Aurora R11, swapped CPU air heatsink with liquid cooled, critical error 2000-0714

How is the OEM Alienware pump powered? It is different than the Corsair H60, correct?

This is the only R11 or R10 user to report this problem . . . and the only one to my knowledge to get the OEM Alienware AIO cooler. None of the R10 or R11 users that upgraded from air cooling (with no VRM) that used the Corsair H60 are reporting this VRM error.

My understanding is that factory liquid-cooled R11's (like mine) have VRM heatsink from the factory, and the CPU liquid cooler from the factory is powered by the 2x 4-pin connectors ("FAN TOP" and "FAN PUMP") on the upper edge of the mobo. In this case, the Alienware mobo expects a VRM heatsink, or it will display an error.

Aftermarket CPU liquid coolers like Corsair H60 are powered like a hard drive. The H60's coolant pump is powered by a SATA cable from the power supply; and its radiator fan is powered by the air-cooled CPU fan's 4-pin connector ("FAN CPU"). Therefore, the BIOS thinks the CPU is still air-cooled, and would not display an error in the absence of a VRM heatsink.

My R11 has had this same error code since November 30.  Only difference we did not upgrade anything it came as liquid cooled. 

Dell has replaced the mobo 3 times, 1 graphic card, sli and ssd and the computer is still showing the same code and not working. We have gone through all of their trouble shooting multiple times as soon as it shows the Alienware logo on screen the code comes up. 

@Anonymous I honestly have no idea. This all happened after doing a windows update. We had never even opened it up. 

I should follow up this thread with my final install updates and what to expect.  I installed the factory water cooler, ordered the factory VRM from Dell, and got to overclocking.  I leave the side off and the power supply open about halfway.  My CPU is not overclockable, but stays under 70 at load during stress gaming.  The GPU is hitting over 2100 sustained with a good overclock using Afterburner.

The factory cooling is run off the PUMP header, the CPU fan is empty and top fan is the rad.  The bios knows the pump is installed and looks for the VRM heatsink (traces on custom MOBO).  All is well and stable.  I cannot believe Dell does not offer the liquid setup for the 3080 system... it needs it.

Does it come with the screw when you buy it in dell?

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000181167/reference-table-of-epsa-psa-error-codes-and-troubleshooting-steps-2000-0nnn-series

You will need a jumper wire between the 4 screw holes for cpu. vrm has 2 holes and also needs jumper so that the bios sees that each  heatsink is attached aka j46j2

both cpu and vrm heatsinks are metal and conductive shorting the screw holes together for the vrm and cpu so that the bios senses the HSinks are attached.  Liquid coolers are plastic and non conductive.

j46j2. vrm hs

no heatsink means error

the screws are spring loaded and non removable.

J46J2

There are circut traces on each end of the heatsink screwdown. You could put a jumper into a screw with wire and eyelets but that means risking burning up the vrms

jumper

https://www.ebay.com/c/4016297157

No IDEA what the thermal pad part number is

https://www.amazon.com/4Pcs-Thermal-Kit%EF%BC%8CPcie-2280-NVMe/dp/B07QH9G1YB

J46J2

Someone on this forum reported that the R11 vrm heatsink is longer than the R5-9 vrm heatsink pictured so the screw holes on the motherboard won't even line up to mount J46J2 in an R11.  I can't confirm but that is what has been reported.  

For reference, R11 vrm heatsink

Has anybody managed to order one of these?

My build is missing the heat sink.

I do not have errors but I would like to stop the VRM cooking

I did, from Dell.  Model should be in this thread. the L shaped bracket.