Up to 2 MB for Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor Up to 512 KB for Athlon 64 processor Up to 256 KB for Sempron processors
Memory
Type
667-MHz, 800-MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Memory connectors
four
Memory capacities
512 MB or 1 GB
Maximum memory
4 GB
Computer Information
Chipset
Nvidia® MCP 61
RAID Support
RAID 1 (Mirroring)(For Windows Vista® only)
DMA channels
seven
Interrupt levels
24
BIOS chip (NVRAM)
4 Mb
NIC
Integrated network interface capable of 10/100 communication
Video
Type
Nvidia integrated video (DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 Graphics Processing Unit) or optional PCI Express x16 graphics card
Audio
Type
Realtec ALC888 (7.1 Channel audio)
Expansion Bus
Bus type
PCI 2.3 PCI Express 1.0A SATA 1.0 and 2.0 USB 2.0
Bus speed
PCI: 133 MB/s
PCI Express:
x1 slot bidirectional speed - 500 MB/s
x16 slot bidirectional speed - 8GB/s
SATA: 1.5 Gbps and 3.0 Gbps USB: 480 Mbps high speed, 12 Mbps full speed, 1.2 Mbps low speed
PCI
connectors
two
connector size
124 pins
connector data width (maximum)
32 bits
PCI Express
connector
one x1
connector size
36 pins
connector data width (maximum)
1 PCI Express lane
PCI Express
connector
one x16
connector size
164 pins
connector data width (maximum)
16 PCI Express lanes
Drives
Externally accessible:
Bays
one 3.5-inch drive bay (FlexBay)
two 5.25-inch drive bays
Available devices
Serial ATA drives (4), floppy drive, USB memory devices, CD or DVD drive, and Media Card Reader
Internally accessible:
two bays for 1-inch high serial ATA hard drives
Connectors
External connectors:
Video
15-hole connector
Network adapter
RJ-45 connector
USB
four front-panel and four back-panel USB 2.0-compliant connectors
Audio
six connectors for 7.1 support
System board connectors:
Serial ATA
four 7-pin connectors
Internal USB device
one 10-pin connector (supports two USB ports)
Floppy drive
one 34-pin connector
Processor fan
one 4-pin connector
Chassis fan
one 3-pin connector
PCI 2.3
two 124-pin connectors
PCI Express x1
one 36-pin connector
PCI Express x16
one 164-pin connector
Front panel control
one 10-pin connector
Front panel USB
two 10-pin connectors
Front panel audio HDA header
one 10-pin connector
Processor
one 940-pin connector
Memory
four 240-pin connectors
Power 12V
one 4-pin connector
Power
one 24-pin connector
Controls and Lights
Front of computer:
Power button
push button
Power light
blue light — Blinking blue in sleep state; solid blue for power-on state
amber light — The blinking amber indicates a problem with the system board. A solid amber light when the system does not boot indicates that the system board cannot start initialization. This could be a system board or a power supply problem (see Power Problems).
Drive activity light
blue light — A blinking blue light indicates the computer is reading data from or writing data to the SATA hard drive, CD, DVD or HDD.
Rear of computer:
Link integrity light (on integrated network adapter)
green light — A good connection exists between the network and the computer.
off (no light) — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network.
Network activity light (on integrated network adapter)
yellow blinking light
Power
DC power supply:
Wattage
300 W
Maximum heat dissipation
162 W
NOTE: Heat dissipation is calculated by using the power supply wattage rating.
Voltage (see the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide for important voltage setting information)
115/230 Vac, 50/60 Hz, 7 A/4 A
Coin cell battery
3-V CR2032 lithium coin cell
Physical
Height
36.2 cm (14.2 inches)
Width
17.0 cm (6.7 inches)
Depth
43.5 cm (17.1 inches)
Weight
12.7 kg (28.0 lb)
Environmental
Temperature:
Operating
10° to 35°C (50° to 95°F)
Storage
–40° to 65°C (–40° to 149°F)
Relative humidity
20% to 80% (noncondensing)
Maximum vibration:
Operating
5 to 350 Hz at 0.0002 G2/Hz
Storage
5 to 500 Hz at 0.001 to 0.01 G2/Hz
Maximum shock:
Operating
40 G +/- 5% with pulse duration of 2 msec +/- 10% (equivalent to 20 in/sec [51 cm/sec])
Storage
105 G +/- 5% with pulse duration of 2 msec +/- 10% (equivalent to 50 in/sec [127 cm/sec])
Altitude:
Operating
–15.2 to 3048 m (–50 to 10,000 ft)
Storage
–15.2 to 10,668 m (–50 to 35,000 ft)
Airborne contaminant level
G2 or lower as defined by ISA-S71.04-1985
System Setup
Overview
Use System Setup as follows:
To change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove any hardware in your computer
To set or change a user-selectable option such as the user password
To read the current amount of memory or set the type of hard drive installed
Before you use system setup, it is recommended that you write down the system setup screen information for future reference.
