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I'm leaning towards a purchase of this CPU/MOBO combo:

Background

I'm trying to figure out what kind of and how much RAM to get. I understand most of the implications of the particular processor I'm aiming to get, but I'm having some trouble understanding the manual, which I believe I found on SuperMicro's site. Though it doesn't speak to CPU or RAM type, this table on 2-12 (pdf p36) leads me to believe that I can use 1 processor with 4 DIMMS, so that's good:

Processor and Memory Module Population Table

And this quote indicates clearly that with my processor choice, I cannot use 1866 MHz memory:

1866 MHz memory speed is dependent on Intel E5-2600v2 CPUs

...so that's fine.

My Issue

However, the first table on page 2-14 (p38) is slightly confusing to me. I think my main issue is understanding some of the abbreviations and jargon used in the table (like "Ranks", "Data Width", and "Slots Per Channel", and how that matches or does not match to my possible RAM choice, below). The NA values going down the columns, intersecting with Non-ECC rows make me concerned for amount of RAM supported:

Populating UDIMM (ECC/Non-ECC) Memory Modules Table

My questions, in the context of Non-ECC RAM, are:

  1. Is it saying I can only use 1333 MHz RAM with this processor?
  2. Can I use 4 sticks per installed CPU? or is there a limit of 2 per CPU?

I'm thinking 1333 MHz RAM is required, but can I use faster RAM (like 1666 MHz?)

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  • 1) Yes 2) See your screenshot(s), you can use 2 per channel, 3 per channel, or 4 per channel.
    – Ramhound
    Commented Mar 16, 2016 at 15:13
  • @Ramhound -- 1) Thanks! 2) I saw them, but some of the terms are not clicking in my brain -- I see 2 Slots Per Channel and 3 Slots Per Channel and I also see 1DPC and 2DPC, but I don't see "4 Slots Per Channel" or "4DPC", so is it 2 Slots Per Channel multiplied by 2DPC to get "4 dimms per processor" or something?! Commented Mar 16, 2016 at 15:44
  • @Ramhound -- and if I'm correct above, then why isn't it saying "6 dimms per processor" (3 Slots Per Channel multiplied by 2DPC) (obviously not possible because that configuration is indicated as invalid in the first table, but there are also only 8 DIMM slots on the board, so 12 is not even physically possible... :-/ Commented Mar 16, 2016 at 15:46
  • then why isn't it saying "6 dimms per processor" - Because the motherboard can only support 8 modules in total, so it makes no sense, to list something that physically can't be done. I will be honest I don't understand the confusion. the motherboard only supports 64 GB of NON-ECC memory, which is what your question about, which means the highest capacity possible would be 8x8GB modules.
    – Ramhound
    Commented Mar 16, 2016 at 16:18
  • @Ramhound -- I don't want to frustrate you, but I can't figure why there is even anything in that last column? What is its meaning, if not "6 dimms per processor"? (which we've both already pointed out is impossible) Commented Mar 16, 2016 at 19:47

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