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Installing System Board Options

Dell™ PowerEdge™ 500SC Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

  Removing and Replacing the Fan Assembly

  Adding and Replacing Expansion Cards

  Adding Memory

  Upgrading the Microprocessor

  Replacing the System Battery


This section describes how to install or replace the following options:

Use Figure 6-1 to locate the system board features. Table 6-1 describes the system board connectors and sockets.

WARNING: Before you perform this procedure, you must turn off the system and disconnect it from its power source. For more information, see "Safety First— For You and Your System" in "Troubleshooting Your System."

Figure 6-1. System Board Features

Table 6-1. System Board Connectors and Sockets 

Connector or Socket

Description

BATTERY

System battery connector

COM1

Serial port connectors

DIMM_x

Memory module sockets (DIMM_A–DIMM_D)

SLOT_n

Expansion card connectors (SLOT_1–SLOT_5)

LAN1

NIC connector

SYS_FAN2

Fan connector

PRIMARY IDE

Primary IDE connector

SECONDARY IDE

Secondary IDE connector

FDD

Diskette drive cable connector

KY

Keyboard connector

MS

Mouse connector

FRONT PANEL

System front panel connector

LPT

Parallel port connector

POWER

Power connector

CPU

Microprocessor socket

USB

USB connector

VGA

Video connector

J12

System jumpers

NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see "Abbreviations and Acronyms."

Removing and Replacing the Fan Assembly

The fan assembly consists of a fan and a cooling shroud. The cooling shroud is used to improve airflow over the microprocessor.

Removing the Cooling Shroud

  1. Turn off the system, including any peripherals, and disconnect the power cable from the electrical outlet.

  2. Remove the system cover (see "Removing the System Cover and Support Beam" in "Troubleshooting Your System").

  3. Remove the shroud by squeezing the retaining clips on the top of the shroud and lifting it straight up (see Figure 6-2).

Figure 6-2. Removing the Cooling Shroud

Replacing the Cooling Shroud

Place the shroud in the fan assembly guide slots and slide the shroud straight down until the retaining clips snap in place.

Removing the Fan

  1. Turn off the system, including any peripherals, and disconnect the power cable from the electrical outlet.

  2. Remove the system cover (see "Removing the System Cover and Support Beam" in "Troubleshooting Your System").

  3. Remove the cooling shroud (see "Removing the Cooling Shroud").

  4. While pushing the fan assembly upward, press the two release buttons on the back of the system and lift the fan assembly out of its retaining brackets (see Figure 6-3).

NOTE: Do not lift the fan out of the system until you have disconnected the fan cable from the system board.
  1. After the fan has been released from the retaining brackets, disconnect the fan cable from the SYS_FAN2 connector on the system board and lift the fan out of the system.

Figure 6-3. Removing the Fan

Replacing the Fan

  1. Connect the fan power cable to the fan connector (SYS_FAN2) on the system board (see Figure 6-1).

  2. Align the brackets on the back of the fan with the corresponding holes in the back-panel, and gently push down until the fan is firmly seated and the release buttons are engaged (see Figure 6-3).

  3. Install the cooling shroud (see "Replacing the Cooling Shroud").

  4. Replace the system cover (see "Replacing the System Cover and Support Beam").

Adding and Replacing Expansion Cards

Expansion cards are installed on the system board (see Figure 6-1). There are five expansion card slots available.

The card guide assembly is used to help secure the expansion cards.

Installing Expansion Cards

WARNING: Before you perform this procedure, you must turn off the system and disconnect it from its power source. For more information, see "Safety First— For You and Your System" in "Troubleshooting Your System."
  1. Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.

  2. Remove the system cover (see "Removing the System Cover and Support Beam" in "Troubleshooting Your System").

CAUTION: See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge" in the safety instructions in your System Information document.

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

  1. Unscrew and remove the filler bracket for the card slot you want to use. Save the screw to use when installing the expansion card later in this procedure (see "Removing the Filler Bracket").

Figure 6-4. Removing the Filler Bracket

  1. Align the cutout on the bottom of the card with the crossbar in the system board connector. Gently rock the card into the connector until it is fully seated (see Figure 6-5).

