HP Z4 G4. No boot, two workstation failed in three months .

[Quique69]

I have two Z4 G4 workstations, with Xeon processors, running well a few times a year since many years ago. In three months time lapse, both units stop working. With same problem.

No boot. The power supply turns off, and on, a few times, and after a while, three long beeps, and three short beeps. Same problem ... I guess it is not a graphic card problem, I'm using NVIDIA NVS low cost quadro cards, but I guess they both cards work. I could not test the Nvidia card with a different computer.

What could it be ?, any solution to fix this ?

Thanks in advance,

Enrique

[NonSequitur777 · Accepted solution]

@Quique69,

Welcome to our HP Community forum!

Thank you for your detailed question and for providing the beep code and hardware details.

Based on HP’s official Z4 G4 Workstation documentation, the 3 long red beeps followed by 3 short white blinks indicate:

Graphics subsystem failure (3.3 beep code)
Potential causes: graphics card, GPU driver corruption, PCIe slot issue, or insufficient power delivery.

Since both Z4 G4 workstations developed the same issue in a short time frame, and you're using similar Nvidia NVS low-power cards, this strongly suggests an external factor. Here's a breakdown of what may be happening and what to try:

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Likely Cause: Power Quality Issues:

• Sudden power interruptions (e.g., brownouts, surges, or voltage sags) can damage GPU circuits or power delivery paths on the motherboard.

• Low-end Quadro NVS cards are not power-hungry, but if the 12V rail from the PSU becomes unstable, even light loads can cause system instability or failure to POST.

Were these systems protected by a UPS with AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulation)?

If not, it's very possible that power fluctuation events (especially in older buildings or during storms/summer peak loads) gradually damaged components.

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Suggested Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Test with Known-Good Graphics Card

• Even a basic PCIe x16 card (e.g., old GT 710) can help confirm whether the NVS card is the failure point.

• If the system boots with another GPU, the original card is likely damaged.

2. Reseat and Clean

• Reseat the GPU and RAM.

• Blow out the PCIe slot gently with compressed air.

• If you see dust or residue, clean the gold contacts with electronics grade isopropyl alcohol.

3. Try Integrated Graphics (if supported)

• The Z4 G4 with some Xeon CPUs may lack iGPU — but if yours supports integrated graphics:

  • Remove the discrete GPU.

  • Try booting using motherboard video output.

4. Check Power Supply (PSU) Health

• A failing PSU can cause fluctuating voltages, which simulate GPU failure symptoms.

• If you can swap in a known-good PSU (HP 925-watt/1125-watt spare), it could rule out power delivery problems.

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Additional Recommendations:

Use a High-Quality UPS:

To prevent future failures, use a UPS with AVR:

• Protects against voltage dips/spikes.

• Ensures clean shutdowns during blackouts.

• Extends component lifespan significantly.

---

Final Thought:

I suspect that without a UPS, power anomalies may have silently degraded either the GPU or the power regulation circuitry.

The simultaneous failure of two similar workstations under light usage hints at environmental stress rather than wear and tear.

Let me know the outcome of any GPU swaps or PSU testing.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[Quique69]

Hi, 

Well, I am extremely grateful for your excellent response. I have already solved the problem; both GPUs were faulty, and the battery was also dead. After struggling a bit, I have everything working now. Thank you so much!!

[NonSequitur777]

@Quique69,

You are most welcome -glad I could assist!

Kind Regards / Atentamente,

NonSequitur777