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Alienware Aurora ALX, R1, R2, R3, R4, May Crash Or Experience Blue Screen Errors Due to Graphics Card Power Cable

Summary: Information about blue screen errors on the Alienware Aurora ALX, R1, R2, R3, and R4 computers.

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Article Content


Symptoms

No symptom information.

Cause

No cause information.

Resolution

Alienware Aurora ALX, R1, R2, R3, R4 May Crash Or Experience Blue Screen Errors Due to Graphics Card Power Cable

SLN128872_en_US__11327056520179.img_Header

Table of Contents:

  1. Intermittent Blue Screen Errors, Shutdowns, or Lockups Due to Incorrectly Seated Graphics Power
  2. Attach the Correct Power Connectors to the Graphics Card in the Alienware Aurora

Applies for:

Alienware Aurora & Aurora ALX, R1, R2, R3, R4




1.

Intermittent Blue Screen Errors, Shutdowns, or Lockups Due to Incorrectly Seated Graphics Power


Some Alienware Aurora and Aurora ALX computers may experience intermittent lockups, shutdowns, or Blue Screen errors due to power connectors (rails) are incorrectly distributed on the graphics card. To resolve the issue, open the computer and correctly distribute the power connectors (Tables 1 and 2) on the graphics cards.

SLN128872_en_US__21361476477644.nvidia Recommended PSU Wattage (W) PSU 525 watts PCIe connectors PSU 875 watts PCIe connectors

GeForce 700 Series

GTX Titan Z 875  - Card 1: P15 and P17
GTX 780 SLI 875 - Card 1: P16 and P15
Card 2: P14 and P17
GTX 780 875 - Card 1: P16 and P15
GTX 770 SLI 875 - Card 1: P16 and P15
Card 2: P14 and P17
GTX 770 875 - Card 1: P16 and P15
GTX 760 Ti SLI 875 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Card 2: P16 and P17
GTX 760 Ti 875 - Card 1: P14 and P15
GTX 760 SLI 875 - Card 1: P14
Card 2: P16
GTX 760 875 - Card 1: P14
GT 750 525 - -
GTX 745 525 - -

GeForce 600/500 Series

GTX 690 620 - Card 1: P15 and P17
GTX 680 SLI 800 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Card 2: P16 and P17
GTX 680 550 - Card 1: P14 and P15
GTX 660 SLI 800 - Card 1: P14
Card 2: P16
GTX 660 525 Card 1: P14 Card 1: P14
GTX 590 700 - Card 1: P15 and P17
GTX 580 600 - Card 1: P15 and P17
GTX 560 Ti SLI 650 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Card 2: P16 and P17
GTX 560 Ti 500 Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 1: P14 and P15
GTX 555 SLI 500 Card 1: P14
Card 2: P16
Card 1: P14
Card 2: P16
GTX 555 400 Card 1: P14 Card 1: P14
GT 545 (DDR5) SLI 450 Card 1: P14
Card 2: P15
Card 1: P14
Card 2: P15
GT 545 (DDR5) 380 Card 1: P14 Card 1: P14
GTX 490 700 - Card 1: P15 and P17
GTX 480 600 - Card 1: P16 and P15
GTX 470 SLI 750 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Card 2: P16 and P17
GTX 470 550 - Card 1: P14 and P15

GeForce 400/200 Series

GTX 460 1Gb/768Mb/SE SLI 620 - Card 1: P14
Card 2: P16
GTX 460 1Gb/768Mb/SE 500 Card 1: P14 Card 1: P14
GTS 450 SLI 520 Card 1: P14
Card 2: P15
Card 1: P14
Card 2: P16
GTS 450 400 Card 1: P14 Card 1: P14
GTX 295 650 Card 1: P16 and P15 -
GTX 285 SLI 750 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Card 2: P16 and P17
GTX 285 520 Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 1: P14 and P15
GTX 280 SLI 750 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Card 2: P16 and P17
GTX 280 550 Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 1: P14 and P15
GTX 260 SLI 650 Card 1: P14
Card 2: P15
Card 1: P14
Card 2: P16
GTX 260 500 Card 1: P14 Card 1: P14
GT 240 350 Card 1: P14 Card 1: P15
 
 

