RX2660 - What DIMM RAM?

[math_from_france]

Hi all,

I have a rx2660 running hpux with 4GB RAM.
I want to add more RAM to this server.
So, I've browsed the official Doc by HP, it's written:
"The eight server DIMMs attach directly to the system board. The supported DIMMs are
ndustry-standard, 30mm(1.18 in) high, PC2-4200DIMMs.Hot-spare and hot-plug functionality
s not supported.".

Therefore I decided to buy this type of memory which is, from my point of view, the same one as the classic PC. I bought last week 2x2GB from kingstom, plugged it into the server but nothing happened, the server didnt want to boot.

I tried another brand, (PNY) and it's the same result.

I dont understand what's wrong and I've contacted HP to learn more. The answer is simple, "buy our memory". But it costs 600$!! (kingston classic PC 40$).

Why the official documentation relates the use of PC4200 standard industry????

Best regards,
Mathias

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

Kingston has low cost alternatives but:

http://partsurfer.hp.com

Will get you part numbers for server parts.

Or
http://docs.hp.com/en/hw.html#HP%20Integrity%20rx2660%20Server

Part numbers for HP parts are provided there.

You can't use PC ram in an rx2660.

But they do have a search function by hardware that might provide a match.

SEP

[V. Nyga]

Hi,

HP uses ECC RAM, most pc RAM are cheaper because they don't have the ECC feature.

See for example wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECC_RAM#Error-correcting_code

You should search for specific RAM offered for your ws, for example Dataram:
http://www.dataram.com/memory/system-model/103/4_/hp-integrity-rx2660-memory

Kingston also had offered RAM for HP ws, I don't know if they still do it.

HTH
Volkmar

[math_from_france]

Thank you,

And what about this:
http://www.ldlc.com/fiche/PB00067495.html

It's ECC! only 60 Euros (70 Dollards).

Do the Dimm need to be both registred+ECC or only ECC?

Thk you

[V. Nyga]

Hi again,

well 6 years ago Kingston RAM worked with my HP ws.
These are different to the first ones, right?
I'm quite sure that these should work, but I can't guarantee.

Dataram for example offers an evaluation for 60 days.

HTH
V.

[Steven Schweda]

> [...] the official Doc by HP [...]

Which "the official Doc", where?

> [...] I bought last week 2x2GB from
> kingstom, [...]

You bought week 2x2GB of _what_, exactly,
from Kingston? Did you buy it from Kingston,
or did you buy Kingston memory from someone
else? Did you tell the seller what you
intended to use the memory in? Does the
Kingston Web site tell you what to use in an
rx2660?

> Do the Dimm need to be both registred+ECC
> or only ECC?

You're _buying_ memory, and you _don't_ know
this?

> Why the official documentation relates the
> use of PC4200 standard industry????

Why not, if it's true? As you seem to have
discovered, there are more attributes to
memory than "PC4200", like ECC or not, and
registered or not. Some modules are taller
than others, too.

You might look at the old memory. ECC memory
typically has memory chips in multiples of
nine, not eight. Many (not all) non-ECC
modules have an empty space where the ninth
chip would go. Any serious computer will be
using ECC memory. Registered memory
typically has one or a few smaller,
non-memory chips in addition to the usual
memory chips. On older modules, the register
chips were often in a row near the connector
edge. On newer modules, any register chips
are typically in the middle, between the
memory chips.

You might learn a few things by searching on
Ebay, and looking at the pictures.

> [...] But it costs 600$!! [...]

It probably works, too, and you don't need to
know anything about memory to buy it. I buy
Ebay bargain memory for all my needs
(including my rx2600 systems), but it helps
to know what you're buying. You did check to
see if the modules are installed in sets of
two, right?

[Colin Butcher]

A quick search on the web for "rx2660 memory" returned these, among others:

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/listparts.aspx?model=Integrity+rx2660&mfgr=HP+-+Compaq

http://www.1stchoicememory.com/catalog/configurator.asp?b=HP%2FCOMPAQ&m=26674

This isn't a PC - it's a high-end system with all the necessary memory features for reliability and performance.

The HP Product bulletin for the rx2660 gives the following information:

Memory Configuration:

The HP Integrity rx2660 supports DDR (double data rate) SyncDRAM (synchronous dynamic random access memory) DIMMs with ECC and chip spare protection. The HP Integrity rx2660 has eight DIMM slots. A maximum of 32 GB is supported (8Ã 4GB DIMMs).

Memory Loading Rules and Performance Guidelines:

Memory must be installed in groups of two DIMMs, also known as pairs or modules
Each memory pair must consist of DIMMs of the same type: same capacity/density, same organization, same number of ranks, and same speed.

Memory must be ordered in modules (pairs) of 2 GB (2Ã 1GB), 4 GB (2Ã 2GB), or 8 GB (2Ã 4GB).

Minimum memory is 2 GB (2Ã 1GB). NOTE: 2-GB is required for HP-UX 11i v3.

Maximum memory is 32-GB, using four 8 GB (2Ã 4GB) memory pairs.

Arrange DIMMs so that the pairs with the largest capacity are in the lowest numbered slots.

For best performance, all DIMM slots should be populated with the same size DIMM.
 
Supported Memory Options:

2-GB chip spare PC2 4200 ECC x4 single rank Registered DDR2 SDRAM memory pair (2x1 GB DIMMs)- AD274A
4-GB chip spare PC2 4200 ECC x4 single rank Registered DDR2 SDRAM memory pair (2x2 GB DIMMs) - AD275A
8-GB chip spare PC2 4200 ECC x4 single rank Registered DDR2 SDRAM memory pair (2x4 GB DIMMs) - AD276A

Colin (http://www.xdelta.co.uk).