If the card is full-length, insert the front end of the card into the corresponding card guide at the front of the system as you insert the card into its connector.

Figure 6-5. Installing Expansion Cards

Make sure that the card is fully seated and that its bracket is within the card slot (see Figure 6-6).

Figure 6-6. Seating an Expansion Card

  1. Secure the bracket on the end of the card with the screw you removed in step 3.

  2. Connect any cables required for the card as described in the card documentation.

  3. Replace the system cover (see "Replacing the System Cover and Support Beam" in "Troubleshooting Your System").

  4. Plug your system and devices into their electrical outlets, and turn them on.

  5. Install any drivers required for the card as described in the card documentation.

Removing Expansion Cards

  1. Remove the system cover (see "Removing the System Cover and Support Beam" in "Troubleshooting Your System").

  2. Disconnect any cables connected to the expansion card.

  3. Remove the screw from the card bracket.

  4. Grasp the card by its top corners, and lift it from the system board.

  5. If you are removing the card permanently, install a metal filler bracket over the empty card-slot opening.

NOTE: Installing a filler bracket over an empty expansion slot is necessary to maintain Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification of the system. The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of the system and aid in proper cooling and airflow inside the system.
  1. Replace the system cover, and then reconnect the system and peripherals to their power sources and turn on the system (see "Replacing the System Cover and Support Beam" in "Troubleshooting Your System").

Adding Memory

The four memory module sockets on the system board can accommodate 64 MB to 2 GB of registered SDRAM (see Figure 6-1).

Memory Upgrade Kits

The system is upgradable to 2 GB by installing combinations of 64-, 128-, 256-, and 512-MB registered memory modules. If you receive an error message stating that maximum memory has been exceeded, see "Indicators, Messages, and Codes," for detailed information. You can purchase memory upgrade kits as needed.

NOTE: The memory modules must be PC-133 compliant.

Memory Module Installation Guidelines

For optimum operation, install the memory modules starting with the DIMM_A socket (furthest from the microprocessor) and working toward the DIMM_D socket, leaving no open sockets between installed memory modules.

Figure 6-7. Memory Module Sockets

Table 6-2. Sample Memory Module Configurations 

Total Memory

DIMM_A

DIMM_B

DIMM_C

DIMM_D

64 MB

64 MB

—

—

—

128 MB

128 MB

—

—

—

256 MB

128 MB

128 MB

—

—

512 MB

256 MB

256 MB

—

—

768 MB

256 MB

256 MB

256 MB

—

1 GB

256 MB

256 MB

256 MB

256 MB

2 GB

512 MB

512 MB

512 MB

512 MB

Table 6-2 illustrates several sample memory configurations based on these guidelines.

Performing a Memory Upgrade

WARNING: Before you perform this procedure, you must turn off the system and disconnect it from its power source. For more information, see "Safety First— For You and Your System" in "Troubleshooting Your System."
CAUTION: See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge" in the safety instructions in your System Information document.
  1. Remove the system cover (see "Removing the System Cover and Support Beam" in "Troubleshooting Your System").

  2. Locate the memory module sockets in which you will install or replace memory modules. Figure 6-7 shows the order of the memory module sockets.

  3. Install or replace the memory module as necessary to reach the desired memory total (see "Installing Memory Modules" or "Removing Memory Modules").

  4. Replace the system cover, reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system (see "Replacing the System Cover and Support Beam" in "Troubleshooting Your System"). After the system completes the 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 NVRAM. The monitor displays an error message that ends with the following words:

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

  1. 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.

  2. If the System Memory value is incorrect, one or more of the memory modules may not be installed properly. Repeat steps 1 through 4, checking to make sure that the memory modules are firmly seated in their sockets.

  3. Run the system memory test in the system diagnostics (see "Running the System Diagnostics").

Installing Memory Modules

WARNING: Before you perform this procedure, you must turn off the system and disconnect it from its power source. For more information, see "Safety First— For You and Your System" in "Troubleshooting Your System."
CAUTION: See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge" in the safety instructions in your System Information document.
  1. Remove the system cover (see "Removing the System Cover and Support Beam" in "Troubleshooting Your System").

