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Invalid DIMM population error on S2600CP server board

FTayl
Beginner
5,197 Views

As I purchased this board secondhand, I'm not sure if this is an S2600CP2 or S2600CP4. There is a sticker that reads: PBA E99552-507 QSCP22002137

I have dual Xeon E5-2630L v2 CPUs, and I have 4 x 8GB 1333MHz DDR3 registered, ECC DIMMs on order.

While waiting for these DIMMs to arrive, I decided to test the board with some desktop DIMMs just to make sure that the board is in working order. My understanding is that this board will accept regular desktop DIMMs. According to the "Technical Product Specifications", this board is supposed to support UDIMMs. Unless, there's such a thing as unregistered server DIMMs, I'm assuming "UDIMMs" is the same as typical desktop DIMMs.

First, I tried to a single 4GB 1333Mhz DDR3 desktop DIMM and got the "Invalid DIMM population" on POST. My understanding is that a single DIMM configuration is supported. I tried this single DIMM in all 4 banks, and got this error each time.

Second, I tried various combinations of 4 x 8GB 1600Mhz DDR3 desktop DIMMs. I've used these DIMMs singly, in pairs, and all 4 at a time. I've tried filling both slots of 2 channels as well as single slots of 4 channels. I've tried a single DIMM in all 4 banks, observing the "farthest fill first" rule.

Another thing to note is that although the "Invalid DIMM population" error appears on the display during POST, the LED POST progress code does not indicate this. According to the specifications, this error SHOULD BE indicated by:

Lower Nibble LEDs (lit green): # 0, # 2, # 3

Upper Nibble LEDs (lit amber): # 5, # 6, # 7

However, in MY CASE, the LEDs are lit as follows:

Lower Nibble LEDs (lit green): # 1, # 2, # 3

Upper Nibble LEDs (lit amber): # 5, # 6, # 7

I don't even see this combination in the technical specifications.

Here is a video showing the POST progress LED sequence:

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idata
Employee
3,662 Views

Hi,

The board that you have is an Intel(R) Server Board S2400CP4. Here are our recommendations for this issue:

- Make sure that the memory complies with the specifications described on the Technical Product Specification page# 3:

http://download.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s2600cp/sb/g26942005_s2600cp_p4000cp_tps_rev19.pdf http://download.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s2600cp/sb/g26942005_s2600cp_p4000cp_tps_rev19.pdf

- Test the board without any memory installed looking for three beep codes, if there are none your board could have defective memory slots.

- Test with one memory module installed on the A1 slot only (minimum memory). You can also test with one memory module on slot E1 for the second processor.

- If the issue persists, test with validated memory from the following list:

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/CS-033388.htm Server Products — Memory and Hardware Compatibility

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6 Replies
idata
Employee
3,663 Views

Hi,

The board that you have is an Intel(R) Server Board S2400CP4. Here are our recommendations for this issue:

- Make sure that the memory complies with the specifications described on the Technical Product Specification page# 3:

http://download.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s2600cp/sb/g26942005_s2600cp_p4000cp_tps_rev19.pdf http://download.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s2600cp/sb/g26942005_s2600cp_p4000cp_tps_rev19.pdf

- Test the board without any memory installed looking for three beep codes, if there are none your board could have defective memory slots.

- Test with one memory module installed on the A1 slot only (minimum memory). You can also test with one memory module on slot E1 for the second processor.

- If the issue persists, test with validated memory from the following list:

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/CS-033388.htm Server Products — Memory and Hardware Compatibility

FTayl
Beginner
3,662 Views

Dan_Intel wrote:

Hi,

The board that you have is an Intel(R) Server Board S2400CP4. Here are our recommendations for this issue:

- Make sure that the memory complies with the specifications described on the Technical Product Specification page# 3:

http://download.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s2600cp/sb/g26942005_s2600cp_p4000cp_tps_rev19.pdf http://download.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s2600cp/sb/g26942005_s2600cp_p4000cp_tps_rev19.pdf

- Test the board without any memory installed looking for three beep codes, if there are none your board could have defective memory slots.

- Test with one memory module installed on the A1 slot only (minimum memory). You can also test with one memory module on slot E1 for the second processor.

- If the issue persists, test with validated memory from the following list:

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/CS-033388.htm Server Products — Memory and Hardware Compatibility

I'm getting 3 beeps whether I insert DIMMs or not. When no DIMMs are inserted, there are three beeps and the error message on the screen as well as the one corresponding to the LED code is "No usable memory".

When a DIMM is present in either A1 or E1, there are three beeps and the error message on the screen is "Invalid DIMM population" and the LEDs are lit as follows:

Lower Nibble LEDs (lit green): # 1, # 2, # 3

Upper Nibble LEDs (lit amber): # 5, # 6, # 7

As I said, this combination of lit LEDs doesn't seem to be accounted for in the specifications. If anybody can confirm that the LEDs are supposed to be lit this way for a "DIMM population error", I'd appreciate it.

At this point, my biggest concern is that this error might be caused by bent pins in the CPU socket. What I noticed about the pins is that they're not very rigid, and they have a bit of springiness to them. I can see how they could be bent easily.

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idata
Employee
3,662 Views

Hello,

 

Your concern is correct. Try to straighten up the pins to change the behavior but besides that there is no much troubleshooting left we can try on this issue. As long as you are using memory within specifications, that should be enough to boot up the system unless the board is defective.

 

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FTayl
Beginner
3,662 Views

Dan_Intel wrote:

Hello,

 

Your concern is correct. Try to straighten up the pins to change the behavior but besides that there is no much troubleshooting left we can try on this issue. As long as you are using memory within specifications, that should be enough to boot up the system unless the board is defective.

 

Independent of this concern, do you know why the diagnostic LED combinations that I'm getting aren't listed in the specifications?

Lower Nibble LEDs (lit green): # 1, # 2, # 3

Upper Nibble LEDs (lit amber): # 5, # 6, # 7

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idata
Employee
3,662 Views

After decoding the LED behavior, they are also describing a memory error as well:

"POST Progress Code Description EEh

Starting 'Indicates a CLTT table structure'

Next phase 'Check memory for compatibility.'

If the system halts here, test with a single, compatible DIMM."

Here is the link for the LED decoder so you can confirm also:

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/CS-034129.htm?wapkw=034129 Server Products — Intel® Server Board POST Code Diagnostics

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LGonz10
Beginner
3,662 Views

Hi Dan,

I bought a refurbished board and after obtaining all parts to build server it refused to post, so I RMA'd and received a replacement board, but I'm afraid I may have been sold faulty memory is that what the below code indicates? At first I installed 64gb of memory and kept receiving 3 beeps, so any slot that would show erroneous I removed the Dimm stick.. Now I have tried 32gb and 48gb respectively no beeps, but it refuses to post I did notice this on the left.

 

The led on the bottom or pictured above keeps blinking amber. Sorry this is my first server build, and I have been having issues for a few weeks, I'm at my wit's end... I have new power supply... new hard drives... new video cards... the only thing purchased second hand was the memory.... Any information would help!

Thanks,

Luis G.

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