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Aurora R15, pinset help
Hello everyone,
I wasn’t able to afford a new Alienware R15 but was able to purchase a variety of used parts and put together the PC. Unfortunately, I don’t have access to the front panel anywhere. This means I don’t have the power button. I was going to buy a momentary switch on Amazon to act as a power button but the Aurora R15 has a 16 pin connector for the front panel I/O button. Does anyone have access to or know where to obtain the pinset documentation for the I/O switch on the motherboard? Otherwise I am not sure how to determine which pins correspond to the power and the ground.
in the image below, #1 corresponds to the pinset I’m looking for.
redxps630
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June 21st, 2024 01:57
Dell does not release the engineering details. this being a new model makes it very hard to find reverse engineering info. compliments on putting together a R16 using parts. did you buy a R16 case which includes the front bezel and pwr switch LED proprietary cable?
BobStewarts101
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June 21st, 2024 02:02
@redxps630 I purchased an Aurora R15 metal case from eBay, but I purchased the bare bones case. Just the metal bracketing. I didn’t realize I needed the front plastic panel until much later. Do you think Dell support would provide the pinset information?
redxps630
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June 21st, 2024 03:10
No Dell would not release such info. they would not even release to super users either. they just want you to buy a complete PC.
R15 and R16 though have same metal chassis inside have totally different AW plastic packaging outside. you may have to wait until a third party selling the R16 front bezel (I think I saw someone selling it overseas one time)
BobStewarts101
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June 21st, 2024 03:23
@redxps630 could i use something like a multimeter to find the ground and power pins? And then buy a 3rd party momentary switch to connect it to? Or is it more complicated than that.
redxps630
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June 21st, 2024 03:49
it is complicated based on Aurora R5-8 case Dell track record of proprietary pwr switch. you could try testing jump start two consecutive pins (1-2, 2-3, 3-4 and so on) to see if that turns on board, but no one knows if Dell has changed its tricks. "Dude, it is a Dell. " beware if you do this reverse engineering adventure you are on your own completely. the community is not responsible if you accidentally damage the board.
(edited)
Vanadiel
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June 21st, 2024 12:15
You likely could have purchased retail components and not run into this issue. Easiest would be to find the original case, complete with front panel, or just the front panel if someone wants to part with it.
BobStewarts101
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June 21st, 2024 14:12
@Vanadiel the only thing on the market was a R14 front panel cover. It has a nearly identical front panel and motherboard. It even has the same 16 pin connector to front panel. I just purchased that. Do you think it will be okay to use in replace of an R15 motherboard? My other alternative is shorting pins which runs the risk of frying the board
Vanadiel
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June 21st, 2024 14:44
@BobStewarts101 I have no idea if it will work or not. Hopefully it works.
ProfessorW00d
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June 22nd, 2024 00:07
The R14 front panel connector is your best shot so far. If you need to experiment by jumping pins, I would disconnect everything from the motherboard and connect a case fan to SATA or Molex power direct from the PSU. To find the correct power switch pins, you just want to identify the ones that start to PSU.