Skip to main content
Start a Conversation

Unsolved

This post is more than 5 years old

scuderia2004

8 Posts

89209

March 2nd, 2014 04:00

Area-51: After CPU Change the Alien don´t start

I have an Alienware Area- 51 with the following conifg: I7 920 Ati 5970 12 Gb Corsair Dominator 1600 256 SSD ... Now i bought a i7 980x to but it in my area51. I know that the CPu is compatible with the Mainboard and the Rams. I Change the Cpu´s. Now with the 980x i get no Image. i couldn´t even go in the BIOS. If i start the Pc, all the Fans rotate max till i shut down the PC. No Speaker error...nothing. After putting the 920 back... all works fine. Any Idea, what is going wrong? Thanks!

morblore

2.4K Posts

March 2nd, 2014 11:00

Which BIOS version do you have installed?

scuderia2004

8 Posts

March 2nd, 2014 13:00

Now i have the A10 installed. I proved the CPU with the A11, but the same kind of "error". On the official Dell Website they Show, that the A10 is the latest, so i proved it with the A10. So A10 and A11 don´t work.

Cass-Ole

1 Rookie

 • 

1.8K Posts

March 3rd, 2014 00:00

Gulftown 980x is validated ( http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/p/19454954/20132595.aspx#20132595 )

Under Historical Drivers, under bios, try to download/install - at your own risk -  the "a12" released on 4.09.12 here which is probably a mislabeled a11:

http://ftp.dell.com/Pages/Drivers/alienware-area51-all.html#BIOS

for whatever reason, it isn't on the common downloads page for A-51. A bios update/flash is always a risky business, so, proceed with caution but might be worth a shot/the risk.

Otherwise, remove cpu, check for bent pins on your mthrbrd, reseat, retry, if a dud --> suspect cpu might be the culprit :(

Old 980x thread: http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19471277.aspx

Tesla1856

8 Wizard

 • 

17K Posts

March 3rd, 2014 12:00

I don't think the MB socket can be bad if the 920 still works (but not really sure). My guess would be:

1. Motherboard version (I think there are 2 or more). Might explain why it works for only some people.

2. 980x Stepping. When micro-code is added to BIOS to support a CPU, are all CPUs included or only current Steppings?

3. Bad processor. Have you ever seen it work?

scuderia2004

8 Posts

March 3rd, 2014 12:00

I proved the 980x with the A11 or "A12" but the CPU still not work. I can´t see any bent Pins on my Motherboard. In the old Thread there is no solution for this Problem. Anyone with another tip???

morblore

2.4K Posts

March 3rd, 2014 13:00

Yes i tryed to reset the CMOS Jumper but without success. Still not working. It´s a blue mainboard but i can´t see any Alienware logo. I don´t understand why there is no "Speaker error" or something else, only the Fans are working without any reaction.



If it doesn't have the Alienware logo on the motherboard and it has green SATA/PCI slots instead of black ones then it is the 1st gen motherboard. It should look like the version 2.0 motherboard in the picture I posted and will even say ver 2.0 near the bottom pcie slot. The version 1.0 motherboard without the logo and green ports was released long before the 980x and 990x came out. The specs say the version 1.0 board can support the 980x but I wouldn't depend on it being true. When Dell released the Area 51 with the 980x and the BIOS to support it that motherboard was no longer being used.

At this point I will say it's the CPU or the Motherboard.

You can buy them online for a reasonable price.

Version 2.0 motherboard: http://www.ecozoom.tv/blog/wp-content/temp/dell-alienware-area-51-alx-i7-lga1366-ga-2.jpg

Version 1.0 motherboard: http://www.stuartconnections.com/9056-thickbox/NEW-Dell-Alienware-Area-51-ALX-i7-LGA1366-System-Main-Motherboard-W51GK-J560M.jpg

scuderia2004

8 Posts

March 3rd, 2014 13:00

Yes i tryed to reset the CMOS Jumper but without success. Still not working. It´s a blue mainboard but i can´t see any Alienware logo. I don´t understand why there is no "Speaker error" or something else, only the Fans are working without any reaction.

morblore

2.4K Posts

March 3rd, 2014 13:00

I proved the 980x with the A11 or "A12" but the CPU still not work. I can´t see any bent Pins on my Motherboard. In the old Thread there is no solution for this Problem. Anyone with another tip???


The 980x will work with the A10 or A11 bios so it's not that. So the only other thing it would be is a bad CPU or a motherboard issue. Which motherboard do you have? Is it blue/black with Alienware logo on it? If it is then I would see about getting the CPU swapped for another one.

Did you try resetting the CMOS jumper? This pic is the board I have and the yellow circle is the CMOS jumper.

Dell-Alienware-Area-51-ALX-i7-LGA1366-11.jpg

scuderia2004

8 Posts

March 3rd, 2014 14:00

Ok, so i think it´s the Version 1.0. Here is a Picture. The Mainboards Name is J560M. What is the Name of your Mainboard(with the black PCI Slots), is there any "Code"? Thanks a lot! http://www.ascendtech.us/mmASC/Images/P270J002.jpg

morblore

2.4K Posts

March 3rd, 2014 14:00

Ok, so i think it´s the Version 1.0. Here is a Picture. The Mainboards Name is J560M. What is the Name of your Mainboard(with the black PCI Slots), is there any "Code"? Thanks a lot! http://www.ascendtech.us/mmASC/Images/P270J002.jpg



MS - 7543 Ver: 2.0 It's stamped in big white letters under the 3rd PCI-E slot. Make sure whatever you buy has the Ver: 2.0 stamped on it. Also keep in mind I do not know for sure if it's the motherboard. It could just be a bad CPU.


Area 51 Model XDJ4C Motherboard: http://www.partsguy.net/alienware_parts-Purchase_a_Dell_Alienware_Area-51_ALX_i7_LGA1366_Gaming_Desktop_System_Motherboard_XDJ4C.html

scuderia2004

8 Posts

March 4th, 2014 09:00

Tomorrow i can test the CPU on another Mainboard in a Computer Shop. So i can be sure that the CPU is good. I´m from Germany. Here it is difficult to find the Original V 2.0 Mainboard. Maybe i ask Dell for one, but they have very very strange Prices.

scuderia2004

8 Posts

March 6th, 2014 13:00

The CPU is working 100%, i saw it with my own eyes. So it`s not a bad CPU. I have to buy the V 2.0 Mainboard)to prove it), maybe the 980x works only with the second MB Version. Should i reinstall Windows after changing the Mainboard V.10 to V.2.0??

morblore

2.4K Posts

March 6th, 2014 19:00

The CPU is working 100%, i saw it with my own eyes. So it`s not a bad CPU. I have to buy the V 2.0 Mainboard)to prove it), maybe the 980x works only with the second MB Version. Should i reinstall Windows after changing the Mainboard V.10 to V.2.0??



You will want to start fresh with a new CPU and Motherboard. New windows, drivers, update the BIOS and all that stuff.  

View More

View All

No Events found!

Top