Manuals

	Overview		Installing an Expansion Card
	Riser Board		Removing an Expansion Card

Overview

The OptiPlex GC chassis accommodates up to two one-third-length 32-bit Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) expansion cards.  See Figure 1 for an example of a PCI expansion card.

Figure 1. 32-Bit PCI Expansion Card

Riser Board

The PCI expansion-card connectors are located on a riser board, as shown in Figure 2.

NOTE: PCI expansion-card connector 2 is reserved for use with Dell-supplied expansion cards only. Expansion cards from other sources will not work when installed in this connector.

Figure 2. Riser Board

1 PCI expansion-card connector 2 (PCI2) 2 PCI expansion-card connector 1 (PCI1)

Installing an Expansion Card

To install an expansion card, perform the following steps.

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 the other precautions in "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."

1. Prepare the expansion card for installation, and remove the computer cover according to the instructions in "Removing and Replacing the Computer Cover."
   
   

See the documentation that came with the expansion card for information on configuring the card, making internal connections, or otherwise customizing it for your system.

CAUTION: Some network cards automatically start up the system when they are connected. To guard against electrical shock, be sure to unplug your computer from its electrical outlet before you install any expansion cards.

2. If necessary to access the expansion slot where you want to install the expansion card, remove the riser board bracket as described in "Removing and Replacing the Riser Board Bracket."
   
   
3. Remove the screw that secures the filler-bracket cap to the back panel of the computer (see Figure 3).
   
   

Figure 3. Removing the Filler-Bracket Cap

1 Filler-bracket cap 2 Screw

4. Unscrew and remove the metal filler bracket that covers the card-slot opening for the expansion-card connector you intend to use (see Figure 4).

   Save the screw for use when you install the expansion card later in this procedure.

Figure 4. Removing the Filler Bracket

1 PCI expansion-card connector 2 Riser board 3 Expansion card 4 Metal filler bracket 5 Screw

5. Insert the expansion card into the expansion-card connector.

6. When the card is firmly seated in the connector, secure the card's mounting bracket to the chassis with the screw you removed in step 4.
   
   
7. Connect any cables that should be attached to the card.

   See the documentation for the card for information about the card's cable connections.

8. Replace the filler-bracket cap and screw you removed in step 3.
   
   
9. Replace the riser board bracket.
   
   
10. Replace the computer cover, and reconnect your computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets and turn them on.

Removing an Expansion Card

To remove an expansion card, perform the following steps.

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 remove or replace an expansion card, see the other precautions in "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."

1. Remove the computer cover according to the instructions in "Removing and Replacing the Computer Cover."

2. If necessary, disconnect any cables connected to the card.
   
   
3. Remove the riser board bracket as described in "Removing and Replacing the Riser Board Bracket."
   
   
4. Remove the screw that secures the filler-bracket cap to the back panel of the computer (see Figure 3).
   
   
5. Unscrew the mounting bracket of the card you want to remove (see Figure 4).
   
   
6. Grasp the card by its outside corners, and ease it out of its connector.
   
   
7. If you are removing the card permanently, install a metal filler bracket over the empty card-slot opening.
   
   

NOTE: You must install filler brackets over empty card-slot openings to maintain Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification of the system. The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of your computer.

8. Replace the filler-bracket cap.
   
   
9. Replace the riser board bracket.
   
   
10. Replace the computer cover, and reconnect your computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets and turn them on.

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