HP Z600 Rev. C2 memory upgrade

[RogerT268]

Hi, 

      Is  the following DIMM memory compatible with HP Z600 Rev. C2?

If this DIMM works, can I put 6*16Gb=96GB total for dual CPUs (X5650)? 

Thanks,

Roger

Kingston 16GB PC3-10600R 1333MHz 2Rx4 ECC Registered Memory :

Brand: Kingston

Model: KTH-PL313LV/16G

Memory Type: PC3L-10600R (DDR3-1333) for servers

Memory Pins: 240-Pin

Voltage : Low, 1.35V

ECC, Registered

[RogerT268]

I also "YouTube" the video below.  It seems that  my HP Z600 Rev. C2 (block date: 01/07/10) can support 6*16GB PC3L-10600R.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbpraeFzUqA

Am I missing anything?

[SDH · Accepted solution]

Roger.... welcome back. 

That video is pretty good, but they get some stuff wrong. Yes, it is very important to get a Z600 v2 rather than a v1 as they say. However it is the right hand side HP part number on the motherboard's bar code label that is key to getting a v2, not the one on the left hand side. The left side one has to do with how the motherboard was "branded" in its firmware, having to do with licensing for Windows/Linux/etc. The right side part number will work every time... not so for the left side part number.

Regarding memory... That "L" means Low Voltage capable. It does not mean that anywhere you put it it will run at 1.35 volts. In fact if you put it in your HP Z600 workstation it will run only at 1.5 volts just like non-L memory. Because people don't understand this they think they'll save energy on L type memory and pay more for it. So the price for those is often higher. I'll get you a pic here shortly of the non-L ECC buffered (registered) retired 16GB server memory I tested our Z600 v2 workstations with. So, L type can be a waste of funds, but much more important is to match the memory codes on the sticks and get ones you know have been tested in a Z600 by someone you trust or test it yourself. Don't mix the memory ranks for sure.

And, do you know that you can upgrade the ZX00 v2 workstations from W10Pro64 to W11Pro64? I developed a "hybrid" upgrade method and posted it here, and just recently my Z600 v2 workstation running W11 22H2 Moment 1 was  upgraded to W11 22H2 Moment 2, released by MS a few days ago. That upgrade also worked in one that is booted off the Kingston HyperX Predator PCIe card (SHPM2280P2H/240G) which is based on a M.2 stick that uses a Kingston AHCI-controller and a specific HP Z600 storage controller driver that I posted about here way back in time... see attached PDF. Plus, you can also add USB3 to those workstations with a HP card based on the same Texas Instruments chipset used later in the HP ZX20 workstations. Projects...

[RogerT268]

Hi SDH,

     Thanks for your prompt response. You always provide so much in-depth knowledge about HP ZXXX. 

Quick questions:

1. ) Can I just look at the BIOS "boot block date" to determine V1 or V2?  My boot block date is: 01/07/10. It means that Rev. C2. Does it also mean MB V2?   Also my current CPU is X5650, therefore my Z600 MB must be V2, right?  Or I need to open it to look at the MB to verify 591184-001 (460864-003).  A little bit lazy to disconnect all those back-panel cables.  

2.)  The price of the memory I am planning to buy is pretty reasonable, even with the "L".  But right now I know what it means.  So it's fine to buy those 6*16GB Kingston DIMMs as long as my block date is 01/07/10 & my current CPU is X5650, correct? 

3.) "Don't mix the memory ranks for sure". 

      Someone commented in the YouTube video - 16GB 4Rx4 PC3-10600R Modules seems not working with Z600. But 2Rx4 is fine. 

4.) Actually, I Google PCIE-M.2 SSD for Z600 before,  my impression was that it can NOT be used as Boot disk. But it appears that you found a perfect solution to migrate from WIn10Pro/SATA SSD to Win11Pro/PCIE-M.2 SSD by using "Kingston HyperX Predator PCIe card".  Then I can choose to boot from Win10Pro, Win11Pro, other OS on different M.2 SSD.   Is my understanding correct?  Can I replace different M.2 SSD to Kingston HyperX Predator PCIe card or M2.SSD is soldered  to the PCIe card?

