Upgrade/Replace CPU on HP Z230 SFF workstation would not Boot

[Yi_Liu]

Dear HP Community,
Hello, everyone!
Recently, I've encounter an issue with replacing the CPU (change it from Xeon e3 1230v3 to Intel Core i7 4790) in my HP Z230SFF workstation. I have been using this workstation for about 7 years since my Lab broght this workstation and now I am planning to changing the CPU to i7 to improve its performance. However, after I install the new CPU into the socket, the workstation would not boot：

1. After replacing the CPU, the computer fails to boot.
2. After replacing the CPU, there is no video output.
3. After replacing the CPU, the computer fan spins at a high speed (about 30 seconds after I press the power button and the computer remains black).
4.  I have tried "minimal boot", only keeping one SSD and one DDR3 (non-ECC) memory, but with no luck.
5.  I have tried replacing with an i5 4590, but the result is the same. 
6. I have tried replacing with an e3 1231 v3 and it can boot normally. 
7. I have tried flashing the BIOS to the latest version (1.63), but it still fails to boot with i5 and i7, and the symptoms are the same as before.

I've checked nearly all the documents and manual that I can found on the offical website, which nearly all indicated that the Z230 SFF workstation SUPPORT both Xeon E3 CPU and Core i3/i5/i7 CPU with non-ECC memory. Does anyone have any idea about this situation? Thanks!
Best regards,
Yi Liu.

[NonSequitur777]

@Yi_Liu,

Welcome to our HP Community forum!

You likely already tried this/thought about it, but let's rehash:

Power and Seating Issues

• The CPU may not be seated properly, or the PSU might not supply enough power.
• Solution:
  • Reseat the CPU and check for bent pins in the socket.
  • Ensure that all power connectors, especially the 4-pin CPU power connector, are properly connected.

 

CMOS/BIOS Reset

• A corrupted BIOS configuration might prevent booting.
• Solution:
  • Disconnect power, remove the CMOS battery, wait a few minutes, then reinstall it. Alternatively, use the motherboard's jumper to reset the CMOS.

RAM Issues

• Incompatible (ECC) or faulty RAM can cause boot issues.
• Solution: Ensure RAM sticks are compatible (Non-ECC) and seated correctly.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[Yi_Liu1]

@NonSequitur777, Thank you for your kind input! you suggestion is helpful !!!!
but sadly, the result is not very good:

1. as for power issues,  I checked both the CPU socket's pins and the 4-pin CPU power Cable, the result is happy and sad: the socket and power cable seems to be fine( at least from my un professional perspective) , so the problem still be hided from us;
2. as for CMOS/BIOS, yes, I've tried it, I push the botton "clear CMOS" for about 30s, and sometimes i remove the bettery, but still no luck

Additional information:，

• both the E3-1230 v3 and the E3-1231v3 CPU works fine on this machine, whose TDP is about 84W, so at least the i5 CPU should be normally boot on this machine in theory
• I've flashed the BIOS to the latest version (1.63 ), and I'm concerning flash it BACK to OLD ones since some manual change-log seem to indicate there are support newly added/remove some years ago, especially Inter Core i7/i5 CPU. But unfortunately, bad luck again, i encounter fatal error when flashing the BIOS with HP offical BIOS flash program on Win 10, and i can not flash to any other version now( all the version's BIOS flashing would stop at 4096/4096 and through out a fatal error)
• Last but now least: there are some manual in Japanese that indicating this machine does NOT support Core i7/i5 CPU,  and only support e3 and i3 CPU, i'm considering why. Before I get the answer, I decide to bought an i3 CPU, and test whether or not it can boot normally. If it can, then THE manual is right; if not, it may be the machines problem( but I still can not believe it, since there are two of them, with same Model, z230 sff, and neigher of them can not boot with Core i7/i5)

Best Regard,
Yi Liu.
( yes, still me, i can't see why HP require me to fill in another name when I sign in today)

[NonSequitur777]

@Yi_Liu1, @Yi_Liu,

I am at a loss too: your HP Z230 SFF Workstation is compatible with the entire range of 4th gen Intel Core processors, including the famous "Devil's Canyon" (i7-4790K) processor, as shown by this User: HP Z230 SFF Workstation Performance Results - UserBenchmark.

If you can purchase an inexpensive Z230 SFF replacement motherboard, that is what I would do/try in your shoes.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[Yi_Liu1]

@NonSequitur777
thank you very much for you input again! 
I've bought an i3 CPU and it will arrive soon, if it works, then the Japanese manual might be the only one corresponding to my machine model(though it's still weird that C226 chipset did not support 4th gen i5/i7 processors, LOL);

Still, I'll look for an inexpensive Z230 SFF replacement motherboard, otherwise I would just modify the workstation to be a NAS since it's no more powerful with old e3/i3 CPU.
Thank you again for your kindness and your professional suggestion!! Well, things are coming to an end, but I will update anything that might be useful for other users after I tried i3 CPU or new motherboard!

Also, thank you! HP support Community!

Best Regards,
Yi Liu.

[NonSequitur777]

@Yi_Liu1,

You're welcome!

Kindest Regards / 此致敬礼,

NonSequitur777

[Yi_Liu · Accepted solution]

Dear HP Community,
hello everyone!
Now I finally get the reason why i7 4790/ i5 processor does not work on Z230 SFF workstation, in a nutshell, the model of the workstation which I'm working with is NOT compatible with them, the product code of mine workstation is DA-14629, while most Z230 SFF workstation product code is DA-14630.Here is how i found the reason:

1. Both of the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v3 and E3-1231 v3 are work well with the machine
2. I tried Intel Core i7-4790 processor, and it's NOT working
3. I tried Intel Core i5-4670 processor, and it's NOT working
4. I tried Intel Core i3-4130 processor,and it's NOT working
5. I tried Intel Core i3-4330 processor, and it finally worked

and I actually noticed one HP manual that marked as DA-14629 when I tried step 3, and then I bought two i3 processor to verify my guess（it is really hard to believe the workstations with the same chipset support different CPUs), and as you can see in step 4 and 5, only one i3 processor could work with the model, which can correspond to the document: HP Z230SFF Workstation QuickSpec.
thank you everyone! and a special thanks to dear NonSequitur777, thank you!
PS: If someone can figure out the difference between model DA-14630 and DA-14629, I'd love to discuss it with him!
Best regards,
Yi Liu.