NOTICE: Unless you are an expert computer user, do not change the settings for this program. Certain changes can make your computer work incorrectly.
Entering System Setup
Turn on (or restart) your computer.
When the blue DELL™ logo is displayed, you must watch for the F2
prompt to appear.
Once this F2 prompt appears, press <F2> immediately.
NOTE: The F2 prompt indicates that the keyboard has initialized. This prompt can appear very quickly, so you must watch for it to display, and then press <F2>. If you press <F2> before you are prompted, this keystroke will be lost.
If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to
wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop. Then, shut down
your computer (see Turning Off Your Computer) and try again.
System Setup Screen
The system setup screen displays current or changeable configuration information for your computer. Information on the screen is divided into four areas: the menu at the top, the main window, the Item Help field on the right, and key functions listed on the bottom.
Options List — This field appears on the top side of the system setup window. The tabbed options contain features that define the configuration of your computer, including installed hardware, power conservation, and security features.
Option Field — This field contains information about each option. In this field you can view your current settings and make changes to your settings. Use the right- and left-arrow keys to highlight an option. Press <Enter> to make that selection active.
Help Field — This field provides context sensitive help based on the options selected.
Key Functions — This field appears below the Option Field and lists keys and their functions within the active system setup field.
System Setup Options
NOTE: Depending on your computer and installed devices, the items listed in this section may not appear, or may not appear exactly as listed.
Main
System Date
Displays the system date.
System Time
Displays the system time.
Floppy A
Displays the currently installed drive.
HDD SMART capability
(Disabled default)
This setting determines whether integrated drive errors are reported or not during system startup.
System Info.
Displays BIOS Info and the Service Tag.
Memory Info.
Displays memory size, speed, channel mode, and type.
Advanced
CPU Type
Displays the Type of Processor installed in the system.
CPU Speed
Displays CPU Speed.
Cache RAM
Displays the amount ofCache RAM available.
Frame Buffer
Displays the amount of Frame Buffer available.
Advanced Chipset Features
Displays the Video Memory size.
Integrated peripherals
Displays information about peripherals configuration such as Serial ATA, HD Audio, Onboard nVidia LAN and Onboard LAN boot ROM.
PnP/PCI Configurations
Displays information about PnP /PCI Configurations such as Init Display First.
CPU Configurations
Displays information about the features of the CPU such as AMD Live, AMD Cool n Quiet Function, and AMD Virtualization.
USB Configurations
Displays whether the USB controller is enabled or disabled.
Power
Power Management Setup
Displays options for Power Management Setup options such as: ACPI Suspend Type,Remote Wake Up, Wake Up by Ring, Auto Power On, Auto Power OnDate, Auto Power On Time, and AC Recovery.
BOOT
Boot Device Property
Displaysboot device property for all the bootable devices present on the system. It offers options for setting Hard Disk Boot Priority,CD ROM Boot Priority, Boot Setting Configurations, and Security.
Exit
Exit options
Provides options to Save & Exit Setup,Exit Without Saving, Load Defaults or Discard Changes
Boot Sequence
This feature allows you to change the Boot Device Property for devices.
Option Settings
Bootable Hard Drive — The computer attempts to boot from the hard drive.
Onboard Floppy Drive — The computer attempts to boot from the floppy drive.
Onboard CD-ROM Drive — The computer attempts to boot from the CD drive.
Integrated NIC — The computer attempts to boot using the integrated NIC.
Changing Boot Sequence for the Current Boot
You can use this feature, for example, to restart your computer to a USB device, such as a floppy drive, memory key, or CD-RW drive.
