Dell OptiPlex GX1 User manual

Dell™OptiPlex™GX1andGX1pMidsizeManagedPCSystemsReferenceand
Installation Guide
Model DCM
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
©1998–2000 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer Corporation is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, OptiPlex,DellWare, Dell OpenManage, and the DELL logo are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation; Intel and Pentium are registered
trademarks, and MMX is a trademark of Intel Corporation; Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks, and Windows for Workgroups is a
trademark of Microsoft Corporation; IBM and OS/2 are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation; 3Com and EtherLink are registered trademarks,
and Fast EtherLink is a trademark of 3Com Corporation; VESA is a registered trademark of Video Electronics Standards Association; UNIX is a registered trademark of The
Open Group in the United States and other countries. As an Energy Star Partner, Dell Computer Corporation has determined that this product meets the Energy Star
guidelines for energy efficiency.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Computer Corporation
disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
Initial release: 7 Dec 1998
Last revised: 31 Jan 2000
Introduction
Using the System Setup Program
Using the ISA Configuration Utility
Working Inside Your Computer
Installing System Board Options
Installing Drives
Technical Specifications
ISA Configuration Utility Messages
NOTE: You can obtain the latest version of this document from the Dell Web support site at http://support.dell.com.

Back to Contents Page
Working Inside Your Computer:Dell™OptiPlex™GX1andGX1pMidsizeManagedPC
Systems
Overview
Your Dell computer system supports a variety of internal options that expand system capabilities. This chapter prepares you to install options
inside the computer. It describes how to remove and replace the computer cover and expansion-card cage, as well as rotate the power supply
away from the system board. It also familiarizes you with the internal components you may handle if you install Dell hardware options.
Before You Begin
To make working inside your computer easier, make sure you have adequate lighting and a clean work space. If you temporarily disconnect
cables or remove expansion cards, note the position of the connectors and slots so that you can reassemble the system correctly.
You will use the information in this section every time you install a hardware option inside your computer. Read this section carefully, because the
information is not repeated in detail elsewhere in this guide.
Safety First —For You and Your Computer
Working inside your computer is safe—if you observe the following precautions.
Before starting to work on your computer, perform the following steps in the sequence indicated:
1. Touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis, such as the power supply, before touching anything inside your computer.
While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis to dissipate any static electricity that might harm
internal components. Also avoid touching components or contacts on a card and avoid touching pins on a chip.
2. Turn off your computer and all peripherals.
3. Disconnect your computer and peripherals from their AC power sources. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the
computer. Doing so reduces the potential for personal injury or shock.
4. If you are disconnecting a peripheral from the computer or are removing a component from the system board, wait 5 seconds after turning off
the computer before disconnecting the peripheral or removing the component to avoid possible damage to the system board.
In addition, Dell recommends that you periodically review the safety instructions in your System Information Guide.
Unpacking Your Hardware Option
When you remove an option from its shipping carton, you may find it wrapped in antistatic packing material designed to protect it from electrostatic
damage. Do not remove the packing material until you are ready to install the option.
Removing the Computer Cover
Use the following procedure to remove the computer cover:
1. Turn off your computer and peripherals, and observe the Caution for Your Personal Safety and Protection of Your Equipment
described in "Safety First —For You and Your Computer."
2. If you have installed a padlock through the padlock ring on the back panel (see Figure 1), remove the padlock.
Figure 1. Padlock Installed
Overview
Inside Your Computer
Before You Begin
Removing and Replacing the Expansion-Card Cage
Removing the Computer Cover
Rotating the Power Supply Away From the System Board
Replacing the Computer Cover
CAUTION FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF YOUR EQUIPMENT
NOTE: If your chassis has an optional stand for vertical orientation attached to it, remove the optional stand before you remove the
computer cover.

