blog posts

Everything you need to know about server RAM

Due to advances in technology and the need to use computers, RAM is a familiar name to most people. But when we talk about server RAM, it becomes a little more specialized that not everyone may know about.

In general, RAM servers are divided into two main categories:

Buffered

Unbuffered

Buffer and non-buffer are the two main types of server RAM. The biggest difference between the two is that the RAM server buffer consists of a layer of energy processing to maintain speed. Each of these RAM servers has different advantages and disadvantages that for information, it is necessary to study each separately. Contract.

Buffer server RAM is also known as ECC DIMM, which is a type of RAM that adds ECC with automatic testing and error correction. The main advantage of buffer memory is that it is buffer. A buffer is a processing chip that receives information directly from the CPU.

 This buffer chip then sends the processed information to memory cards. The advantage of these RAMs is that they allow processors to send information to a single target instead of sending it to separate chips on the server RAM.

Therefore, by equipping these RAMs with a buffer, the system processor optimizes the path for sending information.

Bufferless memory or ECC UDIMM is also a type of RAM that is added to the ECC function by self-test and error correction. RAM ECC UDIMM is memory without buffer or stability in the memory module that is instead designed on the motherboard.

 Ram ECC UDIMM has memory access commands that are fed to the memory module faster than ECC RDIMM because this process is done directly.

In systems that use non-buffer RAM, the processor communicates directly with the various chips and also sends information to each of these chips separately.

Although this allows the system to be more scalable and slightly more flexible, it still needs a processor that has better processing power and also includes all the CPU processing power.

 

Different types of buffer RAM:

 

Registered RAM:

RAM Registered or ECC RDIMM is a memory that contains registers, and RAM without buffer EC Ram is a memory that has no buffer or constant on the motherboard. For this reason, the difference between the two types of ECC RAM is in the access command. For RAM ECC UDIMM, the memory access commands are routed to the memory module, while the RAM ECC RDIMM access commands are sent to the previous register and then transferred to the memory module.

 

RAM Fully Buffered:

There is also another technology in the production of RAM called FB-DIMM, which aims to provide services to the server with the maximum speed based on old technology (DIMM-ECC) that maximizes stability, compatibility and most importantly the ability to check and modify رساند. This type of RAM is basically an older version of registered RAM.

FB-DIMM is warmer than regular DDR2 RAM. The reason is AMB heat treatment. For this reason, FB-DIMM also has its own drawbacks.

 

RAM Load Reduced:

Load Reduced RAM (LRDIMM) is a newer version of buffer RAM. The advantage of Load Reduced modules is that they sometimes do not allow all DIMM slots to be filled with second-hand memory modules. In addition, some problems such as performance And removes RAM power.

FB-DIMM and LRDIMM RAMs are designed differently from RDIMM RAM, so they are not interchangeable on all boards.

 

What is ECC RAM?

ECC RAM is RAM that can control the flow of input and output data. When processing information on the CPU, the information on the ROM is not processed. Rather, it controls everything on RAM. Therefore, for a normal RAM (non-ECC RAM), it is normal to interrupt when transferring data at high speeds.

When a malfunction occurs, RAM often has to load the entire data stream because they are unable to manage the data stream.

For RAM ECC, when a malfunction occurs, you just need to ask the system to resend the correct packet. Therefore, Ram ECC has a very high stability and performance. Therefore, servers need the advantage of having server RAM.

ECC RAM is more stable and reliable than conventional RAMs, but there are exceptions. One should always expect that the most reliable technologies will work. But with the use of these technologies, it is possible to be somewhat confident that the rate of failure will be greatly reduced. This distinction is quite clear when using RAM ECC compared to regular RAM.

 

for example:

The best way to really understand the difference between different types of memory is to look at an example in action. In this case, our goal will be the Apple Mac Pro, which is one of the most popular high-end computers on the market.

When the Mac Pro was first introduced, it used the FB-DIMM , which was a great choice for performance at the time. It should be noted, however, that its price was higher than a typical ECC option.

When the Mac Pro became a big name in Apple’s product line, Apple decided to replace its RAM with ECC RAM. The Mac Pro 5.1 was launched in 2010 as a product that uses ECC memory. This was a big improvement for both Apple and consumers, as it means they will now have a better-performing device at a more affordable price.

 

Speed ​​of various types of RAM:

First of all, what we need to talk about is DDR. DDR (Double Data Rate), which transmits two blocks of data in one hour. Since the launch of DDR, several generations of DDR, DDR2, DDR3 and now DDR4 have passed. Different generations of this memory have different speeds.

 

DDR2 RAM speed:

DDR2 was unveiled in 2003, at a time when the maximum transfer rate was 3,200 MB / s. Over time, DDR2 transfer speeds also gradually improved to 4,200, 5,300, 6,400 Mbps and 8,000 Mbps.

DDR2 server RAM is very common and is still used in many server systems and you can still buy them to equip older computer systems.

 

DDR3 RAM speed:

DDR3 RAM was introduced in 2007. Since the launch of DDR3, the transfer rate has been 6400 MB / s, but it is more commonly known as 8500 MB / s, 10600 MB / s, 12800 MB / s and 14900 MB / s.

 

DDR4 RAM speed:

In 2014, DDR4 RAM was introduced. With the new DDR4 memory, we will have the highest transfer speed from 17000 (DDR4-2400) 19200, (DDR4-2133) Mbps and more.

The following table shows a list of RAMs and their speeds:

 

Data transfers / second (in millions) Peak Transfer Rate Industry name Friendly name
2400 19200 MB / s PC4-19200 DDR4-2400
2666 21300 MB / s PC4-21300 DDR4-2666
2933 23400 MB / s PC4-23400 DDR4-2933
3000 24000 MB / s PC4-24000 DDR4-3000
3200 25600 MB / s PC4-25600 DDR4-3200
3600 28800 MB / s PC4-28800 DDR4-3600
4000 32000 MB / s PC4-32000 DDR4-4000
4400 35200 MB / s PC4-35200 DDR4-4400

 

For each new generation of RAM we find differences in the design of the connection slots. Therefore, we must buy the server RAM in accordance with our desired server to prevent the device from malfunctioning.