Dell Optiplex GX280 won't start, amber light flashing

We have GX-270, GX-280 and SX-280s at my job and they all have the same problem. Recapping fixes them and they go right back out, I haven't had one come back again in 2 years! A lot of companies toss them, we were tossing the boards and buying the recapped ones from Dell until I saw the price and did some research.

i just recently picked up a gx 280 and it looks to me that i have the same problem. i picked up new caps to replace the ones that looked shotty but no luck so far. i have only replaced 2 of them at this time. would it be recommended to replace them all in one whack. im not sure if all of the capacitors would buldge and leak when they foul up. so far im getting the same response from the computer as i was before. would it be a waste of time to pull it apart and keep on capping away until they are all replaced?

at this time the cpu fan is spinning off the charts and it there is no video. it just started doing this before i replaced the 2 caps.

before this there was video and when booting into safe mode it would blue screen me and say that the video driver failed to load.

and then before this while the computer would be running the screen would intermittently flicker and darken. this was the only sign of issues up until it really started acting up.

i just need to know if its worth continuing.

Yes it's best to replace them all at once (even if some capacitors look ok)

I'll quote the No Post guide here as well (as this thread seems to get a lot of hits)

Tutorial: No POST (Power On System Test)

ok i replaced all of the capacitors and still the same results. the only thing i can find that changes anything at all is leaving the cpu power disconnected and booting it. when i do that the fan runs at a normal speed. but that could just mean that the cpu is actually toasted. im guessing it could also mean a bad power supply. i found a good price on a power supply but im still in the iffy stage wondering if its worth trying.

It's worth trying

I currently support about 50 GX280's and one of mines began to flash this amber light as soon as I plugged the power cable into it. I switched a power supply out of a perfectly fine GX280 and placed it into my pc that was blinking amber and that solved the problem. Just to verify that it was my power supply I actually placed the power supply that I suspected to be faulty into the working pc and that made the power button blink amber again and not power on. Tell me how this works out for you guys.

Sorry to double post but I also removed an added on DVI video card, and converted to the intergrated VGA port before I swapped out the power supply.

I just found a half dozen SX280's (small form factor) with bad caps at my new job stuck in a storage room. I'd want to go ahead and replace the caps and was wondering if anyone has a link to the service manual or another site that shows how to remove the motherboard? I removed all of the screws and standoffs that I could see, but obviously I'm mising something. Do I need to remove the CPU?. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mark

@dicedaniels

I just worked on two of these systems that would start with the 12v CPU not attached. The power supplies were bad in that specific system, but powered another board no problem. Fortunately, I had new PSU's for them. Both systems worked when they were swapped.

I did notice one difference between the bad and good PSU's. The 12v tested too low on the bad PSU's; which makes sense.

Can anyone elaborate on why the system wouldn't come on if the voltage was too low? Is there some type of mechanism on the board that can control whether the system will start based on voltage?

New Motherboard worked for me

I put a new motherboard in my Optiplex SX280 that had an amber flashing light on the power button and that fixed it.

Be careful not to bend any of the capacitors, especially around the CPU-heatsink case. As I was putting the case in, the capacitors were bent slightly because they are so close to the case.

The caps don't always show signs of failure. 99% of the time they do but occasionally I have to break out the capanalyzer88. On the SX280 the capacitors under the hard drive always fail. The 3X 6.3v 820uFs and the 6.3v 2200uFs especially. The newest Dell USFFs come with a fan built into the hard drive caddy. I have done hundreds of these now with kits from the cap king and have no problems. If you have questions about it email Troy at thecapking38@yahoo.com.

Take a closer look at the motherboard. I have fixed 100's of these motherboards and every single one of them that had the power button flashing amber was related to a blown/faulty capacitor. Either 6.3v 2200uf or 6.3v 820uf. You can fix it yourself with a soldering gun ($10 radioshack), solder, and a philips screwdriver. If you can't find the exact cap replacement, you can use a 6.3v capacitor that is greater uf than the original. Ex: you can replace the 6.3v 820uf cap with a 6.3v 2200uf no problem. The tops of the capacitors should be completely flat. They may or may not be leaking yellow/orange fluid and it may be a subtle rounded top. A peripheral with a bad cap is possible as well. Take all peripherals off and try to start. Hope this helps.

Hah. I swear I didn't see tb421ny posting before i wrote this. So I'll just make mine confirmation that what he said is true.

Just FYI, I've got a Dell Optiplex GX280 that shuts down and flashes its amber power light when it's under stress, i.e. a CPU or graphically-intense program. The PC works fine for days if you just want to surf the web. Anything meatier seems to trip it. Upon feeling the PSU it's very hot and the PSU fan is erratic and doesn't seem to be spinning at full speed. I suspect the problem is a dirty/dusty fan. In an attempt to save money I plan to replace it rather than replace the whole PSU.
If I manage to replace the fan I'll report back and let everyone know.

These DELL systems made cheap the issues with MOBO has been going on for more than 10 years! Even with the GX200 series I had placed daily 20 MOBO in the systems because the onboard video was shot. I don't know why companies still want to lease DELL systems they have so many issues.

Tipstir,
I've worked at corporates that turn over hundreds of Dells ever year and the failure rate is very small. Having said that, the GX280 definitely had a batch of Friday Builds as we saw out-of-control fans and intermittant power downs from time-to-time. I think it's harsh to say that they're all cheap mobos though. I use Dell exclusively at home and also recommend them to my clients. They're a bit like Starbucks or MacDonalds - a known and trusted quantity, but not wildly exciting. I have no tie-in with Dell, I just like their kit.

A thought has just occurred to me. I'm in the UK, and I think our Dells are made in Ireland. That will probably change, if it hasn't already, but it may explain the quality differences.

OK, I promised I'd get back with my results. I bought a new fan off eBay (60mm x 60mm x 10mm) and fitted it. The PC is now drastcally quieter and no longer trips the thermal cutout. Result: complete success.

Really one of out Aerospace Factories and Corp Office here had such issue with GX200 series a few years back with DELL. All we did was order new or rebuild (DELL likes to do it that way) motherboards for replacement. Time is money and production would suffer if a factory, office or executive was down for any length of time.

Others companies I've been too DELL units seem to be getting a bit better in the GX Series. Not much DOA, but there are some. So replacement is low.

That's great!

Batery

I guess that I am just lucky.. I just popped the battery on the motherboard out and it's working like a charm

Just had the flashing amber light on my SX280 - tb421ny and Jerichards were spot on, with leaking caps. Replaced three 2200uF under the hard drive caddy (1 leaking badly, 1 just starting to leak, and 1 domed).
Got some new caps off Ebay, and up and running again, thanks for the info.