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July 26th, 2022 22:00
Area-51 R2 motherboard, front panel problems, non-Alienware case
Hi everyone, I currently am problems with the front panel connectors with the MSI Alienware Area 51 R2 motherboard with my new case. For some reason, the power switch is the only thing that works, but the power LED and the reset switch don't work at all. I've tried multiple cases, but the same problem happens. The front panel connectors only seem to work with the Alienware MIO board, with every switch and LED working perfectly with the MIO board. I've tried checking the BIOS for options about S3 and S5 options, but have found none. I tried looking in the Alienware Command Center, but found no option either. I'm not sure, but I'm starting to think the MSI motherboard or BIOS front panel LEDs and switches only work with the MIO board. Please let me know if there's a solution.
ProfessorW00d
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2.3K Posts
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July 27th, 2022 07:00
Not really able to follow your project. Are you moving to a different Area 51 case . . . or a 3rd party case? Are you moving the MIO board across to the new case? Post some photos of your project.
fireberd
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33.4K Posts
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July 27th, 2022 08:00
I can't speak directly about the Area 51 front panel connections, but many other Dell's have proprietary and undocumented front panel connections.
Probably trace the connections with an ohmmeter.
redxps630
9 Legend
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15.2K Posts
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July 27th, 2022 08:00
Re: the power switch is the only thing that works, but the power LED and the reset switch don't work at all. I've tried multiple cases, but the same problem happens. The front panel connectors only seem to work with the Alienware MIO board, with every switch and LED working perfectly with the MIO board.
I believe you are correct. this MSI oem board front panel pinout is proprietary in the sense that only power switch pins follow standard. MIO would not work in a non-A51R2-4 case as it is designed to work with Dell case led and logo board only.
Cass-Ole
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1.8K Posts
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July 28th, 2022 15:00
I installed the 51R2 XJKKD x99 mthrbrd into my 51R1 & based on your post, today I installed a Reset Switch & it did not work; I never noticed that the PwrOn LED did not light up so I installed a good LED & it did not light up, so I can confirm your results that there is a front panel issue with this mthrbrd when installed into a non-R2 case. For the record, TESLA1856 installed a reset switch into his Aurora R1 & it did not work so that may be a long-running factory decision to disable the reset function ... (last, though I quit testing I did notice my HDD LED activity light is not lit up or working either). I believe these disabled LED/Reset functions are on purpose & I have no solutions to offer for this issue, but if I ever find a fix here for my Area-51 I'll post it