Poweredge R810, No VGA Output

Jmackfog,

Start with taking the server to it's minimum to post configuration, that is powering down and removing everything from the server but the following;

System board

I/O board

Risers

Processor with heat sink

Power supply (power distribution board is required for redundant PSU)

CPU1 (minimum for troubleshooting)

At least two DIMMs in sockets A1, A2 (lock-step pair) to POST

Control panel with cable

Once completed then add power and restart the server, if the server boots normally then you can add removed devices back until the issue repeats, which will help you to identify the device causing the issue.

Let me know what you see.

I also have the power distribution board, no heat sinks though. Is a heatsink necessary?

The heatsink will be necessary, as the system is designed to lock the heatsink down applying pressure to ensure the processor is seated.

@Jmackfog,

You say you have RAM sticks in each slot 1. As Chris mentioned, you would need RAM in x1 and x2 for each CPU. It would be best to start with just the first CPU installed and work up from there. 

What are the brands and model numbers of these RAM sticks? Servers such as the R810 are finicky about what type and speed of RAM they have installed.

You also say you have (4) E7-4860 CPUs installed. Depending on which Motherboard version you have, you may need to have the BIOS and other firmware updated to a newer version for these to work correctly. The original R810 systems shipped with Xeon 7500 series CPUs.

Randy

PS. Yes, you really do need heat sinks on the CPUs. Also, it would probably be cheaper to just buy a used/decommissioned R810 than to try piecing one together from parts. I see them regularly at the usual auction site in the $100-150 range.

The system simply does not wish to start with only 1 cpu, I hold the power button and it does not light up, I only have lights on the i/o board and none on Riser 1, the only light is right next to the cable connecting to the control board, the psi light, and the blue flashing light to the right of the ethernet ports. With 4 cpus and 16 sticks of ram, one in each 1 and 2 slot, it turns on and acts as if it should be running as the fans spin and the cpu's heat up but no VGA output 

Any USB devices plugged in also dont receive power, plugged into the i/o or the control board it doesnt matter no USB power no vga output, 4 cpus on no nothing with heatsinks now.