Compaq 8200 Elite SFF Windows 10 BIOS Update Question(s)

[JericTheCleric]

Greetings, 

Having trouble with a few things on my 8200 Elite running W10 64, and I'm wondering if updating the BIOS would solve them. 

1) I've installed an NVIDIA NVS 510 graphics card to run multiple monitors. With the exception of about 10 seconds of 2 out of the 3 monitors working at the same time, the computer will only see a single monitor. 
2) I was under the impression the motherboard and BIOS could handle 32 GB RAM and have read posts of other 8200 owners saying they've had success. I can install 16, but when I try 32 it freezes during startup.

Any insight would be appreciated! Thank you in advance!

Here's my system info:
OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
Version 10.0.19044 Build 19044
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name AUDIOWORKSTATIO
System Manufacturer Hewlett-Packard
System Model HP COMPAQ 8200 ELITE SFF PC
System Type x64-based PC
System SKU QV736US#ABA
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2400 CPU @ 3.10GHz, 3101 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Hewlett-Packard J01 v02.24, 9/20/2013
SMBIOS Version 2.7
Embedded Controller Version 255.255
BIOS Mode UEFI
BaseBoard Manufacturer Hewlett-Packard
BaseBoard Product 1495
BaseBoard Version Not Available
Platform Role Workstation
Secure Boot State Unsupported
PCR7 Configuration Elevation Required to View
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume5
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "10.0.19041.2728"
User Name AUDIOWORKSTATIO\Matt
Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 16.0 GB
Total Physical Memory 15.0 GB
Available Physical Memory 11.0 GB
Total Virtual Memory 22.0 GB
Available Virtual Memory 17.1 GB
Page File Space 7.00 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
Kernel DMA Protection Off
Virtualization-based security Not enabled
Device Encryption Support Elevation Required to View
Hyper-V - VM Monitor Mode Extensions Yes
Hyper-V - Second Level Address Translation Extensions Yes
Hyper-V - Virtualization Enabled in Firmware Yes
Hyper-V - Data Execution Protection Yes

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Regarding the memory, you would have to tell me what memory you installed.

I have 2 HP 8200 Elite CMT's and they both run 32 GB of memory just fine.

They were running BIOS v 2.15 at the time I upgraded the memory.

Now they are running on v2.28.

This is the memory I installed in mine:

Patriot PSD38G13332 Signature 8GB CL9 PC3-10600 1333MHz DIMM 8 DDR3 1333 Computer Internal Memory (a...

Since you are running the PC with Windows installed in UEFI mode, it should be OK to update to the latest version (2.33).

However, you may want to stop at v2.28 because if W10 is installed in BIOS legacy mode, it will take over 2 minutes for the PC to restart from a warm boot unless you go into the BIOS and hide the TPM security chip.

The PC works fine with W10 installed in legacy or UEFI with v2.28.

If you want to update the BIOS, I recommend that you use the F10 Setup BIOS flash method to update the BIOS.

That way you don't need to be in Windows when you update the BIOS which was written to be run in W7 if you use the Windows based flash.

Get a reliable USB flash drive.  Format it with the FAT 32 file system.

Download and run the bios exe file you want to install.  An information page will open.

Follow the instructions for the F10 BIOS Setup Flash method.

Click on the View Contents of the DOS Flash Folder.

Copy the file contents of the DOS flash folder to your USB flash drive.

Just the files, not the folder.

Restart the PC. 

Tap the ESC key to get the menu of options.

Select the F10 system setup option.

On the file tab, select the Flash System ROM command.

Select the USB flash drive.

The PC should now see the BIOS update files on the flash drive.

Follow the on-screen instructions to update the BIOS.

[JericTheCleric]

Thanks for the quick response. I am also using some Patriot memory - 

Patriot 16GB(2x8GB) Viper III DDR3 1600MHz (PC3 12800) CL9 Desktop Memory With Black Mamba Heatsink ...

Seems awfully similar to yours apart from 1333 vs 1600MHz. Could that be the issue?

Do you think updating the BIOS has any chance of fixing the issue I have with the video card/multi monitor situation? 

And finally, (I hope) where do I find the download for V2.28 ? The HP website doesn't give me an option for this computer with W10 installed... or am I missing something obvious? Totally possible!!
Thanks again!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I'm pretty sure the memory you installed is not compatible with your PC.

Not necessarily because of the 1600 MHz speed but the faster CL9 timing spec.

A standard DDR3L-1600 memory chip would have a CL of 11.

HP business PC's do not fare well with performance memory.

I recommend that you stick with the standard desktop memory HP installed in your PC.

This would be the 1600 MHz version of the Patriot memory that I bought.

Patriot Signature 8GB DIMM DDR3 CL11 PC3-12800 (1600MHz) PSD38G16002 (amazon.com)

Unfortunately, I would have no idea if a BIOS update will fix the graphics card issue.

Here is the link to BIOS v 2.28:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp71001-71500/sp71294.exe 

One of my HP 8200 Elite CMTs came with the Radeon HD 6350 DH graphics card and that worked fine for dual monitors.

This type card will not run 3 monitors at the same time.

I removed the card and gave it to my son because I use a single monitor now.

I had purchased the DMS-59 DH DVI splitter cable because HP only supplied the VGA one.

AMD Radeon HD 6350 512MB PCie DMS-59 Graphics Video Card ATI-102-C09003 | eBay

HP/Dell Single DMS-59 to Dual DVI Y Splitter Video Cable H9361 R0915 338285-009 | eBay

[JericTheCleric]

Thanks Paul!

Could it be that W10 in uefi mode is the culprit for Windows not seeing multiple monitors? I'm going to pick up another card anyways just to see if it's that. But every miniDP port on this card works, just one at a time it seems... 

And I'm going to try the memory you suggested. Thanks for that. I was unaware of the CL timing specs until a few days ago but had no idea what they meant really... but it sounds as if what I've got is a little too hot. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I doubt very much that W10 in UEFI mode would be the cause of the multi display issue.

Do you have the latest drivers Nvidia has for the graphics card installed?

Release date:  2022.12.20

NVIDIA RTX / Quadro Desktop and Notebook Driver Release 470 | R470 U12 (474.14) | Windows 10 64-bit,...

[JericTheCleric]

Yessir, installed that yesterday. I'm going to toss the BIOS up to 2.28 and see if that helps. I'm not convinced that it's going to...  I'm also not convinced it's a bad graphics card, but... I did get it second hand like a year ago and now just had the machine to put it in... so who knows. Super frustrating. 
I know there's differences in Display Port cables, but that's where my knowledge about DP cables ends. Can't imagine that's the cause either. They all seem to work just fine, just not at the same time.. But I know this graphics card came with Nvidia's own mini DP to DP adapter cables... 

Back at it. Thanks again. Might not be the last time you hear from me... 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I doubt it will either, but you may as well try the BIOS update.

At least you now know why the memory you bought didn't work.

[JericTheCleric]

Just a follow-up here, Paul... 

Bought and installed the memory you suggested. Same issue. It clearly doesn't like having 4 sticks - doesn't even get to the startup screen, the power supply fan kicks into overdrive after about 30 seconds and I have to shut it down hard. 
Another thing to note was that upon attempting to update the BIOS, it wouldn't see the USB stick I had prepared per your instructions. I had quick formatted it FAT32, and tried again doing a longer format. Same thing...

Any ideas??

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Unfortunately, I don't have any other ideas you can try.

The memory should have worked and following my instructions to update the BIOS should have worked.

I am completely stumped by this.