Author Topic: Dell Optiplex GX270 power switch (Read 11350 times)

JRChristenson · « **on:** July 06, 2011, 03:00:04 pm »

I'd really like to wire an arcade button into the power switch on this thing but I can't find the red and black wires that should be so obvious. Any help would be appreciated.

TopJimmyCooks · « **Reply #1 on:** July 06, 2011, 03:02:32 pm »

My optiplex 270 has a ribbon cable going to the front rather than individual wires, and I'm not sure if I will try to mess with it, or research the board to see if I can solder leads on somewhere else.

Mine is the small form factor so may not be same as the case you are referring to. Interested to see if anyone pops up with a good answer on this.

Vigo · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2011, 03:09:27 pm »

The power cable usually goes directly to the bottom corner of the motherboard. There will be a bunch of pins with tiny connectors on them. They are for things like power, reset and power LED. Certain motherboards may be different, but it is pretty standard for the pins to be in the bottom corner.

Just buy your own power cable instead of using the cable that goes with your computer case.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812201029&cm_re=motherboard_power_switch-_-12-201-029-_-Product

Wire an arcade button to one of these, unplug the cable on your motherboard leading to the computer case power switch and plug your cable in there instead.

TopJimmyCooks · « **Reply #3 on:** July 06, 2011, 03:13:55 pm »

Isn't the power supply to the MB part of the 20(?) pin MB connector? My MB doesn't have a separate 2 pin connector I think.

Could we just tap into the wire going from the power supply to the MB power pins? momentary switch on that would be functionally the same, right?

JRChristenson · « **Reply #4 on:** July 06, 2011, 03:15:29 pm »

Quote from: Vigo on July 06, 2011, 03:09:27 pm

Just buy your own power cable instead of using the cable that goes with your computer case.

Not a bad idea, but if it's a ribbon cable like TopJimmyCooks said, I can't just unplug it without disconnecting a lot of other things, right?

Vigo · « **Reply #5 on:** July 06, 2011, 03:20:17 pm »

Quote from: TopJimmyCooks on July 06, 2011, 03:13:55 pm

Isn't the power supply to the MB part of the 20(?) pin MB connector? My MB doesn't have a separate 2 pin connector I think.

Could we just tap into the wire going from the power supply to the MB power pins? momentary switch on that would be functionally the same, right?

the lines for the pwer/reset/LEDs should ususally be in a different area. Your power supply won't go to this area at all. If you wired a switch into the mobo power line, then you would only be able to do a hard power down. It won't shut the computer down properly.

Quote from: JRChristenson on July 06, 2011, 03:15:29 pm

Quote from: Vigo on July 06, 2011, 03:09:27 pm
Just buy your own power cable instead of using the cable that goes with your computer case.

Not a bad idea, but if it's a ribbon cable like TopJimmyCooks said, I can't just unplug it without disconnecting a lot of other things, right?

Some computer cases do have a bigger block connector instead of the 2 pin connectors. On one computer of mine, I broke the block down into two pin connectors using a utility knife. On another computer, I realized I didn't need to use the reset switch or the LEDs, so i just removed the whole thing and put only the 2 pin connector for the power switch in its place.

TopJimmyCooks · « **Reply #6 on:** July 06, 2011, 03:28:32 pm »

Good info, I'll take a closer look at intercepting it in the area of the MB plug or hopefully separate power plug.

JRChristenson · « **Reply #7 on:** July 06, 2011, 03:38:52 pm »

Quote from: TopJimmyCooks on July 06, 2011, 03:28:32 pm

Good info, I'll take a closer look at intercepting it in the area of the MB plug or hopefully separate power plug.

I'm looking at mine now, please post here again if you have any luck!

apfelanni · « **Reply #8 on:** July 06, 2011, 03:40:07 pm »

if u consider using it for emulation in a cabinet u dont need the button. use the option power on after ac loss in bios settings instead. power down can be managed via frontend.

JRChristenson · « **Reply #9 on:** July 06, 2011, 04:00:24 pm »

Quote from: apfelanni on July 06, 2011, 03:40:07 pm

if u consider using it for emulation in a cabinet u dont need the button. use the option power on after ac loss in bios settings instead. power down can be managed via frontend.

Say more.

JRChristenson · « **Reply #10 on:** July 06, 2011, 04:03:16 pm »

I suspect it's one of these two. The one on the right seems to go to a switch that only allows the computer to run when the case is closed. My question in this, why are they four pin connectors rather than two?

JMB · « **Reply #11 on:** July 06, 2011, 04:06:03 pm »

Quote from: JRChristenson on July 06, 2011, 04:03:16 pm

I suspect it's one of these two. The one on the right seems to go to a switch that only allows the computer to run when the case is closed. My question in this, why are they four pin connectors rather than two?

Nope. Speaker and case intrusion switch.

JMB · « **Reply #12 on:** July 06, 2011, 04:09:35 pm »

If it's a SFF 270 then it only has the ribbon cable going to the MB. No standard pins like a typical MB.

