Question Intel S5000VSA Will Not Boot

[JonnyAlpha]

Hi;

Setup
I am building a FreeNAS server with an Intel S5000VSA Server Motherboard. This is the model with 8 DIMM slots.
The PSU is the original one from the Server and I have modified an ATX chassis to take this board.

I have only installed 2 x 4GB DIMM sticks and have disconnected the SSD drive that was going to be the FreeNAS Boot device (it is currently blank).
I have tried with and without both a USB and then a PS2 Keyboard connected.

Process
When I switch on the power at the rear of the chassis the 2 x chassis fans connected to system fans sockets and the CPU fan come on for about 2 -3 seconds, the Status LED at the rear of the mobo comes on solid green and the ID LED is solid blue, the fans then stop, the ID LED goes out and the Status LED stays solid green.

When I hit the front panel power switch all the fans come on full power then slow down and when they do the Bit3 LED lights up solid red and the LSB LED lights up solid green, the status LED remains solid green?

When I removed the DIMM sticks the same as above happens and there is no BIOS Beeps complaining about no memory.

In all of the above there is no display on the VGA monitor.

What I have not done
I have not yet tried clearing the BIOS using either the BIOS jumper or by removing the CMOS battery.

Here is a link to the S5000VSA Technical Product Specification Manual

Additional Background Info
The original motherboard - also an S5000VSA and PSU was salvaged from discarded server, it booted fine so I re-flashed / upgraded the BIOS and it was still working, with 4 new sticks of 4GB Memory. However once I started to install the remaining components it stopped booting with three beeps (memory error) with or without memory (know good) it staill failed to boot, so I replaced it with another similar motherboard from eBay (listed as new / old stock). This is not new / old stock as there are signs of previous use (thermal paste and stand off glue).

 

[jimmysmitty]

Stupid question, what CPU(s) are you using and what memory?

 

[JonnyAlpha]

Stupid question, what CPU(s) are you using and what memory?

The CPU is:
XEON Costa Rica 2.00Ghz/12M/1333 E5405

And the Memory I bought was listed as:
DDR2 PC2 5300 5300F 667 MHz 240 ECC Fully Buffered

 

[jimmysmitty]

The technical specifications for the motherboard only list up to the Xeon E5300 series as compatible although ark.intel.com for the board do show the E5400 series as compatible. Could it be that the board doesn't have the latest BIOS microcode to support the E5400 series CPU?

 

[JonnyAlpha]

The technical specifications for the motherboard only list up to the Xeon E5300 series as compatible although ark.intel.com for the board do show the E5400 series as compatible. Could it be that the board doesn't have the latest BIOS microcode to support the E5400 series CPU?

The CPU was in the original board and was working before being retired, probably due to the fault that stopped me using it.
The new board is also an S5000VSA and later in the technical specification it does state "up to two Quad Core XEON Processors 5300 sequence with 1066 or 1333 Front Side Bus"

 

[JonnyAlpha]

The CPU was in the original board and was working before being retired, probably due to the fault that stopped me using it.
The new board is also an S5000VSA and later in the technical specification it does state "up to two Quad Core XEON Processors 5300 sequence with 1066 or 1333 Front Side Bus"

Sorry I just repeated what you said apart from the fact that the CPU was pulled and was working in an Intel S5000VSA albeit the 4DIMM version.

I won't be able to flash the BIOS if it wont POST though anyway?

 

[JonnyAlpha]

I sent a message to the eBay seller pointing out that the motherboard had been used and was not new (as listed) but said I would be happy if they could help get it working.
They have replied with an apology and have said its because it needs an older CPU and update the firmware. They then said they did not have an old CPU but have issued a refund and to keep the board.
I have just found an Intel Xeon L5335 (SLAEN) Quad-core 2.0GHz/8M/1333 Socket LGA771 Processor CPU for £9.99.

Plan is, if it works to install it and see if the Motherboard works and then re-flash the firmware to use the Xeon E5405?

 

[jimmysmitty]

I sent a message to the eBay seller pointing out that the motherboard had been used and was not new (as listed) but said I would be happy if they could help get it working.
They have replied with an apology and have said its because it needs an older CPU and update the firmware. They then said they did not have an old CPU but have issued a refund and to keep the board.
I have just found an Intel Xeon L5335 (SLAEN) Quad-core 2.0GHz/8M/1333 Socket LGA771 Processor CPU for £9.99.

Plan is, if it works to install it and see if the Motherboard works and then re-flash the firmware to use the Xeon E5405?

Thats what I was thinking it was. Glad its that simple and that they are working with you so well.

That said, yes if you use a supported CPU and flash it to the newest firmware you should be able to then install the E5405 and it should work. Of course this is all pending it works with the older CPU.

Bets of luck.

 

[JonnyAlpha]

So the CPU arrived (Intel Xeon L5335 (SLAEN) Quad-core 2.0GHz/8M/1333 Socket LGA771 Processor), however after removing the old and installing it with nothing else plugged in apart from memory, it still will not POST :-(
Same symptoms:

1. Switch on power at PSU fans spin for a couple of seconds and then go off - is this normal?
2. Press front panel power switch and fans come on again this time full power, then slow down to a steady rate.
3. After about 5 seconds when you would expect to hear a POST beep, the LSB LED lights up green and the Bit3 LED lights up red.
4. If you leave everything switched on the fans gradually get faster.

