Exceeding motherboard supported RAM - Purely a function of CPU?

[Viper GTS]

I have a server at home with dual Xeon x5660s in a Tyan S7025. The S7025 has four DIMMs per CPU, but I only plan to use 3 (one DIMM per channel). Tyan lists the max memory support at 64 GB using all four slots with 8 GB DIMMs. I'm running 48 today using one DIMM per channel.

http://tyan.com/Motherboards_S7025_S7025WAGM2NR

I'm thinking there's no reason I shouldn't be able to upgrade to 16 GB DIMMs, am I missing anything here?

Viper GTS

 

[Deders]

I know the max for my lynnfield board (same gen) is 8GB modules.

 

[ShintaiDK]

The limitation will be the CPU. While a BIOS may be a limiting factor as well. Your CPUs support up to 288GB per CPU. But that would require 9 DIMMs per CPU. 32GB DIMMs are supported.

 

[Emulex]

Once you go to 16gb ddr3 RDIMM you have to worry about RANK (usually quad rank) and the effect it will have on memory speed. Likewise for 32gb DDR3 HYPERDIMM/LDIMM.

I'd suggest trying it before you invest in the money!

 

[Viper GTS]

Once you go to 16gb ddr3 RDIMM you have to worry about RANK (usually quad rank) and the effect it will have on memory speed. Likewise for 32gb DDR3 HYPERDIMM/LDIMM.

I'd suggest trying it before you invest in the money!

I think with only one DIMM per channel I'll be OK with either dual or quad rank.

I'll see if I can borrow some from work before I spend the $1000 myself, would be an expensive mistake if it doesn't work but 48 GB is just not enough.

[EDIT]In case anyone else is looking for this info after finding someone who had 16GB DIMMs working I then looked deeper into the search results for 96GB and found this:

http://sakura-yu.com/pc-parts/1703

Specifically this:

In short, 96 GB should be fine in spite of the Tyan listed limit.[/EDIT]

Viper GTS

 

[XavierMace]

The listed limit is often a matter of what they've tested and what was available at the time the board was released. BIOS is sometimes a factor as well and Tyan is a bit lazy/cheap at times with their BIOS.

That said, I'm running 16Gb Dimm's in my DL380G6's (L5640 processors, Intel 5520 chipset) so I suspect you'll be fine. Superbiiz has new Hynix sticks for about the same price as ebay used pricing.

Tyan's got 16Gb Hynix sticks on their compatibility list:

ACTICA | 16GB 4rank 1.5v REG./ECC | ACT16GHR72Q4J1066H | Hynix H5TQ4G43AMR-G7