DELL 9200 Dead - Steady flashing lights - 2 years old

What color is the flashing power light?

What color are the Diagnostic Lights?

Thanks for those links.

I will check the Diagnostic lights tonight

Re the Power light, its a yellow/amber, and per the link it is described as follows: "If the power light is blinking amber, the computer is receiving electrical power, but an internal power problem might exist. Ensure that the voltage selection switch is set to match the AC power at your location (if applicable).". This is not all that helpful...I have certainly not touched a voltage selection switch. Does an 'internal power problem" mean "bad power supply" ??

 

Per the DELL documentation, the power supply is 375 W, 1220 BTU/hr Heat dissapation,  0 to 135 V and 180 to 265 V at 50/60 Hz with 3-V CR2032 lithium coin cell backup battery. The power supply has 12 connectors per

<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>

If I go with an exact DELL replacement, how do I find out the Dell part # ?? And what link do I use to order it? I could not find either in navigating through the DELL.CA (or US) web sites where I could actaully order the part.

If I go with non-DELL replacement (as most searches have recommended given the quality of the original), then:
a) how can I ensure it will phyiscally fit?
b) how can I ensrue it has the same 12 connectors?
c) where could I order it from (canadian site preferred re less hassle and faster delivery)

Sheldon G

The Dimension 9200, does not use a Dell proprietary power supply, you can install most standard ATX power supplies with a 24-pin or 20+4-pin main motherboard power connector and this can be purchased from most local, or online computer stores.

The 9200 has an open back panel, a power supply with or without the on/off switch can be installed.

Note: You need a power supply, with six SATA power connectors.

You can also, buy a Dell OEM [Dell P/N KH624] 375w refurbished power supply from HERE

Bev.

 

Many thanks.

That link describes the power supply as follows

• 1 x 24pin
• 1 x 4 pin motherboard connector
• 1 x floppy power connector
• 1 x 6 pin video card power connector
• 1 x IDE optical power connector
• 6 x SATA power connector
• 11 in total

The Dell documentation 

<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>

 shows:

• a P1 24 pin conenctor
• a P2 4 pin connector ( 2x2 square)
• a P7 4-pin connetor (1x4)
• a P4 6 pin connector (2x3 round)
• a P10/PCI Express 4-pin connector (1x4 round )
• a P12 6 pin connector ( 2 x 3 square)
• six 5-pin connectors ( P3,P5, P8, P9,P13,P14)
• 12 in total

The diagnostic lights are all OFF. They do not flash or blink all all. I cannot even see them.

 

Why would one be missing??

Not all revisions of the power supply have the P4 6 pin connector.

You mentioned bad caps in your first post, I've had 2 of my D9200's fail due to blown caps, both were under 30 months old.

It's now the first thing I look for, any buldging or leakage means the board is shot.

I have combined various  Dell 9200 docs into single ready reference page (http://www.box.net/shared/o354l53jxz)  and have two questions:

1) On my Dell, I can physically trace where all the connnectors go ( in prep for a replacement) - I identified everything, but, I cannot confirm P2 and P4.   I think P2 might be in position 20 (not sure), but cannot find where P4 is connected to . Does this mean, per note above, its quite possible my machine does not have a P4 connector which explains why I cannot locate it ?? If it did have a P4, where on the motherboard would it connect to?

2) For a replacement, I am toying with a 600W modular type power supply like this one from ULTRA, 
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2974472&Sku=ULT40073
Looks like most everything will line up fine ( and many just not needed), but :

a) again, its still confusing re P2 and P4. The  Dell P2 is 4 pin... which looks identical to the ULTRA one labels P4 MB... is that correct?

b) Dell P4 is a 6 pin,.. cant find a match for this on the ULTRA< but I guess its a non-issue if its not in use.

c) the ULTRA takes up to 10 SATA connections. I only need three so no issue there. but I am curious how this works given therw are only two modular connectors ofnthe unit and each cable only holda 2 or 3 each. Are the cables daisy chained (to get 5 devices on each connector)?

 

 

Disconnect the ide cable from the optical drive and let the power cable be connected, when you get the flashing amber led on the power button on the tower press the eject button on the optical drive and if it eject the power supply is working fine and if it does not then its not, to check the motherboard, remove all the memory from the system and turn on the system and if you hear beeps then issue shouldn't be with the motherboard but still can remove all the pci/pcie card and check.

