Aurora R7, No Power issue. PSU test button works

Most of this still applies:

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-General-Read-Only/Alienware-Desktop-General-Hardware-Troubleshooting/m-p/5555517#M57436

But unless you have a spare (known good) power-supply and/or a Digital PC Power-Supply Tester, probably better to take it to a computer shop.

They will also be setup to replace the motherboard if necessary. Thing is, only a genuine Aurora-R7 motherboard will run the LED-lights and/or top-panel ports.

Also, unless you know the serial-key burned-into your BIOS, you might have to buy a new copy of Windows-10.

Come to think of it, I think Dell might have some "out of warranty" repair services available. If interested in that, give Alienware Tech Support a call.

Thanks for the reply @Tesla1856. I checked and Dell offers a renewal for Onsite/In-Home Service After Remote Diagnosis at $99 and a $49 reinstatement fee. Will contact them to see what that really gets me. I might pick up a PSU tester. I have a multimeter but it looks at lot easier to just invest in the tester and if it's a bad PSU, order a new one. From my reading you have to be careful to get the right PSU to support the GPU power cable on the mobo. I have some old Dell's I need to check to see if I could pull a PSU for testing. Not hopeful about that. If it is the motherboard definitely will deal with Dell at that point.

1. Will contact them to see what that really gets me.

2. I might pick up a PSU tester.

3. I have a multimeter but it looks at lot easier to just invest in the tester and if it's a bad PSU, order a new one.

4. From my reading you have to be careful to get the right PSU to support the GPU power cable on the mobo. I have some old Dell's I need to check to see if I could pull a PSU for testing. Not hopeful about that.

5. If it is the motherboard definitely will deal with Dell at that point.

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1. Cool

2. Like this one. Also tests for PG (Power-Good). Good to have in toolbox in general.

3. Right. 

4. A Delta-made Dell 850w will work. It has plenty of EPS-style outputs/connectors (for CPU and GPU-Power).

With after-market modular, be sure to swap all cables also. The various Modular cables are matched to each specific model of PS.  

5. And then you keep replacing things until it works. 

Get a good UPS (like APC-1350 with AVR/LCD).

R7 still has integrated DP video port on motherboard even when it is covered by plastic tab (#4 in back panel). Pull any old working Dell psu with 24/4 pin and you can test the R7 board without discrete gpu.  R7 psu passing bist is not guarantee it is not failing.

1. R7 psu passing bist is not guarantee it is not failing.

2. R7 still has integrated DP video port on motherboard even when it is covered by plastic tab (#4 in back panel). Pull any old working Dell psu with 24/4 pin and you can test the R7 board without discrete gpu. 

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1. Correct

2. Yeah, always forget which have it. Good call-out. But as should be documented in the linked-TS-thread ... making system as basic as possible includes pulling discrete video-card and using on-board video if available.

You can also have issues with power-switch or whole front-panel if "soft power-switch" integrated into solid-state panel/circuit. Can even make "jump starting" challenging.

Thanks for the tip @redxps630. I tried this with an old known working PSU and the DP port and still won't get anything when pushing the power button on the front top panel.

Re: I tried this with an old known working PSU and the DP port and still won't get anything when pushing the power button on the front top panel.

in that case it is not a bad psu that caused no power.

try clear cmos settings.

1. Locate the CMOS jumper (P217) on the system board. For information on the location of the CMOS jumper, see " System-board components".
2. Disconnect the system-board power cable from the system board.
3. Remove the jumper plug from pins 217 and replace it on pins 216 (P216).
4. Wait for 5 seconds.
5. Remove the jumper plug from pins 216 and replace it on pins 217.
6. Connect the system-board power cable to the system board.
    
   

   The other thing to test is jump start the power switch embedded in Dell proprietary 12 pin LED cable.

   Front panel power on the white 12 pin connector is:     PWR BTN +5V / Gnd

   R7:  1 2 3 4  5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

   disconnect the LED controller cable connector (carefully and gently, do not pull on skinny wires), use a flat blade screw driver to short pin 3-4 momentarily.  This is effectively the same as pressing power button.  In case there is a circuit break somewhere between power button and the switching on of Pin 3-4, doing this test will bypass the break.
   
    
    

   

   
   

Thanks again @Tesla1856 for the information. Tried an old working 375W PSU with same results, nothing happens when I press the power button on the top front of the case. I just had the 24 pin and CPU hooked up and monitor on the DP motherboard port and USB wired mouse and keyboard.

Ok, will give that a try. Thanks!

"Tried an old working 375W PSU with same results, nothing happens when I press the power button on the top front of the case."

This also happens if you fail to connect both the CPU_power and GPU_power headers on the Aurora R7 motherboard. Each header requires it's own 4PIN 12V EPS connector. This is true even if you don't have the GPU connected to the motherboard. 

I'm just mentioning this because it's not uncommon to see 350/375W PSU's with only one 4 PIN 12V EPS power cable.  The R7 will not turn on (it will do nothing when you push the power button) unless you have two 4 PIN 12V EPS connectors on the motherboard in addition to the motherboard cable.  Also, not saying it will fix the problem in your case, just letting you know. 

Re: this is true.

Is this statement verified on your R7 using integrated DP without discrete gpu installed?

Is the 8 pin gpu power socket (#21) designed to supplement motherboard 24 pin power for PCIe slot?   If yes, does this extra power go to the slot and is the slot built for > 75w power rating?

For a standard old fashioned non-modular ATX psu, it may have either a single 4 pin ATX connector or a single 8 pin EPS connector. Some EPS 8 pin are slightly split, others not.  have not seen a psu that has widely split 8 pin EPS connector to plug in both cpu and gpu sockets on R7 board.

According to your statement, It sounds like in order to power R7 motherboard using non-Dell psu, that psu must have two separate 8 pin EPS connectors, probably available in modular psu only.  a user said “On the evga there was a CPU1 and CPU2, I ran CPU2 to the GPU_PWR.”

can you also help verify pin 3-4 are the power switch pins in the R7 12 pin LED controller?

Thanks again all. Great ideas and information that you have shared with me. I've learned a lot already.

I tried the CMOS jumpers with no success.

I tried the pin 3-4 short on the 12 pin LED controller with no success.

I have a friend dropping off a PSU tester tomorrow afternoon so will give that a shot.

The old 375W PSU I had did not have another GPU_PWR/CPU connector so did not try that.

If the issue turns out to be PSU, I will look at modular replacement with the correct options  Re: a user said “On the evga there was a CPU1 and CPU2, I ran CPU2 to the GPU_PWR.”

If the PSU is ok, looks like I deal with Dell or a local shop to get a new motherboard.

Hey everyone,

Looks to be a bad power supply, failed on -12V. Definitely easier to deal with than a motherboard. I will be researching and buying a new one. Will look to definitely increase the wattage, probably 850W for future embellishments. Thanks again to the community for all the great ideas and information.

El_Possum