precision t5400 ram installation problems

Hi Boblees,

Thanks for the post. To achieve full bandwidth, memory configurations should consist of sets of four identically matched DIMMs to allow Quad-Channel operation. The sets of DIMMs must be identical with respect to capacity, rank, and organization (x4 or x8). Speed and CAS latency don't necessarily need to match, but the slowest speed DIMM and highest CAS latency will set the operating mode of the system.

Eight DIMM configurations use all eight DIMM slots and must consist of two matched sets of four DIMMs. These configurations have the same full bandwidth as four DIMM configurations. For thermal reasons, only DIMMs with a 'full heat spreader' FLHS are supported. DIMMs with a heat sink only on the AMB will overheat and are not supported. The four FBD channels are organized into two branches of two channels per branch. The two channels on each branch operate in lock step to increase FBD bandwidth.

The T5400 supports two speeds of DIMMs. The slower speed is PC2-5300F, which corresponds to 667 MHz DDR2 devices and an FBD serial channel speed of 4.0 GHz. This speed matches the bandwidth of CPUs with FSB frequency of 1333 MT/s.

Check out the service manual below for more information:

Precision T5400 (Late 2007) Manuals

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/precision-t5400/manuals

 

Thanks,

Hi Shawn, Thanks for the reply.

memory modules: I have

4  x 4gb Samsung 667mhz ddr2

2 x 2gb dell 667mhz ddr2

2 x 2gb ? 667mhz ddr2

My system came with 4gb and I have added first extra 4gb then more recently the 4x4b.

bios in A11.

I have had a new motherboard fitted by Dell in the last 4 days. this has meant de and re installing memory several times. when the engineer left I had 12gb usable memory and 24gb installed. since then I have tried many combinations of memory ; my best being 16gb usable with 20gb installed.

my current slot allocation is:

dimm1 4gb

dimm5 2gb

dimm2 4gb

dimm6 2gb

dimm3 2gb

dimm7 empty

dimm4 2gb

dimm8 4gb

Setup(F2) under memory information shows:

dimm1 4gb/yes/2/fbd/x4

dimm2 4gb/yes/2/fbd/x4

dimm3 2/yes/2/fbd/x8

dimm4 2/yes/2/fbd/x8

dimm5 2/yes/2/fbd/x8

dimm6 2/yes/2/fbd/x8

dimm7 empty (system will not except final 4GB module in this slot)

dimm8 4/yes/2/fbd/x4

My system now gives this error message every time I power on, F1 allows me to contine:

"Alert! Memory configuration mismatch.

Please enter setup for memory info. details.

Strike F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility.

Press F5 to run onboard diagnostics."

I have one of the 4gb set that is not installed. I tried to install in slot 7 but the system gave me diag lights 3&4 and would not proceed.

I have tried many combinations of memory module to slot and have a matrix to show results.

My process has been to install a memory module and then power on to check acceptance/messages,etc..

the last configuration that worked without start up error message was:

dimm1 4

dimm5  2

dimm2 4

dimm6 2

dimm3 2

dimm7 empty

dimm4 2

dimm8 empty

What is the correct process to re-install memory modules one by one or set by set? power on after each one or not?

Many thanks for your help.

Bob Davies