Mobo or CPU?

[tonyd]

I just received a Dell Dim 4600. When I plugged it the AC cable, the fans stated up. Not a good sign. I was able to power down and up using the power button. On power up - the only sign of life is that the fans and hd come up.

I pulled the RAM, PCI modem, hd, fdd, cd. Still wouldn't POST - nothing on the monitor. No signs of trying a POST, nada.

Installed my PCI POST Test card. Came up 00 - indicating no problems.

Tried another power supply - it wouldn't even bring up the fans. Put old supply back - now even with the original supply - not even the fans or hd start up. Only have the little green light illuminated on the mobo.

I think the mobo is bad, but maybe it's the P4 processor. How does one distinguish? Maybe both are bad.

-tony d

[dbarrow]

Beep codes?
Providing the pc speaker is connected, you should get some beeps during POST. # of beeps indicates errors.

Are the Dells still using REVERSED POLARITY plugs on their mobos? At one time, their proprietary boards used a different combination of pins on the power connections than standard PSUs.

It still could be a PSU issue but you may have to look up the pin out schematic for the plugs before trying another PSU.

[tonyd]

No beeps.

Maybe you hit on something with the psu connection. If this uses a pin configuration different than the spare supply I installed, then I may have introduced incorrect voltages. If that's the case, then I may have damaged the mobo which would explain why I can't even get the fans to come up now.
-td

[Dan18960]

Yep Tony,

You toasted the motherboard at the least and maybe the processor along for the ride.

Word of advice NEVER think Dell is STANDARD ANYTHING!

I have seen them use weird floppy drives (maybe why they can charge 3x's more than anyone else).

Oh well, take the hard drive out, make an image of it from a "bench" box, and call the customer to call Dell (and if it is out of warranty have them sitting down when they get the quote for a new mbd and cpu!) :brick:

[mylanta]

I think you guys are on another planet here...Dell mobos are Intel boards, stock models slightly altered to thier specs. I can't believe you think different pin configuration...give me a break it wouldn't pay and serves no purpose anyway.
It does sound like the board is blown, when the problem seemed to be simple video outage but it could be as easily you blew your spare psu too.

[mylanta]

I think you guys are on another planet here...Dell mobos are Intel boards, stock models slightly altered to thier specs. I can't believe you think different pin configuration...give me a break it wouldn't pay and serves no purpose anyway.
It does sound like the board is blown, when the problem seemed to be simple video outage but it could be as easily you blew your spare psu too.


here from another forum...
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According to Dell your computer has a AGP slot. An 8x, so you could get an AGP video card. And your power supply is only 250W so you'd have to upgrade that too. Normally, most any power supply will work in a Dell case. Antec are the best, but there is also Enermax, Enlight, Sparkle, ect. Check those at www.newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com/).

The link shows what's in your Dell 4600.

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...cs.htm#1084976 (http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4600/en/4600/sm/specs.htm#1084976)
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(Thermaltake Volcano11)
1gb Kingston DDR266
Geforce 6200 (256mb)
Enlight PSU 450
Maxtor 40gb (main drive)
WD 200gb (slave)
Sony FDD
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Sony DVDRW DL 16x
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Last edited by photolady : Today at 09:21 PM.

[PeteF]

Tony,
Is your test power supply short circuit protected?
Whenever I hook a PSU to a quesstionable piece of hardware, I always
use one that is rated for short circuit protection. It also helps to have
one of those PSU testers with the led indicators for each output.
Antec & Coolmax have short circuit protection. Check the specs.

---pete---

[tonyd]

This supply is out of an eMachine. Probably has no protecton.

The wire colors on both the spare and origianl psu are the same. I'd like to get a psu checker.

The question still remains - how do you determine if the board or processor or both are good/bad without substituting parts?

-td

[Smokey]

There really isn't much of a way to do that. Normally its just instincts. If you pull ALL cards out, unplug all devices from the board and remove the ram so all you have is hte motherboard and cpu plugged in when you attempt to power up and you do not get any beep codes or anything, it is most likely one of the two. In all the years I'd been doing repairs, I have only found that two times I had a back cpu - and hte mobo was also bad. The first step was always replacing the motherboard.

[mylanta]

This supply is out of an eMachine. Probably has no protecton.

The wire colors on both the spare and origianl psu are the same. I'd like to get a psu checker.

The question still remains - how do you determine if the board or processor or both are good/bad without substituting parts?

-td


Tony of all p-laces to get a psu, an eMachine? That is the known single owrst quality of an emachine...which are always underpowered and used the crappiest psu known to man.

[RAK]

I think you guys are on another planet here...Dell mobos are Intel boards, stock models slightly altered to thier specs. I can't believe you think different pin configuration...give me a break it wouldn't pay and serves no purpose anyway.
It does sound like the board is blown, when the problem seemed to be simple video outage but it could be as easily you blew your spare psu too.