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3. Remove the cover.
Face the back of the computer and slide the upper half of the padlock ring to unlock the cover release mechanism.
Face the front of the computer and press in the two securing cover-release buttons that are located on the sides of the cover toward the back
(see Figure 2).
With the buttons depressed, lift the cover at the back, allowing it to pivot up toward you.
Disengage the plastic hooks that secure the cover to the front of the chassis, and lift the cover away.
Figure 2. Removing the Computer Cover
Replacing the Computer Cover
Use the following procedure to replace the computer cover:
1. Check all cable connections, especially those that might have come loose during your work. Fold cables out of the way so that they do not
catch on the computer cover. Make sure cables are not routed over the drive cage. They will prevent the cover from closing properly.
2. Check to see that no tools or extra parts (including screws) are left inside the computer's chassis.
3. Replace the cover.
Face the front of the computer and hold the cover at a slight angle as shown in Figure 3. While aligning the back of the cover with the chassis,
insert the cover hooks into the rectangular slots on the chassis. (It may be helpful to look down into the chassis to verify that the hooks are in
place.)
Pivot the cover down toward the back and into position. With both hands, press against the top edge of the cover to make sure that the
securing buttons click into place.
Slide the two halves of the padlock ring together to lock the cover release mechanism.
Figure 3. Replacing the Computer Cover
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4. If you are using the optional stand, reattach it.
NOTE: The computer should be placed fully on a flat surface. It is difficult to align the cover if the front of the computer is hanging
over the edge of a table.
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See "Using the Optional Stand for Vertical Orientation" for instructions.
5. If you are using a padlock to secure your system, reinstall the padlock.
Inside Your Computer
Figure 4 shows an overhead view of your computer to help orient you when installing hardware options. Unless otherwise specified, locations or
directions relative to the computer are as shown.
Figure 4. Computer Orientation View
Figure 5 shows your computer with its cover removed. Refer to this illustration to locate interior features and components discussed in this guide.
When you look inside your computer, note the direct current (DC) power cables coming from the power supply. These cables supply power to the
system board; to internal diskette drives, hard-disk drives, and tape drives; and to certain expansion cards that connect to external peripherals.
The flat ribbon cable in Figure 5 is typical of the interface cables for internal drives. An interface cable connects a drive to a connector on the
system board or on an expansion card.
The system board—the large printed circuit board at the bottom of the chassis—holds the computer's control circuitry and other electronic
components. Some hardware options are installed directly onto the system board.
During an installation procedure, you may be required to change a jumper setting on the system board and/or a jumper setting on an expansion
card or on a drive. Jumpers provide a convenient and reversible way of reconfiguring the circuitry on a printed circuit board. For more information,
see "Jumpers."
Figure 5. Inside the Chassis
Jumpers
Jumpers are small blocks on a circuit board with two or more pins emerging from them. Plastic plugs containing a wire fit down over the pins. The
wire connects the pins and creates a circuit.
To change a jumper setting, pull the plug off its pin(s) and carefully fit it down onto the pin(s) indicated.

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A jumper is referred to as open or unjumpered when the plug is pushed down over only one pin or if there is no plug at all. When the plug is pushed
down over two pins, the jumper is referred to as jumpered. In some documents, the jumper setting may be shown in text as two numbers, such as
1-2. The number 1 is printed on the circuit board so that you can identify each pin number based on the location of pin 1.
Figure 6 shows the location and default settings of the jumper blocks on your system board. See Table 1 for the designations, default settings, and
functions of your system's jumpers.
Figure 6. System Board Jumpers
Table 1. System-Board Jumper Settings
System Board and Riser Board Labels
Table 2 lists the labels for connectors and sockets on your system board and riser board, and it gives a brief description of their functions.
NOTICE: Make sure your system is turned off before you change a jumper setting. Otherwise, damage to your system or
unpredictable results may occur.
Jumper
Setting
Description
PSWD
Password features are enabled.
Password features are disabled.
BIOS
Reserved (do not change).
BUS66M
Reserved (do not change).
266MHZ*
Reserved (do not change).
300MHZ*
Reserved (do not change).
333MHZ*
Reserved (do not change).
350MHZ*
Reserved (do not change).
400MHZ*
Reserved (do not change).
450MHZ*
Reserved (do not change).
500MHZ*
Reserved (do not change).
*
The correct microprocessor speed is automatically detected and set by the system. Do not change the settings of these jumpers.
The system can operate with a microprocessor speed up to 600 MHz.
NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see the Glossary in your online System User's Guide.
jumpered
unjumpered

