XPS 8930 Case Transfer Project!

Good of you to work on this.

Would be interested to see what you come up with and why both of the connectors from the IO unit have to be connected to the USB headers on the Dell motherboard to prevent a start up error with a case swap.  

The Dell motherboard headers will work with a new case and its USB connectors, the problem is you get a start up error.  So there must be something the firmware is looking for in that Dell IO unit at startup.  Happened each time with all three cases I tried using trial and error testing.  Fortunately there is a workaround but would be nice if the case swap was more straight forward.

https://www.dell.com/community/XPS-Desktops/XPS-8930-Case-Swap-CPU-Liquid-Cooler-temps-Upgrade-summary/m-p/7284370#M23822 

Post results on that case swap thread as well so it doesn't get lost if you find the solution.

GL

Hi all,

The Black F_USB2 on the Dell 8930 is standard 20 pins header, I did pin to pin check against the standard USB3 20 pins header.  The only confusing part is that F_USB1 BLUE port.  20-pin headers has 19 pins, one of that Pin is ID pin, the rest are standard which check out to USB3 3.0 A. On the USB 3.0 A it uses 9 pins out of that 20 ninus ID pin and minus one emptied. So two USB3 A come total of 18 pins, which is the correct count for the black header. The Blue port has 19 pins minus 9 to one USB3 so left with 10 pins, but USB-C has 21 pins by itself already! So when I did the continuity check there were a total of 4 pins on that blue port crossed each other, those were INTA_P2_SSTX+, INTA_P2_SSRX+, INTA_P1_SSTX+ and INTA_P1_SSRX-, which to me like this is Dell's proprietary Port, so I could not test. Unless Dell decided to use half speed of that USB-C therefore cut down half amount of the pins. See below diagram....

TESTED a successfully was...

CARD_READER bypassed. Shorted two pins (Four Pins left can be used as USB2.0 port) 

Black F_USB2 bypassed. Shorted those three pins. There are no firmware involved all BIOS is checking for a low on those pins during post, BIOS pulls the info from that I/O chip (SMSC555-3). Same goes to the CARD_Reader last pin. 

 

 

 

 

Findings...

The Black F_USB2 on the Dell 8930 is standard 20 pins header, I did pin to pin check against the standard USB3 20 pins header.  The only confusing part is that F_USB1 BLUE port.  20-pin headers has 19 pins, one of that Pin is ID pin, the rest are standard which check out to USB3 3.0 A. On the USB 3.0 A it uses 9 pins out of that 20 ninus ID pin and minus one emptied. So two USB3 A come total of 18 pins, which is the correct count for the black header. The Blue port has 19 pins minus 9 to one USB3 so left with 10 pins, but USB-C has 21 pins by itself already! So when I did the continuity check there were a total of 4 pins on that blue port crossed each other, those were INTA_P2_SSTX+, INTA_P2_SSRX+, INTA_P1_SSTX+ and INTA_P1_SSRX-, which to me like this is Dell's proprietary Port, so I could not test. Unless Dell decided to use half speed of that USB-C therefore cut down half amount of the pins. See below diagram....

TESTED a successfully was...

CARD_READER bypassed. Shorted two pins (Four Pins left can be used as USB2.0 port) 

Black F_USB2 bypassed. Shorted those three pins. There are no firmware involved all BIOS is checking for a low on those pins during post, BIOS pulls the info from that I/O chip (SMSC555-3). Same goes to the CARD_Reader last pin. 

I found the solution but every time I post it gets deleted. email 

 

Hi all,

The Black F_USB2 on the Dell 8930 is standard 20 pins header, I did pin to pin check against the standard USB3 20 pins header.  The only confusing part is that F_USB1 BLUE port.  20-pin headers has 19 pins, one of that Pin is ID pin, the rest are standard which check out to USB3 3.0 A. On the USB 3.0 A it uses 9 pins out of that 20 ninus ID pin and minus one emptied. So two USB3 A come total of 18 pins, which is the correct count for the black header. The Blue port has 19 pins minus 9 to one USB3 so left with 10 pins, but USB-C has 21 pins by itself already! So when I did the continuity check there were a total of 4 pins on that blue port crossed each other, those were INTA_P2_SSTX+, INTA_P2_SSRX+, INTA_P1_SSTX+ and INTA_P1_SSRX-, which to me like this is Dell's proprietary Port, so I could not test. Unless Dell decided to use half speed of that USB-C therefore cut down half amount of the pins. See below diagram....

