Dell Workstation Owners Club

[lexluthermiester]

Hi all, just been browsing through the posts, do you know if it's possible to enable Resize Bar to a Dell 5810 Bios? I'm using an RX 6650 XT, 8GB, and for the most part, it's fine but I'm sure it could work better with my Xeon 1680 3.20Ghz V3. Thanks.

Not without a modded BIOS.

BTW, Welcome to TPU!

 

[Doug Butabi]

Hey Guys!

It's been a while since I posted, but I check back here and there to see how everybody's machines are running.

I think my HDD is on its way out. The system locks up randomly. I started in safe mode and thought maybe it was just a bad Win 10 Pro update, but after a day or two it froze up in safe mode, too.

I wanted to add an SSD drive anyways....but it occurs to me, which one?

I don't game or use graphic heavy programs, so is adding a SATA 3 card and then a SATA 3 SSD worth it?

What about going with a SATA 1 SSD? Or, maybe a SATA 3 SSD and add a card later?

Are there any other pitfalls due to the machine's age, like AHCI concerns?

I no longer have a lot of free time to play with the machine, so I'm looking for something that is turnkey. I tried search it out, but most of the threads address advanced topics beyond my skill level.

T7500, twin Xeon 3.3, 48GB RAM

Any ideas or thoughts?

 

[uco73]

Hey Guys!

It's been a while since I posted, but I check back here and there to see how everybody's machines are running.

I think my HDD is on its way out. The system locks up randomly. I started in safe mode and thought maybe it was just a bad Win 10 Pro update, but after a day or two it froze up in safe mode, too.

I wanted to add an SSD drive anyways....but it occurs to me, which one?

I don't game or use graphic heavy programs, so is adding a SATA 3 card and then a SATA 3 SSD worth it?

What about going with a SATA 1 SSD? Or, maybe a SATA 3 SSD and add a card later?

Are there any other pitfalls due to the machine's age, like AHCI concerns?

I no longer have a lot of free time to play with the machine, so I'm looking for something that is turnkey. I tried search it out, but most of the threads address advanced topics beyond my skill level.

T7500, twin Xeon 3.3, 48GB RAM

Any ideas or thoughts?

The T7500 is a great machine. I had it and you don't need to add anything. Just add an SSD and that's it. I know this because I did it myself. My T7500 also behaved like that and the problem was in the HDD. I replaced it with an SSD and the computer came back to life.

 

[Doug Butabi]

The T7500 is a great machine. I had it and you don't need to add anything. Just add an SSD and that's it. I know this because I did it myself. My T7500 also behaved like that and the problem was in the HDD. I replaced it with an SSD and the computer came back to life.

Okay sounds good! Thanks for the reassurance; it is appreciated.

 

[masterdeejay]

Just for testing 2696v3 vs 2698v3 with all core turbo hack. (-50mv/-50mv undervoltage)

The 2696v3 is better, higher default TDP, lower stock vcore, much easier to reach max all core turbo.
And also the 2696v3 is cooler, but the 2698v3 has higher Tjmax.

 

[bakerlite]

ON Win7 or on Win11? Either way, use a different computer to download the chipset driver utility from Dell or Intel.

Dell's latest are here;

Intel 5500/5520 Chipset Software Installation Utility, v.9.1.2.1007, A02 | Driver Details | Dell US

Intel's latest are here;

Intel® Server Chipset Driver for Windows* for legacy Intel® Server Board

The Intel® Chipset Device Software version 10.1.17903.8106 installs Windows* INF files to the target system.

www.intel.com

Thanks for the help - maybe I have gone wrong somewhere because when I try and install that I get a message saying "The computer already contains version 9.2.0.1030 whihc is newer - are you sure you wish to overwrite with 9.1.2.1007?"

maybe I installed an incorrect chipset driver package with windows

 

[lexluthermiester]

Thanks for the help - maybe I have gone wrong somewhere because when I try and install that I get a message saying "The computer already contains version 9.2.0.1030 whihc is newer - are you sure you wish to overwrite with 9.1.2.1007?"

And you want to say yes. The older version in question is the better version, so you want to force it to install.

 

[masterdeejay]

Rebar is working. I modded the all core hacked bios, added the rebar ffs driver.
https://github.com/xCuri0/ReBarUEFI/releases
(2623v3 cpu is just for testing, i got a lot of v3 cpus)
I only needed the rebar for the intel video card.