Table 2. System Board and Riser Board Connectors and Sockets
Removing and Replacing the Expansion-Card Cage
Your Dell computer has a removable expansion-card cage, which greatly simplifies many installation procedures by allowing you to remove the
riser board and all installed expansion cards in a single step.
Removing the Expansion-Card Cage
Use the following procedure to remove the expansion-card cage.
1. Remove the computer cover as instructed in "Removing the Computer Cover."
2. Check any cables connected to expansion cards through the back-panel openings. Disconnect any cables that will not reach to where the
cage must be placed upon removal from the chassis.
3. Locate the securing lever (see Figure 7). Rotate the lever upward until it stops in an upright position.
Figure 7. Removing the Expansion-Card Cage
Connector or Socket
Description
AMC
ATI multimedia channel
BATTERY
Battery socket
CD_IN
CD-ROM audio interface connector
DIMM_x
DIMM socket
DSKT
Diskette/tape drive interface connector
ENET
NIC connector (optional)
FAN
Microprocessor fan connector
HDLED
Hard-disk drive LED connector (on riser board)
IDEn
EIDE interface connector
INTRUSION
Chassis intrusion switch connector
ISAn*
ISA expansion-card connector (on riser board)
KYBD
Keyboard connector
LINE-IN
Audio line-in jack
LINE-OUT
Audio line-out jack (amplified source)
MIC
Microphone jack
MONITOR
Video connector
MOUSE
Mouse connector
P1
Wakeup On LAN power connector (on riser board)
PANEL
Control panel connector
PARALLEL
Parallel port connector; sometimes referred to as LPT1
PCIn*
PCI expansion-card connector (on riser board)
POWER_1
Main power input connector
POWER_2
3.3-V power input connector
RISER
Riser board connector
SERIALn
Serial port connectors
SLOT1
Pentium II processor SEC cartridge connector
TAPI
Telephony connector
USB
USB connectors
VIDEO_UPGRADE
Video-memory upgrade socket
*
For information on ISA and PCI connectors, see "Expansion Cards."
NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see the Glossary in your online System User's Guide.
CAUTION: Before you remove the computer cover, see "Safety First —For You and Your Computer."

4. Slide the expansion-card cage out of the chassis.
5. Lift the expansion-card cage up and away from the chassis.
Replacing the Expansion-Card Cage
Use the following procedure to replace the expansion-card cage:
1. With the securing lever in the upright position, align the slots in the left side of the expansion-card cage with the tabs on the left side of the
chassis (see Figure 7).
2. Rotate the securing lever downward until it is flush with the top of the chassis. Make sure that the riser board is fully seated in the RISER
connector on the system board.
3. Reconnect any cables you removed in step 2 of the previous procedure, "Removing the Expansion-Card Cage."
4. Replace the computer cover, and reconnect your computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets and turn them on.
Rotating the Power Supply Away From the System Board
To access some components on the system board, you may have to rotate the system power supply out of the way. Use the following procedure to
rotate the power supply.
1. Remove the computer cover as instructed in "Removing the Computer Cover."
2. Disconnect the AC power cable from the AC power receptacle on the back of the power supply (see Figure 8).
Figure 8. Rotating the Power Supply
3. Free the power supply from the securing tab labeled "RELEASE —>, " and rotate it upward until it locks in its extended position.
Back to Contents Page
NOTE: If Enabled, the Chassis Intrusion option will cause the following message to be displayed at the next system start-up:
ALERT! Cover was previously removed.
CAUTION: Before you remove the computer cover, see "Safety First —For You and Your Computer."

Back to Contents Page
Installing Drives:Dell™OptiPlex™GX1andGX1pMidsizeManagedPCSystems
Overview
Your Dell computer has five drive bays for installing the following types of drives (see Figure 1):
lThe externally accessible drive bays at the front of the computer consist of one 3.5-inch drive bay (dedicated to a 3.5-inch diskette drive) and
two 5.25-inch bays that can hold up to three half-height, 5.25-inch devices—typically tape drives or CD-ROM drives. Alternately, 3.5-inch
devices can be installed in the 5.25-inch bays using adapters available from Dell.
lThe two vertically positioned hard-disk drive bays can each hold a 3.5-inch enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) or small computer
system interface (SCSI) hard-disk drive. The bay on the right (as you face the front of the computer) can hold one 1-inch-high (or smaller)
drive, whereas the bay on the left accommodates a 1.6-inch-high (or smaller) drive.
The next two sections contain information that you will need in several of the installation procedures described later in the chapter. The remaining
sections cover each type of drive installation.
Figure 1. Drive Locations
Removing and Replacing Front-Panel Inserts
Empty drive bays contain a front-panel insert to protect the inside of the computer from dust particles and to ensure proper airflow within the
computer. Before you install a drive in an empty drive bay, you must first remove the front-panel insert.
To remove the insert covering a 5.25-inch bay, follow these steps.
1. Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect all the AC power cables from their power sources.
2. Remove the computer cover as instructed in "Removing the Computer Cover."
3. Lay the computer cover upside down on a flat work surface, with the front of the cover facing toward you.
4. With your thumbs, press in each end of the insert until it snaps free of the cover (see Figure 2).
Figure 2. Removing the Front-Panel Insert for a 5.25-Inch Bay
Overview
Installing a Drive in a 5.25-Inch Drive Bay
Removing and Replacing Front-Panel Inserts
Installing an EIDE Hard-Disk Drive
Connecting Drives
Installing SCSI Devices
NOTE: In all of the following procedures, left and right refer to your left and right as you face the front of the computer.
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CAUTION: Before you remove the computer cover, see "Safety First —For You and Your Computer."

