Support required: DX58SO2 doesn't detect ECC with Xeon W3670

Hi everybody,

thank's for joining the discussion .

Just some further thoughs on the problem:

a) the board is so far stable (did some testing and benchmarking)

b) 24 GB memory is detected in both bios and win 7 (actually I'm using windows 7 x64 enterprise + sp1 + fixes up 14. April)

c) ECC seems not to be activated/dectected - although, the Kingston website shows the board as "supported" for the memory

d) I would suggest that "supported" on both Intel and Kingston specs indicate "works as expected" and not "the board do not crash - but you don't get ECC functionality"

also some additional comments on "Bryan" and "toad096" on ECC memory size:

a) so far as I understand and found in various MB (Intel, ASUS, Supermicro, ... ) specs - only "unbuffered ECC" is supported on all X58 boards/chipsets

b) any ECC memory simm module above 4GB I kown is "registered ECC" and so won't work

c) I also have read in some specs for the DX58SO2 about 48GB MEM support - but regarding such atypical and mysterious specs in other products in the past I would assume this might refer to "unavailable" unbufferer MEM (ECC or nonECC) with 8GB size (maybe this MEM is available in the future)

d) I think the W3690 may also work in (some) MB with the i55xx chipset and support in this scenario "registered ECC with more than 4GB per memory module" - but I don't know any i55xx chipset MB with only one CPU socked so far...

just an update....

talking with the support people from Intel - ECC with the Kingston memory should work fine - they are looking into the case - I should get some news tomorrow

Hi toad096, hi everybody,

just an update of recent events:

After getting in touch with Intel I also contacted the Kingston support (since I guessed it could also be a MEM / SPD problem).

Working with Intel support is a little bit challenging - first, their system identification utility from their support web site didn't work as expeced and retrieved no mem infos at all, then the results couldn't be downloaded or retrieved to/from their servers and even sending all info per email turned out as an unexpected timly consuming tryout (I had to contact the support line three times to get the appropriate email address ). So far no progress there - hopping to be contacted by them in the next future...

On the other hand - I got a response from Kingston's support team quite fast. Since I also forwarded them in my support request all data (including the retrieved MEM SPD data dumps from the CPU-Z txt report) they requested only some digital images of the currently used memory modules and offered a free replacement (of an alternative revision! of the MEM) incl. shippment (the only little drawback is - I have to cover the RMA shipment costs of the problematic MEM back to Kingston). Their statement "It seems that the product is either not compatible or defective and you should get it replaced for an alternative revision for your memory" indicates to me - they are also not entirely sure what the cause of the problem is.

The only thing that strikes me is Kingston's comment - replacement can basically only be done by them - since my / any? dealer will not be able to provide an alternative revision of the memory. So if the revision is really causing the problem and a dealer cannot provide it - how to buy or even identfy an appropriate revision of the memory?

So I'll keep everybody updated as soon as things progress...

BR

Hi, everyone

received today feedback from Intel - The Joke Of The Day

Original quote:

"Thank you for contacting Intel Technical Support.

Please note that you can use your motherboard DX58SO2 with ECC memory but the ECC functionality would not work on this motherboard.

Some system would not allow you to use ECC memory at all which is not the case of this motherboard.

If your system does not even work when using with ECC memory please, verify if your memory fulfil all the motherboard's memory requirements which you can find at: http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/dx58so2/sb/CS-031872.htm"

Unbelievable, it's really "the board do not crash - but you don't get ECC functionality" - so don't consider Intel (Extreme) boards with Xeon CPU if you wan't use ECC today or tomorrow.

Will return the board to the dealer...

best regards

ymir

Hi toad096,

now I have forwarded some questions to ASUS and ASRock, both providing "Workstation Class" X58 boards. Looking forward to get feed-back from them. There's also the Supermicro C7X58 (http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Core2Duo/X58/C7X58.cfm) & X8SAX (http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Xeon3000/X58/X8SAX.cfm) but I'm not so happy about the board layout (Intel workstation layout - so different cooling concept / airflow + doesn't work together with the Noctua NH-D14) - but to my knowledge should be fully supporting ECC - to be verified - if ASUS or ASRock also do not comply...