A memory system architecture/interconnect topology includes a configurable
width buffered memory module having a configurable width buffer device
and at least one splitter element. A buffer device, such as a
configurable width buffer device, is positioned between or with at least
one integrated circuit memory device positioned on a substrate surface of
a memory module, such as a DIMM. A splitter element is positioned on or
off a memory module and includes three resistors in embodiments of the
invention. Three resistors form a Y or D topology in embodiments of the
invention. One or more splitter elements are coupled to one or more
channels to allow for upgrades of memory modules in a memory system. An
asymmetrical splitter topology allows for increasing the number of memory
modules to more than two memory modules without adding splitter elements
serially on each channel. Splitter elements allow for increasing the
number of ranks of memory modules in a system, while also achieving many
of the benefits associated with point-to-point topology.