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HP Recommended
HP Xeon Workstation Z800
Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit)

After updating the BIOS of my Z800 Version 2 system board , it will no longer boot with 2 processors installed. If only one is installed , it will boot fine. With 2 installed, it raises the fan speed but no video is displayed. 

6 REPLIES 6
HP Recommended

look at the small white label on the motherboard near the center of the board by cpu 2 does it end in  -001/-002 or -003

 

only the -003 boards can officially run the 56xx xeon line 002/001 boards are xeon 55xx series only

HP Recommended

The board is a “-002” system.  The processors are Xeon x5570. 

HP Recommended

ok, so cpu/board rev is not a issue

 

a bios update will not cause a failure of a sec cpu not showing, if it did you would have seen many posts to this and a quick fix from HP

 

i have owned many  z8xx systems and just updated my current z800 dual cpu from 3.57  to 3.61

 

you must do more trouble shooting, try removing all pci-e cards except for video same for drives, only boot drive

 

check CPU aux power cable/socket and try reseating it

 

CPU may have failed, try replacing with same  (match the       Spec code)

 

https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/s/spec-code.htm#:~:text=A%20SPEC%20code%20is%20a,image)%20and%20....

 

does bios show dual cpu's?  (assuming it will boot) windows sometimes has issues reporting the correct cpu config

HP Recommended

Thanks for the feedback. I have removed all pci-e cards (except video) and all extra hard drives. I checked the aux power connector and reseated same.  After these changes , I attempted to power the system up but it fails. I cannot even get to the bios to see if the second proc is detected. I don't have another CPU of the same spec to test that.  I'm at  my wits end at this point. Any additional ideas to try would be appreciated.

HP Recommended

if you feel comfortable, try swapping the cpu's i recommend removing cpu-0 and marking it as #0

 

if the system now fails to boot with swapped cpu's you have most likely id'd the cause as a bad cpu

HP Recommended

The X5570 has only one sSpec code, which is laser etched onto the top of the stainless heat spreader.  That makes it easier... you don't have to worry about two different versions of the same processor.  By the way, if there are two versions I've only seen the latest being used by HP over quite a few years now.  Those have improvements burned in, so those are the ones to use and the only ones I've ever seen HP use.  That's from roughly 150 processor upgrades I've done.  DGroves I'm sure has done more. 

 

The sSpec code can be seen from the Intel "ark" site entry for your processor, under the "Ordering and Compliance" heading on the left, and it is SLBF3.  If you look that code up on eBay you'll find those go for about $6.50 USD with shipping included, from good US sellers.  There are better HP-approved processors for the Z800 v1 for you to be running, with potential for significant performance improvements.  That can be addressed later.

 

But, your need right now is to know that your workstation is not ruined.  I fully agree that running with one processor is the experiment to do.  Swapping in/out processors is not hard, but might be out of your comfort zone.  You may wish to have a computer shop help you, trying one and then the other.  This is a strange situation you've bumped up against.

† The opinions expressed above are the personal opinions of the authors, not of HP. By using this site, you accept the <a href="https://www8.hp.com/us/en/terms-of-use.html" class="udrlinesmall">Terms of Use</a> and <a href="/t5/custom/page/page-id/hp.rulespage" class="udrlinesmall"> Rules of Participation</a>.