Z420 - Memory specification confusion Unbuffered ECC or Registered ECC - V1 vs V2 differences?

[Ulf_K]

Hello.

When locating suitable memories for a Z420 Version 1 I found a HP spec for this workstation, that says only ECC Unbuffered memories would work. When lifting out one memory module in my machine, I foud it to be HP Original P/N 628974-081 which is a 16GB ECC Registered Dual Rank DIMM. The machine obviously works with no error beeps and boots W10 x64 w/o any problems...

I have not found that RDIMMs should be possible to use in a Z420 but then HP has not made it very clear about the two versions except that the Bios Boot Block differs in what versions of the 2011-processor (v1 / v2) that can be used.

[DGroves]

HP only recommends memory configurations they have tested/validated if you run a untested configuration you may run into problems and it's up to you to resolve them

basically if you can't afford to have your system down, or don't like playing with hardware/software then you should stick with the HP memory configurations

the v2 z420's can run some unsupported memory/cpu's you can search this forum for posts on this on of them references this site:

https://www.greenpcgamers.com/technology/hp-z420-gaming-computer-and-other-upgrades/

[SDH]

I've got zero experience with the version 1 Z420 and Z620 boxes.  We only run version 2 Z420 and version 2 Z620 workstations.  We only run identical ECC buffered RAM I've posted about here in the past in both our version 2 Z420 and version 2 Z620 workstations.  This is retired server memory.  It is handy to  only keep a stock of one type of memory.  Works fine also in the Z600 version 2 workstations but not in the version 2 Z400 workstations.  The concept of "not supported" can mean that "it will not work" or that "we never tested that so we can't say it is supported".  This is a case where HP never tested so did not certify.

[Ulf_K · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the information.🙂

Second hand HP specified DDR memories are less expeceive than RDDDR so for upgrading it is obviously the logical choise.

(Greenpcgamers web-site is locked for visitors outside USA. I am in Scandinavia so it was not possible to access it.)

[DGroves]

greenpcgamers does not lock their website,...... either your ISP or something on your system is the cause

[Ulf_K]

If I try to follow the link, I end up at "https://gdpr.uxinetworks.com" and a page that says

" Due to recent regulations we do not currently offer our products to European Customers".

[Brian1965]

I can confirm that the greenpcgamers website is not accessible from the UK either;

I also tried with my VPN (PIA) switched off and set to a US hub, but still no luck.