X51 R1, not booting up and beeping

Question

Yesterday, the 2013 pc booted up fine but froze subsequently - viz - mouse, keyboard, control-alt-del wouldn't function. This morning I switched on the computer and it began to boot up. The icons on the desktop screen were all there and I was just waiting for the 'hourglasss' to finish moving before using the computer. But the screen went dark before the pc could boot up completely and began emitting continuous individual regular 'beeps.' which I timed at 44 'beeps' in a one minute period. I switched the pc off after about 10 minutes of individual beeps. Whilst the pc was frozen, it was 'racing' and very noisy and high-pitched. I then switched the pc off, I waited 10 seconds and switched it back on. This time the pc behaved as it was behaving when I switched it off a few seconds earlier - the screen was blank and the pc emitted the 'beeping' as before. I'm unable to determine the version of my X51. I've looked at the original invoice from Dell - dated 31.01.2013 -and it gives the model number as - Alienware X51 0Ghz - 1024.00Gb HD - 8000.00Mb Mem-- Tag number is I would be very grateful to receive advice as to the best way to proceed with this issue. The desktop was purchased from Dell Outlet as a refurb. 31.01.13. Many thanks. I have just now successfully booted up the pc and am able to use it. The pc was very quiet when booting up this time and remains quiet now it is ready for use. So it looks as though the issue may be a sporadic one? Overheating? Dust?

speedstep · Accepted Answer

LOW and Slow continuous individual regular "beeps." is bad ram.

Power supply could also be failing causing this. Remove all ram and try one stick at a time.

You have Alienware X51 R1 Ivy Bridge Processor

Needs Power Board Upgrade and replace the

OEM R1 VFHMM power board is on the R1

DELL D85RT - PWA DTRBD PWR-BRD X51 R2

https://www.impactcomputers.com/d85rt.html

No idea if spare parts will sell this though. 800 357 3355

https://www.alienowners.com/threads/x51-r1-power-board-replacement-r1-vfhmm-with-r2-d85rt.6325/

DELL SPARE PARTS NUMBERS

x51 MS-4341 POWER BOARD D85RT VFHMM

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IV19IJ4/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N7WGQBX/

VT8FP

DUAL IN-LINE MEMORY MODULE, 4G, 1600, 256X64, 8, 240, 2RX8

2

Ship Date 31 JAN 2013

Country United K i n g d o m

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Dell-Alienware-DA330PM111-ADP-330AB/dp/B00JE51E0M/

Component	Part#	Description	QTY
	4270E	SCREW, M2X3, K SCREW HEAD, MICROSOFT, BLACK OXIDE	2
	48480	SCREW, 6-32X1/4, HX, THREAD FORMED, ZINC PLATED STEEL, TRI-PT	4
	6337P	LABEL, SVC TAG/EXPRESS CODE, LATC	1
	750CJ	SCREW, M2X2MM, PHILLIPS HEAD, MACHINE SCREW, NICKEL PLATED	2
	C5KDT	SERVICE INSTALL MODULE, SOFTWARE, ANW-DT, ANDROMEDA	1
	JD509	LABEL, REGULATORY, SIDE, UNIVERSAL, BLANK , V2	1
	36H04	KIT, SHIPPING MATERIAL, CUSHION, ANDR	1
	5Y0WP	SHIPPING MATERIAL, BOX, RETAIL, ANDR	1
	9NJ99	SHIPPING MATERIAL, OPTION, ANDR	1
	KN4TK	LABEL, CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY, OPERATING SYSTEM, W7HP64, SMALL	1
	J8461	ASSEMBLY, CABLE, VIDEO, LEAD FREE	1
	JCW0V	CARD (CIRCUIT), GRAPHICS, NVIDIA, 660, TEXAS INSTRUMENTS	1
	D7RF6	PROCESSOR, IVB, I7-3770, 3.4, 77W, 4C, E1	1
	D006W	CARD (CIRCUIT), WIRELESS, HMCRD, DW1502, WORLD WIDE	1
	JWP4M	LABEL, REGULATORY, WIRELESS, DW1502, CNB, WORLD WIDE	1
	C95YV	KIT, DOCUMENTATION, AW SERI/EULA, EMEA1	1
	D288Y	DVD+/-RW, 8X, Serial ATA, SLOT, PLDS	1
	JJY6J	ASSEMBLY, CHASSIS, PWA INTEGRATED, STANDARD, IVY, ANW X51	1
	XM3C3	ADAPTER, 330W, DELTA - AC ADAPT, 3P, WORLD WIDE, ANW	1
	RR3J2	ASSEMBLY, HEATSINK, FAN, FANDCT, CENTRAL PROCESSOR UNIT, ANDR	1
	Y569K	SCREW, M5X10MM, FLAT HEAD, THREAD ROLLING, NICKEL PLATED	2
	0J81D	LABEL, REGULATORY, ANW-DT, 240W, ANDRO, EMFP	1
	23501	LABEL, BARCODE, SYS BOX, GENERIC	1
	F889R	Accessory, STICKERS, Alienware, M17X	1
	KT2TK	LABEL, INTEL, NO BIOS, CI72	1
	VT8FP	DUAL IN-LINE MEMORY MODULE, 4G, 1600, 256X64, 8, 240, 2RX8	2
	XN966	KIT, MOUSE, UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS, 2BTN, OPTICAL, LOGITECH	1
	8WDYM	HARD DRIVE, 1TB, S3, 7.2K, SGT-PHAR 6G	1
	16583	CORD, POWER, 2 METERS, IRE/UK	1

amstel78 · Answer

Try clearing CMOS/BIOS by removing the lithium coin cell battery out of the motherboard and leaving the machine unplugged for 1 to 5 minutes. After you've waited, reinsert the battery and plug the PC back in. If it still doesn't boot correctly, pull one stick of RAM out and try again. If it boots, you've identified the malfunctioning stick. If still no boot, swap the RAM in the motherboard with the DIMM you pulled out and try again.

If that still doesn't work, then as speedstep suggested, your PSU or motherboard could be toast.

Alienware Desktops

Was this post helpful?