HPE NonStop NS3 X3 Memory Upgrade Options & Compatibility
Upgrading memory in an HPE NonStop NS3 X3, or replacing a failed DIMM? The NS3 X3 has only two memory configurations per NonStop CPU, but the rules behind them are strict and specific to HPE NonStop. This guide explains the NS3 X3 memory options, how an upgrade works, and how to choose compatible RAM for an HPE NonStop (Tandem) system that is no longer sold new.
HPE NonStop Memory & Storage Upgrade
Special Pricing for HPE NonStop Users
NS3 X3 Memory at a Glance
HPE NonStop, the platform originally developed by Tandem, gives each NonStop CPU its own memory and its own copy of the operating system. In the NS3 X3, each NonStop CPU is an HPE ProLiant BL460c Gen10 server blade.
Item | NS3 X3 detail | Why it matters |
NonStop CPU | HPE ProLiant BL460c Gen10 server blade | HPE sets NonStop-specific memory rules for this blade |
Processors | Intel Xeon Silver 4100 series | DDR4 memory, at up to 2400 MT/s on these processors |
Memory per NonStop CPU | 32 GB or 64 GB | Two defined configurations |
DIMM size | 16 GB | Both configurations are built from 16 GB DIMMs |
DIMM slots used | Processor 1 slots only | A NonStop-specific layout |
NonStop CPUs per node | 2 or 4 | The number of CPUs sets the total memory |
Memory per node | 64 GB to 256 GB | 256 GB with four CPUs at 64 GB each |
Memory type | RDIMM or LRDIMM | HPE states the two cannot be mixed in a BL460c Gen10 |
On an NS3 X3, the largest memory step is from 32 GB to 64 GB per CPU, and total memory grows further only by adding NonStop CPUs.
The Two NS3 X3 Memory Configurations
HPE documents two memory configurations for NS3 X3 NonStop CPUs, both built from 16 GB DIMMs installed in a defined order:
32 GB per CPU: two 16 GB DIMMs
64 GB per CPU: four 16 GB DIMMs
Moving a CPU from 32 GB to 64 GB means adding two 16 GB DIMMs of the same type, in the slots HPE defines for the 64 GB configuration.
Why the DIMMs Sit on Processor 1
The BL460c Gen10 has two processor sockets, and standard server guidance normally balances DIMMs across both. For NonStop X3 systems, HPE installed all DIMMs in the slots of processor 1 only and describes this unbalanced layout as a performance optimization for NonStop.
Generic population guides for the BL460c Gen10 are therefore not the right reference for an NS3 X3. Follow HPE's NonStop documentation for the slot order.
NS3 X3 Memory Upgrade Paths
From 32 GB to 64 GB per CPU
This is the main memory upgrade for the NS3 X3. It doubles the memory of each NonStop CPU you upgrade and brings the CPU to the NS3 maximum of 64 GB.
From Two to Four NonStop CPUs
An NS3 X3 can have two or four NonStop CPUs. Adding two CPU blades adds their memory and processing capacity, up to 256 GB per node. This also involves licensing and planning with your NonStop support team.
Replacing a Failed 16 GB DIMM
After a memory error, the safest replacement is a 16 GB DIMM with the same HPE part number as the failed module, installed in the same slot.
Moving to a Newer NonStop System
HPE replaced the NS3 with the HPE NonStop NS4 X4 in 2021. The NS4 X4 also uses 64 GB per NonStop CPU, so it is not a memory upgrade per CPU. For more memory per CPU, HPE's high-end systems such as the NS8 X4 support up to 256 GB.
Memory That Does Not Fit an NS3 X3
Memory from other NonStop systems is a common source of wrong orders:
System | NonStop CPU hardware | Memory per CPU | Why it does not fit |
NS3 X1 | BL460c Gen8 blade | 32 GB to 64 GB | Gen8 blades use DDR3, which HPE states is not compatible with Gen10 |
NS3 X2 | BL460c Gen9 blade | 32 GB to 64 GB | Different blade generation and processor family |
NS7 X3 | BL460c Gen10 blade | 64 GB, 128 GB or 256 GB | 32 GB DIMMs, which HPE states are not interchangeable with NS3 X3 DIMMs |
NS4 X4 | Rack-mounted HPE server | 64 GB | Different server platform and processors |
The NS3 X3 and NS7 X3 even share the same blade generation, and their DIMMs still do not match, so the HPE part number is always the deciding factor.
