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Introduction: Dell Precision WorkStation 410 Desktop Systems
Introduction:
Dell™ Precision™ WorkStation 410 Desktop Systems
Dell Precision 410 systems are high-speed, upgradable workstations
designed around Intel® Pentium®
II microprocessors. These systems support the high-performance Peripheral
Component Interconnect (PCI) bus and the accelerated graphics port (AGP) bus.
Each system also has an Industry-Standard Architecture (ISA) design with one
ISA slot that allows you to configure the computer system to your initial
requirements and then upgrade it as necessary.
This chapter describes the major hardware and software features of the system
and provides information you will need to reinstall the operating system, if
necessary. It also provides information about the indicators and controls on
the computer's front panel and discusses connecting external devices to the
computer.
The system offers the following features:
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An Intel Pentium II microprocessor. The following microprocessor options are
available:
- Single or dual Intel Pentium II microprocessor(s) with an internal speed of
350 megahertz (MHz) and an external speed of 100 MHz
- Single or dual Intel Pentium II microprocessor(s) with an internal speed of 400 MH
and an external speed of 100 MHz
The Intel Pentium II microprocessor includes MMX
technology designed to handle complex multimedia and communications software.
This microprocessor incorporates new instructions and data types as well as
a technique called Single Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD). SIMD allows the
microprocessor to process multiple data elements in parallel, thereby
improving system performance when you are running application programs
written to take advantage of MMX technology.
The Intel Pentium II microprocessor has a 16-kilobyte (KB) internal data
cache and a 16-KB internal instruction cache, an internal math coprocessor,
and other advanced internal logic.
-
A secondary cache of 512 KB of static random-access memory (SRAM) integrated
in the single-edge contact (SEC) cartridge.
The secondary cache also provides error checking and correction (ECC)
capability.
-
Dual-processor capability. The system allows the installation of a second SEC
cartridge (operating at the same frequency as the installed microprocessor),
which can be purchased as a kit from Dell. Dual processing improves
performance under operating systems that support multiprocessing, such as
Microsoft® Windows NT®
4.0. Windows 95 does not support dual processing.
-
A 16-bit, integrated Plug and Play Crystal CS4237B audio controller that
is Sound Blaster Pro-compatible and that supports the Microsoft Windows®
Sound System. See
"Using the Integrated Audio Controller,"
for details.
-
System memory that can be increased incrementally up to 512 megabytes (MB)
using unbuffered synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) dual in-line
memory modules (DIMMs), or up to 1024 MB using registered SDRAM DIMMS.
The memory subsystem also provides ECC capability, which corrects all
single-bit memory errors and detects all multibit errors. See
"Adding Memory"
in for details on installing additional memory.
-
Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART) support, which
warns you at system start-up if the hard-disk drive has become unreliable.
To take advantage of this technology, you must have a SMART-compliant
hard-disk drive in the computer. All enhanced integrated drive electronics
(EIDE) and small computer system interface (SCSI) hard-disk drives shipped
with Dell Precision 410 systems are SMART-compliant.
-
The system's basic input/output system (BIOS), which resides in flash memory
and can be upgraded remotely or by diskette if required.
-
Plug and Play capability, which greatly simplifies the installation of
expansion cards. Plug and Play support included in the system BIOS allows
you to install a Plug and Play expansion card without setting jumpers or
switches or performing other configuration tasks. The ISA Configuration
Utility (ICU) allows you to configure an existing ISA expansion card for
conflict-free operation. Also, because the system BIOS is stored in flash
memory, it can be updated to support future enhancements to the Plug and
Play standard.
 |
NOTE:
The Windows NT operating
system does not provide ISA Plug and Play
support. Therefore, some ISA Plug and Play cards (such as modem, sound, and
network cards) may not work with your Windows NT operating system unless you
configure them manually. |
-
Wakeup On LAN capability, which, when enabled in the System Setup program,
allows the system to be started up from a server management console. Wakeup
On LAN capability also allows remote computer setup, BIOS upgrades, software
downloading and installation, file updates, and asset tracking after hours
and on weekends when local area network (LAN) traffic is at a minimum.
-
Universal Serial Bus (USB) capability, which simplifies connection of
peripheral devices such as mice, printers, and computer speakers. The USB
connectors on the computer's back panel provide a single connection point
for multiple USB-compliant devices. USB-compliant devices can also be
connected and disconnected while the system is running.