If you are booting to a USB device, connect the USB device to a USB
connector.
Turn on (or restart) your computer.
When F2 = Setup, F12 = Boot Menu appears in the upper-right
corner of the screen, press <F12>.
If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop, then shut down your computer (see Turning Off Your Computer) and try again.
The Boot Menu appears, listing all available boot devices.
Use the arrow keys to select the appropriate device (for the current
boot only).
NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To ensure that a device is bootable, check the device documentation.
Locate the 3-pin password connector (CLEAR P.W.) on the system board
and remove the 2-pin jumper plug from pins 2 and 3 and fix it on pins 1
and 2 and wait for approximately five seconds to clear the password.
Remove the 2-pin jumper plug from pins 1 and 2 and replace it on pins 2
and 3 to enable the password feature.
NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer.
Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn
them on.
Flashing the BIOS
The BIOS may require flashing when an update is available or when replacing the system board.
Turn on the computer.
Locate the BIOS update file for your computer at the Dell Support
website at support.dell.com.
Click Download Now to download the file.
If the Export Compliance Disclaimer window appears, click Yes, I Accept
this Agreement.
The File Download window appears.
Click Save this program to disk, and then click OK.
The Save In window appears.
Click the down arrow to view the Save In menu, select Desktop, and then
click Save.
The file downloads to your desktop.
Click Close when the Download Complete window appears.
The file icon appears on your desktop and is titled the same as the downloaded BIOS update file.
Double-click the file icon on the desktop and follow the on-screen
instructions.
Cleaning Your Computer
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide.
Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor
CAUTION: Before you clean your computer, disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet. Clean your computer with a soft cloth dampened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners, which may contain flammable substances.
Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to gently remove dust from the slots and holes on your computer and from between the keys on the keyboard.
NOTICE: Do not wipe the display screen with any soap or alcohol solution. Doing so may damage the antiglare coating.
To clean your monitor screen, lightly dampen a soft, clean cloth with water. If possible, use a special screen-cleaning tissue or solution suitable for the monitor's antistatic coating.
Wipe the keyboard, computer, and plastic part of the monitor with a soft cleaning cloth moistened with a solution of three parts water and one part dishwashing detergent.
NOTICE: Do not soak the cloth or let water drip inside your computer or keyboard.
Mouse
If your screen cursor skips or moves abnormally, clean the mouse. To clean a non-optical mouse:
Turn the retainer ring on the underside of your mouse counterclockwise,
and then remove the ball.
Wipe the ball with a clean, lint-free cloth.
Blow carefully into the ball cage to dislodge dust and lint.
If the rollers inside the ball cage are dirty, clean the rollers with a cotton
swab moistened lightly with isopropyl alcohol.
Recenter the rollers in their channels if they are misaligned. Ensure that
fluff from the swab is not left on the rollers.
Replace the ball and retainer ring, and turn the retainer ring clockwise
until it clicks into place.
Floppy Drive
NOTICE: Do not attempt to clean drive heads with a swab. You might accidentally misalign the heads, which prevents the drive from operating.
Clean your floppy drive using a commercially available cleaning kit. These kits contain pretreated floppy disks to remove contaminants that accumulate during normal operation.
CDs and DVDs
NOTICE: Always use compressed air to clean the lens in the CD or DVD drive, and follow the instructions that come with the compressed air. Never touch the lens in the drive.
If you notice problems, such as skipping, with the playback quality of your CDs or DVDs, try cleaning the discs.
Hold the disc by its outer edge. You can also touch the inside edge of the
center hole.
NOTICE: To prevent damaging the surface, do not wipe in a circular motion around the disc.
With a soft, lint-free cloth, gently wipe the bottom of the disc
(the unlabeled side) in a straight line from the center to the outer edge of
the disc.
For stubborn dirt, try using water or a diluted solution of water and mild soap. You can also purchase commercial products that clean discs and provide some protection from dust, fingerprints, and scratches. Cleaning products for CDs are safe to use on DVDs.
Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)
Technician-assisted technical support requires the cooperation and participation of the customer in the troubleshooting process and provides for restoration of the operating system, software programs, and hardware drivers to the original default configuration as shipped from Dell, as well as the verification of appropriate functionality of the computer and all Dell-installed hardware. In addition to this technician-assisted technical support, online technical support is available at support.dell.com. Additional technical support options may be available for purchase.
