[SOLVED] Server mainboard - No VGA/No post. Incompatible RAM?

[thislinuxguy]

Hey,

let's start by saying that I've done quite a few PC builds, but never something with an server MB/ECC supporting MB.
The setup is a replacement for the AMD desktop hardware currently in my NAS (with a tiny case).
To save some $ (or € in my case), I bought some older used components.

So I got:

• Mainboard: https://de.msi.com/Motherboard/CSM-C222-089/Specification (new)
• CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231v3 (used)
• RAM: https://www.skhynix.com/eolproducts.view.do?pronm=DDR3+SDRAM&srnm=HMT31GR7BFR4C&rk=20&rc=module (used)
  

and assembled everything, turned it on and there was no VGA output from the AST1300 (tested with two different working monitors).
Of course as you do, I removed everything not necessary, and still no success.
The fans do spin up and stay that way, and the Ethernet controller seems to work fine as well (it lights up as per the manual).
I tried each of the modules alone and two known-good non-ECC modules as well (DDR3L ones).

So my questions are:

1. Is the RAM not compatible? To me, the specs from vendor, MSI site and MSI manual are not clear/the same:
Seller:

• 2x DDR3 slot
• 1333/1600 MHz LDIMM (PC3L-12800E/DDR3L-1600)
• 1333/1600 MHz LVDIMM
• supports ECC LDIMM/ LVDIMM up to 16GB

MSI site:

1333/1600 MHz LDIMM; 1333/1600 MHz LVDIMM Supports ECC LDIMM/ LVDIMM

I suppose L/VDIMM means DDR3L? Can't find this exact term.

MSI Manual:

So the seller and the website says it can only support DDR3L and the manual allows both?
I'm also not sure about registered/unbuffered ECC. The RAM I bought is RDIMM (registered), and the specs don't say RDIMM, so I guess this might be the issue.

2. If the RAM isn't compatible, what would be the correct RAM to buy?

Thanks a lot in advance

 

[helpstar]

Did you install a graphics card?
This XEON doesn´t have a graphics unit built in, but the motherboard has a graphics controller onboard.

Reset the BIOS by jumper

In the manual you can find
U-DIMM Module Support
so it´s supporting unbuffered/unregistered ECC modules (not really sure if this is correct)

This XEON is a Haswell refreh CPU, which needs an up to date BIOS before you can use it with this motherboard. Eventually you will need an older "normal" Haswell CPU and flash the latest BIOS to the motherboard.

 

[thislinuxguy]

Hey, thanks for the reply, although I have solved the issue by now (it's been a full month after all). I'm sorry I didn't post the solution/mark it as solved.
Yes, the MB has an Aspeed VGA chip. I tried resetting CMOS first & then some other things, but as I already suspected & then confirmed with the vendor the RAM was incompatible. The mainboard only supports unregistered ECC LDIMM (which is quite an unusual requirement as far as I can tell). I ended up with some 2x8GB Hynix 2rx8 PC3L-12800E DIMMs which worked perfectly fine, no BIOS update needed.

 

[nst197]

Hey, thanks for the reply, although I have solved the issue by now (it's been a full month after all). I'm sorry I didn't post the solution/mark it as solved.
Yes, the MB has an Aspeed VGA chip. I tried resetting CMOS first & then some other things, but as I already suspected & then confirmed with the vendor the RAM was incompatible. The mainboard only supports unregistered ECC LDIMM (which is quite an unusual requirement as far as I can tell). I ended up with some 2x8GB Hynix 2rx8 PC3L-12800E DIMMs which worked perfectly fine, no BIOS update needed.

Hey,

I'm having the same issue you were having with this motherboard. I've tried using unbuffered/non registered memory like you did but it still isn't working for me. I was wondering if you could help me with a question about the graphics. Did you use the onboard VGA in your setup and what processor did you use? I've seen some comments suggesting you have to have a CPU that has built in gfx in order to use the onboard VGA port but I don't think that's right.

TIA

 

[thislinuxguy]

Hey,

I'm having the same issue you were having with this motherboard. I've tried using unbuffered/non registered memory like you did but it still isn't working for me. I was wondering if you could help me with a question about the graphics. Did you use the onboard VGA in your setup and what processor did you use? I've seen some comments suggesting you have to have a CPU that has built in gfx in order to use the onboard VGA port but I don't think that's right.

TIA

Hey,

the board is a server mainboard supporting Xeon processors which do not have onboard graphics. The onboard graphics are provided by the ASPEED chip on the motherboard. If I remember correctly, both HDMI and VGA worked. But do try to change resolutions on your monitor if your board posts correctly. The memory I ended up buying is a 2x8GB kit of Hynix HMT41GU7MFR8A. You need PC3L-12800E, which is unregistered ECC, not the usual registered ECC, and because it's less common it's also more expensive.

 

[nst197]

Hi,

Thanks for responding. I've brought the same memory as you did -
HMT41GU7MFR8A-PB

I'm not entirely sure if it's POST'ing, it's just not displaying anything on the screen at all. I've ordered a seperate PCIe gfx card to see if tat maes any difference but I can't help thinking it's just the mb is DOA.

 

[thislinuxguy]

Hi,

Thanks for responding. I've brought the same memory as you did -
HMT41GU7MFR8A-PB

I'm not entirely sure if it's POST'ing, it's just not displaying anything on the screen at all. I've ordered a seperate PCIe gfx card to see if tat maes any difference but I can't help thinking it's just the mb is DOA.

You can attach a BIOS speaker to hear if it is posting and if not what the error code is. For me it did beep the incompatible memory code.