System and CPU Fan Problems on Area-51 ALX

Any thoughts?  I'm happy to call tech support, but I'd like to hear the ideas of some of the members here.

Any thoughts?  I'm happy to call tech support, but I'd like to hear the ideas of some of the members here.

I don't think you are running the latest ACC. The new one is bugged and only 2 of the 3 sensors show. Your SS shows 2. ACC versions A00-A06 will show 3 temp sensors. Versions A07 2.5.46.0, A07 2.5.51.0 and A08 will only show 2 temp sensors.  Update it and see what happens. You want the A08 version. Here is a link to it: 

If you decide you really want all 3 temp sensors showing DL this. It is version A06 and the last one to work for the Area 51. It has bugs in it but since all the versions are broken it doesnt really matter. If everything in the system is setup right it should work just as good as the A08..in other words its junk too lol: 

Next the vent being controlled by the system fan doesn't work. Never has so forget about it. It doesn't do anything.

In the pic the system fan 4-pin is connected wrong. This is why you see graphic settings. You shouldn't see any of that. The Fan needs to be on the one closest to the side panel door. Looking at your pic it would be the 4-pin at the very top of the pic.

 Last is power off the system. Unplug the power cord and hold the power button for 15sec. Plug the power cord back in and start the PC. Remember this step because everything you mentioned can and will happen again. This is how you fix it. You will be doing it about once a week or so.

Gratz on your new system and welcome to the club [:D]

Thanks so much morblore!  I will try fixing the connection and updating the ACC and see what happens.

If I may be allowed to vent (pardon the pun) for a minute, it seems really sad that we pay a hefty price for these computers, yet have to do all this reconfiguring to get things to work properly (mainly referring to the issue with incorrect connections from the PSU to the video cards).  You'd think they could get this stuff right when building the systems, especially since the PSU/video card issue seems to have been discovered quite awhile ago.

Okay, climbing down from my soapbox now.  Thanks again morblore.

Okay, I switched the wire with the white 4 pin connector from its original position to the white 4 pin connector closest to the side panel (the one at the top of my picture).  I also updated the ACC to the most recent version as well as unplugged the power cord, held the power button for 15 sec and restarted the computer.

However, I still have the same view of the thermal control in the ACC (with three sensors), only now both my CPU fan and System fan show 0 rpms:

Did I switch the wrong wire?  Should I have moved the wire with the black connector from its original position to the black connector at the top (closest to the side panel), labeled "CPU_LC_PUMP"?  If so, do I need to move the wire with the white 4 pin connector back to its original spot or leave it in its new position?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Find the CPU pump connector. I think its the cable I have in yellow.

Move the CPU fan connector from the bottom to the top pin. I know you said you did this but it doesnt hurt to say it again.

As for the Alienware Command Center I'm going to guess it is ok. Like I said the A07 and A08 version has issues with the Area 51 and most of the time it will not show the 3rd temp sensor. I had 2 of these systems and that is how it was on both of them. Aurora owners dont seem to have this issue and can see all 3 sensors.

If you install the A08 and it doesnt show all 3 sensors just install the A06 and it will come back. I am running the A06 and its just as good as the A08.

This is how mine looks.

Thanks for the pic.  I now have everything connected correctly.  And as soon as I made the new corrections, the ACC changed over to the view I was expecting with the newest version (only two temp sensors).

The cpu/system fan still shows just under 4000 rpm with the computer idle.  This is a lot higher than what the knowledge base says it should be spinning when idle, so looks like I'll be calling tech support anyway.  However, at least I know everything is connected correctly.

Thanks again for the help morblore!

Thanks for the pic.  I now have everything connected correctly.  And as soon as I made the new corrections, the ACC changed over to the view I was expecting with the newest version (only two temp sensors).   The cpu/system fan still shows just under 4000 rpm with the computer idle.  This is a lot higher than what the knowledge base says it should be spinning when idle, so looks like I'll be calling tech support anyway.  However, at least I know everything is connected correctly.   Thanks again for the help morblore!

The system fan should be around 1000 rpm at idle. Does it sound like a jet airplane? If so then it is really running it at 4000 rpm. If not then its an issue with CC showing the wrong speed. 

Now that you have everything connected the right way try this. Uninstall CC,reboot and then reinstall it. Then shut the computer off,pull the power,hold power button for 15sec,plug it back in and start it up. That may fix the fan idle.

And remember you can use the A06 if you want to see 3 temp sensors. I'm using it and it's fine.

Now it shows a system fan speed of 0 rpm in both the A08 and A06 versions.  Guess I'll have to open it up again and make sure the cable didn't come loose.  But it'll have to wait until later since I have a really big test coming up. 

On a side note, it does sound pretty loud, but all the reviews of the Area-5 ALX said it's a loud system.  I don't know if this is normal loud or abnormal loud.  Jet airplane sounds about right, but maybe it just seems that way because my old computer was very quiet.

Now it shows a system fan speed of 0 rpm in both the A08 and A06 versions.  Guess I'll have to open it up again and make sure the cable didn't come loose.  But it'll have to wait until later since I have a really big test coming up.    On a side note, it does sound pretty loud, but all the reviews of the Area-5 ALX said it's a loud system.  I don't know if this is normal loud or abnormal loud.  Jet airplane sounds about right, but maybe it just seems that way because my old computer was very quiet.

I dont know. Maybe being connected wrong fried something? It shouldnt be running that fast. I guess it is time to call Dell. Let them know they sent you a system wired wrong. Show them this post if you have to.

The system only has 2 main fans. It should be very quite unless you are playing Crysis 9000 at 40000 x 90000 resolution.

LO L... I just hope once I get everything fixed, it runs the first Crysis well!

Ended up calling Tech Support and going through pretty much all the things I had already tried.  The rep was shocked at how loud the system was (she could hear it very easily over the phone).  They are sending me a new PCI fan, hard drive fan, and new liquid cooling system (HD fan was also running faster than it should when computer idle).  Hopefully this works.

Make sure you reinstall the Command Center after all of that is installed. Go ahead and download it and have ready.

I'm looking at buying a set of water cooled EVAGTX-580's and was wondering if it Is possible to utilise the additional VGA pump 1 & 2 controls & sensor connectors on this control board?

Looking at using two Koolance PMP-450 pumps so I would also need a pump connector plug to suit the board and a wiring diagram so I don't fry anything important.

Any help appreciated.