Poweredge 2650 Strange Occurance

Hi,

I am surprised that you still can source for a 2650, it is nearly impossible to find parts for this server if there is any hardware issue.

It only loses power to the CD drives and hard drives? The server is still on, fan is spinning, and the server is still able to display its POST information? Have you tried any of the cable checking? How many drives are installed? Have you tried installing on other slots?

@DELL-Joey C​ Good Morning, Thank you for your response, yes I was surprised as well that parts can still be obtained for older poweredge units. What happened was we was trying to install windows then it asked for a product key thats when the monitor went completely blank and the CD and SAS drives started behaving abnormal.

I have tried the following configurations and alternatives: 

1.Reseated the riser card and replaced RAM modules, even ones the manual says is compatible but at POST it refuses it saying there is an memory issue in bank 1. 

2. Replaced PSU with new ones and changed motherboard and reset the battery on the board.

3. changed SAS boot order and SAS configuration, changed BIOS settings for time/date etc. 

4.Replaced the SAS drives with different ones than the original used to try and install windows server 2003 and server 2008 which is meant to be supported by the 2650. 

5. Took out the jumper and reseated the jumper card for reset. 

Following this the server sometimes boots normally with minimal ram installed while othertimes it will beep error code memory error, but even with a new riser card the motherboard didn't like it nor the ram we replaced either and refuses to show anything on the monitor at all including the DELL logo with it's loading functionality.

Even after replacing the motherboard with a completely new one it still has issues the processors work fine we checked them the system recongnises them in the BIOS. 

The strangest issue is now it loses power to the CD drive and the SAS drives simultaneously then does nothing wont show DELL logo sometimes wont even get past POST or if it does get past POST it decides to turn the monitor off like it goes blank but fans and internal power supply's are still working and functional but your unable to see what is happening because even if you try and turn the monitor on again a switch its source to HDMI or VGA it will do nothing show no output signal on the monitor. 

No errors or lights come on the power supply units however on the riser card it does it keeps flashing yellow. when you take its casing off you can see its flashing yellow but doesn't show any error codes or messages on the screen bezel.

I think either something wrong with the motherboard itself even though its been replaced with a completely new one then I put back the old motherboard as it still functions. But I believe it could be possible a bad update that might of caused this Iv'e had this server since 2012 iv'e only got it out of storage about a month back we been trying to fix the issues we thought was simple fixes. 

Kind Regards 
AC 

Hi,

From what you explained, you do have spare components of each hardware, except the processor?

By the way, the server uses SCSI disk, not SAS. Just to be on the same page. Have you tried minimal to only 1 CPU, 1 Memory, without riser, without backplane? 

@DELL-Joey C​ Good Evening Joey, 

Yes thank you for the correction and the quick response, you are right SCSI, sorry about that. I have the following parts spare: 

RAM 
Riser Card 
PSU 

We have tried without the riser card and only one RAM module which it will allow POST with however we can't try without riser card as the machine will not simply power on not sure if this is due to needing the riser card for it to be a complete circuit. only with a specific type of ram it will POST and boot with other ram that the manual has said is compatible with the 2650 it simply doesn't like and refuses to boot or POST leaving the server with power and not being able to see anything on screen.

We have tried without the backpane but this did not make any difference in terms of how the server responds at boot and POST.

I can try the method you mentioned only 1 CPU I will let you know when I have managed to do that as time is limited at the moment. 

Kind Regards 
AC

Hi,

I can't think of anything else that can revive the server. The weird issue is you have already replaced the mainboard, but showing the same symptom. Speaking of memory module, it is ECC PC-1600 DDR SDRAM RDIMM right? It can maximum support up to 1GB per module. 

Are you using any VGA converter? It's a direct VGA to VGA monitor right?

@DELL-Joey C​ Thank you for your reply the Ram that was already in the 2650 was 1GB DDR 266MHz PC2100 by vendor called Netlist however the 2650 doesn't like it, it refuses to post with it installed. This ram gives memery error code errors via beep/morse code as the bezzel LCD doesn't show anything at all its just a blue screen when it should be orange as I have seen youtube videos of the server when fully working and functional. The next ram we have tested and this is the odd one, Samsung M312L2920BTS-CBO 1GB RDIMM  works but according to the manual it shouldn't but the RAM the manual actually says that would work doesn't either and that one is Samsung M383L2828DT1-CA0 1GB RDIMM. 

Another weird issue is that when you completely unplug the server with no power it will post when you plug back in the power to the PSU however it will then after about 1-2 minutes revert and behave abnormal again cutting power to the SCSI drives and CD rom and turning the monitor off again but fans are still running.

Regarding the VGA I swapped my Razer Raptor monitor as we did have it connected to a HDMI to VGA converter at first but I then found an old Samsung VGA monitor and plugged a VGA to VGA since but now having issues with the server locking itself up after POST. 

Kind Regards 
AC 

Hi,

266Mhz PC2100 will not work because it only can support up to PC1600 (200mhz).

M383L2828DT1 is listed as compatible memory for 2650 in part search. 

So after changing VGA to VGA monitor, does it still have issues with no display?

What processor are you using, cause PE2650 has very limited support on processor models. 

1) Intel Xeon 1.8GHz (RN80532KC033512)

2) Intel Xeon 2.0GHZ CPU 400FSB 

3) PRC,80532,2.8GHZ,512,SKF

@DELL-Joey C​ Good Evening, Since our last conversation I have retested the 2650 I have found that it now even doesn't appear to want to go into the BIOS, it will then shut the screen off without even having the SCSI drives or CD-ROM Drive powered. 

You mentioned that the 266MHz RAM shouldn't however it does not sure why this is the case the RAM you mentioned that was compatible via its specifications from DELL manual doesn't even go into POST all you get is the server constantly running without any output on monitor or SCSI drives, CD-ROM Drive and or Keyboard and Mouse. 

The processor that I can see it being is a Intel Xeon SL6VP 3.06GHZ, 533MHZ L2 Cache 512KB but the 2650 will not even allow me to go into the BIOS anymore since trying to install Windows Server 2003. 

VGA to VGA connection from 2650 to monitor still has the same issues as before it will show up then it will then shut off without losing power to SCSI drives and CD-ROM Drive to Keyboard and Mouse as well but the server will still run and fans are still going. 

Kind Regards 
AC

Hi,

It looks like it might be the processor. PE 2650 is limited to a few processors only. You can refer to the above processor list that I've posted. 

@DELL-Joey C​ Good Afternoon, Can you check for me if its the right processor for the motherboard MX-07X709-48109-37C-07V7 Further to our last conversation it wont always allow to access to the bios after loading and screen goes completely off now every 15-20 seconds but stays running. 

Kind Regards 
AC 

Hello,

the processor of the Joey list are compatible with this motherboard.

Thanks

@DELL-Marco B​ Good Evening, Thank you for your response nice to meet you can you tell me what this processor is for Intel Xeon SL6VP 3.06GHZ, 533MHZ L2 Cache 512KB Socket 604.

This would help me understand why this 2650 has this processor, and if this is not the correct processor why someone would put it on this motherboard you mentioned. 

Kind Regards
AC

@DELL-Joey C​ Good Evening, Thank you for your quick response the BIOS version currently installed is A15. Thank you for your help so far it has been much appreciated. 

Kind Regards 
AC