Question Need help trouble shooting memory error

[jamesdsimone]

I upgraded my z840 recently. It came with 2x E5-2620 v3 and I wanted to install 2x E52597a V4's. I had to flash the BIOS which went ok. I swapped out the CPU's and booted up. It gave me 5 beeps which indicated a memory error. Before I upgraded CPU-z reported 128 GB memory running quad channel which was correct since I had 8x16GB installed. After rearranging memory modules I got it to boot on with 4x16GB of memory. I found one module that CPU-z did not report properly so I got a couple more and installed one where the one with the error was. Again 4x16 booted but every time I try to install all 8, I get the 5 beep error code. So could it be anything else but a bad ram slot? Is it worth trying different CPU's. A replacement MB is about 75 dollars but having to replace it is going to be a pain.

 

[bba-tcg]

If you put the old CPUs back in, does it boot with all 8 sticks?

 

[jamesdsimone]

If you put the old CPUs back in, does it boot with all 8 sticks?

I haven't tried that but I will and let you know. Could there be something wrong with the CPU memory controller? I have 2 E5-2690 v4's and 2 other E5-2697a v4's I could try as well as the old E5-2620 v3's.

 

[bba-tcg]

I haven't tried that but I will and let you know. Could there be something wrong with the CPU memory controller? I have 2 E5-2690 v4's and 2 other E5-2697a v4's I could try as well as the old E5-2620 v3's.

That's what we're trying to find out.

 

[jamesdsimone]

I tested the computer with 6x16 modules and it posted with 2x16 for CPU 0 and 4x16 for CPU 1 but not the other way around. So I replaced CPU 0. With 8x16, I get the same memory error beeps.

 

[bba-tcg]

I tested the computer with 6x16 modules and it posted with 2x16 for CPU 0 and 4x16 for CPU 1 but not the other way around. So I replaced CPU 0. With 8x16, I get the same memory error beeps.

Did it work with all 8 before you flashed BIOS and swapped CPUs?

 

[jamesdsimone]

Did it work with all 8 before you flashed BIOS and swapped CPUs?

Yes I flashed the BIOS with the 2 E5-2620 v3's and all 8 modules installed. I didn't touch the memory modules. I used the most up to date BIOS which is from 2023. That was the last BIOS update. It worked fine though I didn't specifically look at the memory status. The problem occurred after I replaced the CPU's.

 

[bba-tcg]

Yes I flashed the BIOS with the 2 E5-2620 v3's and all 8 modules installed. I didn't touch the memory modules. I used the most up to date BIOS which is from 2023. That was the last BIOS update. It worked fine though I didn't specifically look at the memory status. The problem occurred after I replaced the CPU's.

It sounds a little like you may have borked some pins in the CPU0 socket.

 

[jamesdsimone]

It boots with 7 modules installed but refuses with 8.

 

[bba-tcg]

It boots with 7 modules installed but refuses with 8.

With the original CPUs? If so, the only other suggestion I can think of would be to flash to the BIOS version you started with, if you can.

 

[jamesdsimone]

With the original CPUs? If so, the only other suggestion I can think of would be to flash to the BIOS version you started with, if you can.

I finally got back to this. I pulled both CPU0/CPU1 and the 4 ram modules associated with CPU1. I put the original E5-2620 v3 in the CPU0 slot with 2 ram modules and it booted fine. But when I put 4 modules in got I the same 5 beep error. So guess it is either a bad ram slot or something wrong with the CPU0 slot? Any other possibilities?

 

[bba-tcg]

I finally got back to this. I pulled both CPU0/CPU1 and the 4 ram modules associated with CPU1. I put the original E5-2620 v3 in the CPU0 slot with 2 ram modules and it booted fine. But when I put 4 modules in got I the same 5 beep error. So guess it is either a bad ram slot or something wrong with the CPU0 slot? Any other possibilities?

It sounds a little like you may have borked some pins in the CPU0 socket.

 

[jamesdsimone]

It sounds a little like you may have borked some pins in the CPU0 socket.

I went ahead and ordered replacement board.

 

[jamesdsimone]

New board is installed. I just have to install the heat sink and see if it boots. The board came with an E5-2630 v3 and I installed 4 ram modules. I left CPU 1 empty. Could the problem have anything to do with the BIOS? I have to flash it in order to use v4 CPU's. I want to install 2 E5-2697a v4's.