 

[masterdeejay]

If someone needs it:
Dell T5810 workstation modded bios with turbo hack and rebar enabled.
Only an external programmer can write to the flash chip (like cheap ch341b). The flash chip located under the blue end of pcie connector.
https://file.io/uUKLVYwwf9sl
DellT5810_Turbo_50_50_rebar.rom

This has been modified to all core turbo hack with xeon v3 cpu-s, added -50mv to vcore and imc for better turbo (all xeon cpu can handle it!)
The best cpu for this workstation is the 2696v3, 18 core, 3.8ghz all core turbo, or the 2699v3 18 core 3.6ghz all core turbo with this hack.
Only the v3 cpus works with this hack, not recommended to use v4 cpu with this modded bios! (early v3 or v4 ES cpus also not working, only the retail, oem, QS v3)
I dont know about the 46xxv3 series, probably works.
Also added Resizable bar feature enabled by default but needs to enable system configuration\memory map above 4g, and needs to disable CSM and legacy roms

After the flash run the exe file and set the rebar size (8gb works!)
https://github.com/xCuri0/ReBarUEFI/releases
https://github.com/xCuri0/ReBarUEFI/releases/download/0.3/ReBarState.exe

 

[lemonadesoda]

@masterdeejay , thanks for the hard work! I'd like to do my own bios editting rather than download an unofficial rom, I'd like to take an official rom and do the edits myself. I'm sure you understand why...

Do you have time to put a quick tutorial together?

 

[masterdeejay]

I can help with the rebar mod.
I only added the rebar uefi driver to the already modded bios :
https://miyconst.github.io/hardware/workstation/dell/2020/05/01/dell-t5810.html
I think that miyconst is a very reliable source.
I don't know witch is the unlock driver in the bios.

Before:

After I added the rebar FFS driver :
https://github.com/xCuri0/ReBarUEFI/releases

 

[lexluthermiester]

After the flash run the exe file and set the rebar size (8gb works!)

Will it work with anything other than 8GB?

 

[masterdeejay]

Will it work with anything other than 8GB?

8Gb is the max for this workstation (i forced 16gb but only 8gb active). By default this is 256mb, so the 8Gb is way better.
If you use a 16Gb card then it works like 2x8Gb chunk to fill up, not 64x256mb.
It has nothing to do with it the vram size, can be lower, higher. It is just the maximum chunk size.
I have an Asrock A380 6Gb in this workstation.

It is an old technology, but video cards larger than 8GB were not common at that time.
The oldest cpu hat supports it is the x79 sandy bridge xeon (or i7) from 2012

 

[uco73]

Dell not allowed no one app to see his memory modules.

 

[masterdeejay]

2699v3

 

[KLiKzg]

Fan is spinning out just fine...needed to check it inside, as outside can't really tell...not a storm, but a small breeze.

Did anybody put 1100W T7500 into T5500? Do those connect to same connector? Or do I need to re-do the wiring?

Restarts started to happen again...no clue what it is.

As the PSU was changed in the mean-time...& SSD updated, so that is not an issue at hand.
Now the suspects are RAM (which passed the MEMtest & now doing the Dell mem tests) or the MBO.

So here is the question: does T7500 MBO fit in T5500 without any modification(s)?
As I am going to replacing the RAM 1st & then the MBO (if this does not find a problem).

 

[Susquehannock]

So here is the question: does T7500 MBO fit in T5500 without any modification(s)?
As I am going to replacing the RAM 1st & then the MBO (if this does not find a problem).

Assuming MBO = motherboard ... the T7500 board is larger up top because of it's onboard SAS controller and additional SATA connectors. So no they will not fit into T5500 or T3500 case.

 

[theapprenticeco]

We could speculate all day, let's wait to hear back from them.

Dear TPU community, after almost 3 years (!) I’m back. (my T7500 is alive and cool)

I'm more an Apprentice than an expert but if I can share some knowledge with the community I will be more than happy.

As you may know I have a strong affinity for server operating systems for two reasons:

1. Personal: I'm obsessed with the compute efficiency - but not yet a 100% command line geek

1. Business: mostly because it's the operating system that they use in my daily work, to be honest I use the windows server evaluation versions and reset it for the maximum time allowed (2.5 years!)
   After that I will install a new operating system from scratch. RedHat / Centos is also a must in my professional learning path.

I thought that this was going to be a long thread but I prefer to associate the ideas with the t 7500 rather than write unrelated separated posts.

-----------------------|--------------------------------------------------

Topic | Description

CURRENT ISSUES / EXPERIENCE


- Image issues with Monitors | DVI VGA HDMI on Windows Server 2016

- Red Hat Experience | power / suspend issues with Red Hat/CentOS

- Windows 11 Experience | Windows Copilot



EXPANSIONS AND PROJECTS


- RAM Expansion | Planning to add 48GB (16 chips) to reach 72GB total

- NVMe Adapter | Exploring the use of an NVMe adapter for performance

- “New” GPU | Considering a GPU upgrade with HDMI support



Images issues with Monitors | DVI VGA HDMI on Windows Server 2016 (equivalent to Win 10)

For a year I have been using a Dell LATITUDE 5420 laptop from my employer and doing RDP to the T7500,


The laptop had two HDMI ports, directly cabled to 2 BENQ monitors.

• GW 2283 (HDMIx2, VGA)
• GL 2460 HM (HDMI, DVI, VGA)

Layoff and job change, laptop is to be returned.

I went directly cabling into the workstation ( the noise is no problem to me, I even feel it makes me feel more productive).

Given the AMD FirePro V5900 ports availability (DVI, DPx2) I plugged the DVI monitor using a simple DVI cable.
For the other I used a simple DP to VGA converter.

To improve image quality I purchased a DP to HDMI converter.

