Supermicro C2SEA build problems

[MoiEater]

I am attempting to (re)build 8 1U mini servers into 1U workstations and can't get them to post with the new components (motherboard, CPU, RAM). Just get a continuous beep. Tried 3 of the 8 new motherboards (not installed in chassis) with 3 new sets of RAM (tried single sticks also) and 2 of the 8 new CPUs. All testing was with one PSU. Works fine when I go back to all original components, also with new CPU Cooler.

Original components are:

Case: ABMX.com 1U short depth chassis
Motherboard: Supermicro PDSBM-LN2
CPU: Intel XEON 3060
RAM: 2ea. Super Talent T667UB1GC (1GB, 667Mhz, PC2-5300, 1.8V)
PSU: Supermicro ABLECOM PWS-521-1H (520W)
HDD: Hitachi Deskstar 160GB SATA
HSF: Passive heatsink (chassis fans blow across)

New components:

Motherboard: Supermicro C2SEA
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad 8300
RAM: 2x2GB Mushkin Enhanced 996586 (1333Mhz, PC3-10666, 1.5V, 9-9-9-24)
HSF: Dynatron P199 1U CPU Cooler LGA775


I haven't upgraded the motherboard BIOS which might be needed, but will have to justify buying a CPU just to get these to POST so I can upgrade.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[glc]

Does your power supply have an 8 pin EPS connector? Those boards require it. They also require a 420 watt unit.

Super Micro Computer, Inc. - Products | Motherboards | Core™ 2 Boards | C2SEA

Important Note To ensure system stability, a 420W (minimum) ATX power supply [8-pin +12V AND (20 or 24-pin)] is required.

[MoiEater]

Yes, I am using the original PSU which is 520W and has an 8 pin connector.

I think I forgot to mention that these original components will be used with the new components:

Originally Posted by MoiEater Case: ABMX.com 1U short depth chassis PSU: Supermicro ABLECOM PWS-521-1H (520W) HDD: Hitachi Deskstar 160GB SATA

[jdeb]

there is only one BIOS release for that board. A continuous beep means an overheating issue. Make sure CPU Heat/sink fan is properly installed.

[glc]

You sure? I thought a continuous beep was a memory issue?

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by glc You sure? I thought a continuous beep was a memory issue?

not according to the manual (AMI BIOS)

[MoiEater]

Yeah, I seen that in the manual but I am pretty sure the CPU HSF was installed properly, I tried reinstalling it a couple times, and I installed the new one on the original setup and it worked fine.

I thought it could possibly be the BIOS since I came across this in the Supermicro FAQ's:

Does the C2SEA main board support the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor? Yes, provided you have the latest BIOS. You can download the latest BIOS from: Super Micro Computer, Inc. - Products | Motherboards | Core™ 2 Boards | C2SEA

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by MoiEater Yeah, I seen that in the manual but I am pretty sure the CPU HSF was installed properly, I tried reinstalling it a couple times, and I installed the new one on the original setup and it worked fine. I thought it could possibly be the BIOS since I came across this in the Supermicro FAQ's:

well maybe that is a different BIOS than the board had originally, usually the original one is posted as well. Worth a try since your confident with the heat/sink and memory. Do have any spare DDR3 memory other than the Muskin you could try?

[glc]

Good point - the Mushkin *should* work, but it's NOT on the tested memory list for the board.

[MoiEater]

Originally Posted by jdeb well maybe that is a different BIOS than the board had originally, usually the original one is posted as well. Worth a try since your confident with the heat/sink and memory. Do have any spare DDR3 memory other than the Muskin you could try?

Originally Posted by glc Good point - the Mushkin *should* work, but it's NOT on the tested memory list for the board.

Thanks, I thought of trying different RAM but don't have any spare DDR3.

Also, I might have been partially brain-dead when typing the original post, it isn't a continuous long beep. It's continuous beeping, not in any of the counts shown in the manual for error beep codes.

[glc]

Continuous beeping with an AMI bios is usually a memory issue.

[MoiEater]

Thanks, I will look into ordering some RAM that is on Supermicro's tested memory list for the C2SEA.

[jdeb]

if you get into a situation and have to RMA boards, glc turned me onto this board and it is rock solid stable but uses ddr2 memory but I suspect the muskin memory at this point. I have never ran into a DOA SuperMicro, not that it is impossible.

ASUS P5BV-C LGA 775
Newegg.com - ASUS P5BV-C LGA 775 Intel 3200 ATX Intel Xeon Server Motherboard

[glc]

If I weren't going to use those Supermicro boards, I'd use desktop boards.

Newegg.com - ASUS P5G41T-M/CSM LGA 775 Intel G41 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

[MoiEater]

I hopefully will be able to order some Kingston ValueRAM 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model KVR1333D3N9/2G which are on Supermicro's tested memory list for the C2SEA.

I had originally tried to order Newegg.com - Intel BOXDG45ID LGA 775 Intel G45 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard, but at the supplier that was used that board was discontinued, so the C2SEA was the second choice.

That ASUS board looks nice, but I had been directed to look for a board with onboard video that has full HD capability, thus the X4500HD video chipset. Unless the X4500 can do full HD playback also?

Thanks again, I'll post here with the results if I can get the replacement RAM.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by MoiEater I hopefully will be able to order some Kingston ValueRAM 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model KVR1333D3N9/2G which are on Supermicro's tested memory list for the C2SEA. I had originally tried to order Newegg.com - Intel BOXDG45ID LGA 775 Intel G45 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard, but at the supplier that was used that board was discontinued, so the C2SEA was the second choice. That ASUS board looks nice, but I had been directed to look for a board with onboard video that has full HD capability, thus the X4500HD video chipset. Unless the X4500 can do full HD playback also? Thanks again, I'll post here with the results if I can get the replacement RAM.

