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127063
July 24th, 2014 10:00
DIMM Issues on T3500 Workstations
I handle maintenance for customers that have Precision T3500 Workstations. One such customer is experiencing "Memory Failure in DIMM X" and "Non Optimal Memory Configuration" BIOS errors on 5 different machines.
He has all six DIMMs populated with 4GB sticks that were working just fine at one point. I've sent him new RAM, we've replaced a few motherboards, processor chips, power supplies, and graphics cards. I've pretty much sent him the kitchen sink, but the problem persisted on all 5 machines.
I finally had him send me one of the workstations so that I could take a look for myself. I confirmed the error and that the RAM I was using was good. I chalked it up to a bad replacement motherboard, ordered a new one, and put the machine on a shelf for a few weeks.
Now here is the kicker. Before I attempted the motherboard transplant, I powered the machine back on and the problem was gone. No amount of removing and adding RAM has recreated the issue. My customer still has 4 machines with this issue (2 of which just received replacement motherboards), and I have no earthly clue how it was resolved on the machine he sent me.
Has anyone seen this behavior in the past?
Thank you!
lbarraugh
4 Posts
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July 25th, 2014 13:00
I understand as much, the problem is not with the memory configuration. We're using 4GB in each of the 6 DIMM slots which is a supported configuration and was completely functional at one point.
All of the RAM has been tested, and we've even replaced some of the motherboards. Somehow, putting the machine back in a box and leaving it on a shelf for a few weeks made the issue go away. I don't think I can recommend that step to my customer though. :emotion-1:
speedstep
11 Legend
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47K Posts
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July 25th, 2014 13:00
Memory Should be Tri Channel compatible and matched sets and Rank. 24 Gigs is max with 6 dimms of 4gigs each.
Recommended Upgrade
DDR3 PC3-12800 • CL=11 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1600 • 1.5V • 512Meg x 64 • • Part #: CT1418494
Maximum Memory: 24GB
Slots: 6
(GB)
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RoHe
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172.6K Points
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July 25th, 2014 18:00
If sitting on the shelf for a few weeks fixed it, I wonder if the motherboard battery died during that time and BIOS got reset to factory defaults.
Try clearing BIOS on one of the other systems and see if that fixes the problem:
lbarraugh
4 Posts
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July 29th, 2014 07:00
Thanks for the suggestion RoHe, I'll have my customer give it a whirl and will keep you posted on the results.
Cheers!
RoHe
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July 29th, 2014 11:00
BTW: What version(s) of BIOS is installed on all these systems? Same version, different...? And what version(s) of Windows?
Let's hope clearing BIOS fixes this!
Mpmoraes
2 Posts
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November 18th, 2015 05:00
Hi guys, I'm having the same problems with my machine. Did this reset procedure work?
lbarraugh
4 Posts
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November 18th, 2015 12:00
I honestly don't know, I am sorry. I provided the instructions to my customer but never received feedback on the outcome and my contract expired soon afterward.
speedstep
11 Legend
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47K Posts
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November 20th, 2015 10:00
You cant mix and match multiple vendors and toss in joes crab shack ram and expect that it works fine. The voltage and cas speed and vendor must be Tri channel compatible aka sets of 3 not sets of 2.
You also cannot mix ranks.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6GB-Patriot-Memory-PC3-12800-3-X-2GB-DIMM-DDR3-1600-MHz-CL-8-PX736G1600LLK-/171121340371