5.) For Win11Pro upgrade, you mentioned that " I developed a "hybrid" upgrade method and posted it here". & " specific HP Z600 storage controller driver that I posted about here way back in time.."

       I will google them first.  If I have trouble finding them later,  could you please provide the  URL link of the upgrade procedure and Z600 storage controller driver? 

Thanks again for your help on Saturday morning. 

Roger

[SDH]

I dug around and picked out some valuable info on what I did and tested with. First, there are multiple OEM brands for this HP certified memory... I chose Micron sticks for my testing of the sticks both in Z620 v2 and Z600 v2 workstations. These all are regular voltage (1.5V), not L type (1.35V). They are ECC buffered (aka "registered") sticks, and are dual rank.

Second, HP has a mishmash of part numbers but you can figure it all out if you're driven. Don't waste your time... I already did all that work. There are Assembly part numbers, Spares part numbers, Option part numbers, and different numbers for if the intent was to put the memory into a server or a workstation... all for the exact same sticks of memory. The items I attached below will give you all those numbers but I just checked and the lowest cost for these 16GB sticks on eBay is about $10-11.00 USD each now 3/23. Not a bad way to get 96GB of excellent quality recycled RAM in your Z600 v2, for a little over $60.00 USD. You want to search for the server-type assembly part number of 712383-081 rather than for the workstation-type assembly part number of 712383-581, which are about 3x more expensive for the exact same stick.

Third, I did the experiment of trying these 1866 MHz sticks in a Z600 v2, Z620 v2, and Z420 v2. Also a Z400 v2, where they won't work. In all the other workstations just listed they worked perfectly. Their speed in a Z600 v2 will max out to 1333 MHz FSB, downregulated to the fastest your workstation can ever run RAM. The nice thing about them is that if you buy now for your Z600 v2 you could use them later in a Z420 v2 or Z620 v2 and they will also run the fastest those later workstations can ever run. They can't run in the ZX40 family, of course, which uses DDR4 memory.

If you're going to load up on this much memory you need to pay attention to case cooling. Add an official HP front case cooling kit if you don't already have one, and for the Z420 you can do that and get one of the passive airflow guides that was an option. I always put in one of the Z440 double cooling capacity processor heatsink/fan units I've posted about here in the single processor Z620 and Z420 builds now.

So, here's some attachments I picked out for you, below. Our forum won't take a .txt file so I've copied and pasted that below:

From the c04164501 v6 6/1/17 document there is the entry there for DDR3-1866 ECC Registered DIMMs in 16GB size for the Z620 and Z820 (that memory was for those v2 ZX20 workstations, not the v1). I have discovered that the Z420 will run those same sticks as the Z620 but have not as of 1/20 tested all of my matched 16GB Micron sticks together in one of our Z420 V2 workstations. Our needs do not warrant use of that much memory... we run 16GB or 32GB of memory in those (8 x 2GB or 8 x 4GB).

The option part number given for those 16GB sticks in that HP document is specifically "E2Q95AA". Google searching for an image with that option part number showed a HP ad with that product number printed by HP, and the memory pictures associated showed a Samsung stick with the AS HP P/N on the holographic label to be 712383-581. Thereafter I found Micron and SKHynix matching HP memory sticks with that same AS P/N. I finally bought 8 of the Micron ones with the same codes, all with HP holographic labels attached.

The same memory was used in a kit for Proliant Server Bl460c Dl380p Ml350p Dl360p Generation 8, had P/N 708641-B21, was dual rank, all other specs matched, and the HP AS P/N number on the stick's holographic label was 712383-081 instead. None of these were the low voltage "L type" sticks.

Note that the -581 value indicate memory intended for a workstation, and -081 for servers... they are identical sticks otherwise (except cheaper if originally for servers probably because of lower supply of the -581 numbered ones on the eBay market).

