[YankeesPwnMets]

Ok, so my Dell wouldn't boot up today and I opened the computer to take a look. PSU fans didn't turn on, case fans did not turn on, nothing at all. The PSU light is a solid Green, meaning that the computer is receiving power. The motherboard light is Yellow, and its normally Green. I googled Amber Light on Dell mobo and I've gotten responses to both dead motherboard or dead PSU, with one link saying that a upgrade to a 650 watt PSU solved the problem (which I find absurd because a computer with a Pentium, GT 430 and 4GB of RAM shouldn't need 650)

So, can anyone help me? I'll list the symptoms below
*Amber Light on Motherboard
*Green Light on PSU
*No fans turn on at all
*System doesn't turn on at all
*All components removed except for bare minimum (1 stick of RAM, CPU, PSU)

[Stinky12]

Amber light on power switch is motherboard.

[YankeesPwnMets]

Well, I jumped the PSU and the fan started up. Seems like the mobo is dead

[nightwalker83]

I'm just about to go and buy a new power supply for my pc, don't think I have ever had a motherboard fail on me though.

[SyphonPayne]

QUOTE (YankeesPwnMets @ Friday, Jul 6 2012, 17:16)

Well, I jumped the PSU and the fan started up. Seems like the mobo is dead

Not so fast. Grab a voltmeter and check out the voltage. Orange + black = 3.3v. Make sure it is within 3.135-3.465v. Red/black is your 5v. Should be ~4.75-5.25v. Yellow is the 12v. Needs to be ~11.4-12.6v. Granted, with no load, it might not even exhibit any apparent issues, but it's a good start. I wouldn't rule out that PSU just yet, especially if it's a Dell. I'm guessing you don't have a known-working PSU to try on the Dell mobo?

[Wolf68k]

Get a new PSU from a local store or better still barrow one from another,working, system/friend. You just need to connect the cables to the mobo. You can connect a fan if you want as well but it shouldn't be needed. Try turning the system on, either it'll work or it won't. If it works then it's the PSU and obviously if not then it's the mobo.

[YankeesPwnMets]

QUOTE (SyphonPayne @ Sunday, Jul 8 2012, 21:10)

QUOTE (YankeesPwnMets @ Friday, Jul 6 2012, 17:16) Well, I jumped the PSU and the fan started up. Seems like the mobo is dead Not so fast. Grab a voltmeter and check out the voltage. Orange + black = 3.3v. Make sure it is within 3.135-3.465v. Red/black is your 5v. Should be ~4.75-5.25v. Yellow is the 12v. Needs to be ~11.4-12.6v. Granted, with no load, it might not even exhibit any apparent issues, but it's a good start. I wouldn't rule out that PSU just yet, especially if it's a Dell. I'm guessing you don't have a known-working PSU to try on the Dell mobo?

Well, my gaming computer is also dead and I don't exactly know whether it is the motherboard or PSU on that system either, because I haven't done testing. Since I'm on vacation right now I can't do that. Both died shortly before I had to leave on vacation so I had no time to test it and order new components.

I'll try to borrow a working PSU from someone and I'll go find a voltmeter from somewhere. I won't be back until the end of July so I won't be able to do anything till then

And just to confirm, I put the Positive end of the multimeter into a colored pin and the negative end into a ground (black) pin

This post has been edited by YankeesPwnMets on Wednesday, Jul 11 2012, 10:11

[SyphonPayne]

Yep. Black is always negative. Good luck finding the issue. Curious to know what you find when you look.

[YankeesPwnMets]

QUOTE (SyphonPayne @ Wednesday, Jul 11 2012, 23:41)

Yep. Black is always negative. Good luck finding the issue. Curious to know what you find when you look.

I'm very curious as well. Both of them died within days of each other and I'm wondering whether they are somehow related. It was ROASTING in New York City, which meant everyone had the AC on and I did have a couple of blown fuses, perhaps the constant blown fuses and surges caused a failure?

[MIKON8ERISBACK]

QUOTE (YankeesPwnMets @ Thursday, Jul 12 2012, 06:31)

QUOTE (SyphonPayne @ Wednesday, Jul 11 2012, 23:41) Yep. Black is always negative. Good luck finding the issue. Curious to know what you find when you look. I'm very curious as well. Both of them died within days of each other and I'm wondering whether they are somehow related. It was ROASTING in New York City, which meant everyone had the AC on and I did have a couple of blown fuses, perhaps the constant blown fuses and surges caused a failure?

When circuit breakers are reset, brief voltage spikes may occur. It is important to pay attention to the indicator lights on surge protectors to accurately deterimine when they are compromised. PC power supplies are somewhat delicate and very prone to failure.

[unc13bud]

QUOTE

Ok, so my Dell wouldn't boot up today

some dells just go out, i sold a coworker a dell 5150 i found at a repair store for $150. it does the same thing. i swapped out that newton power supply first thing. it might be working now, it is a machine for his son to play with at grandma's

[YankeesPwnMets]

Ok late bump, but I got the testing done.

Here are the results:
Pin.doc - 38 Kb

I don't think anything is out of range (other than maybe the gray pin... 4.72)... but when I tested the PSU on a KNOWN working computer, that computer wouldn't start up as well. What is causing this?

[sivispacem]

Capacitor in the surge protection circuit is my guess. Low load from testing with a multimeter (I presume that's what you've done, I can't open the file on my phone) won't properly replicate the power draw needed to boot.

[Knightmare]

PSUs have a limited lifespan, I've gone through more PSUs in my PCs than anything else. And you're right, you don't need a 650w in your Dell. Pick up a good low wattage name brand replacement.