Summary of Contents for Dell OptiPlex GX50 Systems
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Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer Corporation is strictly forbidden. Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, and OptiPlex are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation; Microsoft, MS-DOS, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Precautionary Measures Getting Started This section provides procedures for removing and replacing the components, assemblies, and subassemblies in the Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 computers. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes that the following conditions exist: You have performed the steps in "Precautionary...
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In addition, take note of the following safety guideline when appropriate: Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the components or contacts on a card. Hold a card by it edges or by its metal mounting bracket. Hold a component such as a microprocessor by its edges, not by its pins. Back to Contents Page...
Back to Contents Page Computer Cover Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems Opening the Computer Cover Closing the Computer Cover Opening the Computer Cover NOTE: If your computer is on a stand, remove the stand before you open the computer cover. Small Form-Factor Computer...
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1 Security cable slot 2 Padlock ring 3 Release buttons (one on each side) Small Mini-Tower Computer 1 Release buttons (one on each side) 2 Padlock ring 3 Security cable slot 1. Remove the padlock from the padlock ring, if present.
NOTICE: Do not open the cover if the computer is on the edge of a desk or table. Doing so may cause the computer to tip over and fall. Make sure that the computer is situated so that there is at least 12 inches of desk- or table-top for the cover to rest on.
Back to Contents Page Inside the Computer Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems Key Components Computer Cables Key Components Inside the Small Form-Factor Computer 1 Hard drive System board 2 3.5-inch floppy drive Power supply 3 CD drive AC power connector 4 Cover release buttons (2) 10 I/O ports and connectors...
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1 Cover release buttons (2) 8 AC power connector 2 Hard drive Padlock ring 3 Internal speaker 10 I/O ports and connectors 4 Chassis intrusion switch 11 Heat sink assembly 5 Expansion-card cage 12 System board 6 Power supply 13 3.5-inch floppy drive 7 Expansion-card slots 14 CD drive Inside the Small Mini-Tower Computer...
1 Cover release buttons (2) 8 AC power connector 2 Hard drive Padlock ring 3 Internal speaker 10 Microprocessor and airflow shroud 4 Chassis intrusion switch 11 Power supply 5 System board 12 3.5-inch floppy drive 6 Expansion-card slots 13 CD drive 7 I/O ports and connectors Computer Cables Small Form-Factor Computer...
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1 CD drive data cable 6 IDE data cable (hard drive) 2 Floppy drive data cable 7 Input/output cable 3 Control panel cable 8 Input/output audio cable 4 CD drive power cable 9 CD audio cable 5 IDE drive power cable (hard drive) Small Desktop Computer...
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1 CD drive audio cable 5 Front I/O cable 2 CD drive data cable 6 Front I/O audio cable 3 3.5-inch floppy drive data cable 7 EIDE interface cable (hard drive) 4 Control panel cable Small Mini-Tower Computer...
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1 CD drive audio cable 6 Hard drive power cable 2 CD drive power cable 7 Hard drive data cable 3 CD drive data cable 8 Front I/O cable 4 Floppy drive data cable 9 Front I/O audio cable 5 Floppy drive power cable Cable Colors Hard drive Blue pull tab...
Back to Contents Page Chassis Intrusion Switch Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems Removing the Chassis Intrusion Switch Replacing the Chassis Intrusion Switch Resetting the Chassis Intrusion Detector Removing the Chassis Intrusion Switch Small Form-Factor Computer Small Desktop Computer...
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Small Mini-Tower Computer 1. Disconnect the chassis intrusion switch cable connector from the front I/O panel. Note the routing of the chassis intrusion cable as you remove it from the chassis. Chassis hooks may hold the cable in place inside the chassis.
2. Slide the chassis intrusion switch out of its slot and remove the switch and its attached cable from the chassis. Replacing the Chassis Intrusion Switch To replace the chassis intrusion switch, follow the "Removing the Chassis Intrusion Switch" procedures in reverse order. Resetting the Chassis Intrusion Detector 1.
Back to Contents Page Front-Panel Inserts Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems Removing Front-Panel Inserts Replacing Front-Panel Inserts Removing Front-Panel Inserts 1. On the small form-factor and small desktop computers, perform the following steps: a. Face the front of the computer and use your fingers to remove the front-panel cover.
Small Mini-Tower Computer Replacing Front-Panel Inserts To replace a front-panel insert, follow the appropriate procedure, in reverse, in "Removing Front-Panel Inserts." Back to Contents Page...
