Power reduction in server memory system

Abstract

A system and method for reducing power consumption of memory chips outside of a host processor device inoperative communication with the memory chips via a memory controller. The memory can operate in modes, such that via the memory controller, the stored data can be localized and moved at various granularities, among ranks established in the chips, to result in fewer operating ranks. Memory chips may then be turned on and off based on host memory access usage levels at each rank in the chip. Host memory access usage levels at each rank in the chip is tracked by performance counters established for association with each rank of a memory chip. Turning on and off of the memory chips is based on a mapping maintained between ranks and address locations corresponding to sub-sections within each rank receiving the host processor access requests.