Memory error on ND

NeXT Computer, Inc. -> NeXTdimension Board

Title: Memory error on ND
Post by: daniel.dlds on March 09, 2024, 04:12:38 AM
Hi,
I have a NeXT Dimension board, that is outputting the following on boot :
Jul  9 21:11:21 localhost reboot: Reboot complete
Jul  9 21:11:25 localhost mach: NeXTdimension Board in Slot 2:
Jul  9 21:11:25 localhost mach:         ROM Version 43, Memory Controller step 1, i860 step C.1
Jul  9 21:11:25 localhost mach:         64 Mbytes of DRAM installed, NTSC video configured
Jul  9 21:11:25 localhost mach:         monitor disconnected
Jul  9 21:11:25 localhost mach: Power-on Self Test Failure:
Jul  9 21:11:25 localhost mach: DRAM test 2 failed in bank 0 at 0x2aa8fd40; bad bits 0x0f000000

The system booted and I just got a grey screen on the ND monitor. I guess it is because of the monitor disconnected message (it is connected but somehow the board does not detect it)

I power cycled the machine and now the monitor is detected but the memory error persists and because the OS chose the ND monitor to be the main monitor, the boot wont complete as it is stuck at the POST error message.
Can anyone help me, from the message identify the SIMM that is bad? It says 'bank 0' but I am not sure. I have 64 MB of RAM installed with 8 x 8 Mbyte SIMMS.
Thanks,
Regards
Title: Re: Memory error on ND
Post by: daniel.dlds on March 17, 2024, 06:12:06 AM
Removed half of the 8MB memory sticks, and now it does not report any memory error. But now the kernel panics. It says :
callout_dispatch(290456960, 0x4067e94, 290938880)
panic: (Cpu 0) callout_dispatch

Anyone has any idea of what this means ?

Thanks
Title: Re: Memory error on ND
Post by: barcher174 on March 18, 2024, 02:13:29 AM
Sorry for the lack of responses. The Dimensions are not super common so there's not a whole lot of debug information available for them. I have only needed to fix a few. I suppose you already tried multiple simm configurations? We usually also give a blanket statement to recap when strange issues arise. The current error is pointing out a problem with your main system board and not the dimension. That could be a clue that the problem is somehow related to the NBIC interface chip on either the dimension or the system board. If they are in a socket, you could try reseating them.
Title: Re: Memory error on ND
Post by: daniel.dlds on March 21, 2024, 01:48:37 PM
I removed the NeXT Dimension board from the system, and its working fine. No problems at all.
I wonder if this is another manifestation of memory problems. I had one on the cube itself and the symptoms vary.
Title: Re: Memory error on ND
Post by: Rob Blessin Black Hole on March 21, 2024, 06:31:26 PM
May be try 2 simms on the NeXT Dimension board slots closest to the edge not in the middle. Does it boot? If an error trying NeXT 2 simms in the same slots and see if it is the same error.
Title: Re: Memory error on ND
Post by: Khashoggi on May 22, 2024, 08:20:14 PM
Recap it to rule that out

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