Speed, Type and HPE SmartMemory
The Xeon Silver 4100 series processors in the NS3 X3 support DDR4 at up to 2400 MT/s, so a faster module brings no speed benefit. HPE also requires HPE SmartMemory for the full memory performance and functionality of Gen10 servers.
For an NS3 X3, the practical rule is simple: match the installed DIMM's HPE part number. That covers type, rank, speed and capacity in one step.
Memory and Core Licensing
The NS3 X3 offers 1- or 2-core software licensing per NonStop CPU, and HPE designed the license to be upgradable. A 2-core license adds processing capacity, but memory stays at 32 GB or 64 GB per CPU. HPE lists NonStop Dynamic Capacity for the NS8, NS7 and high-end virtualized systems, not for the NS3.
Before Ordering NS3 X3 Memory
System model and generation: HPE NonStop NS3 X3
NonStop OS RVU
Number of NonStop CPUs (2 or 4) and current memory per CPU (32 GB or 64 GB)
Target memory per CPU
HPE part number and a photo of the label from an installed DIMM
For a failed DIMM: the slot location and the error reported by the system
Quantity needed
NS3 X3 Memory from server-parts.eu
server-parts.eu can help identify compatible HPE NonStop / Tandem RAM for NS3 X3 replacements and upgrades, based on your existing configuration and DIMM part numbers. Since HPE no longer sells the NS3, refurbished and tested memory is often the practical choice. Send us the details above and we will check the match before we quote.
For drives, read our guide to HPE NonStop NS3 X3 SSD upgrade options and compatibility. For all other components, see our HPE NonStop NS3 X3 upgrade parts overview.
FAQ: HPE NonStop NS3 X3 Memory
Can HPE NonStop NS3 X3 memory be upgraded?
Yes. An NS3 X3 NonStop CPU can move from 32 GB to 64 GB by adding two 16 GB DIMMs in HPE's defined slots. Total memory also grows when you expand from two to four NonStop CPUs.
What RAM is compatible with the NS3 X3?
16 GB DDR4 DIMMs of the type HPE specifies for NS3 X3 NonStop CPUs. Compatibility depends on the exact system configuration and should be checked by HPE part number before ordering.
What is the maximum supported memory in an NS3 X3?
64 GB per NonStop CPU and 256 GB per node with four NonStop CPUs.
Can different DIMM sizes be mixed?
No. HPE builds both NS3 X3 memory configurations from 16 GB DIMMs, so other sizes do not match HPE's configuration.
Can NS7 X3 memory be used in an NS3 X3?
No. The NS7 X3 uses 32 GB DIMMs, and HPE states that NS3 X3 and NS7 X3 DIMMs are not interchangeable, even though both systems use BL460c Gen10 blades.
Does the NS3 X3 support NonStop Dynamic Capacity?
No. HPE lists NonStop Dynamic Capacity for the NS8, NS7 and high-end virtualized NonStop systems. The NS3 X3 uses 1- or 2-core licensing instead.
Can I still get memory for an NS3 X3 after end of sale?
Yes. HPE ended NS3 sales in October 2021, but refurbished and tested DIMMs remain available through suppliers such as server-parts.eu, depending on stock.
Are refurbished HPE NonStop NS3 X3 memory modules available?
Yes. server-parts.eu supplies refurbished and tested HPE NonStop memory, depending on stock. Each module is matched to your HPE part number and current configuration before we quote.
How do I identify the correct memory module?
Read the HPE part number from the label on an installed DIMM and send a photo. With the model, RVU and current memory per CPU, server-parts.eu can check the correct replacement or upgrade module.
HPE NonStop Memory & Storage Upgrade
Special Pricing for HPE NonStop Users
Comments