[RogerT268]

Hi SDH,

   Thanks for your prompt response.  I must do something wrong in the post. It's strange that my first reply to you around 1:30-2:00 PM EDT is missing. 

Anyway, my Z600 Motherboard must be V2 as my current CPU is X5650 with BIOS boot block date 01/07/10. 

1.   Therefore back to my original question,  those Kingston memory I am planning to buy should be compatible with my Z600?

2. I am just going to buy only 4 DIMMs  4*16GB first to fill the first two memory slots for each CPU.  64GB is enough for me to save some energy & heat.  After the installation, I will keep an eye on the memory temperature, like CPU & GPU.  

Thanks  for your time & effort to dig around so much information to help a novice like me. 

Regards,

Roger

[SDH]

Roger,

I think those Kingston ones you found will work but I don't know for sure. I was trying to give you information on what I personally found to work perfectly. If you are able to get the Kingston ones for less than 10-11 USD each 16GB stick then good for you! Or perhaps you've already bought them...

Once I know something works reliably I don't usually change my recommendations, but experiment and let us know.

Read up on the correct way HP wants you to load memory for these workstations. I try to fill all memory slots with identical memory because there is a synergistic effect for getting max performance when you do that in the HP workstations.

Good luck on your project, and let us know how it goes.

[RogerT268]

Hi SDH and whoever interested in this post, 

     After its running around 24 hr*10 Days, I am happy to report back that those Kingston 16GB DIMM works with my system so far.  I only replaced,  on my original single CPU X5650,  3*4GB 1066Mhz with three Kingston (16GB) DIMMs on CPU0.   Now It's 48GB 1333Mhz with single CPU.  With the only parameter changed being Kingston memory, I will let it run for a couple of weeks to verify the stability and how much memory my Apps really consume/need. Then I will install another X5650 on CPU1 with 64GB config (2*16GB & 2*16GB). Understood that it's best to fill all slots with same spec. of DIMMs.  But I just do NOT think my Apps need all 96GB. Therefore I will give it a try. 

     What I wonder is that which matters more in imperfect world,  "extra 2*4GB @ 1066Mhz for 3rd row + 64GB"  or "64GB @ 1333Mhz" .  One thing I think about is to check the page fault.  Anything else I can check for the trade-off in terms of memory speed vs memory size.  

Thanks SDH, you are always a great help to the novices like me.  

[SDH]

Roger,

Regarding your boot block date seen via BIOS... that is the best way to confirm you have a v2 motherboard. It has been posted in here exactly what the v2 Z600's boot block date is. No need to physically get inside your box. 

However, if someone is wanting to upgrade a Z600 v1 to a Z600 v2 by buying a used motherboard from eBay there is the method to look at the motherboard's bar code label and focus on the part number on the right hand side. Not on the left side... the "right" side is the "right" place to look. Those left side numbers actually have to do with what the motherboard is licensed for (what it is "branded" for in its firmware. That is also termed to "tattoo"). You need to communicate with the seller to ensure they understand exactly what you need as that number. They usually don't know this stuff, and the packers surely don't.

Using google can usually find you my old posts that our forum's search engine no longer knows about. Same general concepts for the ZX20 workstations. Luckily the ZX40 family does not have a v1 or a v2... but, regardless, you always want to upgrade the BIOS before doing a processor upgrade so you don't get stuck with having a newer processor that an older BIOS does not know about.

Now the important thing... if you use even a single stick of slow memory in a HP workstation with faster processor(s) or faster memory that will slow all the memory and all the processor(s) down to match that same slow memory's speed. Clearly a bad idea.

There also is the issue of getting all the memory in synch. If you mix and match memory sticks you often lose the synergistic effect of the memory being able to perform at its best. This has to do with the concept of triple channel memory performance in the ZX00 and quad channel memory performance in the ZX20 and ZX40 workstations. If you have a dumpy bumby workstation you likely will not notice the hit. If you have optimized your build you will notice the difference. Weak link in the chain issue...   I did not believe that stuff until I did my research and started to build up truly optimized HP workstations.