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1551867
Dell T3500 Blinking Amber 1-3 (4x) issue
I have a problem with my Dell Precision T3500, the issue is that whenever I try to start the computer the power button it blinks amber 4 times and gives the number code 1 and 3 however it does turn on after a while. I assumed that it was something to do with the motherboard hwoever I am not sure since there isn't many problems like this on the internet where I could find a solution. I looked in the manual and the closest thing I could find was that it was a PSU or PSU cable problem. If anyone has a solution or answer for this I would be very grateful. The T3500 currently has a Nvidia GTX 260 installed with 4GB of ram. In addition if it is a PSU problem could you please list what PSU are compatible with the T3500 such as a T5500 PSU or a T7400. Thank you for your support.
cheeeema
2 Posts
0
May 2nd, 2015 21:00
Dear I changed the power supply and get rid of this error. Go to nearest Shop and request him to change the power supply in this way that first test your power supply in his computer. if you want to get detailed info feel free to contact the Actor Muhammad Zulqarnain Cheema FUUAST at www.facebook.com/cheema.one
Waynito
2 Posts
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December 30th, 2015 15:00
My refurbished T3500 showed the 1 and 3 light problem. I could get it to boot maybe one time in 20. Pulling cards to reduce the load on the power supply did nothing. Replaced the power supply with a later model from Amazon, www.amazon.com/.../B00OCYJE7A, and all is well.
While I had it open, I blew out the dust, and replaced the CMOS battery on the motherboard. It was from 1997 which is older than the T3500. So much for official Dell refurbishment by third parties....... In addition, even though the seller was supposedly anointed by Dell, the Dell website refuses to change me to the owner of the machine.
Some of the power supply wiring is routed under the mother board. I had to choose either an exact replacement with the connector on the power supply, or pull the motherboard to use a different supply.
Lousy design IMHO. Will be staying away from Dell machines in the future.
pmudzengerere
2 Posts
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October 15th, 2017 07:00
good day good people
I have a dell precision t3610, i have changed the psu as this was the first problem, replaced the motherboard and RAM, however when i power the machine on the LED are as follows:
Power Button - Solid White
LED Light 3 - Solid Amber
LED Light 4 - Blinking
(this happens with RAM in slots 1,2,3)
when RAM is in slot 4,5,6,7,8 the LED sequence will be follows:
Power Button - Solid White
LED light 1 - Solid Amber
speedstep
9 Legend
9 Legend
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47K Posts
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October 26th, 2017 11:00
T3600
http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/SLN265594/en
On T3500
amber flashing power button & blinking status lights 1,3 is BAD POWER SUPPLY.
http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/SLN288786/EN
Pb10
PSU may be bad or PSU cable may be crimped creating a short on a main power rail. (PS_ON asserted, PS_PWRGOOD not asserted)
PSU Failure
Madbadburt
8 Posts
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October 26th, 2017 11:00
deleted - repetition - apologies :(
Madbadburt
8 Posts
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October 26th, 2017 11:00
Hi - I've been living with this exact issue for some time now... i have tried replacing the PSU, but no difference (EXPENSIVE failed attempt!!!) I have noticed that once the machine does start up, the large silver heat-sink in the middle of the motherboard gets so hot that i can't touch it... my system is not under warantee... I am guessing that whatever is under that heat sink is the root cause of the problem... interesting that above someone said that although DELL said it is a PSU fault, they had also sent a new MoBo at the same time!! I also have tried my RAM one-stick at a time, and even then I don't get consistent results when the system is started... occasionally it will start first time, but most often it can take 10, or even 20 attempts at pushing the power button before it "catches"... once its up & running, other than the temperature of the silver heat-sink, it is solid as a rock (just don't risk turning it off!!!
I'm thinking that as I'm out of warantee, I will probably have to settle with bodging a better heat-sink / fan to assist with keeping whatever is underneath that innocuous looking silver square at a better temperature & then live with it being a PITA to turn back on after a power interruption!!
any comments or thoughts as to a better way forward would be much appreciated :)
Thanks in advance :)
Apologies - I should have stated that my system is a T3500, and I'm suffering from the fail to boot, with amber flashing power button & blinking status lights 1,3... not the T3610 issue that was referred to in the post before my initial post above in this thread! Apologies for not being succinct in the first instance.
Madbadburt
8 Posts
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November 4th, 2017 14:00
Thanks OctopuS - I tried changing the Lithium coin cell on the Motherboard & now it boots EVERY time perfectly...
So amber blinking power button & flashing numbers 1 / 3 on a T3500 is DEFINITELY NOT only a PSU failure... it seems that the CMOS battery being depleted is also a cause for this error code!!
Hopefully this can now help others, as it seems to be a common problem with these workstations!!