VOGONS


First post, by emu34b

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https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p ... 2#p1337142

Here’s the original topic. The TL;DR here is that I have a weird server board, and it’s extremely temperamental with memory. I still can’t figure out what is going wrong, and I think I need to slow down before throwing more money at the problem.

So, I picked up some single rank 1rx4 DDR2 (8 of 2 GB) memory, on the suggestion of a user in the last topic. This is some PC-6400P ECC DDR2, Micron. This leads to a brand new issue, when I use this memory: it doesn’t post, silently. No beep codes. Just no video.

So far, I’ve tried the usual. Removed all the expansion cards, reset CMOS, reseated the sticks, no avail. I also have some single rank 1 GB sticks, still doesn’t like that either. The ONLY memory it likes and will post with, is the 2rx4 2 GB sticks mentioned in the other thread.

However, using those other single rank sticks, there is some signs of life when using there. Num lock works, I can see the Ethernet blinking occasionally. Just no video, which doesn’t get me anywhere.

As a shot in the dark, I recently found my serial null modem cable and have acquired a USB to RS-232 adapter. I’m wondering if I can get any information about the problem that way, via console redirection. The manual says that I can do this, but I’m not sure, as it seems to be failing early in the POST process.

Lastly, when looking for RAM. Is there any particular configuration that I need? I’m considering getting some 2rx8 (in 4x4 GB) or 1rx8 (in 8x2 gb). Does speed matter? Also I’m wondering how best to search for this stuff on eBay (I live in Wyoming, nobody is local to me 🤣, so shipping it in is pretty much my only option). Most ECC memory there is FB-DIMM, and then there’s a bunch of sponsored crap and other garbage. Using minus and quotes helps, but not as much as I would like.

Reply 1 of 8, by PC Hoarder Patrol

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emu34b wrote on 2025-03-27, 03:18:
https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1337142#p1337142 […]
Show full quote

https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p ... 2#p1337142

Here’s the original topic. The TL;DR here is that I have a weird server board, and it’s extremely temperamental with memory. I still can’t figure out what is going wrong, and I think I need to slow down before throwing more money at the problem.

So, I picked up some single rank 1rx4 DDR2 (8 of 2 GB) memory, on the suggestion of a user in the last topic. This is some PC-6400P ECC DDR2, Micron. This leads to a brand new issue, when I use this memory: it doesn’t post, silently. No beep codes. Just no video.

So far, I’ve tried the usual. Removed all the expansion cards, reset CMOS, reseated the sticks, no avail. I also have some single rank 1 GB sticks, still doesn’t like that either. The ONLY memory it likes and will post with, is the 2rx4 2 GB sticks mentioned in the other thread.

However, using those other single rank sticks, there is some signs of life when using there. Num lock works, I can see the Ethernet blinking occasionally. Just no video, which doesn’t get me anywhere.

As a shot in the dark, I recently found my serial null modem cable and have acquired a USB to RS-232 adapter. I’m wondering if I can get any information about the problem that way, via console redirection. The manual says that I can do this, but I’m not sure, as it seems to be failing early in the POST process.

Lastly, when looking for RAM. Is there any particular configuration that I need? I’m considering getting some 2rx8 (in 4x4 GB) or 1rx8 (in 8x2 gb). Does speed matter? Also I’m wondering how best to search for this stuff on eBay (I live in Wyoming, nobody is local to me 🤣, so shipping it in is pretty much my only option). Most ECC memory there is FB-DIMM, and then there’s a bunch of sponsored crap and other garbage. Using minus and quotes helps, but not as much as I would like.

Sorry my original suggestion re. memory ranking hasn't helped so far 🙁

If the board is (seemingly) very memory picky, it might be best to revert to Tyans own qualified vendor list as a starting point...

The attachment Tyan Thunder i7520SD (S5365) - Memory QVL.pdf is no longer available

Reply 2 of 8, by PD2JK

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I think your board doesn't support unbuffered RAM, you need Registered DIMMs.

Which modules do you have exactly?

i386 16 ⇒ i486 DX4 100 ⇒ Pentium MMX 200 ⇒ Athlon Pluto 700 ⇒ AthlonXP 1700+ ⇒ Opteron 165 ⇒ Dual Opteron 856

Reply 3 of 8, by emu34b

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PD2JK wrote on 2025-03-27, 05:18:

I think your board doesn't support unbuffered RAM, you need Registered DIMMs.

