NOTICE: Do not place your monitor on the computer. Use a monitor stand.
NOTICE: When setting up your computer, secure all cables toward the back of your work area to prevent the cables from being pulled, tangled, or stepped on.
NOTE: If you want to orient your computer under a desktop or on a wall surface, use the optional wall-mount bracket. To order this bracket, contact Dell (see Getting Help).
Front View
1
USB connectors (2)
Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as joysticks or cameras, or for bootable USB devices (see System Setup for more information about booting to a USB device).
It is recommended that you use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.
2
headphone connector
Use the headphone connector to attach headphones and most kinds of speakers.
3
microphone connector
Use the microphone connector to attach a microphone.
4
power light
The power light illuminates and blinks or remains solid to indicate different states:
No light — The computer is turned off.
Steady green — The computer is in a normal operating state.
Blinking green — The computer is in a power-saving mode.
To exit from a power-saving mode, press the power button or use the keyboard or the mouse if it is configured as a wake device in the Windows Device Manager. For more information about sleep modes and exiting from a power-saving mode, see Power Management.
See System Lights for a description of light codes that can help you troubleshoot problems with your computer.
5
power button
Press this button to turn on the computer.
NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not turn off the computer by pressing the power button. Instead, perform an operating system shutdown. See Turning Off Your Computer for more information.
6
vents
The vents help prevent your computer from overheating. To ensure proper ventilation, do not block these cooling vents.
7
module bay
Install a D-module optical drive, second hard drive, or floppy drive in the module bay.
8
hard-drive access light
The hard-drive access light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the hard drive. The light might also be on when devices such as your CD player are operating.
9
vents
The vents help prevent your computer from overheating. To ensure proper ventilation, do not block these cooling vents.
Side View
1
vents
The vents located on each side of the computer help prevent your computer from overheating. To ensure proper ventilation, do not block these cooling vents.
Back View
1
diagnostic lights
See Diagnostic Lights for a description of light codes that can help you troubleshoot problems with your computer.
2
computer cover release knob
Rotate this knob in a clockwise direction to remove the cover.
The vents help prevent your computer from overheating. To ensure proper ventilation, do not block these cooling vents.
Back-Panel Connectors
1
parallel connector
Connect a parallel device, such as a printer, to the parallel connector. If you have a USB printer, plug it into a USB connector.
2
link integrity light
Green — A good connection exists between a 10-Mbps network and the computer.
Orange — A good connection exists between a 100-Mbps network and the computer.
Yellow — A good connection exists between a 1000-Mbps (1-Gbps) network and the computer.
Off — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network or the network controller is turned off in system setup.
3
network adapter
To attach your computer to a network or broadband device, connect one end of a network cable to either a network jack or your network or broadband device. Connect the other end of the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back panel of your computer. A click indicates that the network cable has been securely attached.
NOTE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the network connector.
On computers with a network connector card, use the connector on the card.
It is recommended that you use Category 5 wiring and connectors for your network. If you must use Category 3 wiring, force the network speed to 10 Mbps to ensure reliable operation.
4
network activity light
The amber light flashes when the computer is transmitting or receiving network data. A high volume of network traffic may make this light appear to be in a steady "on" state.
5
line-out connector
Use the green line-out connector to attach an amplified speaker set.
6
line-in/ microphone connector
Use the blue and pink line-in/ microphone connector to attach a record/playback device such as a cassette player, CD player, or VCR.; or a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.
7
USB connectors (5)
Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.
8
serial connector
Connect a serial device, such as a handheld device, to the serial connector.
9
video connector
If you have a DVI-compatible monitor, plug the cable from your monitor into the white connector on the back panel.
See Diagnostic Lights for a description of light codes that can help you troubleshoot problems with your computer.
Connecting a VGA Monitor
If you have a VGA monitor, plug the adapter cable into the white DVI display connector and connect the monitor cable to the adapter.
1
adapter cable
Connecting Two Monitors
1
cable adapter
Use the cable adapter to connect a VGA monitor and a DVI monitor to the DVI-I connector on the back panel.
When you connect two monitors, the driver will detect this connection and activate the multimonitor functionality.
Inside Your Computer
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
CAUTION: To avoid electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the power adapter before removing the cover.
NOTICE: To prevent static damage to components inside your computer, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer's electronic components. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.
1
fan shroud/ heat sink assembly
4
hard drive
2
speaker (optional)
5
security cable slot
3
memory modules (2)
6
chassis intrusion switch
System Board Components
1
fan connector (FAN_FRONT)
8
clear CMOS jumper (RTCRST)
2
internal speaker connector (INT_SPKR)
9
password jumper (PSWD)
3
system board speaker (BEEP)
10
hard-drive power connector (SATA_PWR)
4
channel B memory connector (DIMM_2)
11
fan connector (FAN_REAR)
5
channel A memory connector (DIMM_1)
12
intrusion switch connector (INTRUDER)
6
SATA data cable connector(SATA0)
13
processor (CPU)
7
battery (BATT)
Cable Cover (Optional)
Attaching the Cable Cover
Ensure that all external device cables are threaded through the hole in the cable cover.
Connect all device cables to the connectors on the back of the computer.
Hold the bottom piece of the cable cover and align the four tabs with the four slots on the computer's
back panel.
Insert the tabs into the slots and slide the piece toward the diagnostic lights (see the illustration) until
the cable cover is securely positioned.
Install a security device in the security cable slot (optional).
1
cable cover
2
security cable slot
Removing the Cable Cover
If a security device is installed in the security cable slot, remove the device.
1
release button
Press on the release button, grasp the cable cover, and slide the cover to the left until it stops, and then
lift the cable cover up and away.
Connecting the Power Adapter
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
Connect the external power adapter to the connector on the back of the computer. In order for the
connection to be secure, verify that the latch engages completely. (An audible click will be heard or
felt.)
Connect one end of the AC power cable to the power adapter.
CAUTION: If your power adapter cable has a green grounding wire, do not permit contact between the green ground wire and power leads because electrical shock, fire, or damage to your computer can occur.
If your AC power cable has a green ground wire for connection to an
electrical outlet, connect the metal ground connector to the grounding
source on the outlet (see the following illustration):
Loosen the grounding source.
Slide the metal ground connector behind the grounding source, and
then tighten the grounding source.
1
grounding source
2
metal ground connector
Connect the AC power cable to the outlet.
The power adapter has a status light is off when the AC adapter is not plugged into the outlet and green or amber for different states:
green light — solid green indicates the power adapter is connected to an AC outlet and the computer.
amber light — solid amber indicates the power adapter is connected to an AC outlet but not the computer. The computer will not operate in this condition. Connect the power adapter to the USFF system and/or reset the power adapter by disconnecting and reconnecting the AC mains.
Badge
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
The badge on the front of your computer can be rotated. To rotate the badge:
