Plugging rules for memory modules in the 9043-MRX system

Find information about the configurations and rules that apply to memory modules for the IBM Power E1050 (9043-MRX) server.

This information describes the rules for memory modules in the system.
  • The system supports DDR4 or DDR5 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB 4U memory modules.
  • The system does not support mixing DDR4 and DDR5 memory modules.
  • Memory modules are installed in pairs. A minimum of two pairs per system processor is required. All four memory modules must be the same size, rank, and memory density.
  • Memory locations are assigned to groups of four memory modules.
    • Each group of four memory modules is plugged sequentially.
    • Each group of four memory modules must be the same size, rank, and memory density.
    • Different groups of memory modules can be of different sizes, ranks, and memory densities than other groups.
  • All memory modules must be the same capacity and speed for each processor socket, except for 128 GB and 256 GB memory modules. A mixture of 128 GB and 256 GB memory modules is supported if there is an equal number of memory modules of each capacity and all of the memory module slots are populated.
  • Best practice is to have the same total memory capacity for all processor sockets, but is not a requirement.
  • When installing multiple memory module feature codes, best practice is to install the largest capacity memory modules in slots assigned to processor socket 0 (P0-C61), followed by the next largest capacity memory modules in slots assigned to processor socket 1 (P0-C14). The next largest capacity memory modules would be installed in slots assigned to processor socket 2 (P0-C19), and the smallest capacity memory modules would be installed in slots assigned to processor socket 3 (P0-C56).
  • A minimum number of memory modules are required for the system.
    • Systems with two processors require a minimum of eight memory modules.
    • Systems with three processors require a minimum of 12 memory modules.
    • Systems with four processors require a minimum of 16 memory modules.
  • Unused memory module slots must have a memory module filler.
Note: The memory module retainers are labeled with memory locations and plugging sequence.
Refer to the following tables for memory module plug sequences.
  • See Table 1 for systems with two processor modules.
  • See Table 2 for systems with three processor modules.
  • See Table 3 for systems with four processor modules.
Table 1. Plug sequence for memory modules in a two-processor system
Total Memory Modules Plug Sequence Memory Modules to Install Memory Module Group Memory Locations
4 Default minimum quantity 0 - Default minimum quantity Group 1 P0-C86, P0-C87, P0-C88, P0-C89
8 Default minimum quantity 0 - Default minimum quantity Group 2 P0-C22, P0-C23, P0-C36, P0-C37
12 1 4 Group 1 P0-C83, P0-C84, P0-C91, P0-C92
16 2 4 Group 2 P0-C25, P0-C26, P0-C33, P0-C34
20 3 4 Group 1 P0-C80, P0-C81, P0-C93, P0-C95
24 4 4 Group 2 P0-C27, P0-C29, P0-C30, P0-C31
28 5 4 Group 1 P0-C82, P0-C85, P0-C90, P0-C94
32 6 4 Group 2 P0-C24, P0-C28, P0-C32, P0-C35
  • Memory modules of each group must be the same size, rank, and memory density, except for 128 GB and 256 GB memory modules. A mixture of 128 GB and 256 GB memory modules is supported if there is an equal number of memory modules of each capacity and all of the memory module slots are populated.
Table 2. Plug sequence for memory modules in a three-processor system
Total Memory Modules Plug Sequence Memory Modules to Install Memory Module Group Memory Locations
4 Default minimum quantity 0 - Default minimum quantity Group 1 P0-C86, P0-C87, P0-C88, P0-C89
8 Default minimum quantity 0 - Default minimum quantity Group 2 P0-C22, P0-C23, P0-C36, P0-C37
12 Default minimum quantity 0 - Default minimum quantity Group 3 P0-C38, P0-C39, P0-C52, P0-C53
16 1 4 Group 1 P0-C83, P0-C84, P0-C91, P0-C92
20 2 4 Group 2 P0-C25, P0-C26, P0-C33, P0-C34
24 3 4 Group 3 P0-C41, P0-C43, P0-C48, P0-C50
28 4 4 Group 1 P0-C80, P0-C81, P0-C93, P0-C95
32 5 4 Group 2 P0-C27, P0-C29, P0-C30, P0-C31
36 6 4 Group 3 P0-C42, P0-C45, P0-C46, P0-C49
40 7 4 Group 1 P0-C82, P0-C85, P0-C90, P0-C94
44 8 4 Group 2 P0-C24, P0-C28, P0-C32, P0-C35
48 9 4 Group 3 P0-C40, P0-C44, P0-C47, P0-C51
  • Memory modules of each group must be the same size, rank, and memory density, except for 128 GB and 256 GB memory modules. A mixture of 128 GB and 256 GB memory modules is supported if there is an equal number of memory modules of each capacity and all of the memory module slots are populated.
Table 3. Plug sequence for memory modules in a four-processor system
Total Memory Modules Plug Sequence Memory Modules to Install Memory Module Group Memory Locations
4 Default minimum quantity 0 - Default minimum quantity Group 1 P0-C86, P0-C87, P0-C88, P0-C89
8 Default minimum quantity 0 - Default minimum quantity Group 2 P0-C22, P0-C23, P0-C36, P0-C37
12 Default minimum quantity 0 - Default minimum quantity Group 3 P0-C38, P0-C39, P0-C52, P0-C53
16 Default minimum quantity 0 - Default minimum quantity Group 4 P0-C70, P0-C71, P0-C72, P0-C73
20 1 4 Group 1 P0-C83, P0-C84, P0-C91, P0-C92
24 2 4 Group 2 P0-C25, P0-C26, P0-C33, P0-C34
28 3 4 Group 3 P0-C41, P0-C43, P0-C48, P0-C50
32 4 4 Group 4 P0-C66, P0-C68, P0-C75, P0-C77
36 5 4 Group 1 P0-C80, P0-C81, P0-C93, P0-C95
40 6 4 Group 2 P0-C27, P0-C29, P0-C30, P0-C31
44 7 4 Group 3 P0-C42, P0-C45, P0-C46, P0-C49
48 8 4 Group 4 P0-C64, P0-C67, P0-C76, P0-C79
52 9 4 Group 1 P0-C82, P0-C85, P0-C90, P0-C94
56 10 4 Group 2 P0-C24, P0-C28, P0-C32, P0-C35
60 11 4 Group 3 P0-C40, P0-C44, P0-C47, P0-C51
64 12 4 Group 4 P0-C65, P0-C69, P0-C74, P0-C78
  • Memory modules of each group must be the same size, rank, and memory density, except for 128 GB and 256 GB memory modules. A mixture of 128 GB and 256 GB memory modules is supported if there is an equal number of memory modules of each capacity and all of the memory module slots are populated.