Which modules do you have exactly?

8x 2 GB HP branded Micron modules:

MT18HTF25672PY-00EE1 0938
1RX4 PC2-6400P-555-13-H0

The 4x1 GB ones:

Hynix HYM512P72CP4-Y5 A8-C
1 GB 1RX4 PC2-5300P-555-12

And the 8x 2 GB modules that it likes only 4 of at a time:

Micron MT36HTF25672PY-66701 200561 BZADLSP010
2GB 2RX4 PC2-5300P, CL5, ECC REG

Reply 4 of 8, by emu34b

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PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2025-03-27, 04:50:
Sorry my original suggestion re. memory ranking hasn't helped so far :( […]
Show full quote
emu34b wrote on 2025-03-27, 03:18:
https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1337142#p1337142 […]
Show full quote

https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p ... 2#p1337142

Here’s the original topic. The TL;DR here is that I have a weird server board, and it’s extremely temperamental with memory. I still can’t figure out what is going wrong, and I think I need to slow down before throwing more money at the problem.

So, I picked up some single rank 1rx4 DDR2 (8 of 2 GB) memory, on the suggestion of a user in the last topic. This is some PC-6400P ECC DDR2, Micron. This leads to a brand new issue, when I use this memory: it doesn’t post, silently. No beep codes. Just no video.

So far, I’ve tried the usual. Removed all the expansion cards, reset CMOS, reseated the sticks, no avail. I also have some single rank 1 GB sticks, still doesn’t like that either. The ONLY memory it likes and will post with, is the 2rx4 2 GB sticks mentioned in the other thread.

However, using those other single rank sticks, there is some signs of life when using there. Num lock works, I can see the Ethernet blinking occasionally. Just no video, which doesn’t get me anywhere.

As a shot in the dark, I recently found my serial null modem cable and have acquired a USB to RS-232 adapter. I’m wondering if I can get any information about the problem that way, via console redirection. The manual says that I can do this, but I’m not sure, as it seems to be failing early in the POST process.

Lastly, when looking for RAM. Is there any particular configuration that I need? I’m considering getting some 2rx8 (in 4x4 GB) or 1rx8 (in 8x2 gb). Does speed matter? Also I’m wondering how best to search for this stuff on eBay (I live in Wyoming, nobody is local to me 🤣, so shipping it in is pretty much my only option). Most ECC memory there is FB-DIMM, and then there’s a bunch of sponsored crap and other garbage. Using minus and quotes helps, but not as much as I would like.

Sorry my original suggestion re. memory ranking hasn't helped so far 🙁

If the board is (seemingly) very memory picky, it might be best to revert to Tyans own qualified vendor list as a starting point...

The attachment Tyan Thunder i7520SD (S5365) - Memory QVL.pdf is no longer available

Will give a look over. Thanks!

Reply 5 of 8, by emu34b

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Update: got some 1RX4 2 GB modules. They work fine, but right now I only have 4 to test. Mixing in my 1RX4 1 GB modules to add more does not work however, nor mixing them with the previous sticks I bought.

I’ll update again tomorrow, when the other sticks come in. Probably won’t buy anymore RAM after this though.

Reply 6 of 8, by emu34b

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Final update: Yep, with one of the 800 mhz sticks mixed in, I finally got it going with 16 GB of RAM! Very happy. Now the build is nearly done, and I even have some room for FSB overclocking as my board is running the RAM at 400 MHz. That part shouldn’t have much trouble with even like a 25% overclock, which I kind of doubt I’ll get.

Reply 7 of 8, by emu34b

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Final final update: This board either really doesn't like the 2 gig sticks I have or I have bad luck with DDR2. Downgraded to 10 GB (4x2 and 2x1), that's still plenty of memory for Windows XP. It's very stable now.

Sadly FSB overclocking (via setfsb) isn't working yet. Does anyone know what the clock generator for this board or chipset is? The board contains the E7520 chipset. It could be failing because of me being unlucky or dumb, haha.

Reply 8 of 8, by PD2JK

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Shoot some pictures of the IC's between the northbridge and the CPU socket.

i386 16 ⇒ i486 DX4 100 ⇒ Pentium MMX 200 ⇒ Athlon Pluto 700 ⇒ AthlonXP 1700+ ⇒ Opteron 165 ⇒ Dual Opteron 856