Dell provides limited technical support for the computer and any "Dell-installed" software and peripherals1. Support for third-party software and peripherals is provided by the original manufacturer, including those purchased and/or installed through Dell Software and Peripherals, Readyware, and Custom Factory Integration2.
1Repair services are provided pursuant to the terms and conditions of your limited warranty and any optional support service contract purchased with the computer.
2All Dell-standard components included in a Custom Factory Integration (CFI) project are covered by the standard Dell limited warranty for your computer. However, Dell also extends a parts replacement program to cover all nonstandard, third-party hardware components integrated through CFI for the duration of the computer's service contract.
Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals
Dell-installed software includes the operating system and some of the software programs that are installed on the computer during the manufacturing process (Microsoft® Office, Norton Antivirus, and so on).
Dell-installed peripherals include any internal expansion cards, or Dell-branded module bay or PC Card accessories. In addition, any Dell-branded monitors, keyboards, mice, speakers, microphones for telephonic modems, docking stations/port replicators, networking products, and all associated cabling are included.
Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals
Third-party software and peripherals include any peripheral, accessory, or software program sold by Dell not under the Dell brand (printers, scanners, cameras, games, and so on). Support for all third-party software and peripherals is provided by the original manufacturer of the product.
FCC Notice (U.S. Only)
FCC Class B
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instruction manual, may cause interference with radio and television reception. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
This device may not cause harmful interference.
This device must accept any interference received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
NOTICE: The FCC regulations provide that changes or modifications not expressly approved by Dell Inc. could void your authority to operate this equipment.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference with radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, you are encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient the receiving antenna.
Relocate the system with respect to the receiver.
Move the system away from the receiver.
Plug the system into a different outlet so that the system and the receiver are on different branch circuits.
If necessary, consult a representative of Dell Inc. or an experienced radio/television technician for additional suggestions.
The following information is provided on the device or devices covered in this document in compliance with the FCC regulations:
Product name:
Dell™ Inspiron™ 531
Model number:
DCMA
Company name:
Dell Inc. Worldwide Regulatory Compliance & Environmental Affairs One Dell Way Round Rock, TX 78682 USA 512-338-4400
NOTE: For further regulatory information, see your Product Information Guide.
Getting Help
Obtaining Assistance
CAUTION: If you need to remove the computer cover, first disconnect the computer power and modem cables from all electrical outlets.
If you experience a problem with your computer, you can complete the following steps to diagnose and troubleshoot the problem:
See Troubleshooting Tools for information and procedures that pertain to
the problem your computer is experiencing.
See Dell Diagnostics for procedures on how to run Dell Diagnostics.
Use Dell's extensive suite of online services available at Dell Support
(support.dell.com) for help with installation and troubleshooting
procedures. See Online Services for a more extensive list of Dell Support
online.
If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem, see Contacting Dell.
NOTE: Call Dell Support from a telephone near or at the computer so that the support staff can assist you with any necessary procedures.
NOTE: Dell's Express Service Code system may not be available in all countries.
When prompted by Dell's automated telephone system, enter your Express Service Code to route the call directly to the proper support personnel. If you do not have an Express Service Code, open the Dell Accessories folder, double-click the Express Service Code icon, and follow the directions.
NOTE: Some of the following services are not always available in all locations outside the continental U.S. Call your local Dell representative for information on availability.
Technical Support and Customer Service
Dell's support service is available to answer your questions about Dell™ hardware. Our support staff uses computer-based diagnostics to provide fast, accurate answers.
To contact Dell's support service, see Before You Call, and then see the contact information for your region or go to support.dell.com.
DellConnect
DellConnect is a simple online access tool that allows a Dell service and support associate to access your computer through a broadband connection, diagnose your problem and repair it all under your supervision. For more information, go to support.dell.com and click DellConnect.