In my experience the VGA quality seems to look better or less eye fatigue than the HDMI.
And weirdly, the HDMI adapter is “scaling” the image, I don’t know why.

As far as I know these adapters are just wire, They don't make any signal improvement
( but shouldn't do any signal degradation as well.)

QUESTION HERE:
can I have good image quality with the current AMD FirePro V5900 or would it be better to get a “new” GPU?
1920x1080 should be decent even today.
Pd: i didn't find any compatible GPU with HDMI ports (and didn’t find it’s worthy either)
Pd: I'm trying to disguise if it's the GPU, the cable, the monitor, or my aging process affecting my eyes.

- Red Hat Experience | power / suspend issues with Red Hat/CentOS

One thing I definitely love from the T7500 is the ability to suspend, and it works pretty good even with two or more virtual machines running inside ( vmware or virtualbox, big exception here hyper v - which will not allow any power management at all)

I installed centos 7 directly and it looks fine, all core / threads are detected, very low RAM consumption.
but the power management is scrambled, it throttles the fans to the maximum and I'm not sure why I couldn't change that, and if I suspend, it will freeze and reboot required. So i got back to windows

- Windows 11 Experience | Windows Copilot

When I purchased the t7500 it came with windows 10 home edition which I wiped almost immediately.
However, I am very interested in the integration of copilots in the operating system so I would give a try to windows 11 just because the windows copilot.
and experience with t7500 and windows 11 ?


EXPANSIONS AND PROJECTS

- RAM Expansion | Planning to add 48GB (16 chips) to reach 72GB total

I want to to purchase another 48 gigabytes of ram in 16 chips size that is the maximum accepted by the system ( I tried with a 32 gb chip and it was rejected)

Since I have only one processor, that additional 48 with my current 24 would sum up to 72 gigabytes in total, distributed in the 6 slots available.

I the event I could upgrade to the next model of dell workstation that's T7600 (used) (and say goodbye to the faithful T7500)
Is there a common type of memory that I could recycle for that “new” project ?

- NVMe Adapter | Exploring the use of an NVMe adapter for performance

Other project I have is to install an NVME adapter for running solid-state drives expecting to have much more performance on virtual machines

As far as has checked it's not possible to boot / run the main operating system right from NVME

but that should not be a big issue since the speed achieved in normal SSD is fast enough for OS.

Any experience?

- “New” GPU | Considering a GPU upgrade with HDMI support

Would HDMI native support be worthy of a new GPU investment?
better image quality, better resolution?
( I’m not a graphic designer or artist)

Thanks for reading, Thank you All.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Dear TPU community, after almost 3 years (!) I’m back.

Welcome back!

(my T7500 is alive and cool)

Glad to hear you got that sorted!

can I have good image quality with the current AMD FirePro V5900 or would it be better to get a “new” GPU?

It's not a good card for todays needs.

AMD FirePro V5900 Specs

AMD Cayman, 600 MHz, 512 Cores, 32 TMUs, 32 ROPs, 2048 MB GDDR5, 500 MHz, 256 bit

www.techpowerup.com

An upgrade to even something 3 or 4 years old for $50 or $100 will be a MASSIVE upgrade! Granted, if you're not gaming or doing anything video intensive, then what you have will get you by.

For example, a Geforce GTX 960(2GB or 4GB) would be a great option and is not expensive. A GTX 1070 would be even better and, again, is not expensive.

If you'd like some more suggestions on what card might work best for that system, let us know.

- RAM Expansion | Planning to add 48GB (16 chips) to reach 72GB total

Unless you actually need that much RAM, just go with 48GB. It'll be more that you will ever need for that system.

- NVMe Adapter | Exploring the use of an NVMe adapter for performance

I would skip this in favor of a quality 2TB SATA SSD. You will not really get much of a performance boost from NVMe in that system.

 

[ManGupta]

My Dell latitude 7490 laptop stopped working suddenly and it got BSOD.

After powering on again the indicator blinks White and orange.

The backlit keyboard is receiving power but the screen is completely blank.

Dell latitude 7490 issues

youtube.com

What could be the issue?

 

[uco73]

What could be the issue?

Try to enter BIOS.

my T7500 is alive and cool

Dell T7500 is the beast forever. Put the some GTX, RTX or RX gpu inside.

 

[ManGupta]

Try to enter BIOS.


Dell T7500 is the beast forever. Put the some GTX, RTX or RX gpu inside.

Cannot, screen is blank. Cannot see anything after pressing F2.

 

[uco73]

Cannot, screen is blank. Cannot see anything after pressing F2.

Try to remove battery and connect adapter to laptop (without battery), than turn on laptop.

 

[ManGupta]

Try to remove battery and connect adapter to laptop (without battery), than turn on laptop.

OK I will try this one.
Thanks

 

[KLiKzg]

Assuming MBO = motherboard ... the T7500 board is larger up top because of it's onboard SAS controller and additional SATA connectors. So no they will not fit into T5500 or T3500 case.

Thanks...though I have read that "low MBO battery" might give some strange errors like that (except the error on BIOS screen).

Are those Dell systems made that way?