Optiplex 170 front panel power switch

[K.Momrik]

Does an Optiplex170 PC have some sort of proprietary front panel power switch? We recently had to replace the OEM mobo with an Intel replacement and the front power switch does not seem to work. I can manually short the power jumpers where the front panel connects to the mobo to turn it on and off. This is obviously not a viable solution. Any help would be appreciated.

[Sterling_Aug]

I have never tried to replace a Dell mobo with another brand one. Why did you not try to get a replacement Dell mobo?

I would have changed the case/power supply as well due to Dell always using the lowest rated wattage power supplies made to reduce the cost.

Are you sure the power supply can supply the power req'd by the new board?

Did you plug in the special mobo connectors from the power supply? Does the Dell power supply even have all of the plugs req'd by the Intel board (I doubt it!).

[K.Momrik]

Normally we would have, however the PC was no longer under warranty and Dell's replacement board was vastly more expensive and the delivery was a week or more. Originally, it was done to expedite the process of returning the PC to it's user because we ordered it and had it the next day. Now, however, we are just trying to make this thing work.

When I short the PS_ON jumper pin (on the 9-pin front panel header, it is pin 6 & 8 - 6 for power on and 6&8 for power off) I can turn it on and off. I read somewhere that certain Dell power switches send signals in a shorter burst than normal (standard) switches (something like 60ms instead of 90ms). Could this be the case? Prior to 2000 I understand that Dell did not use industry standard voltage and pin configurations, but this PC was manufactured in 2004. If all I need to do is purchase a different power switch assembly and retrofit it to the Dell case, I am more than willing. I just need to know what to buy.

[K.Momrik]

Also, in dealing with Intel techsupport, I had them check to make sure that the 250W (yes, I know that is weak) power supply and the Pentium 4 2.8GHz processor were both compatible with their hardware. The 4-pin "pentium processor power plug thing" (quoted from Intel Techsupport) IS connected.

[Sterling_Aug]

It is amazing how much money some companies will spend to save a buck or two.

You should have replaced the PC with a new one rather than butchered up the one you did. The user is still out of work without a PC and you may never get this to work right.

PCs are throw aways now. Budget for it next year.

[K.Momrik]

With all due respect, "butchered" is a fairly strong term for replacing a motherboard. If that is "butchering," you should see what else I've done to make PC's work! ;) Also, we are not stupid enough to endeavor this without having a hot spare PC to let the person use.

It has now befallen me the responsibility of trying to salvage an otherwise "throw away" PC. Being a Pentium 4 2.8GHz processor and having a board already purchased, I was simply asking for a little bit of assistance in making the front panel control work with my Intel board. I really do appreciate your concern over our business practices, but I hardly find this a constructive response to my original question. All I was asking is whether or not the Front Panel Power switch from an Optiplex 170 would interface with a newer Intel board or if I needed to inform those parties necessary that there is no chance to make that switch work with that board. If you can help me, please, any information ON THAT SUBJECT would be helpful! :)

[Sterling_Aug]

Change the case to one that will properly support the mobo. You may have a bad switch or have it mounted backwards. Have you checked the pin outs of the mobo against the pinouts for the switch?

It is also not a very good idea to talk back to the Mods. We control the tone and the content of this user forum.

[Sterling_Aug]

I think you should go back to Intel tech support and get a second opinion on that mobo.

It does not seem to be compatible with the Dell 250 watt power supply nor does 250 watts seem to be enough power for the system.

My advise above still makes sense. Get a new case and move on.

[K.Momrik]

I realize that 250W is pretty weak, but shouldn't the board not work AT ALL then? What I am having a hard time with is why I can short pins and it works like a champ but the front panel power button won't turn it on or off. I know that we could purchase a different case and power supply but that is probably $70 more invested in an almost outdated PC. Board and Case = $130 and we can get a brand new machine for barely over that. Alas, your ORIGINAL suggesion may be the only option. Does anyone know if there is a way to rewire that control panel so that it WILL work?

[Sterling_Aug]

I have never heard of any company using a special power switch.

I have moved numerous boards between different systems and they always worked fine.

Have you tried removing the mobo from this system and using the switch from another Dell to test it? You may just have a bad switch.


Here is the part number from Dell for the control panel:

#C0391 Control Panel Assembly with CableSD

I am Dell certified for warranty repairs. Out of warranty will cast you an arm and a leg.

[rmanet]

I just installed an Intel - build my own - 7 here at the house 'cuz my boys are gamers. A mobo died and I wanted to use a similar chipset so the HDD XP install would hopefully work with few problems. It went well.

Intel boards and other mobos case connectors don't always follow the mobo manual and/or silkscreen. Recheck all and make sure ground pins on connectors consistent on the Intel - I had a problem with that.

Have you checked continuity on the switch - simple check. That's an old system and we're a Dell company pretty much and some machines a pain as switches'll dump machine into standby, etc - I just inherited the problem as "other duties as assigned." If it's set in BIOS or OS to use standby or hibernate I'd get rid of them.

Sterling's comments are on point - we just see too many folks spending hours on an issue - your time is of value too - and at some point you just have to scrap a system. Even the 240s and 260s, etc are only $100+ as I got some from a friend who runs a leasing company. They're limited on expansion, etc, but who cares at that cost.

Think about checking with some locals - I keep a few machines in supply because time is money, and even though the user is up and running you're still spending company time and money and a new (and cheaper case) probably still best option.

Sterling's right - we just try to keep our responses to a minimum - plenty of sysopt threads where guys spend days trying to save an old system instead of pulling components for replacement supply and find another to replace the busted machine.