CPU Mismatch (Fatal Error System Halted) on Supermicro board

[Tom_05]

I have recently bought this Supermicro H8QME-2 and four AMD Opteron 8439 SE proccessors to go with it and 32GB of ram. Ive got everything setup and on boot i get a CPU Mismatch error and the system halts right after the memory test. The board thinks I got a dual core 8339 when I have a hexacore 8439 SE. I have not plugged in the other 3 CPUs yet because I think that would make it more complicated to fix.

 

[McHenryB]

I also notice a "CMOS checksum" error. Have you tried clearing the CMOS? (You may then need to repeat the flash procedure, but it seems to be progress that the CPU was recognized.)

 

[Tom_05]

I also notice a "CMOS checksum" error. Have you tried clearing the CMOS? (You may then need to repeat the flash procedure, but it seems to be progress that the CPU was recognized.)

I tried bridging the 2 pads for the CMOS clear both with unplugged and plugged in, did another flash but it reverted back to 3.0. Why does it still say CPU mismatch after a successful flash? It detects the Six Core Opteron 8439SE that I have put in?
Why is it not keeping the BIOS upgrade and is reverting to the old BIOS?

 

[McHenryB]

You could try replacing the CMOS battery if you haven't already done so. If the BIOS isn't being flashed properly it may be worth investing $15 or so in a pre-flashed BIOS chip. Otherwise I'm out of ideas.

 

[Tom_05]

Where would I find a pre-flashed BIOS chip with the BIOS I want on it (That is inside Europe EC)? Its not like everyone owns one of these boards...
Also, is having a dead CMOS battery going to affect the way I flash my board?

 

[McHenryB]

I gave an eBay address a few posts back - here it is again: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BIOS-CHIP-SUPERMICRO-H8QME-2-H8DMi-2-H8SMi-2-H8DC8-X7DB8-X-X7DBU-H8QMi-2-/170959333229?pt=UK_Computing_Motherboard_Components&hash=item27cdf8676d&clk_rvr_id=774542770327&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true £10, which has got to be worth a punt. and it says it's the latest BIOS

I don't know whether a dead battery would affect flashing but it is a common cause of the "checksum error" message, and I think you need to get that sorted. Batteries are cheap enough that it's worth changing anyway if you don't know its provenance. I'm really not familiar with that particular motherboard so I can't give definitive answers.

 

[Tom_05]

If im gonna buy the chip I might aswell buy a full EPROM flasher, just in case I have to update the chip or it gets corrupted! Thanks for the ebay link, definitely buying. Cheers

Also, checked the battery with my multimeter and it is dead, however I thought the battery was only used when all PSU power was lost

 

[scout_03]

in the motherboard user manual they suggest to use dos to flash bios i would cpu 1 and cpu2 with memory and made shure they have the same serial number that could be why it tell mismatch .

 

[Tom_05]

They are both Opteron 8439SEs do they have to have a matching serial number?

 

[scout_03]

check if they match reference number that what you need http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_Opteron

 

[Tom_05]

What is the reference number?
Ive looked through http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opteron but couldnt find it

 

[scout_03]

use the link i post and under istanbul at the bottom of the page os8439yds6dgn rev do made in 2009 they are the same as 2439se only with another reference number .

 

[Tom_05]

Ah at the bottom of the page!
I bought 4 8439SEs since the motherboard only supports 8xxx series AMD processors

 

[scout_03]

been looking back at bios picture ant in the first it detect cpu as 8339 with wrong dtc1 value and a usb external hdd in the second one it detect cpu as it should but read cd/dvd rom as primary and no hdd ,so do you have a internal hdd in the system and i would have this board check ,the other thing what happens if you use only one cpu in slot one how system detect it .a point that bug me you update the bios and it return back to the 3.0 version so if the board is under warranty i would rma usualy bios update stay and dont revert them selves back .

 

[Tom_05]

I don't use a HDD, I have 2 DVD-RAM drived and a floppy drive.

Also, whats a wrong DCT1 value

It detects it as a 8339 with the old bios, new bios (with emergency floppy flash) detects it as a 8439 SE (correct) You were probably looking at the wrong picture
This is the latest bios bootup:

Sadly its not under warranty ...

 

[scout_03]

cmos check sum bad means you have something corrupted in the bios files i would look it the 3.5a is the latest bios for this board you may try reflash it to see if check sum still give error .

 

[McHenryB]

Is it still giving the CMOS checksum error with a new battery? Are you able to get into the BIOS to load the default values? I think that you are going to have problems until you can clear up this particular error.

 

[Tom_05]

There is no CMOS reset button or jumper, only 2 metal pads. I have tried bridging them with a copper metal piece both when unplugged and pluggged in. The battery is new and outputting 3.4v Should I bridge those before flashing or after? I can't get into the BIOS since you need a CPU (detected and operational) for BIOS functions

 

[scout_03]

do that unplug with power off or you may brick the motherboard for ever and will have to buy a new one .

 

[Tom_05]

Its hard to tell when the power if off. When I unplug all 3 power cords it starts beeping and flashing the "Power Supply Failure" LEDs on the front panel until you cancel the warning. And still, there are lights that stay on in the case and front panel even when unplugged. If you try to start it without being plugged in is starts beeping again and flashing the "Power Supply Failure Lamps" together with the "General Warning" lamp

 

[scout_03]

usualy there is only one power cord that came out the outlet to the system that the one you need to unplug so it wont get any power .

 

[Tom_05]

I bought a BIOS chip with BIOS 3.5 on it for 10$ (and a PLC extractor for another 15$), swapped em out and works great!!
Thanks everyone for the help

 

[scout_03]

you solve by getting a new bios great i would at least send a message to supermicro about this issue to let them know you not happy that you have to buy a new bios to use the motherboard . McHenryB suggestion was a good one for bios exchange .

 

[McHenryB]

To be fair to Supermicro, they do make it very clear on their web site what level of BIOS is required for what processor. I get the impression that this is a second-hand buy, which was originally sold before these processors existed, so it's hardly the manufacturer's fault.

 

[Tom_05]

Yes that is correct, It is not Supermicro's fault since the board was made before the processors were made and bought "used" (It was bought by a company then sold because it was incompatible but never actually was powered on, so you could say its new) It was in the original casing sealed and with all documents and accessorys

If this was actually bought directly from Supermicro like the chassis I doubt I would have such issues with it since they do seem to ship their products with the latest BIOS like with many other products I have bought from them

 

[scout_03]

the good thing is you have the system work for the $$$$ you put in .