PowerEdge 2550 VRM compatibility

Question

I have a PowerEdge 2550 server with one processor fitted

spec as follows -
TAG #96V4B0J
p/n 9G788 Rev A08 Motherboard
p/n 6F426 CPU 1.13GHz 512K Tualatin (SL5PU)

I want to upgrade to two processors, and I have extra identical SL5PU's on stock, so I checked the Dell original configuration list (I have owned this 2550 from new, with no hardware upgrades) - it told me that the first CPU has the 4F522 VRM and the 370MP heatsink - so I sourced a set of these.

They arrived today and I pulled the 2550 to fit them - only to discover that the first CPU VRM is not a 4F522 - but looks identical to a 4N594 (I have accurate parts images on stock to compare) The original VRM has no Dell part number on it, but has the number REV01 CO147 on a label on the top of its components.

These two VRM's are obviously different, and I don't want to fry the mainboard, so I decided to get some expert advice first.

Questions -

Are the 4F522 and 4N594 CPU VRM's interchangeable - on this motherboard and with the SL5PU processor?

This is the first time I have discovered a discrepency between the Dell "Original configuration list" as available online using the tag number, and the actual content of the chassis when inspected - is such a discrepency normal? Or does it simply indicate that the parts are interchangeable?

Any well-informed qualified advice on this from other PE2550/2500 users or dell support staff would be welcome...

Thanks...

petey2k1 · Answer

I am in the exact situation. I have serveral 2550's with 1.13hmz chips. we are going to canablize 1 server and "beef-up" another with it's parts. I need to know which VRM to buy. A Dell parts rep told me i needed a p/n: 11gef. I researched this part and had to call back and get the proper part #. The new Dell parts rep told me that the p/n: 4n594 & the p/n: 4f522 are identical. Is this true?

Thanks

PHD

channel6 · Answer

That's the essence of my question - I thopught I could rely on - and should adhere to the specific part numbers in my Dell configuration report - in which case I bought the right parts - but maybe they are compatible, and Dell simply began substituting the parts before giving the new one a new part number? They are hard to compare for interchangeability - the pinning on the edge connectors seem very different, one one part several pins are commoned, on the other they are individual tracks on the connector - of course they could be commoned on the mainboard anyway - but hard to see without more information.   So let's hope a Dell certified moderator can give us a definitive answer on this.   For what it's worth, this is the info I have om 2550 mainboards -   9H068 - PIII 1GHz or 933MHz Coppermine board for SL5QJ CPU (dpn 6E233) with 370MP heatsink and 11GEF VRM   9G788 - PIII Tualatin mainboard for SL5PU 1.13GHz (dpn 6F246) with 370MP heatsink and 4F522 VRM or SL6BY/SL5XL 1.4GHz (dpn 6T332) with 5E495 heatsink and 4N594 VRM   I also have noted an 11XCT 2550 mainboard, though I'm not sure of its spec.   So according to this info, as I have a 4N594 VRM, it should at least be running a 1.4GHz CPU, with another heatsink and possibly even another mainboard.   Let's hope for some quick technical info on this.... :)       Message Edited by channel6 on 06-07-200611:22 PM

channel6 · Answer

For the benefit of any other user with a similar problem/question, here's the result....

I was unable to find a definitive answer to this via this forum - but browsing the archives did show that the subject was under discussion a few years back - on both PE2550, 2500 and SC versions. Twice I found references to the fact that the 4F522 and 4N594 CPU VRM's are interchangeable. Though I also found postings with replies from Dell folks giving other part numbers for VRM's compatible with this bopard and CPU - which made me somewhat reluctant to test on a server in service.

In the end there was no other option but to try - the conclusion is that a PE2550 with this spec -

spec as follows -
TAG #96V4B0J
p/n 9G788 Rev A08 Motherboard
p/n 6F426 CPU 1.13GHz 512K Tualatin (SL5PU)

Can have an additional SL5PU CPU added, (including the 370MP heatsink) and using a 4F522 VRM - even though the primary CPU VRM is a 4N594.

And as I also discovered, upgrading an existing Windows 2000 Server installation from single to dual CPU is only a matter of updating the ACPI Uniprocessor driver to the ACPI Multiprocessor driver under "Computer Management>Devices>Computer".

In the end - it was no problem, but it would have been nice to be able to find a definitive answer first! I hope someone else can benefit from the above...

PowerEdge Hardware General

PowerEdge 2550 VRM compatibility

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