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PCI Cards and Serial Port Adapters

Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX270 Systems User's Guide

  PCI Cards

  Serial Port Adapters

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the steps in "Safety Instructions."

CAUTION: 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.

Your Dell™ computer provides slots for up to two 32-bit, 33-MHz PCI cards, or one PCI card and one serial port adapter. For more information, see "Specifications."

PCI Cards

NOTE: Your Dell computer uses only PCI slots. ISA cards are not supported.

If you are installing or replacing a card, follow the procedures in the next section. If you are removing but not replacing a card, skip to "Removing a PCI Card."

1. If you are replacing a card, remove the current driver for the card from the operating system.
   
   
2. Shut down the computer through the Start menu.
   
   
3. Ensure that your computer and attached devices are turned off. If your computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when you shut down your computer, turn them off now.
   
   

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

4. Disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
   
   
5. Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets, and then press the power button to ground the system board.
   
   
6. Remove the computer stand, if it is attached.
   
   

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover.

7. Open the computer cover.
   
   

NOTICE: Before touching anything inside your computer, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface, such as the metal at the back of the computer. While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to dissipate any static electricity that could harm internal components.

Installing a PCI Card

1. Remove the card cage:
   
   
   1. Check any cables connected to cards through the back-panel openings. Disconnect any cables that will not reach the card cage once they are removed from the computer.
      
      
   2. Gently pull on the handle and lift the card cage up and away from the computer.
      
      

1	card cage
2	handle

2. If you are installing a new card, remove the filler bracket to create an empty card-slot opening.
   
   

If you are replacing a card that is already installed in the computer, remove the card. If necessary, disconnect any cables connected to the card. Grasp the card by its top corners, and ease it out of its connector.

3. Prepare the card for installation.
   
   

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

CAUTION: Some network adapters automatically start the computer when they are connected to a network. To guard against electrical shock, be sure to unplug your computer from its electrical outlet before installing any cards.

4. Insert the card into the card connector.
   
   

If the card is full-length, insert the end of the card into the card guide bracket as you lower the card toward its connector on the system board. Insert the card firmly into the card connector on the riser board.

1	lever	5	card-edge connector
2	retention arm	6	card connector
3	filler bracket	7	riser board
4	card	8	card cage

5. Lower the retention arm and press it into place, securing the card(s) in the computer.
   
   
6. Replace the card cage:
   
   
   1. Align the tabs in the side of the card cage with the slots on the side of the computer, and slide the card cage down into place.
      
      
   2. Ensure that the riser board is fully seated in the connector on the system board.
      
      

1	card cage
2	tabs (2)
3	slots (2)

7. Reconnect any cables that you removed in step 1.
   
   
8. Connect any cables that should be attached to the card.
   
   

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

NOTICE: Do not route card cables over or behind the cards. Cables routed over the cards can prevent the computer cover from closing properly or cause damage to the equipment.

9. Close the computer cover.
   
   
10. Attach the computer stand (optional).
    
    

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it into the computer.

11. Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on.
    
    

After you open and close the cover, the chassis intrusion detector, if enabled, causes the following message to appear on the screen at the next computer start-up:

ALERT! Cover was previously removed.

12. Reset the chassis intrusion detector by changing Chassis Intrusion to Enabled or Enabled-Silent.
    
    

NOTE: If a setup password has been assigned by someone else, contact your network administrator for information on resetting the chassis intrusion detector.

13. If you installed a sound card, perform the following steps:
    
    
    1. Enter system setup, select Integrated Devices, and change the setting for Sound to Off.
       
       
    2. Connect external audio devices to the sound card's connectors. Do not connect external audio devices to the microphone, speaker/headphone, or line-in connectors on the back panel.
       
       
14. If you installed an add-in network adapter, perform the following steps:
    
    
    1. Enter system setup, select Integrated Devices and change the setting for Network Interface Card to Off.
       
       
    2. Connect the network cable to the add-in network adapter's connectors. Do not connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel.
       
