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simpletonstable
8 Posts
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31432
April 30th, 2007 22:00
precision workstation 420 MT BIOS nightmare
Having lots of problems with this box (Dell precision workstation 420 MT.
Note the specs below....
Dell Precision System Bios:
A06 -A013 all handle at least 1 gig memory pc800 but no dual 933 mhz processors.
A00-A02 can handle dual 933 ghz processors and 256 mb pc800 but not even 1 g of pc800.
The memory error is a series of post beeps [9?] and no screen.
The processor error is "This revision of motherboard does not support the current processor speed System halted". Then it is necessary to remove the 933's and replace with the 600mhz and dummy card in order to reflash or else exchange the memory depending on the error and flash level.
This is frustrating and pathetic.....shame on dell.
How did I figure this out? http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=pw_bios&message.id=1464
Notice the second to last reply from doesnotmatter
Again note the specs below....
It would seem that there is no way to run 2gigs pc800 and dual 1 ghz processors, as a matter of fact I can't boot even 1gb pc800 and dual 933mhz processors and I have tried every bios on dell's sight at least once
and have quite a number of frustrating hours involved.
Hopeing there is an answer, that I haven't found.
Feature Specification
Processors Dual Intel Pentium III (Coppermine)
600 MHz to 1.0 GHz Clock Speeds
256 KB Full Speed L2 Cache
Slot 1 Connectors
Chipset Intel 840 (Carmel)
133 MHz Front Side Bus Speed
Memory PC 600, 700 and 800 ECC and Non-ECC RDRAM
Dual Channel
4 RIMM Sockets
64, 128, 256 and 512 MB RIMMs
2048 MB Maximum
Video Desktop - AGP Pro 50 4X Slot
Mini-Tower - AGP Pro 110 4X Slot
Integrated
Components ATA 66
Crystal SoundFusion CS4614 Audio Chipset
3COM 3C905C-TX NIC
USB Support
Expansion Bus 5 PCI Slots
No ISA Slots
PCI 2.2 Compliant
SCSI Adaptec AIC-7899 Dual Channel Controller
Channel A - Ultra 160m LVD
Channel B - Ultra Wide
RAID PCI Slot #4 - Mini-Tower, #5 - Desktop
Adaptec ARO-1302 Controller with 64 MB Cache
System Setup One Page Interface
To Enter Setup, Press the F2 Key
Processors Dual Intel Pentium III (Coppermine)
600 MHz to 1.0 GHz Clock Speeds
256 KB Full Speed L2 Cache
Slot 1 Connectors
Chipset Intel 840 (Carmel)
133 MHz Front Side Bus Speed
Memory PC 600, 700 and 800 ECC and Non-ECC RDRAM
Dual Channel
4 RIMM Sockets
64, 128, 256 and 512 MB RIMMs
2048 MB Maximum
Video Desktop - AGP Pro 50 4X Slot
Mini-Tower - AGP Pro 110 4X Slot
Integrated
Components ATA 66
Crystal SoundFusion CS4614 Audio Chipset
3COM 3C905C-TX NIC
USB Support
Expansion Bus 5 PCI Slots
No ISA Slots
PCI 2.2 Compliant
SCSI Adaptec AIC-7899 Dual Channel Controller
Channel A - Ultra 160m LVD
Channel B - Ultra Wide
RAID PCI Slot #4 - Mini-Tower, #5 - Desktop
Adaptec ARO-1302 Controller with 64 MB Cache
System Setup One Page Interface
To Enter Setup, Press the F2 Key
simpletonstable
simpletonstable
8 Posts
516
0
Posted May 3rd, 2007 14:00
I would REALLY like some help. Has anyone gotten a precision 420 to run one or dual 933 processor(s) and a gig or more of pc800. Has anyone come to the same conclusions as have I above? Does anyone have any ideas as to solutions/workarounds - what I might try next? Does anyone think it might just be this particular motherboard? Anyone just wanta say hi?- Did you update the bios to the latest before trying to upgrade the memory? On the older Optiplex systems some of the newer RDRAM memory wouldn't be recognized properly unless you updated the bios (with the original memory configuration).
simpletonstable
8 Posts
516
0
Posted May 4th, 2007 15:00
Note: these ARE the bios revisions - A013 is the most recent.A06 -A013 all handle at least 1 gig memory pc800 but no dual or single 933 mhz processor(s).A00-A02 can handle dual 933 ghz processors and 256 mb pc800 but not even 1 g of pc800.- In the past, when adding second processors to Precision workstations, the processors have to match exactly AND voltage regulator modules have to match exactly. If they don't match, you'll receive system errors? Does your unit have voltage reg. modules in them??
- This is odd. I have 2 Dell Precision 420's here, both with Revision A13 BIOS. 1 is running Dual P3 1Ghz CPU's with 512Mb RAM and the other is Dual 933Mhz with 1Gb RAM. Both work fine (Apart for some voltage errors that i'm trying to resolve at the moment! but that's another matter all together......). I hope you get your machine up and running OK.
simpletonstable
8 Posts
516
0
Posted May 30th, 2007 20:00
Nice reply: just the type of info I was looking for. I thought this odd also and almost completely undocumented. Considering this is a server - very odd indeed. So I bought a new mb - http://www.centrix-intl.com/details.asp?productid=2502 - for 20 bucks. I'll let everyone know how it works after I get it set up.P.S. what kind of voltage errors? just curious.simpletonstable
8 Posts
516
0
Posted July 19th, 2007 15:00
Well the 'new' mb came sealed with a 'refurbished' sticker. The salesman assured me that it was infact 'new'? Anyway, it works.... Bios = A13.....Pair of 933ghz processors......1 gig of pc 800
simpletonstable
8 Posts
516
0
Posted April 30th, 2007 23:00