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Back to Contents Page Control Panel and Badge Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems Removing the Control Panel and Badge Replacing the Control Panel and Badge Removing the Control Panel and Badge Small Form-Factor Desktop Computer 1. Open the computer cover. 2. Using a flat-blade screwdriver, release the tabs from the inside of the computer and remove the plastic computer cover from the metal component.
4. To remove the control panel, perform the following steps: Removing the Control Panel—Small Form-Factor Computer a. Remove the metal control-panel shield. b. Remove the screw that holds the control panel to the computer. Small Desktop Computer 1. To remove the badge, open the front USB door. a.
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b. Using an 8-inch #2 Phillips screwdriver, remove the screw holding the control panel to the computer, and pull the panel up and away from the computer. Small Mini-Tower Computer 1. To remove the badge, open the front USB door. a.
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1 Top panel 2 Bottom panel 3 Front-panel tabs (3) 4 Top-panel tabs (8) d. Close the cover and remove the front bezel. Control-Panel Removal...
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e. Remove the screw holding the control panel to the chassis, and pull the panel up and away from the chassis. Replacing the Control Panel and Badge Small Form-Factor Desktop Computer 1. Replace the control panel and the control-panel shield. 2.
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1 Metal hooks (2) To help replace the plastic computer cover, remove the accent door and front mask from the plastic computer cover: a. Remove the front mask by releasing the tabs on the inside of the plastic computer cover. b.
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1 Accent door 2 Front mask 3. Replace the badge by following, in reverse order, the procedures in "Removing the Control Panel and Badge" for the small form-factor desktop computer. Small Desktop Computer 1. Replace the control panel and secure it to the computer by replacing the screw you removed in step 2 of the removal procedure.
Back to Contents Page I/O Panel Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems Removing the I/O Panel Replacing the I/O Panel Removing the I/O Panel Small Form-Factor Desktop Computer 1. To access the screw that holds the I/O panel to the computer, remove the hard drive.
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4. From inside the computer cover, remove the mounting screw that secures the I/O panel to the computer. 5. Remove the I/O panel from the computer. Small Desktop Computer Remove the hard-drive shroud. 2. Disconnect the hard-drive data cable. 3. Disconnect the control-panel cable from the control-panel connector on the I/O panel. Disconnect the I/O cable from the I/O panel.
Small Mini-Tower Computer I/O Panel Removal—Small Mini-Tower Computer 1 Internal speaker cable 2 Chassis intrusion switch cable 3 Mounting screw 4 Control-panel cable 5 Front audio cable 6 I/O cable 1. Disconnect the control-panel cable from the control-panel connector on the I/O panel. Disconnect the I/O cable from the I/O panel.
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To replace the I/O panel, follow the removal procedures in reverse. Back to Contents Page...
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Back to Contents Page Drives Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems Floppy Drive Removal Floppy Drive Replacement CD Drive Removal CD Drive Replacement Hard Drive Removal Hard Drive Replacement Floppy Drive Removal Small Form-Factor Desktop Computer 1. Disconnect the floppy-drive cable from the system board.
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1 Floppy-drive cable 2 Tab 3 Interposer board 4 System board floppy-drive connector (DSKT) b. To release the floppy-drive cable from the connector, slide the lever until it is fully extended, and then lift the cable away. Removing the Floppy-Drive Cable...
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1 Floppy-drive cable 2 Lever 5. Remove the floppy drive from its sled by pulling the sled tab out while pushing the drive up and then sliding the drive out of the sled. Removing the Floppy Drive—Small Form-Factor Computer...
1 Sled tab 2 Sled Small Desktop and Small Mini-Tower Computers 1. Disconnect the cables from the floppy drive and system board. Small Desktop Computer...
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1 Power cable 2 Floppy-drive cable 3 Floppy-drive system board connector Small Mini-Tower Computer 1 Power cable 2 Floppy-drive cable 3 Floppy-drive system board connector...
2. Press inward on the two tabs on the sides of the drive bay to disengage the drive from the computer. 3. Slide the drive upward and remove it from the computer. Small Desktop Computer Small Mini-Tower Computer Floppy Drive Replacement Small Form-Factor Desktop Computer 1.
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8. Enter system setup and update the appropriate Diskette Drive A option to reflect the size and capacity of your new floppy drive. 9. Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics. Small Desktop and Mini-Tower Computers 1.
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Floppy Drive Bracket Rails 1 Drive 2 Bracket rails (2) 3 Screws (4) 2. Gently slide the drive into place until the tabs securely click into position. 3. Attach the power and data cables to the floppy drive, and connect the other end of the data cable to the connector labeled "DSKT"...