-
A modular computer chassis with a minimum number of screws for easy
disassembly and improved serviceability.
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A high-speed, high-resolution AGP or PCI video card. (Documentation from the
video card manufacturer is included with the system.) AGP greatly improves
graphics performance by providing a dedicated bus for a faster interface
between the video subsystem and system memory. AGP also allows conventional
memory to be used for video-related tasks.
The system board includes the following integrated features:
-
Five 32-bit PCI expansion slots, including one that is a shared PCI (32-bit)
/ISA (16-bit) expansion slot and one that has an extension for a redundant
array of inexpensive disks (RAID) upgrade.
-
One AGP expansion slot.
-
A diskette drive interface, which supports a 3.5-inch slimline diskette
drive.
-
Two ATA-33 channels that support up to four EIDE devices. The primary and
secondary channels utilize the PCI bus to provide faster data throughput.
The primary channel supports up to two extremely high-capacity EIDE drives,
the secondary channel supports up to two devices such as EIDE CD-ROM drives
and EIDE tape drives.
-
SCSI support using two integrated SCSI channels.
- The primary channel provides Ultra2/Wide low voltage differential (LVD)
(80-MB/second [sec]) support for high-performance SCSI hard-disk drives and
an optional RAID subsystem.
- The secondary channel provides support for external Ultra/Wide
(40-MB/sec) SCSI devices such as scanners and for internal narrow SCSI
devices such as CD-ROM drives, tape drives, and optical drives.
-
Two high-performance serial ports and one bidirectional parallel port for
connecting external devices.
-
A Personal System/2 (PS/2)-style keyboard port and a PS/2-compatible mouse
port.
-
An integrated 10/100-megabit-per-second (Mbps) 3Com®
PCI 3C905B-TX Ethernet network interface controller (NIC) with Wakeup On LAN
support. The NIC is configured using software described in
"Using the Network Interface Controller."
The following software is included with your Dell computer system:
-
Utilities that safeguard the system and enhance the operation of its hardware
features; for example, the AutoShutdown service lets you perform an orderly
shutdown with a single touch of the power button. For more information on
these utilities, see
"Using the Software Support Utilities."
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Video drivers for the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 or Microsoft Windows 95
operating system.
|
|
NOTE:
Some video cards support the
Windows NT 4.0 operating system only. Refer to the
documentation that came with your video card for more
information. |
To change the resolution, check the documentation that came with your monitor
to determine the resolutions and refresh rates supported by the monitor.
Then check the documentation that came with your AGP or PCI video card for
instructions on changing the resolution.
-
The System Setup program for quickly viewing and changing the system
configuration information. For more information on this program, see
"Using the System Setup Program."
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Enhanced security features available through the System Setup program (a
setup password, a system password, a system password lock option, a
write-protect option for diskette drives, and automatic display of the
system's service tag number). In addition, a customer-definable asset tag
number can be assigned via a software support utility and viewed on the
System Setup screens. A built-in chassis intrusion detector is also
available. For more information, see
"Using the Software Support Utilities,"
and "Using the System Setup Program."
-
Advanced power management options that can reduce the energy consumption of
the system. For more information, see
"Using the System Setup Program."
-
The ICU, which allows you to configure ISA expansion cards manually. After
resources have been assigned to these cards, the system BIOS can assign
resources to PCI and Plug and Play expansion cards for a conflict-free
configuration. For more information, see
"Using the ISA Configuration Utility."
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Dell Diagnostics for evaluating the computer's components and devices. For
information on using the diagnostics, see the chapter titled "Running
the Dell Diagnostics" in the Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Guide.
-
Network device drivers for several network operating systems. These drivers
are described in
"Using the Network Interface Controller."
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Desktop Management Interface (DMI) support for managing the computer system.
DMI defines the software, interfaces, and data files that enable the system
to determine and report information about system components.
If the system has a Dell-installed Microsoft Windows or Microsoft Windows
NT operating system, DMI is already installed on the system's hard-disk
drive. To learn more about DMI, double-click the Dell DMI Help icon in the
Dell DMI folder under the Start button.
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Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) for operating systems that
support ACPI functionality.
-
The Dell Inspector program, which is a DMI browser that allows you to view
the computer's current hardware configuration and operating system version
(see Figure 1-1). The
Dell Inspector provides information you may need if you
call Dell for technical assistance or if you install hardware or software in
the system. The Dell Inspector program is located in the Dell Accessories
program folder.
