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Dell XPS will not boot - motherboard bad?
I got a used Dell XPS system with a blue case. It was sold as is w/o any warranty. Got it real cheap. Got it home and plugged it in and all the fans start running the network connection light comes on but don't get anything on the monitor. Reseated all the cards no luck. Replaced the monitor card with a known good one and no luck. Finally noticed there are 5 little lights on the back that I think are for the POST. None of them come on so I figure the mobo is dead. I need help identifying the motherboard and what I could use as a replacement.
Service tag is mangled so no way to read it to get info from Dell. The mobo has some numbers on it. Here they are..
AA-C48095-201
D S/N My-0u2424-19341-37v-00br : C/O MY
The CPU has the following on it:
P4
1.6GHz / 256 / 400 / 1.75v
SC5VH Costa Rica
3142 A221-0847
The CPU socket has this on the plastic: MPGA478B
Appreciate help identifying this board and what other boards I could use as a replacment.
Would also like to know if there is a way to ID if the mobo or cpu is dead since there are no POST lights or beeps
Thanks.
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Answers
and if the motherboard needs replaced you will need to contact dell to purchase a replacement or try ebay to see if someone there has one, because Dell's motherboards and power supplys and even the connections the fans use are proprietary, retail motherboards wont work with dell power supplys and dell motherboards wont work with retail power supplys.
maramon - the links show a picture and it looks like the system so I conclude it is a Dimension XPS. Only curious thing is the docs say the cpu shold be Intel® Pentium® 4 that runs at 2.8 or 3.0, or 3.2 GHz. The CPU on the mobo is listed at 1.6 GHz. Wonder if that means anything.
jamietoner - I do know there is flea power because there is a green light on the motherboard when plugged in. I saw it before turning everything off so I could reseat all the cards and cables. I will follow your instructions and report back.
I was afraid that the only way to get a new mobo, if needed, was through Dell.
Thanks. More info over the weekend.
If it's a P4 1.6, it's a Northwood A processor - I have one of these. You will need a socket478 motherboard that supports a 400FSB (100MHz on the motherboard - not too difficult); I have an Asus P4B533 that does the trick. Another nice thing about this cpu is that it overclocks amazingly - I run it at 150FSB, giving me a 2.4GHz system for free, and it runs very cool. A stock cpu cooler keeps it at 90F idle.
If this is a Dimension XPS follwoing are the Motherboard and Processors which were originally shipped with this model from Dell. If you have a 1.6 ghz it would appear it may not be original equipment. An XPS Gen 2 and 3 are available but processor speeds are all above 2 Ghz.
Dimension XPS Motherboard
F2905 Motherboard, NIC/Controllers, DIMXPS,
Dimension XPS Processor
F1779 Service Kit, Northwood Processor, 2.66G, 533, Dimension, XPS
F1781 Service Kit, Northwood Processor, 3.06G, 533, Dimension, XPS
C0724 Processor, Northwood 80532, 2.8G, 512K, 800FSB, SKN
G0101 Processor, Northwood 80532, 3.0G, 512, 800FSB, SKN
H1491 Processor, Northwood 80532, 3.06G, 512, 533, SKN, D1
F1786 Service Kit, Northwood Processor, 3.2G, 800, Dimension, XPS
F1785 Service Kit, Northwood Processor, 3.0G, 800, Dimension, XPS
F1784 Service Kit, Northwood Processor, 2.8G, 800, Dimension, XPS
F1782 Service Kit, Northwood Processor, 2.4G, 800, Dimension, XPS
T3034 Service Kit, Northwood Processor, 3.2G, 800, D1
T3033 Service Kit, Northwood Processor, 3.0G, 800, D1
C1431 Processor, Northwood 80532, 2.8G, 512K, 533, SKN, D1
D1522 Processor, Northwood 80532, 2.66G, 512, 533, SKN, D1
2U374 Processor, Northwood 80532, 2.8G, 512K, 533FSB, SKN
2U377 Processor, Northwood 80532, 3.06G, 512, 533FSB, SKN
4U107 Processor, Northwood 80532, 2.66G, 512K, 533FSBSKN
9Y856 Processor, Northwood 80532, 2.6G, 512, 800FSB, SKN
D0116 Processor, Northwood 80532, 3.2G, 512, 800FSB, SKN,
F0068 Processor, Northwood 80532, 2.4G, 512K, 800FSB, SKN
F1783 Service Kit, Northwood Processor, 2.6G, 800, Dimension, XPS
F1780 Service Kit, Northwood Processor, 2.8G, 533, Dimension, XPS
Hope this helps !!! :-)
If you are interested in obtaining/purchasing replacement parts, Dell takes pride in the detail that you don't need part numbers. I would recommend you:
1. Verify to the Best of your ability that you do have a Dimension XPS and not a
Generation 2 or 3.