 

[bba-tcg]

New board is installed. I just have to install the heat sink and see if it boots. The board came with an E5-2630 v3 and I installed 4 ram modules. I left CPU 1 empty. Could the problem have anything to do with the BIOS? I have to flash it in order to use v4 CPU's. I want to install 2 E5-2697a v4's.

Possibly. I suggested earlier that you try to go back to the BIOS you started with in order to rule that out.

 

[jamesdsimone]

I updated the BIOS last time through the board setup menu. There is a method to update through Windows. Any reason to use one method or another? I used the latest BIOS 2.61 but I found 2.59. I was thinking I can use the slightly older version since all I need is Broadwell support.

 

[bba-tcg]

I updated the BIOS last time through the board setup menu. There is a method to update through Windows. Any reason to use one method or another? I used the latest BIOS 2.61 but I found 2.59. I was thinking I can use the slightly older version since all I need is Broadwell support.

Most new boards that update through Windows actually just do the setup for the update in Windows and then reboot to do the actual update. I still prefer the BIOS setup menu method myself. Less to go wrong,

 

[jamesdsimone]

Most new boards that update through Windows actually just do the setup for the update in Windows and then reboot to do the actual update. I still prefer the BIOS setup menu method myself. Less to go wrong,

I'll stick with the BIOS setup method. HP only has the latest BIOS version 2.61. I did manage to find 2.59.

 

[jamesdsimone]

I successfully replaced the motherboard. It went fairly smoothly despite not being a standard form factor. It came with an E5-2630 v3 already installed. I had to get into BIOS and disable secure boot and change the PCIe settings etc. I think the board is new but not 100% sure. There is zero dust and it came with BIOS v2.61 already installed. Booted fine and it is now running quad channel with CPU0 and 4x16 ram installed. I have no idea how I managed to f up the pins.

 

[bba-tcg]

I successfully replaced the motherboard. It went fairly smoothly despite not being a standard form factor. It came with an E5-2630 v3 already installed. I had to get into BIOS and disable secure boot and change the PCIe settings etc. I think the board is new but not 100% sure. There is zero dust and it came with BIOS v2.61 already installed. Booted fine and it is now running quad channel with CPU0 and 4x16 ram installed. I have no idea how I managed to f up the pins.

Good to hear it worked out.

 

[jamesdsimone]

Good to hear it worked out.

Now for the swapping of the CPU's. I'll probably do that tomorrow.

 

[jamesdsimone]

Now got the first E5-2679a v4 successfully installed and running.

 

[jamesdsimone]

Ok everything is up and running, 32 cores 64 threads 128gbs PC2400 running in quad channel of goodness. I was curious so I grabbed a 10x magnifying glass with a ring light from Amazon. I was able to find the bent pin on the first MB. Straightening it was pretty painless. There is a good chance the board is fine but oh well.

 

[Shmee]

Now got the first E5-2679a v4 successfully installed and running.

So I was looking through this thread again, and I looked up the model number in your post. No exact match, I assume you mean the E4-2697a v4, (a 16 core CPU) but I did find something called the E5-2679 v4, which is a 20 core, and I didn't know this was a thing before. Rather odd how the numbers work out with some of these Xeons.

Anyway, glad you got this resolved, enjoy the server and 2x 16 cores!

 

[jamesdsimone]

So I was looking through this thread again, and I looked up the model number in your post. No exact match, I assume you mean the E4-2697a v4, (a 16 core CPU) but I did find something called the E5-2679 v4, which is a 20 core, and I didn't know this was a thing before. Rather odd how the numbers work out with some of these Xeons.

Anyway, glad you got this resolved, enjoy the server and 2x 16 cores!

Yes the E5-2697a v4. It doesn't support AVX-512 but no big deal. Now I have to figure out some work loads that will use all those cores. Funny the original MSRP was 2891.00, I picked them up for about 30.00 each. 130.00 for the ram and 296.00 for the base system(+75.00 for the spare board). I might throw a Video card in just to see how it performs. I have it dual booting Win7/Mint but might add another hard drive and add Win10 too.

Intel® Xeon® Processor E5-2697A v4 (40M Cache, 2.60 GHz) - Product Specifications | Intel

Intel® Xeon® Processor E5-2697A v4 (40M Cache, 2.60 GHz) quick reference with specifications, features, and technologies.

www.intel.com