To replace a front-panel insert for a 5.25-inch bay, work from inside the cover. Position the insert behind the bay opening, insert the two ring-tabs
(one on each end of the insert) over the posts on the inside of the opening, and firmly press both ends of the insert into place (see Figure 2).
To remove the insert covering the 3.5-inch bay, follow these steps:
1. Complete steps 1 and 2 of the procedure for removing a 5.25-inch insert.
2. Inside the cover, locate the eject button mechanism for the 3.5-inch bay (see Figure 3). Press the mechanism toward the front panel to snap
the plastic insert out of its opening.
Figure 3. Removing the Front-Panel Insert for the 3.5-Inch Bay
To replace the front-panel insert for the 3.5-inch bay, work from outside the cover. Place the insert in position, and press it into the opening.
Connecting Drives
When installing a drive, you connect two cables—a DC power cable and an interface cable—to the back of the drive. Your drive's power input
connector (to which you connect the DC power cable) resembles the connector shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4. DC Power Cable Connector
The drive's interface connector is a card-edge connector or a header connector, as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5. Drive Interface Connectors
When attaching the interface cable to a drive, be sure to match the colored strip on the cable to pin 1 of the drive's interface connector. For the
location of pin 1 on the drive's interface connector, see the documentation that came with the drive.
When disconnecting an interface cable from the system board, be sure to press in on the locking tabs on the cable connector before disconnecting
the cable. When attaching an interface cable to the system board, be sure that the locking tabs snap into place, ensuring that the cable is firmly

attached to the connector on the system board.
Most interface connectors are keyed for correct insertion; that is, a notch or a missing pin on one connector matches a tab or a filled-in hole on the
other connector (see Figure 5). Keying ensures that the pin-1 wire in the cable (indicated by the colored strip along one edge of the cable) goes to
the pin-1 end of the connector.
The pin-1 end of a card-edge connector is usually identified by a notch cut about a quarter of an inch from the end of the connector, as shown in
Figure 5. A header connector is usually keyed by the omission of one of its pins (see Figure 5), with the corresponding hole filled in on the
connector cable.
The pin-1 end of a connector on a board or a card is usually indicated by a silk-screened "1" printed directly on the board or card.
Installing a Drive in a 5.25-Inch Drive Bay
The 5.25-inch drive bays can accommodate any of the following types of drives:
lA diskette drive or tape drive that uses the diskette/tape drive interface on the system board
lA CD-ROM or tape drive that uses an EIDE interface on the system board
lA CD-ROM or tape drive that uses its own controller card
To install a drive in a 5.25-inch drive bay, follow these steps.
1. Unpack the drive and prepare it for installation.
Check the documentation that accompanied the drive to verify that the drive is configured for your computer system. Change any settings
necessary for your configuration.
If you are installing an EIDE CD-ROM or EIDE tape drive, configure the drive for the Cable Select setting.
2. Remove the computer cover as instructed in "Removing the Computer Cover."
3. Remove the drive bracket from the bay you want to use.
Squeeze the metal tabs that extend from each side of the drive bracket toward each other, and pull the bracket out of the bay (see Figure 6).
Figure 6. Removing a Drive
If a drive is already installed in the bay and you are replacing it, be sure to disconnect the DC power cable and interface cable from the back
of the drive before sliding the bracket out of the bay. To remove the old drive from the bracket, turn the drive/bracket assembly upside down
and unscrew the four screws that secure the drive to the bracket (see Figure 7).
NOTICE: When connecting an interface cable, do not reverse the interface cable (do not place the colored strip away from pin 1 of
the connector). Reversing the cable prevents the drive from operating and could damage the controller, the drive, or both.
NOTE: For information on configuring, connecting, and installing SCSI drives, see "Installing SCSI Devices."
CAUTION: To avoid the possibility of electric shock, turn off the computer and any peripherals, disconnect them from their
electrical outlets, and then wait at least 5 seconds before you remove the computer cover. Also, before you install an
expansion card, see "Safety First —For You and Your Computer."
NOTICE: When you unpack the drive, do not set it on a hard surface, which may damage the drive. Instead, set the drive on a
surface, such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.
NOTE: If you are installing a non-EIDE tape drive, check the documentation for the drive to determine the jumper or switch
settings used to designate the drive as drive address DS4 (not DS2 or DS3 as may be indicated in the drive documentation).
Unless the drive is already set to drive 4, reconfigure its jumper or switch setting (see "Jumpers.")
NOTE: For easier access inside the chassis, you may want to rotate the power supply out of the way temporarily. To do so, see
"Rotating the Power Supply Away From the System Board."
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