       
15. Install any drivers required for the card as described in the card documentation.
    
    

Removing a PCI Card

1. Remove the card cage (see step 1 of the previous procedure).
   
   
2. Press the lever on the retention arm and raise the retention arm.
   
   
3. If necessary, disconnect any cables connected to the card.
   
   
4. Grasp the card by its top corners, and ease it out of its connector.
   
   
5. If you are removing the card permanently, install a filler bracket in the empty card-slot opening.
   
   

If you need a filler bracket, contact Dell.

NOTE: Installing filler brackets over empty card-slot openings is necessary to maintain FCC certification of the computer. The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of your computer.

6. Lower the retention arm and press it into place.
   
   

Serial Port Adapters

Installing a Serial Port Adapter

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the steps in "Safety Instructions."

1. Shut down the computer through the Start menu.
   
   
2. Ensure that your computer and attached devices are turned off. If your computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when you shut down your computer, turn them off now.
   
   

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

3. Disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
   
   
4. Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets, and then press the power button to ground the system board.
   
   
5. Remove the computer stand, if it is attached.
   
   

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover.

6. Open the computer cover.
   
   

NOTICE: Before touching anything inside your computer, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface, such as the metal at the back of the computer. While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to dissipate any static electricity that could harm internal components.

7. Remove the card cage (see "Installing a PCI Card").
   
   
8. Press the lever on the retention arm and raise the retention arm.
   
   

1	retention arm
2	filler bracket
3	card bracket

9. Remove the filler bracket.
   
   
10. Slide the adapter card bracket down over the card slot opening, and lower the retention arm, securing the bracket.
    
    
11. Route the serial adapter cable under the card cage, and attach the cable to the connector on the system board (labeled SER2).
    
    

1	serial card system board connector (SER2)
2	serial adapter cable
3	card cage

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack, and then plug it into the computer.

12. Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on.
    
    

After you open and close the cover, the chassis intrusion detector, if enabled, causes the following message to appear on the screen at the next computer start-up:

ALERT! Cover was previously removed.

13. Reset the chassis intrusion detector by changing Chassis Intrusion to Enabled or Enabled-Silent.
    
    

NOTE: If a setup password has been assigned by someone else, contact your network administrator for information on resetting the chassis intrusion detector.

Removing a Serial Port Adapter

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the steps in "Safety Instructions."

1. Shut down the computer through the Start menu.
   
   
2. Ensure that your computer and attached devices are turned off. If your computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when you shut down your computer, turn them off now.
   
   

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

3. Disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
   
   
4. Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets, and then press the power button to ground the system board.
   
   
5. Remove the computer stand, if it is attached.
   
   

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover.

6. Open the computer cover.
   
   

NOTICE: Before touching anything inside your computer, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface, such as the metal at the back of the computer. While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to dissipate any static electricity that could harm internal components.

7. Disconnect the serial adapter cable from the connector on the system board.
   
   
8. Remove the card cage (see "Installing a PCI Card").
   
   
9. Press the lever on the retention arm and raise the retention arm (see step 8 in the previous procedure).
   
   
10. Lift and remove the adapter card bracket.
    
    
11. If you are removing the adapter permanently, install a filler bracket in the empty card- slot opening.
    
    

If you need a filler bracket, contact Dell.

NOTE: Installing filler brackets over empty card-slot openings is necessary to maintain FCC certification of the computer. The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of your computer.

12. Lower the retention arm and press it into place.
    
    

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack, and then plug it into the computer.

13. Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on.
    
    

After you open and close the cover, the chassis intrusion detector, if enabled, causes the following message to appear on the screen at the next computer start-up:

ALERT! Cover was previously removed.

14. Reset the chassis intrusion detector by changing Chassis Intrusion to Enabled or Enabled-Silent.
    
    

NOTE: If a setup password has been assigned by someone else, contact your network administrator for information on resetting the chassis intrusion detector.

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