  2. Press down and outward on the ejectors on the memory module socket, as shown in Figure 6-8, to allow the memory module to be inserted into the socket.

  3. Align the notches on the bottom of the module with the crossbars in the connector.

NOTICE: To avoid breaking the memory module, do not press near the middle of the module.
  1. Insert the module straight down into the connector, making sure that it fits into the vertical guides at each end of the connector. Press firmly on the ends until the memory module snaps into place.

When the memory module is properly seated in the socket, the ejectors on the memory module socket should align with the ejectors on the other sockets with memory modules installed.

  1. Repeat steps 2 through 4 of this procedure to install the remaining memory modules.

  2. Perform steps 4 through 7 of "Performing a Memory Upgrade."

Figure 6-8. Installing a Memory Module

Removing Memory Modules

WARNING: Before you perform this procedure, you must turn off the system and disconnect it from its power source. For more information, see "Safety First— For You and Your System" in "Troubleshooting Your System."
CAUTION: See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge" in the safety instructions in your System Information document.
  1. Remove the system cover.

  2. Locate the memory module sockets in which you will remove memory modules.

Figure 6-7 shows the order of the memory module sockets.

  1. Press down and outward on the ejectors on each end of the socket until the memory module pops out of the socket (see Figure 6-9).

Figure 6-9. Removing a Memory Module

Upgrading the Microprocessor

To take advantage of future options in speed and functionality, you can upgrade the system microprocessor.

The microprocessor and its associated L2 cache memory are contained in a PGA package that is installed in a ZIF socket on the system board. The following subsection describes how to upgrade or replace the microprocessor.

Replacing the Microprocessor

The following items are included in the microprocessor upgrade kit:

NOTE: Dell recommends that only a technically knowledgeable person perform this procedure.
  1. Remove the system cover (see "Removing the System Cover and Support Beam" in "Troubleshooting Your System").

  2. Remove the cooling shroud (see "Removing the Cooling Shroud" in "Troubleshooting Your System").

CAUTION: See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge" in the safety instructions in your System Information document.
  1. Press down on the heat-sink securing clip to release the clip from the retaining tab on the ZIF socket (see Figure 6-10).

  2. Remove the securing clip.

CAUTION: Never remove the heat sink from a microprocessor unless you intend to remove the microprocessor. The heat sink is necessary to maintain proper thermal conditions.
CAUTION: The microprocessor and heat sink can become extremely hot. Be sure the microprocessor has had sufficient time to cool before handling.

Figure 6-10. Securing Clip

  1. Remove the heat sink.

  2. Pull the socket release lever straight up until the microprocessor is released (see Figure 6-11).

  3. Lift the microprocessor out of the socket and leave the release lever up so that the socket is ready for the new microprocessor.

CAUTION: Be careful not to bend any of the pins when removing the microprocessor. Bending the pins can permanently damage the microprocessor.

Figure 6-11. Removing the Microprocessor

  1. Unpack the new microprocessor.

If any of the pins on the microprocessor appear bent, see "Getting Help," for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

  1. Align the pin-1 corner of the microprocessor (see Figure 6-12) with the pin-1 corner of the microprocessor socket.

NOTE: Identifying the pin-1 corners is critical to positioning the microprocessor correctly.

Identify the pin-1 corner of the microprocessor by locating the tiny gold triangle that extends from one corner of the large central rectangular area. The gold triangle points toward pin 1, which is also uniquely identified by a square pad.

Figure 6-12. Pin-1 Identification

  1. Install the microprocessor in the socket (see Figure 6-13).

CAUTION: Positioning the microprocessor incorrectly can permanently damage the microprocessor and the system when you turn on the system. When placing the microprocessor in the socket, be sure that all of the pins on the microprocessor go into the corresponding holes. Be careful not to bend the pins.

If the release lever on the microprocessor socket is not all the way up, move it to that position now.

With the pin-1 corners of the microprocessor and socket aligned, set the microprocessor lightly in the socket and make sure all pins are matched with the correct holes in the socket. Because the system uses a ZIF micro-processor socket, there is no need to use force (which could bend the pins if the microprocessor is misaligned). When the microprocessor is positioned correctly, it should drop down into the socket with minimal pressure.

