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24297
October 16th, 2008 13:00
PowerEdge 850 Memory upgrade issue 2Gb -> 6Gb
Hi,
I'm sorry for having to post an issue here, but I'm getting a little frustrated with my inability to upgrade my the memory in my PowerEdge. The server has been sat in it's box for a while and now that I'm needing to use it, things are going wrong!
Originally I bought the server with two 1Gb simms installed. Looking at my support page the bus speed of these is 533MHz. Today I decided that I needed some more memory in it and purchased two new 2Gb simms (Kingston KVR800D2N6/2G). These new ones have a speed of 800MHz. I understand that the memory should slow to the lowest common speed, i.e. the 533MHz of the original simms.
Reading this link it explains how the memory should be inserted into the server:
http://physics.uku.fi/tietotekniikka/laitteet/dell/PE850/it/t8652c50.htm#wp1196338
And this link, defines the naming of the memory sockets:
http://physics.uku.fi/tietotekniikka/laitteet/dell/PE850/it/t8652aa0.htm#wp1059656
The two 1Gb simms were in sockets 1A and 1B as described here.
So I moved the two 1Gb simms to sockets 2A and 2B, inserting the new 2Gb simms into sockets 1A and 1B.
When I started the server I was greeted with the dreaded beeps! Lights A and C were green while B and D were orange, as described here:
http://physics.uku.fi/tietotekniikka/laitteet/dell/PE850/it/t8652c20.htm#wp1056898
I tried reverting back to my original memory and the computer booted with 2Gb or RAM. I put in just the new memory and it booted again without problems and 4Gb or RAM. So it looks like I have an issue with the two different sets of simms.
The size combination should be acceptable according to the first link I've included.
All of the memory simms work on their own as I saw by booting it with both 2Gb and 4Gb combinations.
Is there an issue with mixing he speeds of the memory?
Any help in getting all of this working together would be most appreciated.
Regards
Dev Mgr
6 Operator
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9.3K Posts
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October 16th, 2008 15:00
If you check the specs for the memory you have here, you'll see it's non-ECC. The list of supported memory for the 850 shows only ECC memory.
You have incompatible memory.
monkeyboy1976
3 Posts
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October 16th, 2008 15:00
Thanks for the quick respones.
I was looking at the memory, and had a simplistic view of things in my mind, which basically went: same number of pins == compatable! I guess not! Stupid impule buys walking past the store! I'll be taking the new memory back to the shop tomorrow and seeing what they can offer me!
Again, thanks for the quick help.
Dev Mgr
6 Operator
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9.3K Posts
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October 16th, 2008 20:00
These are a few (by no means all):
- pins
- memory type (though the pin count are different on different memory types) (e.g. DDR, DDR2 or DDR3)
- ECC (registered, buffered, non-ECC, etc)
- voltage (1.8V is common, but by no means compatible with everything)
- latency (CL5 and CL6 are common latencies)
monkeyboy1976
3 Posts
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October 17th, 2008 12:00
I tried taking the memory back to the store where it came from (www.computer-corner.co.uk) and the guy said that as there was nothing “wrong” with the memory he wouldn’t give me the cash back. I guess “if you have any problems just bring them back” doesn’t mean what I thought it did!
When I was buying the memory I did hand over a post-it note describing what I wanted:
2Gb ECC PC2-5300
DDR2 667MHz
DIMM unbuffered
240 pin
The guy in the shop did say that he was selling me better memory that would downgrade to my machine!
I guess lessons learnt:
1 - Stop stupid impulse buys, and
2 - never listen to a salesman - only buy what you set out to get!
Again, thanks for the help, and watch out on ebay where I’ll be selling the memory!
MacGruber
42 Posts
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March 25th, 2011 14:00
Reading this - noted the new 2 x 2GB non-ECC ram loaded just fine. It is only incompatible with the older ram which is 2 speeds slower and is ECC.