A Slightly Unusual question about memory ranks

[badass]

Has anyone here tried adding memory with too few ranks to a server?

The reason that I ask is that getting 16GB quad rank DDR3 RDIMMS is difficult but there are lots of 16GB Dual rank RDIMMS.

I am guessing that the effect is similar to adding DIMMS that are larger than the chipset supports and so will not work properly.

I suspect that only 1/2 of the memory will be recognised or the RDIMMs will simply not work at all.

The problem I have is that my ML330 G6 currently has 48GB of RAM arranged in 3 channels with 9 slots total that can take up to 8 ranks per channel.

I am nearly out of memory and need to add some more VM's with more memory.

I don't want to buy any more servers due to space and noise constraints along with wife acceptance.

HP memory is way too expensive - the server is for a test lab.

With 16GB Quad rank DIMMS I can go to 96GB RAM which is more than I will need for the foreseeable future.

With 8GB Dual Rank DIMMS I can go to 72 GB RAM. This may or may not be enough. I don't want to spend a load of money on 8GB DIMMS only to find I have to sell them later to fit 16GB DIMMs.

[scaryjim]

... I don't want to buy any more servers due to space and noise constraints along with wife acceptance. ...

Can't help with the actual issue I'm afraid, but this but sounds like a perfect excuse to upgrade to one super-duper newer server It could be smaller, quieter and more power-efficient...!

[badass]

Can't help with the actual issue I'm afraid, but this but sounds like a perfect excuse to upgrade to one super-duper newer server It could be smaller, quieter and more power-efficient...!

And about £1000 before we start talking about RAM

That has a very low wife Acceptance factor!