z820 workstation will not start

[mexsudo]

The v1 and v2 version discussion has me confused.

the mobo is clearly labeled  PCB Rev:1.02 

However a couple months ago I ran inxi and it said--- Mobo: Hewlett-Packard model: 158B v: 1.01

the GPU is a NVIDIA GK107GL [Quadro K2000] ... not powered externally

----

CPU0 and DIMM1 were not removed in my checking... perhaps one of them is at fault.
Good suggestion, swapping the the CPU from the other z820, I need to wait a bit on that, the other one is usually "occupied"

random thought... this first occurred when I finished installing another OS with a USB stick... I believe I should track down the cables to all of the remote USB ports, disconnect and try again.  

I really don't want to just throw parts at the problem, nothing is learned and I am Cheap.

[Brian1965]

What you are looking at is the version of the unpopulated PCB, (the printed circuit board without any components fitted). This is not the version of the motherboard, (i.e. the PCB + components + firmware). There are only 2 versions of the motherboard. However, there are at least 3 versions of the PCB.

The only way to be certain what the motherboard version is;

1) Check the model of the current CPU(s) installed. If they are E5-26xx v2 CPU(s) you have a version 2 motherboard which has a 2013 boot block date.

2) If the computer was bootable - Enter the BIOS and check the boot block date listed in the System Information page.

The boot block date is a bit like the PCB firmware and cannot be updated. This is not the same as the BIOS which is the microcode required to communicate with various motherboard components and any additional hardware. The BIOS also contains a whitelist of compatible CPU's, (as listed in the HP Z820 quickspecs).

P.S. When testing the system, make sure you remove any non-essential USB devices - only leave the keyboard and mouse connected. You could also try and test the motherboard with everything removed, i.e. no CPU, RAM, HDD, GPU, etc. It would be interesting to see if you get the same error code (red LED/4 beeps), with only the motherboard connected?

P.P.S. The printed label is the important information. This is added during the motherboards manufacturing process.

[mexsudo]

OOPS you said GPU, not CPU...

when I ran inxi a month or two ago it reported
Machine:
Type: Desktop System: Hewlett-Packard product: HP Z820 Workstation v: N/A
serial: <root required>
Mobo: Hewlett-Packard model: 158B v: 1.01 serial: <root required>
UEFI [Legacy]: Hewlett-Packard v: J63 v03.94 date: 07/10/2018
CPU:
Topology: 2x 8-Core model: Intel Xeon E5-2670 0 bits: 64 type: MT MCP SMP
L2 cache: 40.0 MiB
Speed: 1197 MHz min/max: 1200/3300 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1197 2: 1197
3: 1407 4: 1695 5: 2114 6: 2092 7: 2051 8: 2083 9: 1197 10: 1197 11: 1197
12: 1197 13: 1222 14: 1197 15: 1197 16: 1197 17: 1197 18: 2090 19: 2078
20: 1765 21: 2474 22: 2012 23: 2057 24: 1206 25: 1884 26: 1762 27: 1197
28: 1202 29: 1197 30: 1197 31: 1980 32: 1480

...
the GPU is a NVIDIA GK107GL [Quadro K2000], not externally powered.
it had two, one I never used, so I harvested it yesterday and put it in the other z820 and pulled a working Quadro K4000 (externally powered) yesterday. I can try that one.

In my testing I did not remove CPU0 or the last RAM stick. The fault might be with one of them, I need to check that first.

as I said above, this problem occurred when I rebooted after installing another OS with a USB stick in the front panel.
... there is a real rats nest of cables from the mobo ... I will trace them out and see if that is the problem.

The case fans front and rear start for a moment. The CPU cover contains 6 cooling fans, and it plugs into the mobo. I can't easily see if they are starting, I need to get creative and check them somehow.

more adventures! I will be back.

[mexsudo]

"If you do need to replace the motherboard, make sure you buy the v2 version motherboard. It has a 2013 boot block date date and supports v2 CPU's and 1866MHz DIMMS. (2011 boot block date only supports v1 CPU's = max. 1600MHz DIMM support).

The only way to be certain what the motherboard version is;

1) Check the model of the current CPU(s) installed. If they are E5-26xx v2 CPU(s) you have a version 2 motherboard which has a 2013 boot block date."

It appears I have the version 1 motherboard is that correct?

I assume can I replace it with the version 2 motherboard and use my same components.

thanks in advance.

[mexsudo]

the images are not appearing... maybe it takes awhile.

if not, the GPU says Xeon E5-2670 ... looking on eBay I see photos with Xeon E5-2670V2 on them.

anyway, I assume can I replace it with the version 2 motherboard and use my same components.

[Brian1965]

E5-2670 is a version 1 CPU

E5-2670 v2 is a version 2 CPU

Since you have version 1 CPU's installed, and can't currently access the BIOS to check the boot block date, there is no way to be 100% certain if you have a v1 or v2 motherboard.

Yes, you can simply transfer your existing components into either a v1 or v2 version motherboard. If possible, buy the v2 version of the motherboard as this would allow you to upgrade the CPU's at a later date if required.

There is usually a delay when posting images on the forum as these must be checked and approved by the forum moderators.

[mexsudo]

Thanks, understood. I appreciate the response.

If I do buy one I will go for the v2 motherboard.

I have not given up on testing this motherboard yet. As I said before I want to try the other z820 power supply, just in case the 4 red beeps are true, and then I will disconnect everything possible and give it one last try.

Shopping eBay I am finding several z620 and z820 bargains. If this mobo really is toast I might just harvest the components as needed and rehab another machine.

Best wishes, and Happy Holiday to you and yours.

[mexsudo]

Motherboard testing/demo ... being Creative

while I was searching ebay I found a seller in China selling a new motherboard... these are a couple of the images I harvested for reference

EDIT: OOPS! the second image was rejected by the admin, it shows the BIOs with the mobo serial number... so I removed that image
anyway, the full BIOS info is shown... kinda cool!
I do admire the ingenuity