Alienware Aurora ALX, R1, R2, R3, R4, May Crash Or Experience Blue Screen Errors Due to Graphics Card Power Cable
Summary: Information about blue screen errors on the Alienware Aurora ALX, R1, R2, R3, and R4 computers.
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This article is not tied to any specific product.
Not all product versions are identified in this article.
Symptoms
No symptom information.
Cause
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Resolution
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Table of Contents:
- Intermittent Blue Screen Errors, Shutdowns, or Lockups Due to Incorrectly Seated Graphics Power
- Attach the Correct Power Connectors to the Graphics Card in the Alienware Aurora
Applies for:
Alienware Aurora & Aurora ALX, R1, R2, R3, R4
1. |
Intermittent Blue Screen Errors, Shutdowns, or Lockups Due to Incorrectly Seated Graphics Power |
Some Alienware Aurora and Aurora ALX computers may experience intermittent lockups, shutdowns, or Blue Screen errors due to power connectors (rails) are incorrectly distributed on the graphics card. To resolve the issue, open the computer and correctly distribute the power connectors (Tables 1 and 2) on the graphics cards.
 |
Recommended PSU Wattage (W) | PSU 525 watts PCIe connectors | PSU 875 watts PCIe connectors | |
| GeForce 700 Series |
GTX Titan Z | 875 | - | Card 1: P15 and P17 |
| GTX 780 SLI | 875 | - | Card 1: P16 and P15 Card 2: P14 and P17 |
|
| GTX 780 | 875 | - | Card 1: P16 and P15 | |
| GTX 770 SLI | 875 | - | Card 1: P16 and P15 Card 2: P14 and P17 |
|
| GTX 770 | 875 | - | Card 1: P16 and P15 | |
| GTX 760 Ti SLI | 875 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 2: P16 and P17 |
|
| GTX 760 Ti | 875 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 | |
| GTX 760 SLI | 875 | - | Card 1: P14 Card 2: P16 |
|
| GTX 760 | 875 | - | Card 1: P14 | |
| GT 750 | 525 | - | - | |
| GTX 745 | 525 | - | - | |
| GeForce 600/500 Series |
GTX 690 | 620 | - | Card 1: P15 and P17 |
| GTX 680 SLI | 800 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 2: P16 and P17 |
|
| GTX 680 | 550 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 | |
| GTX 660 SLI | 800 | - | Card 1: P14 Card 2: P16 |
|
| GTX 660 | 525 | Card 1: P14 | Card 1: P14 | |
| GTX 590 | 700 | - | Card 1: P15 and P17 | |
| GTX 580 | 600 | - | Card 1: P15 and P17 | |
| GTX 560 Ti SLI | 650 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 2: P16 and P17 |
|
| GTX 560 Ti | 500 | Card 1: P14 and P15 | Card 1: P14 and P15 | |
| GTX 555 SLI | 500 | Card 1: P14 Card 2: P16 |
Card 1: P14 Card 2: P16 |
|
| GTX 555 | 400 | Card 1: P14 | Card 1: P14 | |
| GT 545 (DDR5) SLI | 450 | Card 1: P14 Card 2: P15 |
Card 1: P14 Card 2: P15 |
|
| GT 545 (DDR5) | 380 | Card 1: P14 | Card 1: P14 | |
| GTX 490 | 700 | - | Card 1: P15 and P17 | |
| GTX 480 | 600 | - | Card 1: P16 and P15 | |
| GTX 470 SLI | 750 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 2: P16 and P17 |
|
| GTX 470 | 550 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 | |
| GeForce 400/200 Series |
GTX 460 1Gb/768Mb/SE SLI | 620 | - | Card 1: P14 Card 2: P16 |
| GTX 460 1Gb/768Mb/SE | 500 | Card 1: P14 | Card 1: P14 | |
| GTS 450 SLI | 520 | Card 1: P14 Card 2: P15 |
Card 1: P14 Card 2: P16 |
|
| GTS 450 | 400 | Card 1: P14 | Card 1: P14 | |
| GTX 295 | 650 | Card 1: P16 and P15 | - | |
| GTX 285 SLI | 750 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 2: P16 and P17 |
|
| GTX 285 | 520 | Card 1: P14 and P15 | Card 1: P14 and P15 | |
| GTX 280 SLI | 750 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 2: P16 and P17 |
|
| GTX 280 | 550 | Card 1: P14 and P15 | Card 1: P14 and P15 | |
| GTX 260 SLI | 650 | Card 1: P14 Card 2: P15 |
Card 1: P14 Card 2: P16 |
|
| GTX 260 | 500 | Card 1: P14 | Card 1: P14 | |
| GT 240 | 350 | Card 1: P14 | Card 1: P15 | |
 |
Recommended PSU Wattage (W) | PSU 525 watts PCIe connectors | PSU 875 watts PCIe connectors | |
| Radeon R9 2xx Series | R9 290x | 875 | - | Card 1: P16 and P15 |