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6. Enter system setup and update the appropriate Diskette Drive A option to reflect the size and capacity of your new floppy drive. 7. Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics. CD Drive Removal Small Form-Factor Desktop Computer 1.
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1 Interposer board 2. Press inward on the two tabs on the sides of the drive to disengage the drive from the computer. Removing the CD Drive—Small Form-Factor Computer Small Desktop and Small Mini-Tower Computers 1. Remove the data, power, and audio cables from the drive.
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Removing Cables—Small Desktop Computer 1 Power cable 2 Audio cable 3 CD drive cable 4 CD drive connector Removing Cables—Small Mini-Tower Computer...
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1 Power cable 2 Audio cable 3 CD drive cable 4 CD drive connector 2. Press inward on the two tabs on the sides of the drive bay to disengage the drive from the computer. 3. Slide the drive upward and remove it from the computer. Removing the CD Drive—Small Desktop Computer...
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2. If you are installing a new drive, connect it to the set of rails that are attached to the inside of the cover. If a set of rails is not attached to the inside of the cover, contact Dell.
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2. Connect the interposer board to the CD drive, ensuring that the data, power, and audio cables are attached to the interposer board. Connecting the Interposer Board—Small Form-Factor Computer 1 Interposer board Small Desktop and Small Mini-Tower Computers 1. Gently slide the drive into place until the tabs securely click into position. 2.
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1 Power cable 2 Audio cable 3 CD drive cable 4 CD drive connector Small Mini-Tower Computer...
1 Power cable 2 Audio cable 3 CD drive cable 4 CD drive connector If your computer came with an IDE CD drive, use the spare connector on the existing interface cable. Otherwise, use the IDE interface cable provided in the drive kit. 4.
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3. If the replacement drive does not have the bracket rails attached, remove the rails from the old drive by removing the two screws that secure each rail to the drive. Drive Brackets Rails Small Desktop Computer 1. Remove the plastic shroud covering the hard drive by pressing in on the indented tab at the top of the shroud and lifting the shroud away.
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2. Disconnect the power and hard-drive data cables from the drive. Removing Cables—Small Desktop Computer 1 Hard-drive cable 2 Power cable 3. Press in on the tabs on each side of the drive and slide it up and out. Removing the Hard Drive—Small Desktop Computer...
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1 Tabs (2) 2 Hard drive 4. If the replacement drive does not have the bracket rails attached, remove the rails from the old drive by removing the two screws that secure each rail to the drive. Drive Brackets Rails Small Mini-Tower Computer 1.
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1 Power cable 2 Hard-drive cable 2. Press in on the tabs on each side of the drive and slide it up and out. Removing the Hard Drive—Small Mini-Tower Computer 1 Tabs (2) 2 Hard drive 3. If the replacement drive does not have the bracket rails attached, remove the rails from the old drive by removing the two screws that secure each rail to the drive.
Hard Drive Replacement NOTICE: To avoid possibly damaging the drive by ESD, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer. NOTICE: When you unpack the drive, do not set it on a hard surface, which may damage the drive. Instead, set the drive on a surface, such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.
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1 Power cable 2 IDE cable 3 IDE1 connector Connecting Cables—Small Desktop Computer 1 Power cable 2 IDE cable 3 IDE1 connector...
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2 GB or less. For example, a computer with a 2.5-GB hard drive would have a primary partition of 2 GB (drive C) and a second partition of 500 MB (drive D). 12. Test the hard drive by running the Dell Diagnostics.
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See "Solving Problems" in the User's Guide for complete information. 13. If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, install the operating system on the hard drive. For instructions, refer to the documentation that came with the operating system. Back to Contents Page...
Back to Contents Page Expansion-Card Cage (Small Desktop Computer Only) Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems Removing the Expansion-Card Cage Replacing the Expansion-Card Cage Removing the PCI Riser Board Replacing the PCI Riser Board Removing the Expansion-Card Cage CAUTION: Use a wrist-grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary...
3. Reconnect any cables you removed in steps 1 and 2 of the previous procedure. Removing the PCI Riser Board NOTICE: To avoid damage to the expansion cards or the system board by ESD, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer. CAUTION: Use a wrist grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary...
Back to Contents Page Expansion Card Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems Removing an Expansion Card Replacing an Expansion Card Your computer provides expansion slots for the following cards: In the small form-factor computer, one low-profile, 32-bit, 33-MHz PCI card. In the small desktop computer, up to two 32-bit, 33-MHz PCI cards.
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1 Card-edge connector 2 Expansion card 3 Hinged lever 4 Retention arm 5 Expansion-card connector Small Desktop Computer...