Hey, Rich, I think we covered this before. There are Dell boards out there with power connectors and PSU's wired bass-ackwards. I found a page that gives a list of the "safe" ones.

http://www.endpcnoise.com/cgi-bin/e/dellconverter.html

The power supply that came with your Dell computer, manufactured since September of 1998, may look like a standard ATX power supply. A standard ATX power supply will even physically fit into the Dell computer and the electrical components will look like they line up, however, if you don't use a proprietary Dell power supply or a Dell to ATX Power Supply Converter with your standard ATX power supply, your computer will not work and damage may occur to the motherboard and/or the standard power supply.

Plus it does pay for them to make their boards to non-stock specs; that way you buy a replacement at their price. EMachine does that, too. I have one someone gave me to look at(see Archives, when they get up and running), and found that the capacitors blew up. EMachines wanted 150$(if they had it in stock) for a replacement, which most likely would blow up again. I got a new case and an Asus board for 60$ and pulled the processor and drive and got it up and running. I was even able to re-activate XP online! That was bit of surprise, but I'm not complaining.
I tried using a refurbished Dell board, but even the case pins didn't match up to the specs I downloaded from Intel on the board. The info on the Dell page wasn't much help either.Here's another page that offers help;
How to Use Your Dell Case with a Real Motherboard

http://www.roberthancock.com/dell/other.htm

(Follow the links
in the article)

Oh, by the way; someone brought me the same Dell model(once again, wish the Archives were up) with the same problem. It was out of my league, so I suggested they take it to a real repairman. They said it turned out the board was fried.

RAK

http://duhvoodooman.com/mitchedo/Dell/casemods.htm

[photolady]

Dells: newer, as in the last 3 or 4 years can use any power supply. They don't need that extra connector.

btw, Rich, some newer Dells, as in the last year or so, use Foxconn boards. :D

[mylanta]

Dells: newer, as in the last 3 or 4 years can use any power supply. They don't need that extra connector.

btw, Rich, some newer Dells, as in the last year or so, use Foxconn boards. :D


Yeah PL I noticed the Foxconn boards a few weeks ago, thought I was in Twilight Zone.

[photolady]

And should you get one that won't boot, check the caps. Models to look after are, Dimension 8500's. I've had several in my shop with blown and/or leaking caps. Pull the shroud, the caps are under that.

[mylanta]

And should you get one that won't boot, check the caps. Models to look after are, Dimension 8500's. I've had several in my shop with blown and/or leaking caps. Pull the shroud, the caps are under that.


Not surprised Foxconn is real crap.

[photolady]

I would say that's why their basic systems are dirt cheap now. Of course along with the other crap they put in them.

[mylanta]

Agreed! I never recommend dell any more to ones who will not build because of that junk but even when i did, I always stresses using the 4000 and 8000 series which were good machines, and never the promo lines. Now with the hidden partition and limited access to customers, I recommend against Dell all the time. They actually want you to pay for restore now. That is unreal!

[compusimple]

And you can't get a machine with a parrellel port

Elliott

[mylanta]

And you can't get a machine with a parrellel port

Elliott


Parellel Port, those don't come with Ps2 either and they have like 4 usb ports in the back.
Yet every motherboard i have ever looked at still has parallel port, serial port and PS2 ports, part of the reason I started building my own again a few years ago,

[tonyd]

Note: The HP 1350N I recently installed came with a partiton for the restore. It's the way of the future. First no manuals; now no CDs.

[mylanta]

I don't mond the restore partition where the access is given to the customer but Dell requires you to buy it. Another thing about the HP is it is real technology because it restores the OS and the programs completely while leaving the files and data in tact. Dell does not have that.

[dbarrow]

If only MS would take the hint.....
You would think that with all the third party software that uses some type of hidden partition for a restore ....
No legitimate reason why MS OS can't do the same!

[casey]

If only MS would take the hint.....
You would think that with all the third party software that uses some type of hidden partition for a restore ....
No legitimate reason why MS OS can't do the same!

Do I understand you right, they should take part of your hard drive for a hidden partition to install restore. It sounds good to me but I also could imagine the uproar from the Anti-Microsoft crowd about Microsoft taking over their hard drive and not giving them the choice. The uproar would be tremendous.

[dale@fcg]

Rich,
If we don't like Dell anymore for anyone not building their own, who do we recommend? Hp/Compaq have always been a laughing stock around here, as well as E machines.

[mylanta]

Dale,
I vote for the "laughing stock" as I think they have come a long way in technology, hardware and price. They are today what Dell was and the nice thing is they have always had a decent laptop, which is something Dell never had.

[tonyd]

HP's email tech support has been pretty good to me. Dell's tech support has been a real PIA.

[dale@fcg]

Man,
I thought I'd never see the day when an HP dekstop was recommended around here

[mylanta]

Dale,
It just goes to show you that Liberals have open minds!