[sgi_tx]

I have an ip28 indigo2 R10K system with 640mb ram... was working perfectly well when I last used it a couple of years ago. Turned it on this week and nothing - no power light, no fans spinning, nothing on the display and no chime.

I thought the PSU was bad so I removed one from an R4400 Indigo2, but it exhibited the exact same behavior. No sounds or lights.

Next, I disconnected the drives, removed all the cards (fiber network and solid impact), reduced the RAM to a couple of SIMMS and tried again. Same issue. No sound, no power lights.

Finally, I swapped out the RAM for a couple of other SIMMs, removed the CPU entirely and reseated and secured it. Shook the case to dislodge anything on the under side of the motherboard that might be shorting things.  Nothing happened. Same issue.

Any clues as to what might be happening? 

Will R4K supplies work with an IP28?

Can anyone point me to instructions on how to get the riser card for EISA expansion out? And then the whole mother Board.

[Raion]

IMPACT systems need to have the backplane connector connected. If your purple I2 is an IMPACT model, you can't use a non-IMPACT PSU.

It sounds to me like classic failure of the PSU. You would get something if it was memory or CPU failure. The board could be bad, but it's unlikely. There's no passives on board that are known to fail.

I would start with recapping the power supply or obtaining a replacement. They are getting hard to find and you cannot plop in an ATX or other aftermarket.

[weblacky]

Yo,
OK, before too much panic sets in, let's go through the basics:

1. Does that Indigo2 R4400 you got the PSU from work? I mean with the PSU you took to try? Old PSUs are still old PSUs. Please verify that the intact R4400 works with its PSU. Please post the SGI part number on the R4400 PSU.

2. The Indigo2 line has many PSU models (it get's confusing), so even a working R4400 PSU may not be suitable for an R10. Please post the R10K PSU model number. All Indigo2 Impact SGI PSU model numbers should start with 060.

Your R10K PSU, SHOULD have either these part numbers (where xxx are revision numbers): 060-8002-xxx or 060-0027-xxx.

Now I've seen (and confirmed with Ian) that people have successfully used other Indigo2 PSUs (lower IMPACT models) for R10s, but it maxes the PSU out and isn't capable of running a fully loaded R10K, but one with less power requirements (from internal drives missing or the like) might run.

Technically the two PSUs you tried should be incompatible (depending on specs) if you seeing the same model numbers I've indicated for the R10K and not in the R4400.

Now, many indigo2 PSUs have been reported failing recently (It's their time) and forum members are looking into it. However the Indigo2 PSUs are the hardest to work with internally, IMPACT PSUs being far worse then teal Indigo2 PSUs. These PSUs use the boards linked a way that make them impossible to troubleshoot while assembled and working. Once disassembled, two of the boards are stuck connected by very thick wires that transmit the main transformer voltage between each board.

So they are very hard to work with, but it's certainly not impossible if you're simply checking components and replacing what looks wrong after measurements. But it's a far cry from an old PC PSU, it's very dense!

We don't yet have a good sense of time and money on these for rebuild yet. My personal opinion is if you're skilled in this area you can try to tackle it, however there isn't any real advice or formula to tell you what's aged out. You'll need to determine that yourself.

We don't yet have members able to perform this work as a service. The real issue is the risk and time. I've been in nearly all PSU models for the Indigo2, it all takes at least enough hours where it's a high cost (assuming you're also cleaning them, most Indigo2 PSUs are filthy with black carbonized soot stuck to the semiconductors). So the cost adds up.

Indigo2 PSUs haven't been appearing much on eBay and prices are rising. Expect to pay at least $250+ for a working Indigo2 IMPACT PSU (likely more).

I hope we have a better situation in a year's time, but right now that's what I can tell you.

If you choose to get rid of your old PSU, I buy old PSUs for research into repair so please PM me to see if I can make you an offer on the broken PSU, otherwise, currently prices to replace the PSU are lower than rebuilding one would be (factoring in labor).

If you do choose to try to repair it yourself, please post the progress on this forum. I've pictures of insides of several PSUs, but I lack the real equipment I need to test in-circuit. Hopefully that will change in the future.

Sorry I can't provide much more info.

[JohnnyJohnny]

I've had luck getting Indigo2 PSUs fixed at an electronics repair shop that has experience with older audio and laboratory equipment. I've had 2 PSUs fixed now, CA$150 for each. You may want to look around locally for such a shop, visit them the see and talk about what kinds of equipment they repair, and discuss your situation.

[sgi_tx]

Thank you for these helpful replies.

