About Your Computer

Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX270 Systems User's Guide

Front View

1

CD-drive eject button

Press to eject a CD from the CD drive.

2

hard-drive activity light

The hard drive light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the hard drive. The light might also be on when a device such as your CD player is operating.

3

front panel door

Open the door to use the front panel connectors.

4

USB 2.0 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 on 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.

5

headphone connector

Use the headphone connector to attach headphones and most kinds of speakers.

6

power button

Press to turn on the computer.

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not turn off the computer by pressing the power button for 6 seconds or longer. Instead, perform an operating system shutdown.

NOTICE: If your operating system has ACPI enabled, when you press the power button the computer will perform an operating system shutdown.

7

power light

The power light illuminates and blinks or remains solid to indicate different states:
No light — The computer is turned off (S4, S5, or mechanical OFF)

Steady green — The computer is in a normal operating state

Blinking green — The computer is in a power-saving state (S1 or S3)

Blinking or solid amber — See "Power Problems"

To exit from a power-saving state, 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 states and exiting from a power-saving state, see "Power Management."
See "Diagnostic Lights" for a description of light codes that can help you troubleshoot problems with your computer.

8

floppy-drive activity light

The floppy drive light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the floppy drive. Wait until this light turns off before you remove the floppy disk from the drive.

9

floppy-drive eject button

Press to eject a floppy disk from the floppy drive.

Back View

1

power connector

Insert the power cable.

2

voltage selection switch (may not be available on all computers)

Your computer is equipped with either an auto-sensing voltage selector or a manual voltage selection switch. Computers with an auto-sensing voltage selector do not have a voltage selection switch on the back panel and can automatically detect the correct operating voltage.
To help avoid damaging a computer with a manual voltage selection switch, set the switch for the voltage that most closely matches the AC power available in your location.

NOTICE: The voltage selection switch must be set to the 115-V position even though the AC power available in Japan is 100 V.

Also, ensure that your monitor and attached devices are electrically rated to operate with the AC power available in your location.

3

back panel connectors

Plug serial, USB, and other devices into the appropriate connector.

4

card slots

Access connectors for any installed PCI and AGP cards.

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.
NOTE: The integrated parallel connector is automatically disabled if the computer detects an installed card containing a parallel connector configured to the same address. For more information, see "System Setup Options."

2

mouse connector

Plug a standard mouse into the green mouse connector. Turn off the computer and any attached devices before you connect a mouse to the computer. If you have a USB mouse, plug it into a USB connector.
If your computer is running the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 or Windows XP operating system, the necessary mouse drivers have been installed on your hard drive.

3

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 1-Gbps (or 1000-Mbps) network and the computer.

Off — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network.

4

network adapter connector

To attach your computer to a network, connect one end of a network cable to either a network jack or your network 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.
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.

5

network activity light

Flashes a yellow light 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.

6

line-in connector

Use the blue line-in connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach a record/playback device such as a cassette player, CD player, or VCR.
On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.

7

line-out connector

Use the green line-out connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers.
On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.

8

microphone connector

Use the pink microphone connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.
On computers with a sound card, the microphone connector is on the card.

9

USB 2.0 connectors (6)

Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards, and for bootable USB devices.

10

keyboard connector

If you have a standard keyboard, plug it into the purple keyboard connector. If you have a USB keyboard, plug it into a USB connector.

11

diagnostic lights

Use the lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem based on the diagnostic code. For more information, see "Diagnostic Lights."

12

video connector

Plug the cable from your VGA-compatible monitor into the blue connector.
NOTE: If your computer shipped with a video card installed, this connector will be have a cap on it. Plug the monitor cable into the connector on the card.

NOTE: If you are using a video card that supports dual monitors, use the y-cable that came with your computer.

13

serial connector

Connect a serial device, such as a handheld device, to the serial port. In system setup, the default designation is COM1.
For more information, see "System Setup Options."

Inside Your Computer

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

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

NOTICE: Be careful when opening the computer cover to ensure that you do not disconnect cables from the system board.