The Dell Inspector program is available in client and administrator versions.
In addition to providing the client features described in the preceding
paragraph, the Dell Inspector administrator version enables network
administrators to view, manage, and inventory remote systems in a Dell DMI
client network.
Figure 1-1. Dell Inspector Program
If you ordered Dell-installed software, such as the Microsoft Windows NT or
Microsoft Windows 95 operating system, Dell provides a menu that allows you
to make program diskette sets of the Dell-installed software. A program
diskette set is an uninstalled version of a software package that you can
use to reinstall or reconfigure the software. You can use this same menu to
remove diskette image files (individual files that correspond to each
diskette in a program diskette set) to reclaim space on the computer's
hard-disk drive. For more information on making program diskette sets, see
the online help provided in the Program Diskette Maker, which is available
in the Dell Accessories program folder.
Your system was configured by Dell to optimize the features of your computer
and of the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 95 operating system. If you
need to reinstall either of these operating systems, there are several
supplemental items that also must be installed to return the system to its
full functionality. See the appropriate subsection that follows for your
operating system.
To reinstall the Windows NT 4.0 operating system, you must have the following
items:
-
Windows NT 4.0 CD from Dell
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Windows NT 4.0 SCSI controller driver diskettes
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Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3 CD
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Windows NT 4.0 bus-mastering EIDE driver diskette
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Windows NT 4.0 video driver diskettes
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Windows NT 4.0 NIC driver diskette
-
Windows NT 4.0 audio driver diskette
|
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NOTE:
You must create all the
diskettes listed previously by using the
Program Diskette Maker, which is located in the Dell Accessories folder.
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CAUTION:
When reinstalling Windows NT 4.0,
you must exit the installation
process by pressing <F6> when the system displays the message
Setup is inspecting your hardware configuration. Then you must install the SCSI controller drivers as described in
"Using the Integrated SCSI Controllers," and then proceed with
installing the other supplemental items. If you do not interrupt the
installation procedure, the system will identify the primary SCSI controller
as being the same as the secondary SCSI controller and lock up.
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NOTE:
You must install Windows NT 4.
0 Service Pack 3 and the bus-mastering
EIDE driver before installing the NIC drivers. Otherwise, the integrated NIC
will not function properly. |
See the Dell Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Setup Guide for general
installation information for Windows NT 4.0 and for information about other
drivers or supplements that may be required. For installation instructions
for the various drivers, see the appropriate section or document as follows:
To reinstall the Windows 95 operating system, you must have the following
items:
-
Windows 95 CD from Dell
-
Windows 95 PIIX4 diskette
-
Windows 95 video driver diskettes
-
Windows 95 SCSI controller driver diskettes
-
Windows 95 NIC driver diskette
-
Windows 95 audio driver diskette
-
Windows 95 USB supplement diskette
|
|
NOTE:
You must create all the
diskettes listed previously by using the
Program Diskette Maker, which is located in the Dell Accessories folder.
|
See the Dell-Installed Microsoft Windows 95 Setup Guide for general
installation information for Windows 95 and for information about other
drivers or supplements that may be required. For installation instructions
for the various drivers, see the appropriate document or section as follows:
|
NOTES:
If you reinstall Windows 95
from the Windows 95 CD, the bus-mastering functionality of the Windows 95 EIDE driver, which was operative in your
original configuration, will be disabled. (The system will operate without
the bus-mastering functionality with only a small degradation in performance.
For information on the advantages of using bus-mastering drivers, see
"Enabling the Windows 95 Bus-Mastering EIDE Driver".) |
|
If you are an administrator of corporate networks and you must download the
Windows 95 operating system from a server to client systems, make sure that
you have the Windows 95 backup media for the Precision 410 system on your
server before downloading. |
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NOTE:
The following procedure
applies only to versions of the Microsoft
Windows 95 operating system installed by Dell. |
If you must reinstall Windows 95 on the computer system, you also need to run
the Intel PIIX4 INF Update Installer for Windows 95 immediately after
installing the operating system. Doing so enables Windows 95 to detect and
configure PCI devices controlled by the integrated 82371EB component.
Before you can perform the update, you must make a diskette copy of the
update software from the disk image on the hard-disk drive. To make the
diskette copy, use the Program Diskette Maker, which is located in the Dell
Accessories folder on your system.
To install the update, follow these steps:
-
Insert the Windows 95 Intel Support Driver Ver. A00 diskette into drive A.
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Click the Start button and click Run.