Regards

Dawood

Resolution Specialist

Dell Technical Support.

and forgot to tell also need to reseat the 20/24pin power connector and the 4pin processor power connector and if any parts needs to be purchased fron DELl then would suggest to contact the technical support and get the correect part number and then ask them to transfer to the sales so that you can get the correct part .

Regards

Dawood.

reseat the 20/24pin power connector and the 4pin processor power connector .

Done.

Disconnect the ide cable from the optical drive and let the power cable be connected, when you get the flashing amber led on the power button on the tower press the eject button on the optical drive and if it eject the power supply is working fine

Done. It does not eject. I did not expect it to as the power supply is likely dead.

 

and if it does not then its not, to check the motherboard, remove all the memory from the system and turn on the system and if you hear beeps then issue shouldn't be with the motherboard

Done. No beeps. Again I did not expect it to beep as the power supply is likely dead. So this is not a conclusive confirm the motherboard is good or bad. I did not see any bulging or leaking capacitors with my untrained eye - again non-conclusive.

I think I need bite the bullet and remove/replace the power supply first. If that works , great and problem solved.

 If not , then, I need to think hard about the merits of replacing the motherboard ( vs a new machine). And at then point I need to also think about whter the premium for buying Dell is still worth it given the premature failures.

 

Well, I sure am comitted now. I removed the old power supply and chucked it.

Removal was not as bad as I thought it might be. After recording where everything currenty is for reference, I diconnected all connectors and took great care to stay clear of everything else - no easy task - especially for the wiring the runs from the top down the full height unit to the bottom front the hard drives. I ended up deciding to just cutting of  the connectors and a few plasitc ties, so that the wires were loose , would not catch on anything and would esily slide right out as i pulled them through.  I easily move the other cables that were simply clipped to the bottom of the power supply, then removed 4 screws and pushed in one side pressure clip, and the psu came right out and into the garbage.

Hopefully the install of the new ULTRA (http://www.ultraproducts.com/product_details.php?cPath=97&pPath=632&productID=637 ) will be as smooth , and once done it will work without any smells of smoke!

One pre-purchase question... need I be concered about the wattage the new power  supply being too much for the motherboard to handle??? Read another post about the motherboard never being tested for psu's > 375W. I assume that, no , not a concern, especially as it will be very lightly loaded ( ie OEM video card, two hard drives, one DVD drive)

One pre-purchase question... need I be concered about the wattage the new power  supply being too much for the motherboard to handle??? Read another post about the motherboard never being tested for psu's > 375W. I assume that, no , not a concern, especially as it will be very lightly loaded ( ie OEM video card, two hard drives, one DVD drive)

Sheldon G

No, the system will only take the wattage it requires from the power supply.

Bev.

In the DELL, the power supply is mounted flush at the top of the case (and the fan is pointing toward the front - opposite side of the AC plug), But on the ULTRA's below, the fan is on the TOP, so I cannot mount it the same way ( ie flush to the top covering all air flow).

Is this power supply supposed to be mounted with the fan DOWN toward the motherboard...and does in bring cool air in from the back and blow over the motherboard...or does it take warm air out of the case and out the back? 

[UPDATE} ULTRA tech support confirmed itt takes warm air out of the case and out the back.

 

 

Okay, new power supply installed and I am back in business. So it was the power supply after all.

A thank you again to those who were good enough to guide me through this.

The ULTRA model (Ultra X3 ULT40073 600-Watt Power Supply) is a beautfiul unit - really appears to be a high quality item re design, packaging,  setup, appearance and (lifetime) warranty. Straightforward install.

The only complaint was a missing set of cables Recall, this unit is modular so the 'wires' are packaged seperately and used as needed. The missing cables drove me nuts for a while but there we enough options/workarounds to get me going. Hopefully thier tech support will mail me what was missing.

I remain curious- what caused the DELL OEM power supply (Model N375P) to prematurely fail after two years?   I have over a dozen DELLs and have never come across this. This unit is plugged into an surge suppressor/battery backup so itw not a power line spike or anything. I have power settings set to power saver (sleep after 60 minutes. I assume its nothing on the motherboard that would cause the power supply to fail. Was it just luck of the draw?