I am posting pics of both supplies. The one in the case is from an R4400 and the one out of the case is the original supply that was in this R10K impact unit. Both are identical it seems.

https://ibb.co/9hZHvKZ
https://ibb.co/5cZQBSK

Re the other question above, was the supply
I removed from the R4K system working? Yes, it was.

[weblacky]

Wow, someone upgrade that R4400 PSU at some point to a newer model.

Well outside of something else, I see you had the IMPACT power ribbon and 3.5 sense connector on the terminator board in both pictures. When you tested the 10K, you did plug in the IMPACT power cable and the sense line, correct? 10K won't start without it.


Have you tried the opposite? Testing 10K PSU on the R4400? Won't really tell you much if it works, given the two have very different power requirements...but at least you'd have another data point.

[jan-jaap]

Thank you for these helpful replies.

I am posting pics of both supplies. The one in the case is from an R4400 and the one out of the case is the original supply that was in this R10K impact unit. Both are identical it seems.

https://ibb.co/9hZHvKZ
https://ibb.co/5cZQBSK

Re the other question above, was the supply
I removed from the R4K system working? Yes, it was.

The relevant SGI part numbers are:

Indigo2 non-IMPACT PSU
9430814 POWER SUPPLY AC/DC 406W 6 OUTPUT FR

Indigo2 R4400 IMPACT PSU (36A @ 3.5v)
060-8001-00x POWER SUPPLY AC/DC 385W 7-OUTPUT FR

Indigo2 R10000 IMPACT PSU (36A @ 3.5v)
060-8002-00x POWER SUPPLY AC/DC 3.3V 7-OUTPUT FR

Indigo2 R4400 DUAL-HEAD IMPACT PSU (48A @ 3.5v)
060-0021-00x POWER SUPPLY AC/DC 390W 7-OUTPUT FR

Indigo2 R10000 DUAL-HEAD IMPACT PSU (48A @ 3.5v)
060-0027-00x POWER SUPPLY AC/DC 390W 7-OUT 3.3V FR

As you can see, the dual-head IMPACT PSUs can supply more current on the blue 3.5V rail, but total output power is unchanged.

Looks like you've got two R10K IMPACT capable power supplies here (060-8002-001). This part number should be fine in both the R4400 and R10K systems.

[sgi_tx]

Thank you!

I have moved the supply that was originally in the R4K Indigo to the R10K Indigo. It is wired up as shown in this image:

https://ibb.co/c1q7yTn

It was working in the R4K system but doesn’t work in the R10K.

The supply that was originally in the R10K unit doesn’t work in the R4K unit.

Perplexing. Do have both a bad motherboard and a bad PSU?

[weblacky]

Well, that's still kind of up in the air.

You can now very confidently claim your R10K PSU has failed (as it does not function in either machine). As we mentioned, the R10K has MUCH higher power requirements then an R4400 at startup. So I would (on the surface) be more prone to believing your R4400 PSU is aged enough, where it cannot power it's originally intended max load. But it's still good enough to power a "lesser" load of the R4400.

I'm more apt to believe both your PSUs are aging out...I only say this because:

A. We've not seen posted examples or claims of people's mainboards aging out and dying at this point in time.
B. We HAVE seen a rash of posts in the last 2 years about Indigo2 PSUs aging out and dying, so this is much more common. I'd believe It's B without having more evidence.

So my opinion is, one of the PSUs now needs repair, the other is not too far behind (can only power a less load now).

You're welcome to perform a Diode check with your multimeter across the mainboard power input to check for an outright short, but I don't think you'll find one. Aging PSUs are the new challenge around here. I don't know your background but there is a group of us trying to get info and equipment together to eventually do something about refurbishing these, but nothing is happening at the current moment (plans need to align for several people).

eBay has been very scarce of Indigo2 PSUs lately, there are retail sources but they can be very pricey.

[sgi_tx]

Thank you all, once again, for the very helpful input.

I thought I would provide you all with an update.

I was able to find a repair shop locally that specializes in older audio equipment. I spoke to the proprietor who told me he had no experience with computer equipment but would be willing to open up the power supply and take a look. I dropped off the Indigo2 today and am hoping for the best. I should find out within the next 10 days or so.

I'm still holding on to the identical PSU that was working fine in the R4K unit, but not with the R10K Impact system. As some of you have theorized above, it might be "weaker" and not able to power up the R10K due to a higher power draw. Perhaps. If the technician is able to replace caps and resolve, or find whatever ails the PSU that was originally in the R10K Impact system, then I'll take this one over as well.

I have noted that there are exactly zero Indigo2 Impact power supplies on eBay...