| R9 270x CF | 875 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 2: P16 and P17 |
|
| R9 270x | 875 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 | |
| R9 270 CF | 875 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 2: P16 and P17 |
|
| R9 270 | 875 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 | |
| Radeon HD 8000 Series | HD 8990 | 875 | - | Card 1: P15 and P17 |
| HD 8950 CF | 800 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 2: P16 and P17 |
|
| HD 8950 | 800 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 | |
| HD 8870 CF | 800 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 2: P16 and P17 |
|
| HD 8870 | 800 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 | |
| Radeon HD 7000/6000 Series | HD7970 CF | 800 | - | - |
| HD7970 | 550 | - | - | |
| HD7950 CF | 700 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 2: P16 and P17 |
|
| HD7950 | 500 | Card 1: P14 and P15 | Card 1: P14 and P15 | |
| HD7870 CF | 600 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 2: P16 and P17 |
|
| HD7870 | 500 | Card 1: P14 and P15 | Card 1: P14 and P15 | |
| HD7850 CF | 575 | - | - | |
| HD7850 | 450 | - | - | |
| HD7770 CF | 520 | - | - | |
| HD7770 | 430 | - | - | |
| HD7750 | 350 | - | - | |
| HD6990 | 700 | - | Card 1: P15 and P17 | |
| HD6970 CF | 800 | - | - | |
| HD6970 | 550 | - | - | |
| HD6950 CF | 700 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 2: P16 and P17 |
|
| Radeon HD 6000/5000 Series | HD6950 | 500 | Card 1: P14 and P15 | Card 1: P14 and P15 |
| HD6870 CF | 600 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 2: P16 and P17 |
|
| HD6870 | 500 | Card 1: P14 and P15 | Card 1: P14 and P15 | |
| HD6850 CF | 550 | - | - | |
| HD6850 | 450 | - | - | |
| HD5970 CF | 850 | - | - | |
| HD5970 | 650 | - | Card 1: P16 and P15 | |
| HD5870 CF | 650 | - | Card 1: P14 and P15 Card 2: P16 and P17 |
|
| HD5870 | 500 | Card 1: P14 and P15 | Card 1: P14 and P15 | |
| HD5770 CF | 550 | Card 1: P14 Card 2: P15 |
Card 1: P14 Card 2: P16 |
|
| HD5770 | 425 | Card 1: P14 | Card 1: P14 | |
| HD5670 512Mb/1Gb CF | 450 | - | - | |
| HD5670 512Mb/1Gb | 400 | - | - | |
Table 2
Tables 1 and 2: Alienware Aurora Graphics Cards and Their Correct Power Connectors
2. |
Attach the Correct Power Connectors to the Graphics Card in the Alienware Aurora |
 |
Caution: | |
| Before performing any of the procedures in this section, read and follow the safety instructions. |
- Unplug the power cable from the back of the computer.
- Press the power button for at least 5 seconds to discharge any remaining power.
- Unplug all cables to external components including input devices, monitors, and speakers.
- Open the computer cover (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Opening the Side Panel on the Chassis on the Alienware Aurora
Numbers reference image above:
Release Panel 
Security Lock Slot 
Security Lock Latch 
Chassis Side Panel - Rotate the expansion card shroud to gain access to the expansion card(s) (Figure 3).
Figure 2: Opening the Expansion Card Shroud
Numbers reference image above:
Shroud Release 
Expansion Card Shroud - Refer to Table 1 and attach the correct power connector (Figure 3) to the graphics card.
Figure 3: A 2x3 Power Connector on a Graphics Card - Once the power connectors are correctly attached to the graphics card, close the chassis and turn the system on.
- If you are having problems during dissasembly, see our Aurora Tear Down video.
If you still experience issues after completing these steps please send an e-mail to AWCC-Resolution_Experts@Dell.com (for US and Canada customers), with your service tag, phone number and proper time to reach you and we will be contacting you shortly.
The Alienware Support Team
Affected Products
Alienware Aurora, Alienware Aurora ALX, Alienware Aurora R2, Alienware Aurora R3, Alienware Aurora R4Article Properties
Article Number: 000123357
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 22 Sep 2024
Version: 6
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