User Guide

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Introduction: Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX1 Small-Form-Factor System User's Guide

	Overview		Manageability Features
	System Features		Security Features
	Hardware Features		ENERGY STAR® Compliance
	Software Features

Overview

Dell OptiPlex GX1 small-form-factor systems are high-speed, expandable personal computers designed around the Intel® Pentium® II or III microprocessor. Each computer system uses a high-performance Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) design that allows you to configure the computer system to your initial requirements and then add Dell-supported upgrades as necessary.

System Features

Your system offers the following features:

• An Intel Pentium II or Pentium III microprocessor.

  The Intel Pentium II and Pentium III microprocessors include MMX™ technology designed to handle complex multimedia and communications software. This microprocessor incorporates new instructions and data types as well as a technique called single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) that allows the microprocessor to process multiple data elements in parallel, thereby improving overall system performance.

• A keyboard command (<Ctrl><Alt><\>) that lets you switch between the microprocessor's rated speed and a slower compatibility speed.

NOTE: This keyboard command is not available under the Microsoft® Windows NT® and IBM® OS/2® operating systems.

• A secondary cache of 512 KB of static random-access memory (SRAM) included within the single-edge contact (SEC) cartridge, which also contains the microprocessor.

• System memory that can be increased up to 768 megabytes (MB) by installing 32-, 64-, 128-, or 256-MB synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM) dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) in the three DIMM sockets on the system board. The system also supports both error checking and correction (ECC) and nonparity DIMMs. See "System Memory" for details.

• Self-Monitoring and Analysis Reporting Technology II (SMART II) support, which warns you at system start-up if your hard-disk drive has become unreliable. To take advantage of this technology, you must have a SMART II-compliant hard-disk drive in your computer. All hard-disk drives shipped with OptiPlex GX1 systems are SMART II-compliant.

• A basic input/output system (BIOS), which resides in flash memory and can be upgraded by diskette or remotely over a network, if required.

• Full compliance with PCI specification 2.1.

• Full Plug and Play version 1.0a capability, which greatly simplifies the installation of expansion cards. Plug and Play support included in the system BIOS allows you to install Plug and Play expansion cards without setting jumpers or switches or performing other configuration tasks.  Also, because the system BIOS is stored in flash memory, it can be updated to support future enhancements to the Plug and Play standard.

• Wakeup On LAN capability, which, when enabled in the System Setup program, allows the system to be turned on  from a server management console. Wakeup On LAN capability also allows remote computer setup, software downloading and installation, file updates, and asset tracking after hours and on weekends when network traffic is at a minimum.

• Universal Serial Bus (USB) capability, which can simplify connecting peripheral devices such as mice, printers, and computer speakers. The USB connectors on your computer's back panel, which are enabled by default, provide a single connection point for multiple USB-compliant devices. USB-compliant devices can also be connected and disconnected while the system is running.

• A modular computer chassis with a minimum number of screws for easy disassembly and improved serviceability.

Hardware Features

The system board includes the following integrated features:

• Two 32-bit PCI expansion slots on a riser board (half-length PCI expansion cards only).

• A 64-bit accelerated graphics port (AGP) video subsystem, which includes the ATI 3D Rage Pro super video graphics array (SVGA) video controller. This video subsystem contains 4 MB (upgradable to 8 MB) of synchronous graphics RAM (SGRAM) video memory. Maximum resolutions are 1600 x 1200 with 65,536 colors noninterlaced and 1280 x 1024 and 1024 x 768 with true-colors noninterlaced. In 800 x 600 and 640 x 480 resolutions, 16.7 million colors are available for true-color graphics using a 32-bits per pixel (bpp) format. True-color provides higher performance, but uses more graphics memory. Table 1 lists the video memory requirements for the Microsoft Windows® 95 and Windows NT 4.0 operating systems.

Table 1. Video Memory Requirements

2X AGP provides a dedicated bus from the video subsystem to the system chip set. AGP-based video subsystems have two significant performance advantages over PCI-based video subsystems:

— The AGP bus reduces bandwidth requirements of the PCI bus, improving overall system performance.

— The AGP bus allows a 3D video subsystem to execute directly from main memory.

• A diskette interface, which supports a 3.5-inch diskette drive.

• Enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) support. The primary and secondary interface are both located on the PCI bus to provide faster data throughput. Each interface supports high-capacity EIDE drives, as well as devices such as ATA 33 hard-disk drives and EIDE CD-ROM drives.

• Two high-performance serial ports and one bidirectional parallel port for connecting external devices. The parallel port is fully Enhanced Capabilities Port (ECP)-compliant.

• A Personal System/2 (PS/2)-style keyboard port and a PS/2-compatible mouse port.

• An optional integrated, 10/100-megabit-per-second (Mbps) 3Com® PCI 3C905B-TX Ethernet network interface controller (NIC). The NIC is configured using software on the Dell ResourceCD.

• A 16-bit, integrated Plug and Play Crystal CS4236B audio controller that provides all the sound functions of the Sound Blaster Pro expansion card. For more information, see the Dell ResourceCD.

Software Features

The following software is included with your Dell computer system:

• System utilities that safeguard your system and enhance the operation of its features. For more information, see the Dell ResourceCD.

