Dead Dell
Started by
Grizz99
, Sep 27 2005 10:35 PM
#1
Posted 27 September 2005 - 10:35 PM
#2
Posted 28 September 2005 - 03:57 AM
I can understand your predicament having gone 15 days with no power following a direct hit from Katrina. We're still not back to normal.
A couple of comments here. First, caution is advised re: PSU swap as a lot of older Dells used a non-standard ATX power supply header/connector configuration - in other words, they tricked their wiring so a standard ATX PSU will short out some boards. Secondly, I'd suggest you first try a CMOS reset. Open your case and locate the CMOS jumper (3 pin) near the battery. Disconnect the ATX power header from the motherboard and jumper 2-3 for roughly 10 seconds and then rejumper 1-2. Reconnect the power header and try to fire that puppy up. You should head to your BIOS setup and set for default settings on first boot.
Good Luck.
A couple of comments here. First, caution is advised re: PSU swap as a lot of older Dells used a non-standard ATX power supply header/connector configuration - in other words, they tricked their wiring so a standard ATX PSU will short out some boards. Secondly, I'd suggest you first try a CMOS reset. Open your case and locate the CMOS jumper (3 pin) near the battery. Disconnect the ATX power header from the motherboard and jumper 2-3 for roughly 10 seconds and then rejumper 1-2. Reconnect the power header and try to fire that puppy up. You should head to your BIOS setup and set for default settings on first boot.
Good Luck.
#3
Posted 28 September 2005 - 07:37 PM
Thanks Rockster. The CMOS reset didn't work. I will look around and see if I can find an OEM PSU. I have a bad feeling about this MB. Maybe not. Thanks again. Ed
#4
Posted 29 September 2005 - 01:57 AM
This is a note I've kept on file:
Dell proprietary (non-standard) ATX Main Power Connector pinout (wire side view)
Color
Signal
Pin
Pin
Signal
Color
Gray
PS_On
11
1
+5V
Red
Black
GND
12
2
GND
Black
Black
GND
13
3
+5V
Red
Black
GND
14
4
GND
Black
White
-5V
15
5
Power_Good
Orange
Red
+5V
16
6
+5VSB (standby)
Purple
Red
+5V
17
7
+12V
Yellow
Red
+5V
18
8
-12V
Blue
KEY (blank)
-
19
9
GND
Black
Red
+5V
20
10
GND
Black
Dell proprietary (non-standard) ATX Auxiliary Power Connector Pinout
Pin
Signal
Color
1
Gnd
Black
2
Gnd
Black
3
Gnd
Black
4
+3.3V
Blue/White
5
+3.3V
Blue/White
6
+3.3V
Blue/White
At first glance, it appears all they did was switch some of the terminals around, then one could use a terminal pick to remove the terminals from the connectors (with the wires attached) and merely reinsert them into the proper connector positions, allowing one to use the Dell power supply with an upgraded ATX motherboard in the future. Unfortunately if you study the Dell main and auxiliary connector pinouts listed here and compare them to the industry standard ATX pinouts, you'll see that not only are the voltage and signal positions changed, but the number of terminals carrying specific voltages and grounds has changed as well. It would be possible to modify a Dell supply to work with a standard ATX board, or to modify a standard ATX supply to work with a Dell board, but you'd have to do some cutting and splicing in addition to swapping some terminals around. Usually it wouldn't be worth the time and effort.
Dell proprietary (non-standard) ATX Main Power Connector pinout (wire side view)
Color
Signal
Pin
Pin
Signal
Color
Gray
PS_On
11
1
+5V
Red
Black
GND
12
2
GND
Black
Black
GND
13
3
+5V
Red
Black
GND
14
4
GND
Black
White
-5V
15
5
Power_Good
Orange
Red
+5V
16
6
+5VSB (standby)
Purple
Red
+5V
17
7
+12V
Yellow
Red
+5V
18
8
-12V
Blue
KEY (blank)
-
19
9
GND
Black
Red
+5V
20
10
GND
Black
Dell proprietary (non-standard) ATX Auxiliary Power Connector Pinout
Pin
Signal
Color
1
Gnd
Black
2
Gnd
Black
3
Gnd
Black
4
+3.3V
Blue/White
5
+3.3V
Blue/White
6
+3.3V
Blue/White
At first glance, it appears all they did was switch some of the terminals around, then one could use a terminal pick to remove the terminals from the connectors (with the wires attached) and merely reinsert them into the proper connector positions, allowing one to use the Dell power supply with an upgraded ATX motherboard in the future. Unfortunately if you study the Dell main and auxiliary connector pinouts listed here and compare them to the industry standard ATX pinouts, you'll see that not only are the voltage and signal positions changed, but the number of terminals carrying specific voltages and grounds has changed as well. It would be possible to modify a Dell supply to work with a standard ATX board, or to modify a standard ATX supply to work with a Dell board, but you'd have to do some cutting and splicing in addition to swapping some terminals around. Usually it wouldn't be worth the time and effort.
Edited by Rockster2U, 29 September 2005 - 02:00 AM.
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