Online Services
You can learn about Dell products and services on the following websites:
www.dell.com
www.dell.com/ap (Asian/Pacific countries only)
www.dell.com/jp(Japan only)
www.euro.dell.com (Europe only)
www.dell.com/la (Latin American and Caribbean countries)
www.dell.ca (Canada only)
You can access Dell Support through the following websites and e-mail addresses:
Dell Support websites
support.dell.com
support.jp.dell.com (Japan only)
support.euro.dell.com (Europe only)
Dell Support e-mail addresses
mobile_support@us.dell.com
support@us.dell.com
la-techsupport@dell.com (Latin America and Caribbean countries only)
apsupport@dell.com(Asian/Pacific countries only)
Dell Marketing and Sales e-mail addresses
apmarketing@dell.com(Asian/Pacific countries only)
sales_canada@dell.com (Canada only)
Anonymous file transfer protocol (FTP)
ftp.dell.com
Log in as user: anonymous, and use your e-mail address as your password.
AutoTech Service
Dell's automated support service—AutoTech—provides recorded answers to the questions most frequently asked by Dell customers about their portable and desktop computers.
When you call AutoTech, use your touch-tone telephone to select the subjects that correspond to your questions. For the telephone number to call for your region, see Contacting Dell.
Automated Order-Status Service
To check on the status of any Dell products that you have ordered, you can go to support.dell.com,or you can call the automated order-status service. A recording prompts you for the information needed to locate and report on your order. For the telephone number to call for your region, see Contacting Dell.
Problems With Your Order
If you have a problem with your order, such as missing parts, wrong parts, or incorrect billing, contact Dell for customer assistance. Have your invoice or packing slip handy when you call. For the telephone number to call for your region, see Contacting Dell.
Product Information
If you need information about additional products available from Dell, or if you would like to place an order, visit the Dell website at www.dell.com. For the telephone number to call for your region or to speak to a sales specialist, see Contacting Dell.
Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit
Prepare all items being returned, whether for repair or credit, as follows:
Call Dell to obtain a Return Material Authorization Number, and write it
clearly and prominently on the outside of the box.
For the telephone number to call for your region, see Contacting Dell.
Include a copy of the invoice and a letter describing the reason for the return.
Include a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist (see Diagnostics Checklist),
indicating the tests that you have run and any error messages reported by the
Dell Diagnostics (see Dell Diagnostics).
Include any accessories that belong with the item(s) being returned
(power cables, software floppy disks, guides, and so on) if the return is
for credit.
Pack the equipment to be returned in the original (or equivalent) packing
materials.
You are responsible for paying shipping expenses. You are also responsible for insuring any product returned, and you assume the risk of loss during shipment to Dell. Collect On Delivery (C.O.D.) packages are not accepted.
Returns that are missing any of the preceding requirements will be refused at Dell's receiving dock and returned to you.
Before You Call
NOTE: Have your Express Service Code ready when you call. The code helps Dell's automated-support telephone system direct your call more efficiently. You may also be asked for your Service Tag (located on the back or bottom of your computer).
Remember to fill out the Diagnostics Checklist (see Diagnostics Checklist). If possible, turn on your computer before you call Dell for assistance and call from a telephone at or near the computer. You may be asked to type some commands at the keyboard, relay detailed information during operations, or try other troubleshooting steps possible only at the computer itself. Ensure that the computer documentation is available.
CAUTION: Before working inside your computer, follow the safety instructions in your Product InformationGuide.
Diagnostics Checklist
Name:
Date:
Address:
Phone number:
Service Tag (bar code on the back or bottom of the computer):
Express Service Code:
Return Material Authorization Number (if provided by Dell support technician):
Operating system and version:
Devices:
Expansion cards:
Are you connected to a network? Yes No
Network, version, and network adapter:
Programs and versions:
See your operating system documentation to determine the contents of the system's start-up files. If the computer is connected to a printer, print each file. Otherwise, record the contents of each file before calling Dell.
Error message, beep code, or diagnostic code:
Description of problem and troubleshooting procedures you performed:
Contacting Dell
For customers in the United States, call 800-WWW.DELL (800.999.3355).
NOTE: If you do not have an active Internet connection, you can find contact information on your purchase invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog.
Dell provides several online and telephone-based support and service options. Availability varies by country and product, and some services may not be available in your area. To contact Dell for sales, technical support, or customer service issues:
Visit support.dell.com.
Verify your country or region in the Choose A Country/Region drop-down
menu at the bottom of the page.
Click Contact Us on the left side of the page.
Select the appropriate service or support link based on your need.
Choose the method of contacting Dell that is convenient for you.
