is labeled as ddr3pc3-10600 unbuff. So just to be clear I can stick all three sticks in the first set of dimms and the system should run fine until I have time to pick up another 3 stick kit? Also another question about the motherboard, do the chasis fans need to connect to the mobo in sequential fan order? Ex: I have the rear ran in rearfan1 while the front fan is I'm frtfan3 just because of placement on the board, I wouldn't think I matters but just thought I'd ask.

[meleseDESIGN]

Do you have a product number of the intel heatsinks available, are they with screw springs, so we can look if they will fit?
PC3-10600 = 1333MHz, those are perfect if you like to upgrade to the X55XX/W55XX Xeons in the future. Unfortunatelly your board doesn´t support the W55XX Xeons, but it doesn´t matter right now. Yes, you can stick all 3 module beside one CPU and the system will run fine until you upgrade another Kit. The chassis Fans can be set like you want.

;)

[mlager8]

Bxsts100a is the model number of the intel heatsinks, they screw on fine (no spring screws) and seem to fit though i thought the fan configuration would be different, they are right next to each other back to back, the black part of the fan seperated by only about a little less than an inch.

[meleseDESIGN]

Ok, they are just for the E and L Serie, if you want to upgrade later to X Serie you will need other heatsinks, yours are only till 80Watts TDP.
Beside they are with screw springs:

http://pan5.fotovista.com/dev/5/2/02652225/l_02652225.jpg

[mlager8]

Ah your right melese they arespring screws, didnt even notice. Ok, I have a few more questions (sorry this is my first build) slightly unrelated. First, the leads that come off my chassis all have a plug on the auxillary power port on the motherboard except one (or two technically). The leads I have plugged in already are power sw, reset sw, and hdd led, they are all two pin plugs, the last one is 2 single plugs each labeled (+) and (-). Positive and negative what and where do they go? They are white and green wires btw. Second question, I installed the gtx260 card I bought in the PCI-E slot, the card has 2 6-pin power ports, the PCI-E cables coming off my PSU have 6 pins with an additional 2 pin adapter. Am I supposed to plug two 6 pin PCI-E cables from my PSU into the two ports on the graphics card? Also the card has a lead coming off labeled SPDIF, is this necessary to be plugged into my mobo? If so where does it go becasue I see no mention of this on my mobo diagram. Thanks again for all the help, I need it where I can get it.

[meleseDESIGN]

The white and green wires is the Power LED.
Yes you need to plug the two 6 pin PCI-E cables (comming from your PSU) into your card, some high end cards, like the Asus Mars GTX285 and GTX295 have two 8 pin power ports.
As far as I know The Asus Z8NA-D6/C has no SPDIF connector on-Board, probably you could fix this issue through installing a better sound card that has such an conector. But it isn´t implicitly necessary to use the SPDIF bridge function if you don´t use a HDMI connection.

;)

[mlager8]

Oh well actually with the mobo I also bought the add on mio sound card which comes with an hdmi conversion tip, so I guess the SPDIF connection should pipe over to that, I didnt realize SPDIF was an audio function, I'll have to put everything together later, Thanks again, I'm sure I'll end up having another question later

[mlager8]

So I put everything together and it didn't go as smoothly as I had hoped, gunna make a new thread so I can get some more input :(

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