Dell T3400 RAM upgrade

Physeo

Reputable
Feb 10, 2016
2
0
4,510
Hello, I am attempting to upgrade my T3400 with more ram, but I am getting the memory error beep code. The ram is 16gb 4x4 667Mhz ECC registered.

Computer specs
400W PSU
FirePro w5000 GPU
2 500GB SATA HDD
1 250GB SATA HDD
q6600 core 2 quad processor

BIOS version A09
Windows 10 64 bit

I've tried testing one stick at a time, but I still get the beep code so I'm worried that the RAM is incompatible
 
Solution



Physeo,

The T3400 originally used a maximum of 8GB but does support 16GB of RAM with upgraded BIOS, the latest being the one you're using: A09.

However, I believe that the problem is that the ECC RAM should be unbuffered. The dual CPU T5400, T7400, and servers used registered in that era.

_______________________________

I...



Physeo,

The T3400 originally used a maximum of 8GB but does support 16GB of RAM with upgraded BIOS, the latest being the one you're using: A09.

However, I believe that the problem is that the ECC RAM should be unbuffered. The dual CPU T5400, T7400, and servers used registered in that era.

_______________________________

I have a 2008 T5400 purchased in 2010 and still working beautifully, though I have the replacement, a T5500.The hyperthreading CPU's up to 6-core and DDR3 1333 RAM give them contemporary performance.

Not to throw a wrench into the works, but instead of upgrading the T3400, you might have a look at T3500's:

Purchased for $53 + $24 shipping 12.15:

Precision T3500 (2011) (Original) Xeon W3530 4-core @ 2.8 /3.06GHz > 4GB (2X 2GB) DDR3-1333 ECC > GeForce 9800 GT (1GB)> WD Black 500GB
[[Passmark system rating = 1963, CPU = 4482 / 2D= 609 / 3D=805 / Mem= 1409 / Disk=1048]

CPU: $60
RAM: $43
GPU and Drives: Left over from upgrade of Precision T5500

Result:

3. Dell Precision T3500 (2011) (Rev 2) Xeon X5677 4-core @ 3.46 / 3.73GHz > 12GB (6X 2GB) DDR3-1333 ECC > Quadro 4000 (2GB) > PERC 6/i + Seagate 300GB 15K SAS ST3300657SS + WD Black 500GB > 525W PSU> Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > 2X Dell 19" LCD
[Passmark system rating = 2751, CPU = 7236 / 2D= 658 / 3D=2020 / Mem= 1875 / Disk=1221]
[PT9 BETA > Passmark system rating = 2696, CPU = 6595 / 2D= 636 / 3D=2391 / Mem= 1811 / Disk=1203]

With a PERC H310, the disk could be made 6GB/s and using an SSD, have a disk mark similar to the T5500 listed. The PERC controller changed the disk score from 1940 to 2649.

I mention this as the LGA1366 CPU's are fully depreciated and offers a 6-core @ 3.47 /3.73GHz (W3690 and X5690). The highest Passmark CPU rating for a T3400 with a Q6600 is 4074 while for a T3500, the score is 9821 (W3690). The original W3530 2.8 / 3.06GHz CPU in the $53 T3500 had a CPU score of 4482 already higher than the best T3400 / Q6600. LGA1366 Xeon Performance is in the league of medium speed Xeon E5's for 1/4 the cost or less.

This might be a better investment and be useful longer. Compare the T5400 and T5500 below. The total cost of the T5500 was only about $150 more than the T5400. Have a look at the cost of a pair of Xeon E5 6-cores that produce a CPU mark of 15000+ at over 3.5GHz- it's more than $3,000.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

7. Dell Precision T5400 (2008) > 2X Xeon X5460 quad core @3.16GHz > 16GB DDR2 667 ECC> Quadro FX 4800 (1.5GB) > WD RE4 500GB / Seagate Barracuda 500GB > M-Audio 2496 Sound Card / Linksys WMP600N WiFi > HP 2711X, 27" 1920 X 1080 and Dell 19" LCD > Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit >
[ Passmark system Rating = 1853, CPU = 8626 / 2D= 520 / 3D=1097 Mem= 736, Disk= 901] [Cinebench 11.5 CPU=7.54 OpenGL = 51.89 fps] 10.24.15

2. Dell Precision T5500 (2011) (Revised) > 2X Xeon X5680 (6-core @ 3.33 / 3.6GHz), 48GB DDR3 1333 ECC Reg. > Quadro K2200 (4GB ) > PERC H310 / Samsung 840 250GB / WD RE4 Enterprise 1TB > M-Audio 192 sound card > Logitech z313 > 875W PSU > Windows 7 Professional 64> HP 2711x (27", 1920 X 1080)
[ Passmark system rating = 3844 / CPU = 15047 / 2D= 662 / 3D= 3550 / Mem= 1785 / Disk= 2649] (12.30.15)




 
Solution
Everyone from Dell is stating it is capable of 16GB but what I find odd is the official brochure stated 8GB and the chipset for it is the Intel X38 Express which per Intels spec page is only capable of 8GB max.

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/t/19628161

http://ark.intel.com/products/31919

That said, if each individual stick is not posting then it seems that the memory you have gotten is not working. It could be a compatibility issue or you just got bad RAM. I would say return it and try another kit, even though with DDR2 it is not really worth it.

I will also say that even though Dells online techs are stating 16GB is the max I wouldn't take their word for fact since, well the last time I dealt with them they replaced a laptop motherboard 3 times, HDD twice and eventually just gave me a new laptop. Before that I had to guide them to sending me a replacement part that was the problem as they wanted to focus on the servers PERC card when the issue was the Backplane. It is very possible that their information is incorrect and all your system can support is 8GB of either ECC or non ECC RAM.

I would also consider that Dell only sells 2GB sticks for this system:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/category.aspx?category_id=8136&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&mfgpid=193795

I would think that if it supported 4GB DIMMs that they would sell them as well but 4GB DIMMs were at the tail end of life for DDR2.
 
Wow! Thank you guys. I saw in the manual that it was only 8gb max, but it seemed like everywhere else I looked it said 16gb, so I wondered about that. Also, I thought that Fully Buffered RAM had different pin slots entirely and wouldn't even physically fit, so I figured since the ones I got did they would be fine. So, for future reference, in order for RAM to be compatible I need to check for ECC vs non-ECC and registered vs unbuffered.

I think I will take BambiBoom's great advice and look into a T3500, returning the RAM I have and getting some DDR3.

Thank's again for all of your responses!