Dell XPS 710 Motherboard Issue

[7toy9]

While working on a word document, my computer froze, shut down and attempted to restart. An orange light now glows and my fans spin at high speeds but the computer does not initiate the boot process. I have found several posts about XPS 710/720 owners having similar issues. I have replaced the power supply and even paid a technician to troubleshoot the issue. Verdict: definitely the motherboard (no suprise).

This a three year old computer and out of warranty support. Fine. The cost is on me to replace the part and fix the issue. What I do not appreciate is the suspect customer support I've received. After paying $3,000+ for a computer, even if it is out of warranty support, I would expect a more attentive customer support experience.

Anyway, after bouncing back and forth with customer support, technical support and sales, I have received a very expensive answer. A new xps 710 motherboard will be $400+ dollars. I don't have the technical confidence to replace the motherboard myself, so you can only imagine how expensive the total cost will be to pay a technician.

My question is: Should I scrap the computer and sell the parts and buy a new system? Is there an easier/cheaper fix to this issue? Any thoughts are much appreciated, thanks!

Summary Specs of System:
Dell XPS 710 H2C
Quad Core 2.66Ghz
2x 8800GTX SLI
4GB RAM
360GB Raid Hard Drive
500GB WD Hard Drive (will probably keep)

 

[VirtualLarry]

You could invest in a new motherboard, and then a "normal" ATX case. I'm not familiar with the XPS 710 in particular, is the H2C model liquid-cooled?

Is that a Socket 775 system, or something else?

link

it also uses Dell's first in-house liquid cooling system to keep it's quad-core power plant cool. The XPS 710 H2C is the most heavily performance-specified XPS system yet, with an Intel Core 2 QX6700 processor, dual GeForce 8800 GTXs, 4 GB of RAM and two Western Digital Raptors in a RAID 0 array, as standard equipment.

Ok, it is 775. Best 775 mobo is the Gigabyte EP45-UD3P, but that only supports Crossfire, not SLI.

So the best SLI-capable 775 board is going to have an NVidia system chipset.
Here's an EVGA, they have a good warranty. link
The case and PSU is up to you, but I would suggest getting a name-brand, quality, 650W and up PSU, for an overclocked 65nm quad-core and dual 8800GTXs. Corsair, Antec, Seasonic, and PC P&C are all good brands. Maybe BFG too.
You'd probably want to ditch the water-cooler and get a top-notch air cooler. Start a thread in cases and cooling forum to ask that. I use a Tuniq Tower 120 (original model) on my 3.6Ghz Q6600, but load temps get pretty high, like 85C under OCCT:linpack.
The RAM and HDs and video cards you can all re-use.

 

[7toy9]

Thanks VirtualLarry. I will look into the motherboard and new case idea. My current PSU is 1000w, so if it works in the new case and build I will stick with it.

 

[7toy9]

I've spent some time going through my options. Below I have listed what I plan to purchase. Unless I am missing something, I hope all the below should work together in the new build.

New Components:

Motherboard: XFX MBN790IUL9 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra SLI ATX Intel Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16813141009)

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16811119160)

Cooler: ZALMAN CNPS9500 AT 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink (http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16835118003)

Memory: I don't think my old DDR2 memory will work with the new motherboard. According to the specifications on newegg, this motherboard can only use DDR 1333? (will these sticks work? Should I go with another set?) - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK (http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16820231189)

Old Parts:

Intel Core2 Duo QX6700 overclocked with 8Mb cache
Dual 768 Mb GeForce 8800GTX
Dual 160 Gb 10000 RPM HDs (Raid 0)
X-Fi PCI Sound Card
1 kW power supply (Same power supply from original Dell system)
360GB Raid-0 Hard Drive
500GB WD Hard Drive

 

[inuyashax5]

Hello, I don't mean to barge in on your thread, but my Dell XPS 710 computer just had a very similar problem.

My father purchased this computer for me back on 2007, shortly after I graduated High School. The specs are as follows:

Windows 7 Professional
Intel Dual Core Duo 2.4 ghz
Nvidia GeForce 9800 Plus (upgraded from two 7900 GS's)
3 GB DDR2 RAM (upgraded, was 2 GB)
250 GB SATA Hard Drive
Sound Blaster X-Fi Sound card (came with the Dell)
Power Supply - unknown (came with it)

Earlier today, I was playing my PS3 when suddenly I noticed my time on the computer stopped, and the computer was frozen. I held the button in, turned it back on, and my fan was running unusually and my power button was a steady (not blinking) orange instead of the usual green. I opened the case and noticed the motherboard has a orange light on. I'm guessing I have a very similar problem to yours, 7toy9. Sadly for me, I'm not as good with computers as you are, and my Dell warranty is gone. Got a feeling I'm probably out of luck, but I also have some pics too, if you want to look at it.

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/7560/cimg0879l.jpg
^Ignore the dust, but this is the infamous orange light

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/5159/cimg0877b.jpg
^The orange light on the motherboard

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/633/cimg0878.jpg
^The insides of the computer

 

[7toy9]

Ok - I thought my computer was dusty...I feel better now!

Bro, I really don't know. I definitely do not have much knowledge on computer issues. I have done a lot of reading on the forums, consulted my friends and read the owners manual. In most cases that I have read, when the orange light glows solid and the fans spin, the motherboard is dead. This is a recurring theme with the xps series from Dell. Not sure the build of your case or motherboard, but to fix a blow motherboard you probably have to (a) buy a replacement from dell (usually expensive) or (b) find a new case and motherboard and rebuild the system.

Google "dell xps motherboard issue (or fried, broken, whatever)" and you will find many other people with this issue.

 

[Maxspeed996]

I'd have to say that I'd be using a bit of the canned air and a small paintbrush to clean away dust on a machine that I spent thousands of dollars on! LOL!
Curiously enough, I wonder what is causing the motherboard failures.......if it has something to do with overheating???? Do you leave your machine on 100% of the time?

 

[7toy9]

I don't think so. This is a widespread, well documented issue on the XPS systems. Also, I take care to keep my case well cooled and clean. If it is an overheating problem, then its due to poor design - my motherboard broke while I was editing a word document (not during a 3 hour game session). Further, I turned my computer off when not in use.