Precision T5500

Hi Alasdair,

Thanks, but you missed the bit where I said that the riser isn't fitted. I know about the same stepping rule, as both of my 490's are dual CPU.  To clarify; the only SINGLE CPU that will boot is the E5606 the system came with. The X5675 and X5560's won't POST.

Cheers,

Hi VintageTest,

The LEDs indicate a hardware mismatch:

kb.dell.com/.../index

When you are adding the extra CPU it must be of the same type as the one already fitted on the motherboard. There are also rules for memory population that must be followed when a riser is used:

downloads.dell.com/.../precision-t5500_setup guide_en-us.pdf

(see page 2)

Sorry about that.

It might be a power issue then, the X-series operate at 95W whilst the E-series only draw 80W. What wattage of PSU is in your system?

Thanks

Hi Alasdair,

As far as I'm aware, the T5500 only came with the one power rating of PSU - 875W, which  this one is.

Cheers,

Mel

That's wrong.

Dell W299G J556T  Power Supply Precision PWS T5500 N875EF-00 NO HARNESS

Dell 0G05V X008G M822J  Precision T3500 T5500 525W Power Supply H525EF-00 D525E001L  NO HARNESS.

OK SpeedStep,

But Allasdair's assertion was that the PSU might be underpowered, but as it's the more powerful PSU that's fitted, that seems unlikely. I'm going to try flashing thr BIOS with a prior build to see if that has any effect.

Cheers,

There's some major differences in those CPUs.  frequency, cores, memory speed (maybe a faulty memory at new 1333 speed?), Turbo support, Hyper Threading, bus speed.

I'd maybe try resetting/clearing CMOS or investigate possible bad memory.

Hi,

I have 24GB of RAM in total - the 12GB (3x4GB)the machine came with, of Hynix 10600 DIMMS and 12GB (3x4GB) of Nanya 8500 DIMMS. Both speeds are aprroved in the service manual. My understanding of DDR3 memory architechture is that the memory and CPU work at their own speeds, with the transfer rate being reduced with the PC8500 instead of PC10600 DIMMS. I've already cleared the CMOS, as mentioned earlier. Apart from trying an older vertion of the BIOS, I'm not sure what to do now.

Cheers,

Can you try a "minimum to post" configuration? (one DIMM in slot 1, single CPU and nothing else connected to the motherboard apart from power) With no graphics card fitted, you should see the 123- LEDs lit, with a green power LED. I would try each manufacturer of DIMM separately too.

Can you clarify the original diagnostic LEDs, you said 1-34 were flashing and the power LED steady, what colour was the power LED, amber or green?

Thanks

Alasdair, do you want me to fit one of the CPU's that won't POST, or leave the E5606 in for the test?

Cheers,

Hi Alasdair,

I'm currently installing Win10 on a spare HDD in the T5500, with all three of the 10600 DIMMS and the E5606 fitted. I have failed to do any BIOS updates, because the DOS route is thwarted by the SATA-only CDROM drive, hence the installation of Win10! I have already updated to A16, when a previous installation of Windows was present, but was going to try flashing backwards to A15 to see what happens. I'll try your suggestions as soon as the installation has finished.

Cheers,

I would try the E5606 first, observe the results (diagnostic and power LEDs), then try one of the X-series and see if the outcome differs.

Let me know how it goes.

Thanks Alasdair, I have to nip out for a bit, but I'll have a go when I get back. Cheers,

Morning Alasdair, the results of removing everything, apart from one DIMM in slot 1 (have tried them all with no change) is that I get lights 1 and 3, followed by the network symbol and 1-3-2 beeps. With any of the X CPU's, I get what I did before,  1,3 and 4 flashing, with 1 being of a very short duration, in comparison with 3 and 4 and no beeps. I'm going to try flashing the BIOS to A11 (what it came with) and progress to A16, checking each time. Other than this, I suppose I have to face the fact that the motherboard might be u/s.

Cheers, Mel