Memtest fails on PowerEdge 650

I think this is a BIOS code problem.

When checking the RAM in the Dell PowerEdge 650 with either:
'Windows Memory Diagnostic' (http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp)
Or
'Memtest86 - A Stand-alone Memory Diagnostic' (http://www.memtest86.com/)

It always reports an error at address 07fffdc80 (BIOS A02 & A03)
or at 07ffedc80 (BIOS A04), & continuing with the test soon crashes the server.
We do not have this problem on any other server/PC when using this software.

The Dell memory test does not check the very top of the RAM installed & so does not show this problem.

Acording to the physical RAM map provided by the e820 function in the BIOS,
the problem address is in the ACPI data area:
BIOS A02 & A03:

    BIOS-e820: 000000007fff0000 - 000000007fffec00 (ACPI data)

BIOS A04:

   BIOS-e820: 000000007ffe0000 - 000000007ffefc00 (ACPI data)
  
Acording to the ACPI Specification (http://www.acpi.info/)
The 'ACPI data' range should be available & usable by the OS after it has read the ACPI tables.

I would suggest that the BIOS is not returing valid data to the e820 function call & that the
07fffdc80 / 07ffedc80  address needs to be flagged as 'Reserved', as it would appear that their may
be a memory-mapped system device using that address.
We note that it is unusual for the BIOS not to report a 'ACPI NVS' (Non-Volatile storage) area.

Tried all available BIOS's A02, A03 & A04.
Have tried with memory of 512Mb, 1Gb, 1.5Gb & 2Gb.
The 'problem' address is alway near the very top of RAM.

Message Edited by nwsmith on 01-16-2004 04:54 PM