1

hard drive

6

heat sink and blower assembly

2

internal speaker

7

power supply

3

chassis intrusion switch

8

floppy drive

4

system board

9

CD/DVD drive

5

padlock ring

Cable Colors

Device

Color

Hard drive

Blue pull tab

Floppy drive

Black pull tab

CD/DVD drive

Orange pull tab

Serial ATA drive

Blue cable

Device	Color
Hard drive	Blue pull tab
Floppy drive	Black pull tab
CD/DVD drive	Orange pull tab
Serial ATA drive	Blue cable

System Board Components

1

floppy-drive connector (DSKT)

12

CD drive audio cable connector (CD_IN)

2

CD/DVD drive connector (IDE2)

13

front-panel audio cable connector (FRONTAUDIO)

3

battery socket (BATTERY)

14

power connector (12VPOWER)

4

front-panel connector (FRONTPANEL)

15

serial port connector (SER2) for optional serial port cards

5

IDE hard-drive connector (IDE1)

16

microprocessor and heat sink connector (CPU)

6

serial ATA hard-drive connector (SATA2)

17

microprocessor fan connector (FAN)

7

serial ATA hard-drive connector (SATA1)

18

memory module connectors (DIMMs 1, 3, 2, and 4)

8

internal speaker (SPEAKER)

19

power connector (POWER)

9

standby power light (AUX_PWR)

20

RTC reset jumper (RTCRST)

10

AGP card connector (AGP)

21

password jumper (PSWD)

11

PCI connectors (PCI 1, 2, 3, and 4)

Back to Contents Page

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. NOTE: The integrated parallel connector is automatically disabled if the computer detects an installed card containing a parallel connector configured to the same address. For more information, see "System Setup Options."
2	mouse connector	Plug a standard mouse into the green mouse connector. Turn off the computer and any attached devices before you connect a mouse to the computer. If you have a USB mouse, plug it into a USB connector. If your computer is running the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 or Windows XP operating system, the necessary mouse drivers have been installed on your hard drive.
3	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 1-Gbps (or 1000-Mbps) network and the computer. Off — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network.
4	network adapter connector	To attach your computer to a network, connect one end of a network cable to either a network jack or your network 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. 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.
5	network activity light	Flashes a yellow light 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.
6	line-in connector	Use the blue line-in connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach a record/playback device such as a cassette player, CD player, or VCR. On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.
7	line-out connector	Use the green line-out connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers. On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.
8	microphone connector	Use the pink microphone connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program. On computers with a sound card, the microphone connector is on the card.
9	USB 2.0 connectors (6)	Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards, and for bootable USB devices.
10	keyboard connector	If you have a standard keyboard, plug it into the purple keyboard connector. If you have a USB keyboard, plug it into a USB connector.
11	diagnostic lights	Use the lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem based on the diagnostic code. For more information, see "Diagnostic Lights."
12	video connector	Plug the cable from your VGA-compatible monitor into the blue connector. NOTE: If your computer shipped with a video card installed, this connector will be have a cap on it. Plug the monitor cable into the connector on the card. NOTE: If you are using a video card that supports dual monitors, use the y-cable that came with your computer.
13	serial connector	Connect a serial device, such as a handheld device, to the serial port. In system setup, the default designation is COM1. For more information, see "System Setup Options."

1	hard drive	6	heat sink and blower assembly
2	internal speaker	7	power supply
3	chassis intrusion switch	8	floppy drive
4	system board	9	CD/DVD drive
5	padlock ring

1	floppy-drive connector (DSKT)	12	CD drive audio cable connector (CD_IN)
2	CD/DVD drive connector (IDE2)	13	front-panel audio cable connector (FRONTAUDIO)
3	battery socket (BATTERY)	14	power connector (12VPOWER)
4	front-panel connector (FRONTPANEL)	15	serial port connector (SER2) for optional serial port cards
5	IDE hard-drive connector (IDE1)	16	microprocessor and heat sink connector (CPU)
6	serial ATA hard-drive connector (SATA2)	17	microprocessor fan connector (FAN)
7	serial ATA hard-drive connector (SATA1)	18	memory module connectors (DIMMs 1, 3, 2, and 4)
8	internal speaker (SPEAKER)	19	power connector (POWER)
9	standby power light (AUX_PWR)	20	RTC reset jumper (RTCRST)
10	AGP card connector (AGP)	21	password jumper (PSWD)
11	PCI connectors (PCI 1, 2, 3, and 4)