SLN128872_en_US__31342134309889.amd
Recommended PSU Wattage (W) PSU 525 watts PCIe connectors PSU 875 watts PCIe connectors
Radeon R9 2xx Series R9 290x 875 - Card 1: P16 and P15
R9 270x CF 875 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Card 2: P16 and P17
R9 270x 875 - Card 1: P14 and P15
R9 270 CF 875 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Card 2: P16 and P17
R9 270 875 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Radeon HD 8000 Series HD 8990 875 - Card 1: P15 and P17
HD 8950 CF 800 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Card 2: P16 and P17
HD 8950 800 - Card 1: P14 and P15
HD 8870 CF 800 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Card 2: P16 and P17
HD 8870 800 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Radeon HD 7000/6000 Series HD7970 CF 800 - -
HD7970 550 - -
HD7950 CF 700 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Card 2: P16 and P17
HD7950 500 Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 1: P14 and P15
HD7870 CF 600 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Card 2: P16 and P17
HD7870 500 Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 1: P14 and P15
HD7850 CF 575 - -
HD7850 450 - -
HD7770 CF 520 - -
HD7770 430 - -
HD7750 350 - -
HD6990 700 - Card 1: P15 and P17
HD6970 CF 800 - -
HD6970 550 - -
HD6950 CF 700 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Card 2: P16 and P17
Radeon HD 6000/5000 Series HD6950 500 Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 1: P14 and P15
HD6870 CF 600 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Card 2: P16 and P17
HD6870 500 Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 1: P14 and P15
HD6850 CF 550 - -
HD6850 450 - -
HD5970 CF 850 - -
HD5970 650 - Card 1: P16 and P15
HD5870 CF 650 - Card 1: P14 and P15
Card 2: P16 and P17
HD5870 500 Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 1: P14 and P15
HD5770 CF 550 Card 1: P14
Card 2: P15
Card 1: P14
Card 2: P16
HD5770 425 Card 1: P14 Card 1: P14
HD5670 512Mb/1Gb CF 450 - -
HD5670 512Mb/1Gb 400 - -
 

Table 2

Tables 1 and 2: Alienware Aurora Graphics Cards and Their Correct Power Connectors


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2.

Attach the Correct Power Connectors to the Graphics Card in the Alienware Aurora

 

SLN128872_en_US__4new_caution Caution:  
  Before performing any of the procedures in this section, read and follow the safety instructions in Dell Knowledge Base Article: "Precautionary Measures for Personal Safety" Article ID: 339031.  
  1. Unplug the power cable from the back of the computer.
  2. Press the power button for at least 5 seconds to discharge any remaining power.
  3. Unplug all cables to external components including input devices, monitors, and speakers.
  4. Open the computer cover (Figure 1).
    SLN128872_en_US__5Alienware_Aurora_Chassis_Open
    Figure 1: Opening the Side Panel on the Chassis on the Alienware Aurora

    Numbers reference image above:
    SLN128872_en_US__6SG_Caption1 Release Panel
    SLN128872_en_US__7SG_Caption2 Security Lock Slot
    SLN128872_en_US__8SG_Caption3 Security Lock Latch
    SLN128872_en_US__9SG_Caption4 Chassis Side Panel
  5. Rotate the expansion card shroud to gain access to the expansion card(s) (Figure 3).
    SLN128872_en_US__10Alienware_Expansion_Card_Shroud_Removal
    Figure 2: Opening the Expansion Card Shroud

    Numbers reference image above:
    SLN128872_en_US__6SG_Caption1 Shroud Release
    SLN128872_en_US__7SG_Caption2 Expansion Card Shroud
  6. Refer to Table 1 and attach the correct power connector (Figure 3) to the graphics card.
    SLN128872_en_US__13geforce_8800_GTX_internal_power_connectors
    Figure 3: A 2x3 Power Connector on a Graphics Card
  7. Once the power connectors are correctly attached to the graphics card, close the chassis and turn the system on.
    SLN128872_en_US__141354053787083.Aurora Tear down
  8. If you are having problems during dissasembly please refer to our Aurora Tear Down video.


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If you still experience issues after completing these steps please send an e-mail to AWCC-Resolution_Experts@Dell.com (for US and Canada customers), with your service tag, phone number and proper time to reach you and we will be contacting you shortly.

The Alienware Support Team

Article Properties


Affected Product

Alienware Aurora, Alienware Aurora ALX, Alienware Aurora R2, Alienware Aurora R3, Alienware Aurora R4

Last Published Date

12 Jul 2021

Version

5

Article Type

Solution