TESTED a successfully was...

CARD_READER bypassed. Shorted two pins (Four Pins left can be used as USB2.0 port) 

Black F_USB2 bypassed. Shorted those three pins. There are no firmware involved all BIOS is checking for a low on those pins during post, BIOS pulls the info from that I/O chip (SMSC555-3). Same goes to the CARD_Reader last pin. 

@Mr.Byte,

 

Thanks for that!!

 

It is interesting that your Post (with the Details & Diagrams) has suddenly re-appeared!!

 

 

Good info…..and nice pictures.  Well done and a great skill set to have for troubleshooting!

The front panel USB-C is only USB 3.0 speed using a type USB-C port, that’s why the pins at least look like a standard USB 3.0.connector. The rear USB-C port is the only true USB-C speed port.

So you have the necessary information which identifies the specifics about the black (standard USB header) and blue header (has dell proprietary header) which cause the BIOS to throw a startup error. Hence, you are able to bypass the black header but said you could not test the blue.  What I found was similar through trial and error that the blue header had to be used with the blue connector from the IO unit or the startup error would occur.

Question about the solution:

How would you use this information with a case swap so as to not bring the IO unit into the case at all?   Current case swap has CARD reader and USB connectors being used from the IO Unit.

So shorting the two pins on the CARD reader with a jumper would prevent the IO error there from your testing.  No IO unit needed.  That’s good. 

Next, how would you use the information about the USB headers? I think you were looking for the ability to use one header for the new case.  Are you saying that you can just use the black USB header and short the four pins on the blue connector and leave it open?  That would bypass the need for the blue header to be connected from the IO unit which previously was a requirement?

Let’s say I am using the Phanteks case with two USB 3.0 ports and a single 20 pin cable that needs to be connected to a USB motherboard header. 

Looking for the option where you wouldn’t need to bring the IO unit into the case at all.

Would this be how to proceed to prevent an IO error at startup?

• Jump the two pins shown on the card reader
• Use the black header for the new USB case 20 pin connector
• Jump 4 pins on the blue header

.

Hanover B,

Eventually I'll get to the point where I no longer need any part of Dell's 8930 front I/O, so far..

No card reader
No Audio (short Right 2 Pins) This also give you front I/O error.
No Black USB, I just plugin the new case USB 3 header (20-pins) into this port, gets front two USB 3 to work so far no issues.

Future....
The worst case is that you would loose the USB-C connector by abandon the Blue port after jumping , I need to verify all the Pins that's going into the USB-A closest to the USB-C (shared cable) to see the signal are correct, then all I do is short those four pins, then I'm done.

Got it, okay keep us posted if you are able to do the swap without the IO unit in the case connected to the blue USB header.  Would be nice to have that option. 

Also please mention the brand and model of your new case as perhaps the USB connector on that case is more compatible with the black USB header on the Dell motherboard.  The cases I tried were not happy from this initial case swap foray:

"Turns out the USB headers are real picky or there is something about the XPS 8930 that the firmware is looking for that is only there when both USB cables are connected.  We got the same result on both of case swaps we tried.  The only way to get the machine working without an error was with the jumper in place, SD card header connected and using the original XPS 8930 USB connectors from top IO panel in both of the motherboard USB headers .

With the USB 3.0/3.1 connector on either of the new cases connected, we could not get past the IO cable failure even using the original connector in the second USB header.

Both USB ports on the Fractal and the NXZT case front panel actually are functional when connected but we couldn't get rid of the startup error despite trying different connector combinations.  Writing this with the NZXT case swapped machine."

-----

So obviously you have made progress as you discovered it's a BIOS issue at post and that you can use  the black USB header coonected to the 2 ports on your new case with the blue cable connected from the IO unit without a startup error.  For me, connecting the single USB 3.0 20 pin connector from the new case to either of the motherboard USB headers resulted in a IO error even with the other header (either black and blue) being connected from the IO panel. 