I hope this is not another dead mobo :-(

 

[jimmysmitty]

That is normal for some systems yes. I have dell desktops for my work that when you first plug them in they power on for a few seconds then they turn off.

From the sounds of it I think the board is DoA. At least they offered a refund. But if two CPUs exhibit the same symptoms then your left with one conclusion, especially when the second CPU is supported out of the box.

The only other thing it could be is the memory. Possibly faulty or not compatible, although from what I have read it should be. Maybe buy a lower speed and try that?

 

[JonnyAlpha]

That is normal for some systems yes. I have dell desktops for my work that when you first plug them in they power on for a few seconds then they turn off.

From the sounds of it I think the board is DoA. At least they offered a refund. But if two CPUs exhibit the same symptoms then your left with one conclusion, especially when the second CPU is supported out of the box.

The only other thing it could be is the memory. Possibly faulty or not compatible, although from what I have read it should be. Maybe buy a lower speed and try that?

Two dead boards :-( well at least the boards in the end didn't cost me anything.
Now I have two CPUs, 20GB ECC Memory that I think is OK and a 40GB SSD Drive.

I guess I could look for another S5000VSA or LGA771 compatible board, or call it a day and wait until I can buy something a little newer.

 

[JonnyAlpha]

Out of interest, would I be able to use my memory and CPU in a SuperMicro X7DVL-E board
Looks like it will take my LGA 771 1333 XEON CPU and 667Mhz ECC FB DIMM
The only downside is that is restricted to 24GB RAM, although my NAS system was only going to run 16GB

 

[jimmysmitty]

Its the same chipset so it should support it. I do have a question, are you using one or two CPUs?

 

[JonnyAlpha]

Its the same chipset so it should support it. I do have a question, are you using one or two CPUs?

One CPU, tried the E5405 first, then the L5335 both in the top CPU socket (the one adjacent to the DIMM sockets)

 

[jimmysmitty]

I would check the specs of the SuperMicro and see if it supports running a single CPU. I wouldn't see why not but sometimes manufactures like to make things difficult. However it is the same chipset so it should run your CPU.

 

[JonnyAlpha]

I would check the specs of the SuperMicro and see if it supports running a single CPU. I wouldn't see why not but sometimes manufactures like to make things difficult. However it is the same chipset so it should run your CPU.

Specs on the SuperMicro site say:
Supports up to two Intel® 64-bit Xeon®processor(s) of the same type

So should be OK?

 

[jimmysmitty]

The "Up to" part says to me that it should be able to run with a single CPU so yes it should be fine. Howver make sure you get one with a good return policy just in case.

 

[JonnyAlpha]

OK so the Super Micro turned up, not sure if its going to work because the delivery company dropped it off (literally) whilst I was out. They couldn't get past my super secure gate (held shut with a breeze block) and dropped it over the gate!!

Anyway, it's a SuperMicro X7DVL-E which is listed here as ATX Form Factor. The X7DVL-E is an LGA 771 and is designed to take (I believe) an Intel Active Heatsink. Connections show in the pic below:

Problem is although I have four of the threaded standoffs (they came with my Intel S5000VSA), I need either some nuts the secure them to the case (if I drill into the case and fit them) or some nuts that fit the screws in the heatsink and just secure the heatsink to the motherboard and not the case.

I tried my local hardware shop but it seems the threads are not Metric? Any idea what size the external and internal threads are on these?

 

[jimmysmitty]

Off the top of my head, no. I find it odd that the board is so different. Normally with server parts Intel has a pretty standard design most use.

The images seem to show a backplate on the SuperMicro. Does the Intel board have a backplate you could pull off and put on the SuperMicro?

 

[JonnyAlpha]

Off the top of my head, no. I find it odd that the board is so different. Normally with server parts Intel has a pretty standard design most use.

The images seem to show a backplate on the SuperMicro. Does the Intel board have a backplate you could pull off and put on the SuperMicro?

No they both have the same backplate.

 

[jimmysmitty]

So same backplate but the mount for the heatsink doesn't fit? Seems a bit odd. I will do some digging. I can't say I will find much, there is less info on server parts than consumer parts, but will try.

 

[JonnyAlpha]

So same backplate but the mount for the heatsink doesn't fit? Seems a bit odd. I will do some digging. I can't say I will find much, there is less info on server parts than consumer parts, but will try.

Sorry - no the Heatsink fits, it's the large Stand Offs that fit under the Heatsink backplate, in the server case they screw into pre-drilled and threaded holes so that the heatsink is secured to the case not just the motherboard. I am using an ATX case (the SuperMicro is ATX) but these holes don't appear in a standard ATX case. So I was looking to find some nuts the same thread as the large Heatsink standoffs and secure the Heatsink to the motherboard.

Anyway - I ended up marking and drilling new holes for the standoffs to sit in.

I have just finished putting in the motherboard and I HAVE VIDEO

 

[JonnyAlpha]

I am going to start a new thread to address some of the other challenges I am having.