Memory
Lots of memory (Dynamic RAM or DRAM) will allow your server to work faster. Processors can fetch data from memory much faster than from hard drives. Even if your applications don't need large amounts of memory, the operating system can use the extra RAM as a cache for the hard drive.
While 64-bit CPUs can address up to 16 exabytes of RAM (that's 16 million terabytes or 16 billion gigabytes), you're limited to the number of memory slots on your server's motherboard (typical motherboards contain 2-16 slots) and the amount of memory on each module (up to 8GB as of this writing). Most servers only need a GB or two (your OS vendor may offer recommendations). If you set up a server and the amount of memory is inadequate, don't worry- it's easy to add more later.
Memory for PCs has evolved over the years, but processors have evolved quicker. Today's microprocessors can crunch data faster than memory can supply it. This development is referred to as the memory wall. There have been several approaches to overcoming this bottleneck.
Currently, the best way to deal with the memory wall is to employ Dual Data Rate 2 Synchronous DRAM (DDR2 SDRAM) on Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMMs) on motherboards that support dual-channel architecture. SDRAM DIMMs can work at varying clock speeds. You'll want to find out what speed your motherboard's bus works at and purchase memory that can run at that speed. For dual-channel buses, you'll need matching pairs of modules.
In order for your server to run more reliably, you should use memory with error correction (ECC). You may also want to consider using fully buffered DIMMs which may be more reliable but are not as widely supported.
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