The only time I was able to connect a cable to the the black USB Header with the blue connector from the IO unit also used without a start up error was when I connected a USB 3.0 female to USB 2.0 male connector to the black header.  This was mentioned at the bottom of this post.

Also, I don't get a IO error from the yellow 10 pin HD audio connector when connected to the top panel mic and headphone jack connector on the Phanteks, NZXT of Fractal Design case.  So as long as something is connected to that 10 pin header it's should be good.  But nice to know jumping pins 1 and 2 on the far right will prevent a start up error if that header is left open.

Keep us posted!  Good stuff.  Pics always helpful.

Byte

Re: USB connection to motherboard card reader header

If wanting to connect this USB connector to that header for USB 2.0

and using this picture of the connector of the Dell card reader with the red wire on the far right....

and your bottom diagram showing the two pins needed to be jumped to prevent the IO error

Hence arrange the top connector so the #1 red wire ( marked with the the triangle) should be on the pin furthest to the right?  So it is similar to the card reader connector wire colors with the red on the right which would indicate the pins are numbered:

6 x 4 3 2 1

Then jump pin 6 on the furthest left to the pin 4 black wire to get USB 2.0 from that header without a startup error.

Correct?

 

All,

Project completed successfully, was able to completely removed the Dell XPS 8930 front panel when transferring to the new case (ANTEC P190). Not only removed but installed a standard UBS3.0 20 pins header into the Black port. Also able to use the the four pins of the Card_Reader header pins to route to the USB 2.0 on the front of the new case.

Forget the Blue port, it's Dell's proprietary connector, should not be labeled as USB3 header. See below pin out of the Blue Connector as best as I can, all USB-A does have the correct pins assigned (3rd USB from Right of Panel  of XPS), but are way off being 20 pins USB header, if you want to salvage that port you need to wire your own using the below pin out. As far as USB-C connector I was able to trace out 5 out of ten pins, the last four has no continuity what so ever, I believed Dell put a buffer chip there to enhanced the signal to C port (SSRX+,SSRX- & SSTX+, SSTX-). What you can do is wire this C port into a USB2.0 all signals are there (VBUS, GND, D+ & D-). I would recommend sealing it off with TAPE so that you don't accidentally connect the Black port into it. I made it very simple for anyone to bypassed the both Ports, I did a trace back to the ID pin on each header and Ground that pin. Each ID pin is connected to a 67 Ohms resistor before heading to the I/O chip SMSC555.

In the end....to bypass the Black Header port you only need to short out two pins together to bypass that port (Pin 4 &10). To bypass the Blue Header port you only need to short out two pins (Pin 14 & 17).  Basically ID pin needs to be LOW during post. There are five ID pins for the Dell XPS 8930 motherboard.

I took out my soldering iron and did the job today for Audio, Card Reader, front Button, and two USB_F. See diagram for details. Afterward ran Dell's diagnostics no error! Loaded Windows 10 instantly! Reboot couple times, no front panel or any other nags.!!! YEAH!!!!

Any questions, let me know, any pictures of the solder work, I can take some and post if time permits!

Good Luck To All!
Mr.Byte

Final draft:

 

Transferred into Antec P290 case...

 

Here are the photos of the solder work on the board to bypass, Audio, Card Reader, Button, Black USB, Blue USB headers.

Thanks for the detailed pictures......solders look clean!

Nice cuts on the rear IO shield as well.

Good work and very helpful 

Hi guys, i've just transferred my XPS 8930 into another case.

It's a TGT Combat (see link for more info and pics).

I've followed Mr. Byte's tutorial, soldering those jumpers on the board to bypass Audio, Card Reader, Button, Black USB, Blue USB headers, and it WORKED FINE! Thanks a lot!

Unfortunately, i don't have any pictures of the soldering work, but have plenty of the final result. 

Using card reader as frontal USB cop

 

New fans for air intake

 

USB 3.0 black conector

 

Dell PSU got its place

 

New heatsink

 

(bottom left): Deepcool fan controller

 

Power buttom working fine!

 

Work done!

 

Hope you like it. Thanks again, Mr. Byte!