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Installing System Board Options: Dell™ PowerEdge™ 2400 Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

Overview • Expansion Cards • Adding Memory • Upgrading the Microprocessor or Installing a Secondary Microprocessor • Activating the Integrated RAID Controller • Replacing the Battery

Overview

This section describes how to install the following options:

• Expansion cards
• Memory upgrades
• Microprocessor upgrades
• Integrated redundant arrays of independent disks (RAID) controller

This section also includes instructions for replacing the system battery, if necessary.

Use Figure 1 to locate the system board features.

WARNING: Before you perform the procedures in this section, you must turn off the computer and disconnect it from its AC power source. For more information, see "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."

Figure 1. System Board Features

Expansion Cards

The system board contains five 64-bit 33-megahertz (MHz) Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) expansion-card connectors (PCI1 through PCI5), one 32-bit 33-MHz PCI expansion card connector (PCI6), and one Industry-Standard Architecture (ISA) expansion-card connector (ISA5) (see Figure 2).  Because ISA expansion-card connector shares an expansion slot with expansion-card connector PCI5, you can install a maximum of six expansion cards.

Figure 2. Expansion-Card Connectors

Choosing an Expansion Slot

Follow these guidelines when you add an expansion card: 

• Install 64-bit PCI expansion cards in connectors PCI1 through PCI5.
• Install a Dell Remote Assistant Card (DRAC), version 2.0, in connector PCI6.
• Install an ISA expansion card in connector ISA5.
• Install full-length expansion cards in PCI slots PCI3 through PCI6 and ISA slot ISA5.

Installing an Expansion Card

Follow this general installation procedure.

NOTICE:  You must use the Resource Configuration Utility (RCU) when you add an ISA expansion card to your computer. Failure to do so may cause resource conflicts between PCI devices (such as PCI expansion cards, the built-in video controller, or the built-in small computer system interface [SCSI] host adapter). See "Using the Resource Configuration Utility" in the User's Guide for instructions.

1. If you are installing an ISA expansion card, start the Resource Configuration Utility, and add the new expansion card to the configuration information.

NOTICE: See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge."

2. Remove the right-side computer cover.
3. Prepare the expansion card for installation.
   See the documentation that came with the expansion card for information on configuring the card, making internal connections, or otherwise customizing the card for the system.
4. Select the expansion slot that you will install the new expansion card in.
5. Open the plastic expansion-card latch and remove the expansion-slot filler bracket:
   1. Press and hold the plastic tab on the outside of the system chassis.
   2. Press the release tab on the latch inside the system chassis (see Figure 3).
   3. Open the expansion-card latch (see Figure 3) and remove the filler bracket.

Figure 3. Installing an Expansion Card

To remove an expansion card, perform the following steps.

NOTICE: See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge."

Adding Memory

The four dual in-line memory module (DIMM) sockets on the system board can accommodate 64 megabytes (MB) to 2 gigabytes (GB) of registered synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM). The DIMM sockets are located near the back edge of the system board (see Figure 1).

Memory Upgrade Kits

You can upgrade system memory to 2 GB by installing four 512-MB DIMMs. You can purchase memory upgrade kits of 64-, 128- 256-, and 512-MB registered DIMMs from Dell.

DIMM Installation Guidelines

Starting with the socket nearest to the system board's back edge, the DIMM sockets are labeled "DIMM_A" through "DIMM_D" (see Figure 4). When you install DIMMs, follow these guidelines:

• Install a DIMM in socket DIMM_A before socket DIMM_B, socket DIMM_B before socket DIMM_C, and so on.
• If you install different sizes of DIMMs, install them in order of descending capacity, beginning with the highest-capacity DIMM in socket DIMM_A.
• You do not need to install DIMMs in pairs.

Figure 4. DIMM Sockets

Table 1 illustrates several sample memory configurations based on these guidelines.

Performing a Memory Upgrade

To perform a memory upgrade to the system board, perform the following steps.

NOTICE: See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge."

1. Remove the right-side computer cover.
2. Remove the cooling shroud.
3. Locate the DIMM sockets in which you will install or replace DIMMs.
   Figure 1 shows the relative location of the DIMM sockets on the system board. Figure 4 shows the labeling of the DIMMs sockets.
4. Install or replace the DIMMs as necessary to reach the desired memory total.
5. Replace the cooling shroud and computer cover, reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system.
   After the system completes the power-on self-test (POST) routine, it runs a memory test. The system detects that the new memory does not match the system configuration information, which is stored in nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM). The monitor displays an error message that ends with the following words:

Press <F1> to continue; <F2> to enter System Setup

6. Press <F2> to enter the System Setup program, and check the System Memory setting in the system data box on the System Setup screens. The system should have already changed the value in the System Memory setting to reflect the newly installed memory.
7. If the System Memory value is incorrect, one or more of the DIMMs may not be installed properly. Repeat steps 1 through 5 again, checking to make sure that the DIMMs are firmly seated in their sockets.
8. Run the Resource Configuration Utility. Then save the configuration and exit the utility.
   Running the Resource Configuration Utility and saving the configuration is recommended to ensure that the system will recognize the newly installed DIMM(s). See "Using the Resource Configuration Utility" in the User's Guide for instructions on running the utility and saving the configuration.
9. Run the system memory test in the Dell Diagnostics.

