Precision 530 A,C service lights and orange power button

Dell's diagnostic indicators for the Precision's didn't go back far enough show me letters, like A & C.  However, if the lights were 1 & 3, that would suggest a memory problem.  Table below from Optiplex, as that went back farther.  Hopefully this still helps in some way.

I take it the GPU's you're trying once worked in your 530's and aren't drawing too much power.  You're on track with testing to see if it was a bad GPU.

Blinking orange power light typically means bad PSU or the PSU is unable to distribute power.  That isn't without acknowledgment you replaced the PSU already.

Dell Precision Diagnostic Indicators

Hi @bmcowboy,

May be you could take a try with this one too?  I noticed your very accurate and know your stuff.  Accuracy is something I strive for with every post I answer, but this one was a little trickier; and I wanted to see it get an answer.

Thank you @bradthetechnut. You flatter me immensely!

And @FabriciusFab, I was touched by your words “It's been years since that PC broke down and I really would want to fix it”. I know how it feels bro. It’s a big challenge when talking about a system which 1st released on year 2001… Hopefully I can contribute some useful information and help you get your wishes come true ^^

- Quick Reference Manual

Diagnostic indicators description usually not appears or not detail enough on user guide or service manual. You have to look into the quick reference manual. Here's what you need:

Dell Precision Workstation 530 Setup And Quick Reference Manual

It tells you that Microprocessor and/or VRM module leads to the problem, not AGP.

- VRM

As microprocessor is comparatively sophisticated hardware and seldom leads to problem under normal operations, you may focus on VRM first. VRM slot located next to CPU. See page 34 of the User’s Guide:

Dell Precision™ WorkStation 530 USER'S GUIDE

And they looks like this:

I found this thread about 530 CPU upgrade stuffs. It contains discussion of VRM compatibility and voltage requirement. You may study it in deep.

https://www.dell.com/community/Desktops-General-Read-Only/Precision-530-CPU-upgrade/m-p/2197262

Again, hopefully these information helps you to get your system reborn. Good luck!

Thank you for your answers!

I've been troubleshooting this thing a little more and even with both processors out and without the VRM it continues giving me the same A and C orange lights at the front panel. Will read that post you sent and see if anything changes, but I'm left puzzled by the fact that, as I said earlier, tried without the CPU and VRM and it still gives me the same problem. 

Anyway, thanks again, and I will post again if that doesn't prove to solve my problem

No need to be puzzled. "Boot without CPU and VRM gives you the same result" was absolutely a normal result while the system alerts you problem with CPU/VRM, just because they were not exist! You won't get into the POST screen without CPU.

As you got 2 sets of 530, try exchange parts between them and see if any different results. Say, mark the one you're trying to fix now as 530#1. Then, what's the condition of 530#2? Can it boot into POST screen? If yes, try to swap PSU from 530#1 to 530#2 and see if it still able to boot into POST. And if yes again, it proves the PSU#1 is in normal functioning. Then you can fallback the PSU and go on another test with other parts.

CAUTION: Remember to fallback any changes before go to next test. Always keep every test with only 1 change of factors helps to narrow down the root cause of problem. Do not swap all PSU/CPU/VRM from #1 to #2 and test together.

Noted that "different results" could be a successful boot OR boot fail with different alerts. If diagnostic indicators lights in different way during swapping test, record it down and check on the reference book.

If you followed the suggestion above and still can't lead you to the cause of problem, try taking photos of the PSU/CPU/VRM with product label and post here. I may help to check with their compatibility.

Good luck Man!

Thanks for the thorough answer, now I know I need to get my hands on a good VRM module, because maybe mine are broke and that's what's keeping my machines from booting up.

Unfortunately here in my country is very unlikely that I can get my hands on one. Will try and search on ebay and see what I can find.

Thank you so much again. It's nice to know there's people out there who knows their stuff trying to help!

Anytime, dude ^^

I benefit a lot from this community forum and would like to share anything I could.

Hey i know this is a old tread but did you manage to fix the issue becose i have the dame problem and i don't know what to do