2. Call Dell for a price quote, which they will fax to you. (Tele # (800) 822-8965)
3. The Price quote will have Dell Part Numbers (DP/N) and use those to search
internet for a better price. Dell sometimes has some good prices on parts.
4. Compare the cost to the cost of a replacement computer. I just checked the
site " http://slickdeals.net " and presently the following computer is available -
Dell Dimension E310 Pentium 4 2.8GHz, 512 DDR2, 80GB SATA, DVDRW, 17" Analog LCD $464
You must configure appropriately but all the details are available. This is just one example and other deals could be found by searching internet.
As I always say if you are considering replaceing parts, always consider a replacement.
Hope this helps !!!
I called Dell and talked to their spare parts folks. They didn't want to sell me a mobo since we could not positively ID the system based on the mobo serial number. Really, I didn't want to purchase one because they are not returnable and the rep did not know if I could use anyone from Gen 1 - Gen 3. Recommendation was to work with tech spt to positively ID the system. 2 hours and 5 tech reps later they determined that w/o a service tag there was no way they could ID the system.
If I knew a mobo from a Gen 1 - Gen 3 was interchangable I'd buy one. Does anyone know if they are?
a gen 2 board would probaly work in a gen 1 box, but gen 3 wouldnt because they switched to pci express and ddr2 ram on gen 3. a quick way to tell if the system is gen 1 or gen 2 is with the firewire connections, gen 1 only had 1 4 pin connector, gen 2 will have a 6 pin connector with the front usb ports.
I’m not as familiar with the Dell Dimension Series yet on the Business GX Series I know that within the numeric group like GX150, GX260, GX270, GX280, … For the most part Motherboards are interchangeable by group (ie GX150 and different variations motherboards are interchangeable –Yet Not Always). I do not know BUT I’d be VERY Leary if motherboards are interchangeable among Dimension XPS, Gen 2 and/or Gen 3.
I’ve read in other areas on this site that Dell Power Supplies are proprietary. I can not confirm or deny that But should be a consideration before any substitution is made.
Although, after rereading your original posting I believe I know your motherboard Dell Part Number: u2424
Looking at you Dell Motherboard Part Number: My-0u2424-19341-37v-00br
Now if the breakdown is the same as their monitors, the first two digits are the country of manufacture (MY) then a Dash (-) the nest digit is a Zero (0) and the nest five (5) digits are the Dell Part Number U2424. When I look that number up I do find it is a Motherboard for a Dell Dimension XPS Gen 2. Dell Tech Support should know this but may not have been as helpful as they could have been.
The following links may be beneficial:
http://www.opentechsupport
http://www.centrix-intl.co
http://www.opentechsupport
Hope this helps !!!
If this is a Dimension XPS following are the Motherboard and Processors which were originally shipped with this model from Dell.
Motherboard
U2424 Mothrboard, Dimension, XPS-G2
Processor
D0116 Processor, Canterwood 80532, 3.2G, 512, 800FSB, SKN
9Y856 Processor, Canterwood 80532, 2.6G, 512, 800FSB, SKN
C0724 Processor, Canterwood 80532, 2.8G, 512K, 800FSB, SKN
F0068 Processor, Canterwood 80532, 2.4G, 512K, 800FSB, SKN
G0101 Processor, Canterwood 80532, 3.0G, 512, 800FSB, SKN
Hope this Helps !!!
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by: jamietonerPosted on 2006-03-01 at 16:43:15ID: 16080927
well if there are no diag leds lit on the back, that usually indicates and issue with PSU, cpu or motherboard. First check and see if there is a flea power light on the motherboard when power is plugged in, if not try reseating the power connections to the motherboard, if you still get no light its usually and indication of a bad psu possibly bad motherboard. If you are getting a flea power light, unplug the power cord and strip the system down to power, motherboard, psu and control panel (remove ide cables, fdd cable, pci cards, video card, memory), plug it back in and try to turn it on and see if it emits and beeps codes or gives a code on the diag leds in then back, if not reseat the cpu, if you still get nothing after reseating the cpu, if possible try a known good cpu, if that fails bad motherboard, of there isnt a known good cpu i would proably still replace the motherboard first.