JRChristenson · « **Reply #13 on:** July 06, 2011, 04:12:17 pm »

Quote from: JMB on July 06, 2011, 04:06:03 pm

Nope. Speaker and case intrusion switch.

Sigh...

JRChristenson · « **Reply #14 on:** July 06, 2011, 04:14:53 pm »

Quote from: JMB on July 06, 2011, 04:09:35 pm

If it's a SFF 270 then it only has the ribbon cable going to the MB. No standard pins like a typical MB.

I don't know how to determine if it's an SFF 270, but if it is can I still wire in an arcade button?

JMB · « **Reply #15 on:** July 06, 2011, 04:21:52 pm »

Quote from: JRChristenson on July 06, 2011, 04:14:53 pm

I don't know how to determine if it's an SFF 270, but if it is can I still wire in an arcade button?

SFF means small form factor. Looks like this

If it is you'd need to break out the cables from the ribbon cable to do it.

JMB · « **Reply #16 on:** July 06, 2011, 04:24:03 pm »

Looks like a lot of the pinout info for the front panel is here

http://www.mp3car.com/hardware-development/105026-dell-optiplex-gx270-front-panel-pinout.html

JRChristenson · « **Reply #17 on:** July 06, 2011, 04:27:16 pm »

Quote from: JMB on July 06, 2011, 04:21:52 pm

Quote from: JRChristenson on July 06, 2011, 04:14:53 pm

SFF means small form factor. Looks like this

If it is you'd need to break out the cables from the ribbon cable to do it.

Yeah, that's it. Thanks for the info.

TopJimmyCooks · « **Reply #18 on:** July 06, 2011, 04:51:13 pm »

That's my case too. will be experimenting with shutdown through mala and the bios settings first, ribbon cable surgery second. Onward and upward. Thanks JMB.

JRChristenson · « **Reply #19 on:** July 06, 2011, 04:57:10 pm »

This picture is not very good quality (not mine) but are these the pins I'm looking for?

JMB · « **Reply #20 on:** July 06, 2011, 04:58:21 pm »

I just sent off about 50 of those things to be recycled. Still probably have 1/2 a dozen or so. Let me know if either of you need any replacement cables.

JMB · « **Reply #21 on:** July 06, 2011, 04:59:27 pm »

Quote from: JRChristenson on July 06, 2011, 04:57:10 pm

This picture is not very good quality (not mine) but are these the pins I'm looking for?

Yes.

scofthe7seas · « **Reply #22 on:** July 06, 2011, 05:13:24 pm »

Could be a good idea to test with a multimeter. Push the buttons and see when it beeps! (and obviously when it doesn't, when the button is not pressed)

JRChristenson · « **Reply #23 on:** July 15, 2011, 04:39:58 pm »

I finally got back to this and I am happy to confirm that pins 2&3 in the picture above were the ones I was after. Very happy to finally have this problem solved, thanks for all the help.

gryhnd · « **Reply #24 on:** July 15, 2011, 05:22:11 pm »

I'm late to the party, but I'll throw this out from a previous similar question for any future BYOACers who use search:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=100211.msg1059143#msg1059143

JRChristenson · « **Reply #25 on:** July 15, 2011, 05:37:08 pm »

I have a power button!

scofthe7seas · « **Reply #26 on:** July 15, 2011, 06:45:56 pm »

Haha be careful, man. Hopefully you don't have a microleaf on that button!

JRChristenson · « **Reply #27 on:** July 19, 2011, 01:46:11 pm »

Quote from: scofthe7seas on July 15, 2011, 06:45:56 pm

Haha be careful, man. Hopefully you don't have a microleaf on that button!

I don't, but why would it matter if I did?

scofthe7seas · « **Reply #28 on:** July 20, 2011, 11:21:48 am »

Easy to accidentally turn the system off.

JRChristenson · « **Reply #29 on:** July 20, 2011, 12:10:13 pm »

Quote from: scofthe7seas on July 20, 2011, 11:21:48 am

Easy to accidentally turn the system off.

Oh I see. It's going to be on the back anyway....


Main	Restorations	Software	Audio/Jukebox/MP3	Everything Else	Buy/Sell/Trade
Project Announcements	Monitor/Video	GroovyMAME	Merit/JVL Touchscreen	Meet Up	Retail Vendors
Driving & Racing	Woodworking	Software Support Forums	Consoles	Project Arcade	Reviews
Automated Projects	Artwork	Frontend Support Forums	Pinball	Forum Discussion	Old Boards
Raspberry Pi & Dev Board	controls.dat	Linux	Miscellaneous Arcade	Wiki Discussion	Old Archives
Lightguns	Arcade1Up	Try the site in https mode		Site News


Unread posts \| New Replies \| Recent posts \| Rules \| Chatroom \| Wiki \| File Repository \| RSS \| Submit news