Dell OptiPlex GX50 User manual

Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems
Before You Begin
Computer Cover
Inside the Computer
Chassis Intrusion Switch
Front-Panel Inserts
Control Panel and Badge
I/O Panel
Drives
Expansion-Card Cage (Small Desktop Computer Only)
Expansion Card
Memory
Microprocessor
Power Supply
System Board
Hints, Notices, and Cautions
HINT: A HINT indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.
NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the
problem.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2002 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, the DELL logo, and OptiPlex are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation; Microsoft, MS-DOS, and Windows NT
are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
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.
January 2002 Rev A02

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Before You Begin
Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems
Getting Started
Precautionary Measures
Getting Started
This section provides procedures for removing and replacing the components, assemblies, and subassemblies in the Dell™
OptiPlex™ GX50 computers. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes that the following conditions exist:
You have performed the steps in "Precautionary Measures."
You have opened the computer cover.
Recommended Tools
The GX50 computer is primarily a tool-less one, but certain procedures (such as removing drive bracket rails and removing
the control panel) require the use of one or more of the following tools:
Small flat-blade screwdriver
#1 and #2 Phillips-head screwdrivers
An 8-inch, #2 Phillips-head screwdriver
Also, Dell recommends that you use a wrist-grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary Measures."
Precautionary Measures
Before you perform any procedure in this section, read the following caution for your personal safety and to prevent damage
to the computer from electrostatic discharge (ESD).
CAUTION: FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF THE EQUIPMENT
Before you start to work on the computer, perform the following steps in the sequence listed:
1. Turn off the computer and all attached devices.
2. Disconnect the computer and devices 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.
If you are disconnecting a device from the computer or are removing a component from the system board, wait 15 to
30 seconds after disconnecting the computer from AC power before disconnecting the device or removing the
component to avoid possible damage to the system board.
Verify that the auxiliary power light on the system board is not on. If it is on, you may need to wait 15 to 30 seconds
for it to go out (see "System Board Components" for the location of this light).
3. Wear a wrist-grounding strap, and clip it to an unpainted metal surface, such as the padlock ring on the back of the
computer. If a wrist-grounding strap is not available, touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer, such as the
power supply, to discharge static charge from your body before touching anything inside the computer. While you work,
periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer to dissipate static electricity that might harm internal
components.

In addition, take note of the following safety guideline when appropriate:
Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the components or contacts on a card. Hold a card by it edges
or by its metal mounting bracket. Hold a component such as a microprocessor by its edges, not by its pins.
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Computer Cover
Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems
Opening the Computer Cover
Closing the Computer Cover
Opening the Computer Cover
NOTE: If your computer is on a stand, remove the stand before you open the computer cover.
Small Form-Factor Computer
1Security cable slot
2Padlock ring
3Release buttons (one on each side)
Small Desktop Computer

1Security cable slot
2Padlock ring
3Release buttons (one on each side)
Small Mini-Tower Computer
1Release buttons (one on each side)
2Padlock ring
3Security cable slot
1. Remove the padlock from the padlock ring, if present.

NOTICE: Do not open the cover if the computer is on the edge of a desk or table. Doing so may cause the computer to
tip over and fall. Make sure that the computer is situated so that there is at least 12 inches of desk- or table-top for
the cover to rest on.
2. Press in on the two securing buttons until the cover is free to swing up.
3. On the small mini-tower computer, press the release button on the right side of the computer with one hand while
pulling up on the top of the cover with the other hand. Then, press the release button on the left side of the computer
with one hand while pulling up on the top of the cover with the other hand. Hold the bottom of the computer with one
hand, and then pull open the cover with the other hand.
Closing 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.
3. Close the computer cover by pivoting the cover down toward the back of the computer and into position. Press on the
right side of the cover until it closes securely. Then, press on the left side of the cover until it closes securely.
4. Replace the padlock, if required.
NOTE: After you open and close the cover, the chassis intrusion detector causes the following message to be
displayed at the next computer start-up:
ALERT! Cover was previously removed.
See "Resetting the Chassis Intrusion Detector" for instructions.
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Inside the Computer
Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems
Key Components
Computer Cables
Key Components
Inside the Small Form-Factor Computer
1Hard drive 7System board
23.5-inch floppy drive 8Power supply
3CD drive 9AC power connector
4Cover release buttons (2) 10 I/O ports and connectors
5Internal speaker 11 Padlock ring
6Chassis intrusion switch 12 Heat sink assembly
Inside the Small Desktop Computer

1Cover release buttons (2) 8AC power connector
2Hard drive 9Padlock ring
3Internal speaker 10 I/O ports and connectors
4Chassis intrusion switch 11 Heat sink assembly
5Expansion-card cage 12 System board
6Power supply 13 3.5-inch floppy drive
7Expansion-card slots 14 CD drive
Inside the Small Mini-Tower Computer