Installing DIMMs

To install a DIMM, perform the following steps:

1. Press down and outward on the ejectors on the DIMM socket, as shown in Figure 5, to allow the DIMM to be inserted into the socket.

Figure 5. Installing a DIMM

1	DIMM socket ejectors (2)
2	Alignment keys (2)

2. Align the DIMM's edge connector with the slot in the center of the DIMM socket, and insert the DIMM in the socket (see step A in Figure 5).
   The DIMM socket has two alignment keys that allow the DIMM to be installed in the socket in only one way.
3. Press down on the DIMM with your thumbs while pulling up on the ejectors with your index fingers to lock the DIMM into the socket (see step B in Figure 5). When the DIMM is properly seated in the socket, the ejectors on the DIMM socket should align with the ejectors on the other sockets with DIMMs installed.
4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 to install the remaining DIMMs.
5. Continue with step 5 of "Performing a Memory Upgrade."

Removing DIMMs

To remove a DIMM, press down and outward on the ejectors on each end of the socket until the DIMM pops out of the socket (see Figure 6).

NOTE: If you encounter difficulty in moving the ejector nearest to the chassis wall, press down on the opposite ejector and lift that end of the DIMM slightly to free the DIMM from its socket.

Figure 6. Removing a DIMM

Upgrading the Microprocessor or Installing a Secondary Microprocessor

The microprocessor is contained within a single-edge contact (SEC) cartridge and heat sink assembly. The system board has two guide bracket assemblies, which hold the SEC cartridge and heat sink assemblies. If your system has only one microprocessor, the secondary guide bracket assembly connector must contain a terminator card.

If you are adding a microprocessor, the secondary microprocessor must have the same operating frequency as the first. For example, if the system has a 450-MHz primary microprocessor, your secondary microprocessor must also be a 450-MHz microprocessor.

NOTICE: If you are upgrading a system by installing a secondary microprocessor, you must order an upgrade kit from Dell. The upgrade kit from Dell contains the correct version of the microprocessor for use as a secondary microprocessor.

Removing a Terminator Card

To remove a terminator card, perform the following steps.

NOTICE: See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge."

1. Remove the right-side computer cover.
2. Remove the cooling shroud.
3. Slide the terminator card up and out of the guide bracket assembly (see Figure 7).

Figure 7. Removing a Terminator Card

Installing a Terminator Card

To install a terminator card, align the notch on the terminator card with the socket on the guide bracket assembly and guide the card into the empty guide bracket assembly.

Removing the SEC Cartridge and Heat Sink Assembly

To remove the SEC cartridge and heat sink assembly, perform the following steps.

NOTICE: See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge."

1. Remove the right-side computer cover.
2. Remove the cooling shroud.
3. Pull the tab on one side of the guide bracket away from the end of the heat sink and pull up slightly on the cartridge.
4. Deflect the tab on the other end of the guide bracket to disengage the tab on the heat sink, and then lift the cartridge and heat sink assembly away from the guide bracket assembly (see Figure 8).

Figure 8.  Removing an SEC Cartridge and Heat Sink

Replacing the SEC Cartridge and Heat Sink Assembly

To install the replacement SEC cartridge and heat sink assembly, perform the following steps:

1. Remove the terminator card or old SEC cartridge from the guide bracket assembly.
2. Slide the SEC cartridge into the guide bracket assembly, and firmly seat the assembly until the tabs on the guide bracket assembly snap into place over the ends of the heat sink (see Figure 9).

3. Replace the cooling shroud and computer cover.

Activating the Integrated RAID Controller

To activate the integrated PowerEdge Expandable RAID Controller (PERC) 2/Si controller, perform the following steps.

NOTICE: To avoid possible data loss, back up all data on the hard-disk drives before changing the mode of operation of the integrated SCSI controller from SCSI to RAID.

NOTICE: See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge."

1. Remove the right-side computer cover.
2. Remove the cooling shroud.
3. Press the ejectors on the RAID controller DIMM socket down and outward, as shown in Figure 5, to allow the DIMM to be inserted into the socket.
   See Figure 1 for the location of the socket on the system board.
4. Align the DIMM's edge connector with the slot in the center of the DIMM socket, and insert the DIMM in the socket (see step A in Figure 5).
   The DIMM socket has two alignment keys that allow the DIMM to be installed in the socket in only one way.