Difference between revisions of "User:Meklort/SORDIMM"

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== Enabling SO-DOMM modules on the Talos II ==
 
== Enabling SO-DOMM modules on the Talos II ==
 
The Talos II supports a large number of full sized DIMMs, however, in order to check the feasibility of a smaller form factor (read: laptop), the hardware and firmware need to be able to support SO-DIMMs.
 
The Talos II supports a large number of full sized DIMMs, however, in order to check the feasibility of a smaller form factor (read: laptop), the hardware and firmware need to be able to support SO-DIMMs.
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[[File:Sordimm.jpg|200px|left|Talos II with SORDIMMs]]
  
 
=== Hardware Requirements ===
 
=== Hardware Requirements ===
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After contacting a number of vendors, I received a response from Viking Technology where they were willing to send 10x 16GB, 2666MHz SORDIMM to Digikey so that I could purchase a few sticks: https://www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=VR9FR2G7228JBKSBD4
 
After contacting a number of vendors, I received a response from Viking Technology where they were willing to send 10x 16GB, 2666MHz SORDIMM to Digikey so that I could purchase a few sticks: https://www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=VR9FR2G7228JBKSBD4
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Datasheet: https://media.digikey.com/pdf/Data%20Sheets/Viking%20PDFs/PS9FRxx72x8xxx_Rev.E_3_7_2018_DS.pdf
 
Datasheet: https://media.digikey.com/pdf/Data%20Sheets/Viking%20PDFs/PS9FRxx72x8xxx_Rev.E_3_7_2018_DS.pdf
  
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Before SORDIMM modules can be used, a couple of minor patches to the hostboot firmware must be made. The first patch is simply enabling hostboot to recognize that SORDIMM modules are valid.
 
Before SORDIMM modules can be used, a couple of minor patches to the hostboot firmware must be made. The first patch is simply enabling hostboot to recognize that SORDIMM modules are valid.
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[[File:0001-Update-hostboot-to-allow-DDR4-SORDIMM-modules-to-be-_(1).patch]]
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Additionally, the Talos II firmware (as of 1.07) was unable to properly detect the manufacturer ID from the modules. As a quick test, I modified the hostboot firmware to treat a manufacturer id of 0 as Samsung. Once done, the RAM was detected and booted without issues.

Latest revision as of 20:59, 9 December 2018

Enabling SO-DOMM modules on the Talos II

The Talos II supports a large number of full sized DIMMs, however, in order to check the feasibility of a smaller form factor (read: laptop), the hardware and firmware need to be able to support SO-DIMMs.

Talos II with SORDIMMs

Hardware Requirements

The Sofra POWER9 CPU requires registered DDR4 RAM with EC. This is relatively easy to find in the full-sized form factor, however it becomes a bit harder to find in the SO-DIMM form factor. In this case, we actually need to use SORDIMMs (note the extra R for registered).

After contacting a number of vendors, I received a response from Viking Technology where they were willing to send 10x 16GB, 2666MHz SORDIMM to Digikey so that I could purchase a few sticks: https://www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=VR9FR2G7228JBKSBD4

Datasheet: https://media.digikey.com/pdf/Data%20Sheets/Viking%20PDFs/PS9FRxx72x8xxx_Rev.E_3_7_2018_DS.pdf

In order to adapt the above modules to the full sized slot, something like the following can be used: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DMNH15W/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Software Requirements

Before SORDIMM modules can be used, a couple of minor patches to the hostboot firmware must be made. The first patch is simply enabling hostboot to recognize that SORDIMM modules are valid.

File:0001-Update-hostboot-to-allow-DDR4-SORDIMM-modules-to-be- (1).patch


Additionally, the Talos II firmware (as of 1.07) was unable to properly detect the manufacturer ID from the modules. As a quick test, I modified the hostboot firmware to treat a manufacturer id of 0 as Samsung. Once done, the RAM was detected and booted without issues.