Voltage regulator module?

I have this Dell Precision workstation 330, with an LPX-ish case. The cover says it might be running windows 2000 or NT. I can't get it to stay on. When I press the power it turns on but shuts off within a few seconds. It has an AT PSU, so I tried replacing it and that didn't solve the problem.

Nothing is plugged in except the RAM, CPU and video. I checked the RAM and they seem fine, tried a different video card and that didn't work. Then I noticed a small card sticking up near the CPU. I took it out and examined it to find this information:
http://www.ezsystems.com/dcat.cgi?g=003JVE&page=1

That's the part number and a small image. After removing it the machine turns on, but I'm not getting any video. Sound like I need to replace this thing? I've never seen a computer with a voltage regulator card on the motherboard. I don't want to order a new one if it's not the source of the problem. As mentioned, I still don't get any video regardless of RAM or video card used. I will check the CPU, but I'm not sure if I would have one to test in the system.

KG

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Comments

sprkymrk

Yes, Dell's have this notorious VRM. I have seen a couple go bad.

The power supplies are proprietary though, so swapping it with a standard ATX isn't a good test.

KGhaleon

Really? That sucks.

It has a P1 and P2 connector so I assume it's AT power supply though it doesn't have any unusual connectors. I have a bunch of ATs, so they won't work? The PSU in the case does have a Dell logo on it.

I may give them a try to see if they'll work. Do you know if the VRM is necessary? The system turns on when I remove it. It shuts off when the VRM is inserted.

*confused*

blargoe

You have to use a dell power supply. I think the VRM is necessary.

KGhaleon

I see, thanks for the info. I'll just see if I can get my hands on some dell parts.

KG

KGhaleon

I already fixed it a while back, but I'll post my end result here for those interested. Really strange, after playing around with the machine a bit more I discovered that it would give me video when I swapped a ram card out.

I'm not talking about the actual RAM, but those little metal cards you put in the slots to make the machine think there are RAM pairs there. I don't know what they are called. I replaced one of them and it worked normally again, even with the VRM inserted.

Very strange experience.

KG

sprkymrk

KGhaleon wrote:

I'm not talking about the actual RAM, but those little metal cards you put in the slots to make the machine think there are RAM pairs there. I don't know what they are called. I replaced one of them and it worked normally again, even with the VRM inserted.

Are you talking about the terminating module thingy's? Some types of RAM require them.

KGhaleon

Not sure, basically dummy ram:
http://www.dansdata.com/images/p4/dummies320.jpg

When I replaced one it fixed the issue. The computer wasn't even powering on properly and getting video until I replaced one. There were two dummy sticks and two actual ram sticks. Confusion galore.

It didn't matter which dummy stick I replaced, but taking one out of the equation fixed the whole issue. 'cause, then I had to reconfigure all the IDE devices in the BIOS since it wasn't detecting anything.

KG