1Cover release buttons (2) 8AC power connector
2Hard drive 9Padlock ring
3Internal speaker 10 Microprocessor and airflow shroud
4Chassis intrusion switch 11 Power supply
5System board 12 3.5-inch floppy drive
6Expansion-card slots 13 CD drive
7I/O ports and connectors
Computer Cables
Small Form-Factor Computer

1CD drive data cable 6IDE data cable (hard drive)
2Floppy drive data cable 7Input/output cable
3Control panel cable 8Input/output audio cable
4CD drive power cable 9CD audio cable
5IDE drive power cable (hard drive)
Small Desktop Computer

1CD drive audio cable 5Front I/O cable
2CD drive data cable 6Front I/O audio cable
33.5-inch floppy drive data cable 7EIDE interface cable (hard drive)
4Control panel cable
Small Mini-Tower Computer

1CD drive audio cable 6Hard drive power cable
2CD drive power cable 7Hard drive data cable
3CD drive data cable 8Front I/O cable
4Floppy drive data cable 9Front I/O audio cable
5Floppy drive power cable
Cable Colors
Hard drive Blue pull tab
Floppy drive Black pull tab
CD drive Orange pull tab
ATA or IDE Gray
Control panel Gray
CD audio Blue
Computer audio Black
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Chassis Intrusion Switch
Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems
Removing the Chassis Intrusion Switch
Replacing the Chassis Intrusion Switch
Resetting the Chassis Intrusion Detector
Removing the Chassis Intrusion Switch
Small Form-Factor Computer
Small Desktop Computer

Small Mini-Tower Computer
1. Disconnect the chassis intrusion switch cable connector from the front I/O panel.
Note the routing of the chassis intrusion cable as you remove it from the chassis. Chassis hooks may hold the cable in
place inside the chassis.

2. Slide the chassis intrusion switch out of its slot and remove the switch and its attached cable from the chassis.
Replacing the Chassis Intrusion Switch
To replace the chassis intrusion switch, follow the "Removing the Chassis Intrusion Switch" procedures in reverse order.
Resetting the Chassis Intrusion Detector
1. Enter system setup by pressing <F2> during the computer's POST.
NOTE: For instructions on using system setup, see the User's Guide.
2. Under the System Security tab, reset the Chassis Intrusion option by pressing the left- or right-arrow key to select
Reset. Change the setting to Enabled, Enabled-Silent, or Disabled.
NOTE: The default is Enabled-Silent.
NOTE: If a setup password has been assigned by someone else, contact the network administrator for
information on resetting the chassis intrusion detector.
3. Press <Alt><B> to restart the computer and implement your changes.
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Front-Panel Inserts
Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems
Removing Front-Panel Inserts
Replacing Front-Panel Inserts
Removing Front-Panel Inserts
1. On the small form-factor and small desktop computers, perform the following steps:
a. Face the front of the computer and use your fingers to remove the front-panel cover.
b. Press on the insert until it pops free of the front-panel cover.
2. On the small mini-tower computer, perform the following steps:
a. Open the computer cover and release the insert tabs from inside the chassis.
b. Press on the insert until it pops free of the front-panel cover.
Small Form-Factor Computer

Small Desktop Computer

Small Mini-Tower Computer
Replacing Front-Panel Inserts
To replace a front-panel insert, follow the appropriate procedure, in reverse, in "Removing Front-Panel Inserts."
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Control Panel and Badge
Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems
Removing the Control Panel and Badge
Replacing the Control Panel and Badge
Removing the Control Panel and Badge
Small Form-Factor Desktop Computer
1. Open the computer cover.
2. Using a flat-blade screwdriver, release the tabs from the inside of the computer and remove the plastic computer cover
from the metal component.
Releasing the Tabs—Small Form-Factor Computer
1Tabs (2 on each side)
3. To remove the badge, remove the accent door by pressing the middle of the door while lifting away the sides of the
door.
a. From inside the front bezel, push in on the two tabs on either side of the badge to release the badge.
b. Press on the badge until it is freed.

4. To remove the control panel, perform the following steps:
Removing the Control Panel—Small Form-Factor Computer
a. Remove the metal control-panel shield.
b. Remove the screw that holds the control panel to the computer.
Small Desktop Computer
1. To remove the badge, open the front USB door.
a. From inside the door, push in the two tabs on either side of the badge to release the badge.
b. Press on the badge until it is freed.
2. To remove the control panel, perform the following steps:
a. Remove the front I/O panel.
Removing the Control Panel—Small Desktop Computer