5 Lever Replacing an Expansion Card CAUTION: Use a wrist-grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary Measures." CAUTION: Some network cards automatically start the computer when they are connected. To guard against electrical shock, be sure to unplug the computer from its electrical outlet before installing any expansion cards.
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1 Card-edge connector 2 Expansion card 3 Riser board 4 Expansion-card connector 5 Expansion-card cage 4. Place the expansion card on the connector and press down firmly. Make sure that the card is fully seated in the slot. If the expansion card is full-length, insert the end of the card into the expansion-card guide bracket as you lower the card toward its connector on the system board.
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1 Bracket within slot 2 Bracket caught outside of slot 3 Fully seated card 4 Not fully seated card Replacing an Expansion Card—Small Mini-Tower Computer 1 Filler bracket 2 Alignment bar 3 Alignment guide 4 Retention arm...
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5. Before lowering the retention arm, make sure of the following: Tops of all expansion cards and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar. Notch in the top of the card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide. Press the arm into place, securing the expansion card(s) in the computer.
Back to Contents Page Memory Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems Removing a Memory Module Replacing a Memory Module Removing a Memory Module CAUTION: Use a wrist-grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary Measures." 1. Press the securing clips outward simultaneously until the memory module disengages and pops out slightly from the socket.
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Back to Contents Page Microprocessor Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems Removing the Microprocessor and Cooling Fan/Heat-Sink Assembly Replacing the Microprocessor and Cooling Fan/Heat-Sink Assembly Removing the Microprocessor and Cooling Fan/Heat-Sink Assembly CAUTION: Use a wrist-grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary Measures."...
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a. Remove the memory module closest to the heat-sink assembly. b. Pull down on the toggle clip lever until you can unhook the ends of the clip from the tabs on each side of the ZIF socket. c. Remove the clip from the socket, and then lift the heat sink from the microprocessor. Removing the Securing Clip 1 ZIF socket tab 2 Toggle lever...
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1 Microprocessor chip 2 Release lever 3 Microprocessor socket NOTICE: Be careful not to bend any of the pins when you remove the microprocessor from the ZIF socket. Bending the pins can permanently damage the microprocessor. The ZIF socket has a lever-type handle that secures and releases the microprocessor from the ZIF socket. 5.
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NOTE: If you are installing a microprocessor replacement kit from Dell, return the original heat- sink assembly and microprocessor to Dell in the same package in which your replacement kit was sent. Your microprocessor replacement kit should include a replacement microprocessor heat sink. You need to reuse the original securing clip.
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If a setup password has been assigned by someone else, contact the network administrator for information on resetting the chassis intrusion detector. 12. Run the Dell Diagnostics to verify that the new processor is operating correctly. See the User's Guide for information on Dell Diagnostics.
Back to Contents Page Power Supply Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems Removing the Power Supply Replacing the Power Supply Removing the Power Supply Small Form-Factor Computer 1 Release button 2 AC power connector Small Desktop Computer...
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1 Push button 2 DC power cable 3 AC power connector Small Mini-Tower Computer 1 Push button 2 DC power cable 3 AC power connector...
4 Screws (2) 1. Disconnect the AC power cable from the back of the power supply. 2. Disconnect the DC power cables from the system board and the drives. Note the routing of the DC power cables underneath the clips in the computer as you remove them from the system board and drives.
Back to Contents Page System Board Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX50 Systems System Board Components Removing the System Board Replacing the System Board System Board Components Floppy drive connector 13 Front-panel audio connector Battery 14 Video connector (upper) and audio connectors (lower)
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Standby power light 19 Parallel port (upper) and serial port (2)(lower) connectors PCI3 connector 20 Fan connector PCI4 connector 21 Microprocessor and heat sink 10 PCI2 connector 22 Memory module (DIMM) connectors 11 PCI1 connector 23 DC power connector 12 CD audio connector 24 System board speaker System Board Labels Connector or Socket...
Removing the System Board CAUTION: Before you remove any component from the system board, read the steps in "Precautionary Measures." NOTE: The system board and metal tray are attached and are removed as one piece. 1. Remove any components that restrict access to the system board. 2.
5. Place the system board that you just removed next to the replacement system board. Replacing the System Board 1. Transfer components from the existing system board to the replacement system board. 2. Remove the memory modules and install them on the replacement board. CAUTION: The microprocessor package and heat-sink assembly can get hot.
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ALERT! Cover was previously removed. Reset the chassis intrusion detector. Back to Contents Page...