According to Intel The difference between the GMA X4500 and the GMA X4500HD is that the GMA X4500HD is capable of "full 1080p high-definition video playback, including Blu-ray disc movies.

Intel G45 Express Chipset — Overview". Intel.com. Intel® G45 Express Chipset - Overview. Retrieved 2009-09-17

[glc]

I just read in the Newegg reviews that your Supermicro board only supports 1.5 volt dimms. The Kingston value ram is 1.5 volt, but so is that Mushkin............

Order up one Kingston module and test it. Have you tried just one Mushkin stick?

[MoiEater]

Yeah, I got those Mushkin figuring they would work cause they are 1.5 volt. I did try with just one stick, I tried different sticks (both in pairs and single) also because I have 8 pairs of the Mushkin.

[MoiEater]

I was able to pull a 2GB stick of DDR3-1333 RAM from an HP Compaq 8100 Elite and tried it in the C2SEA and it posted!

Here is a link to the spec sheet of the RAM: http://www.elpida.com/eolpdfs/E1515E20.pdf

It is 1.5V RAM also, the obvious difference that I can see is that this RAM has a 10600 bandwidth vs the 10666 of the Mushkin. The Kingston RAM I was about to buy is PC3-10600. Would that be the cause of the motherboard rejecting the Mushkin?

Edit: PC3-10600 is on the label sticker on the RAM stick I pulled, I don't see that listed in the datasheet.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by MoiEater I was able to pull a 2GB stick of DDR3-1333 RAM from an HP Compaq 8100 Elite and tried it in the C2SEA and it posted! Here is a link to the spec sheet of the RAM: http://www.elpida.com/eolpdfs/E1515E20.pdf It is 1.5V RAM also, the obvious difference that I can see is that this RAM has a 10600 bandwidth vs the 10666 of the Mushkin. The Kingston RAM I was about to buy is PC3-10600. Would that be the cause of the motherboard rejecting the Mushkin? Edit: PC3-10600 is on the label sticker on the RAM stick I pulled, I don't see that listed in the datasheet.

That's good news. They are basically the same speed, maybe Muskin just rounds it up and the HP (elpida)memory rounds in down. 1333mhz *8 = pc3-10664, which they round off to pc3-10666. I have found Muskin to be good memory when it works but often times it can be very flaky as I believe is your situation. They could be all be bad, seen stranger things. I would only use it if I had some laying around (I do) and the boards QVL has it listed.

[MoiEater]

Oh, I know the Mushkin RAM isn't bad because I installed a pair in the HP 8100 and tested it. I proceeded to swap out the 3GB (2GB Elpida and 1GB Samsung) in some of the new HP 8100's we deployed with a matched pair of 2x2GB Mushkin. So some users got a RAM increase and I got some RAM I can use to rebuild my 1U workstations.

So the eight pairs of Mushkin should get me eight 2GB Elpida sticks, enough to rebuild four of the eight workstations. I can either rebuild two others using 4 each of the 1GB Samsung sticks and buy two pairs of 2GB Kingston sticks for the last two, or just buy four pairs of the Kingston sticks for the other four workstations and save the 1GB Samsungs.

Any other ideas why the Mushkin (10666) won't work in the C2SEA and the Elpida (10600) will?

Also seems like the 1333 RAM in the C2SEA QVL are all 10600 (of those that I was able to look up).

[glc]

As jdeb says, Mushkin can be very flaky, and Supermicro can be very fussy.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by MoiEater Oh, I know the Mushkin RAM isn't bad because I installed a pair in the HP 8100 and tested it. I proceeded to swap out the 3GB (2GB Elpida and 1GB Samsung) in some of the new HP 8100's we deployed with a matched pair of 2x2GB Mushkin. So some users got a RAM increase and I got some RAM I can use to rebuild my 1U workstations. So the eight pairs of Mushkin should get me eight 2GB Elpida sticks, enough to rebuild four of the eight workstations. I can either rebuild two others using 4 each of the 1GB Samsung sticks and buy two pairs of 2GB Kingston sticks for the last two, or just buy four pairs of the Kingston sticks for the other four workstations and save the 1GB Samsungs. Any other ideas why the Mushkin (10666) won't work in the C2SEA and the Elpida (10600) will? Also seems like the 1333 RAM in the C2SEA QVL are all 10600 (of those that I was able to look up).

You could compare the data sheets from both memory and the answer may be in there. Just because the Muskin worked in another board does not deem it good either. Memtest86+ can confirm that. Elpedia is a widely approved chip in the server market, know for there stability and reliability. Another problem is that Mushkin tend to use Elixer (Nanya) chips which may be remarked chips from Micron, Samsung, or Hynix. In other words, Mushkin do not manufacture their own chips. I used to use Corasir memory but when they dropped Elpedia, I noticed more issues. I primarily use Kingston now because they use Elpedia and I have never looked back. Crucial uses Micron and they have proved to be excellent as well.

I recently used some Corsair Vengence on two gaming builds because of the price and what a nightmare. First the heatsinks were horrible, replaced those on the first build, careful with the second. But both systems have been back with bad memory and like an idiot I did not memtest 86+ these builds because I was in a hurry (I usually do). Replaced them with Kingston HyperX. I was really embarrassed but got away with it because the customer is OC'ing. In reality, the memory errors were present without overclocking.

[MoiEater]

jdeb/glc

Thanks for all the help and info. I will run the memtest86+ on the Mushkin if I get the chance. The users that got "upgraded" to the Mushkin RAM in the HP8100's are system administrators so hopefully they will report any issues to me right away.