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cjoe7Flag for United States of America

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Cannot upgrade HP DL380 G5 beyond 8GB ram.

HP DL380 G5 Configuration:
-- 2x5160 3Ghz CPUs
-- 8GB installed upgraded from 4GB.  Dual Rank FBDIMM PC2-5300 667Mhz
-- Latest Firmware 10/25/2010

Purchased 8x2GB of Dual Rank FBDIMM PC2-5300 667Mhz ECC memory from web site stating memory compatible with HP DL380 G5.

Installed 4GB Bank A - Slot 1,3 - Posts
Installed 8GB Bank AB - Slot 1,3,5,7 - Posts
Installed 12GB Bank ABC - Slot 1,2,3,4,5,7 - No Post
Installed 16GB Bank ABCD - Slot 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 - No Post

Cleared CMOS / NVRAM from Rom Bios Utilities - Same as above
Enable SW6 then booted to RBSU.  Shutdown.  Disable SW6 and booted - Same as above

Updated Bios to latest 10/25/2010 firmware - Same as above
Also tried a 2006 and 2008 firmware prior - Same as above

System only seems to post when memory in Bank A (slot 1,3) or Banks AB (slot 1,3,5,7).  All memory seems to be interchangeable and fully working.  Swapped the various modules around in the working slots.  The G5 front panel does not show any memory errors on any of the modules.

Previously, the server was a single 1.8Ghz Quad Core CPU.  I replaced that single CPU with two 3Ghz Dual Core kits (VRM and Heatsinks).  The Post shows 2 CPUs with 4 Cores available.  The system is running XenServer with all 4 Cores available.  Is there some compatibility with these CPUs and accessing Bank C or Bank CD?  Is there some sort of switch or setting to enable access to Bank C or Bank CD?

With 2 CPUs installed, Banks CD should be available.  The DL380 G5 supports 8x2GB configuration according to users in HP forums.  We should be able to just install the memory and it should just work.

Please help.  What am I missing?

Thanks for looking

cjoe
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Member_2_231077

Memory population rules are at http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12477_na/12477_na.html#Memory , I'd very much suspect the 3rd party DIMMs you're using, can you give us the full spec of them please, e.g. manufacturer and part no.
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ASKER

Here is the label info:

ATP NEE
SiMech 14059
Part#: AP56K72G4BHE6S
2048MB FB-DIMM-667
www.atpinc.com

Description from website in FB-DIMM Section:
Low-Profile 1.2"
240-pin
DDR2 667
Registered
ECC
2GB

I noticed that this memory does not say dual rank like some of their other memory.  Is dual rank a requirement for the DL380 to reach Banks C&D?
HP sells single rank dimms.  I've read a couple of post on HP's site where users have a single rank bank mixed with dual rank banks.

Also, I have original HP 2x2GB dual rank memory that I tried mixing with the other memory.  I placed the new memory in slot 1-3-5-7 (bank AB) and the old memory in slot 2-4 (bank C).  It did not work.  I also tried the original memory in slot 1-3 (bank A) and the other memory in slot 2-4-5-7 (bank BC) without success.  I was able mix the old memory with new in either bank A or Bank B slots 1-3-5-7 for 8GB.

Thanks.
Still can't see anything wrong, they are compatible. Dual-rank is not a requirement, in fact single-rank easier to use than dual-rank due to loadings. Were banks C and D in use previously?
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D_Vante

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ASKER

andyalder:
No.  Banks C and D were never used.

D Vante[
Serious!  Why would HP sell a non-upgradeable motherboard?  Was there any solution?
There are 2 motherboards for DL380 g5, but both are for two CPUs and are supposed to allow access to all 8 DIMM slots.

From maintenance and service guide...

17 System boards — — —
a) System board with processor cage and
battery, supporting Intel® Xeon® 50xx and
51xx processors*
012516-001 407749-001
b
) System board with processor cage and
battery, supporting Intel® Xeon® 52xx,
53xx, and 54xx processors*
013096-001 436526-001
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ASKER

I'm going to call the Insight.com our reseller and verify the problem.

Will let you guys know how it goes.

Thanks
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ASKER

I need to credit the expert.  Finally, resolved the issue.  Took longer than expected.
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Objecting on behalf of the asker, to allow for different disposition

Qlemo
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ASKER

We had an early generation Motherboard.  Even with 2 CPU installed Banks C & D were not available.

We ended up installing 2x8GB in banks A (HP P/N:398709-071) and 2x2GB in bank B for 20GB.