Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Gen 2 Memory Configurator

Overview

The ThinkStation P3 Gen 2 Intel Arrow Lake (ARL) platform is the latest desktop workstation replacement for the ThinkStation P3 Gen 1 Intel Raptor Lake platform. This document highlights the major differences between the different memory platform architectures from the previous platforms and guides users to optimally configure their memory configuration in the ThinkStation P3 Gen 2 platform.

Section 1 – P3 Tower Gen 2 Memory Architectural Design

The ThinkStation P3 Tower Gen 2 platform utilizes DDR5 memory with bus speeds up to 5600 MT/s, depending on the system processor and number of DIMMs per channel. This platform offers a dual memory channel design based on Intel ARL processors. There are a total of four memory DIMM slots, allowing the P3 Tower Gen 2 to take full advantage of supporting a two DIMM per channel design.

Figure 1 - P3 Tower Gen 2 Motherboard Layout

The motherboard layout shows four DIMM slots labeled DIMM 1, DIMM 2, DIMM 3, and DIMM 4, organized into Channel A and Channel B.

Figure 2 - P3 Tower Gen 2 Memory Install and Removal

Illustrates the process of installing and removing memory modules. Step 1 involves opening the clips on the DIMM slot, and Step 2 involves inserting or removing the DIMM.

Section 2 – P3 Tower Gen 2 Memory Configurations

Guidelines for optimal memory configuration for the ThinkStation P3 Tower Gen 2 platform:

• The P3 Tower Gen 2 utilizes a two DIMMs per channel (2DPC) configuration.
• Install DIMM slots in multiples of two to fully utilize both memory channels.
• Unregistered Dual In-Line Memory Modules (UDIMMs) and Clocked Unregistered Dual In-Line Memory Modules (CUDIMMs) are supported.
• DIMM slots should be filled in the order listed in Figure 3.
• Maximum frequency depends on the ranks of DIMMs installed. Due to the 2DPC design, maximum speed is limited to 5600 MT/s (See Figure 4).
• Refer to Section 7 for other considerations.

Figure 3 - P3 Tower Gen 2 Slot Fill Order Recommendations

¹ Lenovo does not support or recommend this number of DIMM quantity as it results in an unbalanced memory configuration across the dual channels.

Figure 4 – 1R (single rank) and 2R (dual rank) Memory Installation and Maximum Frequency

Section 3 – P3 Tiny Gen 2 Memory Architectural Design

The ThinkStation P3 Tiny Gen 2 platform utilizes DDR5 memory with bus speeds up to 6400 MT/s, depending on the system processor and number of DIMMs per channel. This platform offers two memory channels based on Intel ARL processors. There are a total of two memory DIMM slots, allowing the P3 Tiny Gen 2 to take advantage of supporting a single DIMM per channel design.

Figure 5 - P3 Tiny Gen 2 Motherboard Layout

The motherboard shows two DIMM slots labeled DIMM 1 and DIMM 2.

Figure 6 - P3 Tiny Gen 2 Memory Install and Removal

Illustrates the process of installing and removing memory modules in the P3 Tiny Gen 2. It shows inserting the SODIMM into the slot and securing it.

Section 4 – P3 Tiny Gen 2 Memory Configurations

Recommended guidelines for obtaining the best overall memory bandwidth from the P3 Tiny Gen 2 system:

• P3 Tiny Gen 2 utilizes one DIMM per channel (DPC) for full maximum memory bandwidth performance. Max memory speed depends on CPU SKU and the maximum rated speed of the DIMMs installed.
• DIMM slots should be filled in the order listed in Figure 7.
• Small Outline Dual In-Line Memory Modules (SODIMMs) and Clocked Small Outline Dual In-Line Memory Modules (CSODIMMs) are supported.
• Memory speed is dependent on CPU and DIMM capabilities.
• Refer to Section 7 for other considerations.

Figure 7 - P3 Tiny Gen 2 Slot Fill Order Recommendations

Section 5 – P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 Memory Architectural Design

The ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 is Lenovo's latest small form factor workstation platform, utilizing DDR5 memory with bus speeds up to 6400 MT/s, depending on the system processor and number of DIMMs per channel. There are a total of two memory DIMM slots, allowing the P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 to take advantage of supporting a single DIMM per channel design.

Figure 8 - P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 Motherboard Layout (RAM Side)

The motherboard shows two DIMM slots labeled DIMM 1 and DIMM 2.

Figure 9 - P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 Memory Install & Removal Instructions

Illustrates the process of installing and removing memory modules in the P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2. It shows inserting the SODIMM into the slot and securing it.

Section 6 – P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 Memory Configurations

Guidelines for optimal memory configuration for the ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF platform:

• P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 utilizes one DIMM per channel (DPC) for full maximum memory bandwidth performance. Max memory speed depends on CPU SKU and the maximum rated speed of the DIMMs installed.
• DIMM slots should be filled in the order listed in Figure 10.
• Small Outline Dual In-Line Memory Modules (SODIMMs) and Clocked Small Outline Dual In-Line Memory Modules (CSODIMMs) are supported.
• Refer to Section 7 for other considerations.

Figure 10 - P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 Slot Fill Order Recommendations

Section 7 – Considerations

Users should consider the following situations for optimal memory configuration and system performance. The configuration guidelines apply generally to the P3 Tower Gen 2, P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2, and P3 Tiny Gen 2.

• Mixing ECC and non-ECC memory is not supported.
• Lenovo recommends using the same capacity, rank, and brand within the same channel.
• Lenovo does not support mixing different memory DIMM capacities or mixing single rank (1R) and dual rank (2R) memory DIMMs.

Platform-specific limitations:

P3 Tower Gen 2

• Lenovo does not support installing three (3) DIMMs, resulting in an unbalanced memory channel configuration.
• Intel Core Ultra 5 225 does not support ECC memory.
• 4x 48GB or 4x 64GB DIMMs are not supported with Windows 11 Home.
• Registered DIMMs (RDIMMs) & Load-Reduced DIMMs (LRDIMMs) are not supported.

P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2

• Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and Intel Core Ultra 5 225T do not support ECC memory.
• If the system uses 32GB, 48GB, or 64GB memory, the Bottom Side M.2 Heatsink Kit must be installed.

P3 Tiny Gen 2

• Supported CSODIMM memory is non-ECC only.

Revision History