TA-1000-1: PCIe* link width can intermittently downgrade to x4 or x2 with add-in card

This Technical Advisory describes an issue which may or may not affect the customer’s product
Intel Technical Advisory TA-1000-1
5200 NE Elam Young Parkway
Hillsboro, OR 97124
May 11, 2012
Copyright © 2012 Intel Corporation. * Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
PCIe link width may intermittently downgrade to x4 or x2 with one
third party PCIe add-in card.
Information in this document is provided in connection with Intel products. No license, express or implied, by estoppel or otherwise,
to any intellectual property rights is granted by this document. Except as provided in Intel's Terms and Conditions of Sale for such
products, Intel assumes no liability whatsoever, and Intel disclaims any express or implied warranty, relating to sale and/or use of
Intel products including liability or warranties relating to fitness for a particular purpose, merchantability, or infringement of any patent,
copyright or other intellectual property right. Intel products are not intended for use in medical, life saving, or life sustaining
applications. Intel may make changes to specifications and product descriptions at any time, without notice. The Intel products
described herein may contain design defects or errors known as errata which may cause the product to deviate from published
specifications. Current characterized errata are available on request.
Products Affected
The following Intel® Server Boards:
 Intel
®
Server Board S2600CP family
 Intel
®
Workstation Board W2600CR family
 Intel
®
Server Board S2600IP family
 Intel
®
Server Board S2600GZ/GL family
The following Intel® Server Systems:
 Intel
®
Server System P4000CP family
 Intel
®
Server System P4000IP family
 Intel
®
Workstation System P4000CR family
 Intel
®
Server System R1000GZ/GL family
 Intel
®
Server System P2000GZ/GL family
 Intel
®
Server System H2000JF family
 Intel
®
Server System H2000WP family
Description
The above mentioned Intel
®
Server Boards and Systems may detect PCIe (PCI express) link width and downgrade to x4
or x2 with a third party PCIe add-in card PCIe x8 card during BIOS Power On Self-Test(POST) while PCIe training in
cold reset cycles with approximate 1% failure rate.
Root Cause
An issue exists with BIOS R01.02.0003 and R01.02.0006, where the system may randomly recognize incorrect PCIe
generation 3 device widths.
Corrective Action / Resolution