DELL Laptop and desktop schematics

[stspringer]

Hello all,
I am a newbie in electronics and was just wondering if it is possible to get schematics for DELL laptop and/or desktop computers. I have a DELL optiplex 5050, micro form factor, desktop computer that I would like to get the schematics for.

If this is not possible, "to download, or purchase, schematics", how does anyone repair, "or attempt to repair" their own computers, at component level, with just a basic knowledge of electronics?

Please advise

Thank You
stspringer

 

[narkeleptk]

Without schematics it takes a bit more effort but still do able. There are never schematics available in my field and many of the components are masked to make matters worst. The first time you run into new devices you just have to buckle in and sort it out yourself once necessity at a time. Once you start getting familiar with the systems your working on then its not to hard to figure out just based on prior experience. Also many devices have common faults so google can help sometimes.

 

[rjenkinsgb]

I've been designing and repairing electronics for around 40 years, but I'd still be limited as to what repairs I could do to a PC motherboards.

In general if it's anything much more than a fault on a plug-in or conventionally soldered component, the board is likely to be beyond economical repair.

You can do things like replace swollen electrolytic caps, but if it were eg. one of the large ball grid array I/O ICs then just the removal and replacement soldering needs very specialised equipment.

Most common PC problems are due to faulty PSUs, plug-in parts or bad connections, in my experience. A BIOS code display board can be useful for diagnosing a non-booting machine.
Examples: **broken link removed**

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The only PCs/laptops I know of that have schematics available are the Panasonic Toughbooks..

eg.

Elektrotanya for electronics experts

Electronics forum for electronics experts to repair defective appliance.

elektrotanya.com

Panasonic Cf 31 Service Manual

View the Panasonic Cf 31 Service Manual for free. All the Panasonic manuals and user’s guides are available for free view without any registration. You can also download the manual as PDF to your computer.

www.usermanuals.tech

 

[narkeleptk]

but I'd still be limited as to what repairs I could do to a PC motherboards.

I'm with you there. I still have two vaio laptops sitting in scrap bins I never figured out. Both come out of my work van and died the same way. I never put much effort into them but my best guess is the display ic is to blame. Not worth reballing/replacing to confirm but if any pc repair guys come in and know of any common failures on vaio laptops caused from overheating please let me know.

 

[stspringer]

rjenkinsgb
Please check out this guy Sorbin excellent electronic repair school

 

[rjenkinsgb]

Please check out this guy Sorbin excellent electronic repair school

Interesting, but pretty much beginner-level stuff.

The problems with PC/laptop motherboards is not just the knowledge as the specialised (and extremely expensive) equipment needed for some parts of the work - thousands of pounds/dollars worth to be able to guarantee everything goes right.
It's only worth buying that if you are using it as part of a business to make profit.

You can do a lot with conventional tools and equipment, but some things like replacing a BGA mounted CPU or large system IC are a major gamble with a much chance of wrecking things as success, unless you have the specialised equipment.

Have a look through the video below, especially when it shows the solder pad array on the board - trying to do something like that by hand with basic rework tools is far more likely to end in failure than success...
The machine being used costs around $6,000


That's why I said there are some parts I would not attempt to replace - I can get a lifetime supply of replacement motherboards for less than the cost of the equipment needed to replace a major IC failure in a single board.

Other repairs with lower pin count components are not a problem & I make a good part of my living repairing complex electronics.

 

[unclejed613]

i had limited success fixing motherboards "back in the day"... most of the components were through-hole, and for the most part were made on double-sided PC boards. somewhere around the Pentium 1 era, they started using multilayer boards and SMT components. up to that point it was usually 1) cost effective to attempt repairing a motherboard, and 2) there were mostly through-hole components and socketed chips. after they went to mostly SMT components and multilayer boards, the prices of motherboards actually dropped... a lot... but, i agree that you won't find schematics... motherboards have basically become throw-away items. the only reason (my opinion) that Panasonic releases schematics for toughbooks is that the military is the main client for them, and the military insists they must be repairable in the field. if for instance there's classified information on the computer, it's a bad idea to send it back to the factory when it breaks...

 

[rjenkinsgb]

I've recently discovered "boardview" / Openboardview

https://openboardview.org/

It turns out that there are entire databases of computer schematics with linked PCB layouts, for use in repairs.

If you search for boardview files for any particular machine, there is a fair chance they exist somewhere!
Some places sell them, around $10 - $15 per machine, others have archives of free files if you search a bit..

Some searches for boardview files also return lists of schematic pdfs.

No "Dell Optiplex" that I've found in either format, though - but "N5050" here, if that is the same thing?

https://kythuatphancung.vn/download/dell-n5050-wistron-dv15-huron-river-uma-laptop-schematics.html

 

[unclejed613]

yes that's the same model.... interesting... i know companies need a schematic in order to design the board, but was under the impression they archive those internally...

 

[Malinga the professor]

rjenkinsgb
Please check out this guy Sorbin excellent electronic repair school

Yeah I like this guy coz he does his tutorials in a very slow and funny manner but is worthy watching.