When the microprocessor is fully seated in the socket, rotate the socket release lever back down until it snaps into place, securing the microprocessor.

Figure 6-13. Installing the Microprocessor

  1. Place the new heat sink on top of the microprocessor (see Figure 6-14).

  1. Orient the securing clip as shown in Figure 6-14.

Figure 6-14. Installing the Heat-Sink

  1. Hook the end of the clip without the heat-sink latch to the tab on the edge of the socket facing the front of the system.

  2. Push down and pivot the heat-sink latch until the hole on the clip latches onto the ZIF socket tab.

  3. Make sure that the latches engage.

  4. Replace the cooling shroud (see "Replacing the Cooling Shroud" in "Troubleshooting Your System").

  5. Reconnect your system and peripherals to their power sources, and turn on system.

  6. Press <F2> to enter the System Setup program, and check that the PROCESSOR 1 category matches the new system configuration.

See the system User's Guide for instructions.

  1. As the system boots, it detects the presence of the new processor and automatically changes the system configuration information in the System Setup program.

  2. Enter the System Setup program, and confirm that the top line in the system data area correctly identifies the installed processor. See "Using the System Setup Program" in your User's Guide.

  3. Run the system diagnostics to verify that the new microprocessor is operating correctly (see "Running the System Diagnostics").

Replacing the System Battery

The system battery maintains system configuration, date, and time information in a special section of memory when you turn off the system. The operating life of the battery ranges from 2 to 5 years. You may need to replace the battery if an incorrect time or date is displayed during the boot routine along with the following or similar message:

Time-of-day not set -- please run SETUP program
Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility

or

System CMOS checksum bad -- Run SETUP
Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility

or

Invalid configuration information -- please run SETUP program
Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility

To determine if the battery needs replacing:

  1. Reenter the time and date through the System Setup program.

  2. Turn off and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet for a few hours.

  3. Reconnect and turn the system on again.

  4. Enter the System Setup program.

If the date and time are not correct in the System Setup program, replace the battery.

NOTE: Some software may cause the system time to speed up or slow down. If the system seems to operate normally except for the time kept in the System Setup program, the problem may be caused by software rather than by a defective battery.
NOTE: If the system is turned off for long periods of time (for weeks or months), the NVRAM may lose its system configuration information. This situation is not caused by a defective battery.

You can operate the system without a battery; however, the system configuration information maintained by the battery in NVRAM is erased each time you shut down the system. Therefore, you must reenter the system configuration information and reset the options each time the system boots until you replace the battery.

The battery is a 3.0-volt (V), coin-cell battery. To remove the battery, perform the following steps.

WARNING: Before you perform this procedure, you must turn off the system and disconnect it from its power source. For more information, see "Safety First— For You and Your System" in "Troubleshooting Your System."
WARNING: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  1. Enter the System Setup program and, if possible, make a printed copy of the System Setup screens.

See "Using the System Setup Program," in the User's Guide for instructions.

  1. Shut down the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.

CAUTION: See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge" in the safety instructions in your System Information document.
  1. Remove the system cover (see "Removing the System Cover and Support Beam" in "Troubleshooting Your System").

  2. Remove any expansion cards that limit access to the battery (see "Removing Expansion Cards").

  3. Remove the battery (see Figure 6-1, for the battery location).

  4. Pry the battery out of its socket with your fingers or with a blunt, nonconductive object such as a plastic screwdriver.

  5. Install the new battery with the side labeled "+" facing up (see Figure 6-15).

  6. Replace any expansion cards that you removed in step 4 (see "Installing Expansion Cards").

Figure 6-15. Installing the Battery

  1. Replace the system cover, and then reconnect the system and peripherals to their power sources and turn on the system power.

  2. Enter the System Setup program to confirm that the battery is operating properly.

  3. Enter the correct time and date through the System Setup program's Time and Date settings.

Also reenter any system configuration information that is no longer displayed on the System Setup screens, and then exit the System Setup program.

  1. To test the newly installed battery, power down and disconnect the system from the electrical source for at least an hour.

  2. After an hour, connect the system to an electrical source and turn on the power.

  3. Enter the System Setup program and if the time and date are still incorrect, see "Getting Help," for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

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