-
Type
a:\setup.exe and click OK.
-
Click Next on the Welcome Screen.
The license agreement opens in the Notepad application program.
-
View the text file and close the Notepad application program when you are
ready to proceed.
-
Click Yes to continue.
A dialog box lists the information (.inf) files on the system that will be
revised by the update software.
-
Click Next to continue.
-
Click OK to start the installation.
-
When the installation is complete, remove the diskette from the diskette
drive and click OK to restart the system.
During start-up, the operating system detects new hardware and the Update
Device Driver Wizard screen appears.
-
Click Next to continue.
The system finds the hardware device driver on the hard-disk drive and
installs it.
- Click Finish.
The system continues its start-up routine. When Windows 95 finishes loading,
a dialog box informs you that the system configuration settings have changed
and asks if you want to restart the system.
-
Click OK to restart the system.
The computer's front panel contains the following indicators and controls
(see Figure 1-2):
-
The power button provides control of the system's AC input power. The
push-button switch operates as follows:
| - |
When the computer is turned off, pressing the button turns the computer on.
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| - |
When the computer is turned on, pressing the button turns the computer off.
However, a low-voltage (standby) current is maintained by the power supply.
To completely remove all power from the system, unplug the AC power cable
from its source. |
For systems running Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows NT with the Dell
AutoShutdown service operational, pressing the power button causes the
system to perform an orderly operating system shutdown before turning off.
(For more information, see "Dell AutoShutdown Service".)
|
NOTE:
A Display Power Management
Signaling (DPMS) monitor does not begin
warming up until the computer to which it is attached is turned on. Thus,
some DPMS monitors may not display a video image until several seconds after
you turn on the computer. |
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The power indicator light is green during normal system operation and amber
when the computer is in sleep mode.
-
The hard-disk drive access indicator lights up when a hard-disk drive is in
use.
-
The diskette-drive access indicator lights up when the diskette drive is in
use. (The drive access indicator for the tape drive is located on the front
of the drive.)
-
The reset button reboots (restarts) the system without your having to turn
the power off and then on again. Rebooting the system in this manner reduces
stress on system components.
The computer's back panel contains various ports and connectors for attaching
external devices and includes a security cable slot. These features are
described in the following subsections.
For information about enabling, disabling, or configuring input/output (I/O)
ports and connectors, see "Using the System Setup Program."
For detailed descriptions and illustrations of each port and connector
on the back panel, see "I/O Ports and Connectors".
You can connect various external devices, such as a mouse and printer, to the
I/O ports and connectors on the computer's back panel. The system BIOS
detects the presence of most external devices when you boot or reboot the
system. When connecting external devices to the computer, follow these
guidelines:
-
Check the documentation that accompanied the device for specific installation
and configuration instructions.
For example, most devices must be connected to a particular I/O port or
connector to operate properly. Also, external devices like a mouse or
printer usually require you to load software files called device drivers
into system memory before they will work. These software drivers help the
computer recognize the external device and direct its operation.
-
Dell recommends that you attach external devices only while the computer is
turned off unless you are instructed otherwise in the documentation for the
particular device. Then turn the computer on before turning on any external
devices unless the documentation for the device specifies otherwise. (If the
computer does not seem to recognize the device, try turning on the device
before turning on the computer.)
|
CAUTION:
When disconnecting external
devices from the back of the computer,
wait 10 to 20 seconds after disconnecting the computer from AC power before
you disconnect the device to avoid possible damage to the system board.
|
On the back of the computer are a security cable slot and padlock ring (see
Figure 1-3) for attaching commercially available antitheft devices. Security
cables for personal computers usually include a segment of galvanized cable
with an attached locking device and key. To prevent unauthorized removal of
the computer, loop the cable around an immovable object, insert the locking
device into the security cable slot on the back of the computer, and lock
the device with the key provided. Complete instructions for installing this
kind of antitheft device are usually included with the device.
|
NOTE:
Antitheft devices are of
differing designs. Before purchasing such a device, make sure it will work with the cable slot on the computer. |
The padlock ring allows you to secure the computer cover to the chassis to
prevent unauthorized access to the inside of the computer. To use the
padlock ring, insert a commercially available padlock through the ring and
then lock the padlock.
If at any time you don't understand a procedure described in this guide or if
the system does not perform as expected, Dell provides a number of tools to
help you. For more information on these help tools, see the chapter titled
"Getting Help" in your Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Guide.
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