Memory speed, bl460c G6, I24 10/13/2010

[Adam Garsha]

There used to be a bios setting whereby you could force 1333MHz mem speed if you had appropriate dimms, even when 2dims/channel.

It seems that setting has been replaced with:
Power...->Maximum Memory Bus Freq...->Auto/1066/800

For our systems with 2 1333MHz 8GB dimms per channel.

I have it set at auto and I am wondering how I can tell if I am getting the full 1333 and/or if that HP feature has gone away now with this bios revision.

I look with dmidecode and it reports the dimms are at speed 1333MHz, but I am unsure if that is just reporting capability vs. true currently running speed.

Any ideas?

[Ali]

Hi Adam,

BL460 g6 support 1333MHz, 1066MHz or 800MHz.

NOTE: Depending on the memory configuration and processor model the memory speed may run at 1333MHz, 1066MHz or 800MHz. Please see the Online Memory Configuration Tool for details: www.hp.com/go/ddr3memory-configurator

refer to quickspecs for more details:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/13238_div/13238_div.html#Memory

thanks
Aftab

[Adam Garsha]

My question is not whether it works, my question is how with the new bios can I set to 1333MHz for 2 dimms per channel since (if you read the quickspecs) you can see that you must set via rom bios setup utility if more than one matched dimm per channel.

[Adam Garsha]

Actually that Power->Max... path that I listed earlier also existed in the bios.

So what appears now gone in bios is option:

Advanced Options->Memory Speed with 2 Dimms Per Channel->1333MHz Maximum

This switch is no longer available.

[Adam Garsha]

Link to what used to be true with a picture:

http://www.sbsmn.org/DDR3%20Config%20Recommendations%20for%20G6%20Aug%202009%20c01750914.pdf

[gregersenj]

Read the revision history !!!

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=dk&prodTypeId=3709945&prodSeriesId=3884098&swItem=MTX-43ef32ca534b42ca996f29f104&prodNameId=3884099&swEnvOID=1005&swLang=8&taskId=135&mode=5

Upgrade that BIOS!

BR
/jag

[Adam Garsha]

To be clear about bios versions. The option did exist in 10/13/2010 and I've found it does not exist in the latest-greatest.

That said, I comparing 2 different G6's. The one that has the 5500 series procs vs. a new one that has 5600 series cpu.

I've been told by support that the option is not available when using 5600 series intel nehalums.

I have not been able to test whether upgrading one of my older 5500 series based G6's retains the option.

But at the face of it, assuming support is correct (I didn't get a feel that they really dug deep on my case), I'd say no-can-do with 5600 series procs.

[gregersenj]

What I notised in teh release notes.
Was that they strongly recommended not to used 10/13/2010, due to memory problems.

Just thinking.
Could be a good reason for removing that setting.
Could be some people trying to tweek the system, beyound what some DIMM's or the chipset can really do, and remain stable.

In general I believe in leaving systems at factory default.

BR
/jag

[system_novice]

I know this thread is a bit old, but for anyone who comes across it; I found the below in the BIOS documentation:

Important Notes:

Users should update to this latest firmware revision for any systems running with the 10/13/2010 System ROM revisions. The 10/13/2010 System ROM revisions have a known issue which can result in uncorrectable memory errors and correctable memory threshold errors and should not be utilized. These errors are due to a firmware issue and not a result of a problem with the system hardware or installed DIMMs

I wonder if that's why I couldn't find BIOS version 10/13/2010 to download!