CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide.
NOTICE: 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.
NOTE: Installing filler brackets over empty card-slot openings is necessary to maintain FCC certification of the computer. The brackets keep dust and dirt out of your computer and maintains the airflow that cools your computer.
Your Dell™ computer supports a PS/2 serial port adapter and provides the following connectors for PCI and PCI Express cards:
Two PCI card slots
One PCI Express x16 card slot
One PCI Express x1 card slot
1
PCI Express x16 card
4
PCI Express x1 card
2
securing tab (only for PCI Express cards)
5
PCI Express x1 card slot
3
PCI Express x16 card slot
Installing a PCI or PCI Express Card
NOTE: Your Dell computer uses only PCI and PCI Express slots.
NOTE: The serial port adapter for your mini tower computer includes two PS/2 connectors.
If you are replacing a card, uninstall the driver for the existing card. See the documentation that came with the card for instructions.
Gently push the release tab on the card retention latch from the inside to pivot the latch open. The
latch will remain in the open position.
1
card retention latch
2
alignment guide
3
card
4
card-edge connector
5
card connector
6
release tab
If you are installing a new card, remove the filler bracket to create a card-slot opening. Then continue
with step 5.
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.
If your card includes a card retention bar, remove the bar. Gently pull the securing tab, grasp the card
by its top corners, and ease it out of its connector.
Prepare the new card for installation.
NOTE: See the documentation that came with the card for information on configuring the card, making internal connections, or 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.
If you are installing the card into the x16 card connector, position the card so that the securing slot is
aligned with the securing tab, and gently pull the securing tab.
1
PCI Express x16 card
2
lever
3
securing slot (not all cards)
4
securing tab
5
PCI Express x16 card connector
Place the card in the connector and press down firmly. Ensure that the card is fully seated in the slot.
1
card fully seated
2
card not fully seated
3
bracket within slot
4
bracket caught outside of slot
Before you lower the card retention mechanism, ensure that:
The tops of all cards and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar.
The notch in the top of the card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide.
Secure the card(s) by closing the card retention latch and snapping it into place.
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.
Connect any cables that should be attached to the card.
See the documentation for the card for information about the card's cable connections.
Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover), reconnect the computer and
devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on.
NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it into the computer.
If you installed a sound card:
Enter system setup, select Audio Controller, and change the setting to Off (see System
Setup).
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 of the computer.
If you installed an network adapter card and want to turn off the integrated network adapter:
Enter system setup, select Network Controller, and change the setting to Off (see
System Setup).
Connect the network cable to the network adapter card's connectors. Do not connect the
network cable to the integrated network connector on the back panel of the computer.
NOTICE: If you disable the integrated network adapter, you will not have AMT functionality.
Install any drivers required for the card as described in the card documentation.
Gently push the release tab on the card retention latch from the inside to pivot the latch
open. The latch will remain in the open position.
1
card retention latch
2
alignment guide
3
card
4
card-edge connector
5
card connector
6
release tab
If necessary, disconnect any cables connected to the card.
If you are removing the card permanently, install a filler bracket in the empty card-slot opening.
NOTE: Installing filler brackets over empty card-slot openings is necessary to maintain FCC certification of the computer. The brackets keep dust and dirt out of your computer and maintains the airflow that cools your computer.
NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it into the computer.
Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover), reconnect the computer and
devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on.
Uninstall the card's driver. See the documentation that came with the card for instructions.
If you removed a sound card:
Enter system setup, select Audio Controller, and change the setting to On (see System Setup).
Connect external audio devices to the audio connectors on the back panel of the computer.
If you removed a network-adapter card connector:
Enter system setup, select Network Controller, and change the setting to On (see System Setup).
Connect the network cable to the integrated network connector on the back panel of the
computer.
PS/2 Serial Port Adapter
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide.
NOTICE: 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.
Gently push the release tab on the card retention latch from the inside to pivot the latch open. The
latch will remain in the open position
1
card retention latch
2
alignment guide
Remove the filler bracket (if applicable).
NOTE: See the documentation that came with the PS/2 serial port adapter for information on configuring the adapter, making internal connections, or customizing it for your computer.
Align the PS/2 serial-port adapter bracket in the retention slot and press down firmly. Ensure that the
adapter is fully seated in the slot.
1
card fully seated
2
card not fully seated
3
bracket within slot
4
bracket caught outside of slot
Before you close the card retention mechanism, ensure that:
The tops of all adapters and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar.
The notch in the top of the adapter or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide.
Close the card retention latch and gently press until it snaps into place.
NOTICE: Do not route cables over any installed cards. Cables routed over the cards can prevent the computer cover from closing properly or cause damage to the equipment.
Connect the adapter cable to the serial port adapter connector (SERIAL2) on the system board (see
System Board Components for connector locations).
NOTE: See the documentation for the PS/2 serial port adapter for information about the cable connections.
Gently push the release tab on the card retention latch from the inside to pivot the latch open. The
latch will remain in the open position.
1
card retention latch
2
alignment guide
Disconnect the PS/2 serial adapter cable from the system board (see System Board Components).
If necessary, disconnect any external cables connected to the adapter.
Ease the PS/2 serial-port adapter bracket out of its retention slot.
If you are removing the adapter permanently, install a filler bracket in the empty card-slot opening.
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 and maintains the airflow that cools your computer.
Before you close the card retention mechanism, ensure that:
The tops of all cards and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar.
The notch in the top of the card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide.
Secure the card(s) by closing the card retention latch and snapping it into place.
eSATA allows for full SATA data transfer rates (3 GB/sec) between a drive and the chipset, approximately six times the data throughput of USB.
eSATA on your computer also supports hot-plugging. Hot-plugging allows for device detection without powering down your computer prior to connecting the device to your computer. When a device is connected, the operating system automatically recognizes the change. However, the computer must be powered down before removal and/or replacement.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide.
NOTE: 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.