• Video drivers for displaying many popular applications in high-resolution modes. For more information, see the Dell ResourceCD.

• Audio drivers for enabling the sound functions on the expansion sound card. For more information, see the Dell ResourceCD.

• Bus-mastering EIDE drivers to improve performance by off-loading certain functions from the microprocessor during multithreaded operation (when several application programs are running simultaneously). For more information, see the Dell ResourceCD.

• The System Setup program for quickly viewing and changing the configuration information for your system. For more information on this program, see "System Setup Program."

• Enhanced security features (a setup password, a system password, a system-password lock option, a write-protect option for diskette drives, and automatic display of the system's service tag number) available through the System Setup program. In addition, a customer-definable asset tag number can be assigned via a software support utility and viewed on the System Setup screen. For more information, see "System Setup Program."

• Advanced power management options that can reduce the energy consumption of your system. For more information, see "System Setup Program."

• Dell Diagnostics for evaluating the computer's components and devices.

• Network device drivers for several network operating systems. For more information, see the Dell ResourceCD.

• Desktop Management Interface (DMI) support, which enables the management of your computer system's software and hardware. DMI defines the software, interfaces, and data files that enable your system to determine and report information about system components.

Manageability Features

• Auto Power On
  
  
• Temperature monitoring

The Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE) allows a personal computer to be managed by one or more configuration management servers running the Intel LANDesk® Configuration Manager (LCM) software, which provides management services for the many Managed PC systems on the network. The LCM allows network administrators to do the following:

• Provide preboot support for a new Managed PC system that depends on the server for its initial operating system installation

To use the Wakeup On LAN feature, each Managed PC system must contain a NIC that supports Wakeup On LAN. You must also enable the Wakeup On LAN option in the System Setup program.

Auto Power On

Auto Power On enables you to turn on the computer system automatically on certain days of the week at a preset time. You can set Auto Power On to turn on the system either every day or every Monday through Friday.

NOTE: This feature does not work if the system is shut off using a power strip or surge protector.

Temperature Monitoring

Your system includes temperature probes to sense when the processor becomes overheated. In such a case, a message appears on the screen when Dell OpenManage is running or at the next system start-up notifying you of the problem.

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Security Features

Your system has the following integrated security features.

• Chassis intrusion

• Security cable slot and padlock ring

• Passwords

Chassis Intrusion

An integrated chassis intrusion alarm displays the status of the system chassis intrusion monitor. If the chassis has been opened, the setting changes to Detected and the following message is displayed during the boot sequence at system start-up:

Alert! Cover was previously removed.

The field can be cleared using the System Setup program to enable future intrusions to be detected. For more information, see "System Setup Program."

Security Cable Slot and Padlock Ring

The padlock ring allows you to secure the computer cover to the chassis to prevent unauthorized access to the inside of the computer. To use the padlock ring, insert a commercially available padlock through the ring and then lock the padlock.

On the back of the computer are a security cable slot and padlock ring (see Figure 3 in "Setup and Operation") for attaching commercially available antitheft devices. (The padlock ring is recessed inside the cover.)  Security cables for personal computers usually include a segment of galvanized cable with an attached locking device and key. To prevent unauthorized removal of your computer, loop the cable around an immovable object, insert the locking device into the security cable slot on the back of your computer, and lock the device with the key provided. Complete instructions for installing this kind of antitheft device are usually included with the device.

NOTES: Antitheft devices are of differing designs. Before purchasing such a device, make sure it will work with the cable slot on your computer. Installing a security cable with a locking device in the security cable slot also prevents unauthorized access to the inside of the computer.

Passwords

The password feature enables you to set a user-defined password to restrict access to the system. Additional protection is available through the System Setup program. When the Setup Password option is set to Enabled, Password Status allows you to prevent the system password from being changed or disabled at boot time. For more information, see "System Setup Program."

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ENERGY STAR® Compliance

Certain configurations of Dell computer systems comply with the requirements set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for energy-efficient computers. If the front panel of your computer bears the ENERGY STAR® Emblem (see Figure 2), your original configuration complied with these requirements and all ENERGY STAR® power management features of the computer are enabled. To disable or change the operation of these features, you must change the setting for the Power Management option in the System Setup program.

NOTES:As an ENERGY STAR® Partner, Dell Computer Corporation has determined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR® guidelines for energy efficiency. Any Dell computer bearing the ENERGY STAR® Emblem is certified to comply with EPA ENERGY STAR® requirements as configured when shipped by Dell. Any changes you make to this configuration (such as installing additional expansion cards or drives) may increase the system's power consumption beyond the limits set by the EPA's ENERGY STAR® Computers program.

Figure 2. ENERGY STAR Emblem

The EPA's ENERGY STAR® Computers program is a joint effort between the EPA and computer manufacturers to reduce air pollution by promoting energy-efficient computer products. The EPA estimates that use of ENERGY STAR® computer products can save computer users up to two billion dollars annually in electricity costs. In turn, this reduction in electricity usage can reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the gas primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect, and sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are the two primary causes of acid rain.

Computer users can also help to reduce electricity usage and its side effects by turning off their computer systems when they are not in use for extended periods of time, particularly at night and on weekends.

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