Dell Precision NT499, T3400, Precision Workstation T3400 DCTA User Manual

Dell Precision™ Workstation T3400

User’s Guide

Model DCTA

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Notes, Notices, and Cautions

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of

your computer.

NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates a potential for damage to hardware or loss of data

and tells you how to avoid the problem.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury,

or death.

____________________

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Dell Precision, and Dell OpenManage are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft, Windows, and Vista are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Computrace and Absolute are registered trademarks of Absolute Software Corporation.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

Model DCTA

July 2007 P/N NT499 Rev. A00

Contents

1 Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

2 About Your Computer

Front View (Tower Orientation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Back View (Tower Orientation)

Front View (Desktop Orientation)

Back View (Desktop Orientation)

Back Panel Connectors

Specifications

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

. . . . . . . . . . . . 25

. . . . . . . . . . . . 28

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

3 Advanced Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

LegacySelect Technology Control . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Manageability

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Power Management

4 About RAID Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Using RAID with Hard Drive Passwords . . . . . . . . 43

Dell OpenManage™ IT Assistant

Dell OpenManage Client Instrumentation

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

. . . . . . . . . 39

. . . . . 40

Contents 3

RAID Level 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

RAID Level 1

RAID Level 5

RAID Level 10 (1+0)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Configuring Your Computer for RAID

Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Configuring Your Computer for RAID Using

the Intel

RAID Option ROM Utility . . . . . . . . 48

Configuring Your Computer for RAID Using the Intel Matrix Storage Manager

Migrating to a RAID Level 0 Configuration

Migrating to a RAID Level 1 Configuration

Migrating to a RAID Level 5 Configuration

Migrating to a RAID Level 10 Configuration

Creating a Spare Hard Drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . 59

. . . . . . . . . . 47

. . . . . . . . . 52

. . . . . 56

. . . . . 57

. . . . 58

Rebuilding a Degraded RAID Level 1 Configuration

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

5 Setting Up Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Changing Between Tower and Desktop Orientations

Switching From Tower to Desktop Orientation

Switching From Desktop to Tower Orientation

Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure

Transferring Information to a New Computer

Microsoft

Microsoft Windows Vista™

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

. . . . . . . 62

. . . . . . 65

Windows® XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

. . . . . . . . . . . . 68

4 Contents

Power Protection Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Surge Protectors

Line Conditioners

Uninterruptible Power Supplies

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

. . . . . . . . . . 69

6 Securing Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Chassis Intrusion Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Security Cable Lock

Smart Cards and Fingerprint Readers

Passwords

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

About Passwords

Using a Primary (System) Password

Using an Administrator Password

Using a Hard Drive Password

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

. . . . . . . . . 72

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

. . . . . . . . 74

. . . . . . . . . 74

. . . . . . . . . . . 75

Trusted Platform Module (TPM)

Turning On and Activating TPM

Security Management Software

Computer Tracking Software

If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

. . . . . . . . . . 76

. . . . . . . . . . . . 77

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

. . . . . . . . . . . 78

7 Cleaning Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Mouse (Non-Optical)

Floppy Drive

CDs and DVDs

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Contents 5

8 System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Entering System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

System Setup Screens

System Setup Options

Boot Sequence

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Changing Boot Sequence for the Current Boot

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots

9 Clearing Passwords and CMOS

Settings

Clearing Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Clearing CMOS Settings

Flashing the BIOS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

. . . . 94

10 Troubleshooting Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

6 Contents

Power Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Diagnostic Lights

Diagnostic Light Codes During POST

Beep Codes

System Messages

Hardware Troubleshooter

Dell Diagnostics

When to Use the Dell Diagnostics

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

. . . . . . . 100

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

. . . . . . . . . 108

Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu

. . . . . . . . . . . . 110

11 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Battery Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Drive Problems

Optical drive problems

Problems writing to an optical drive

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems

Error Messages

IEEE 1394 Device Problems

Keyboard Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

. . . . . . . . . . 114

. . . . . . . . 115

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

Lockups and Software Problems

The computer does not start up

The computer stops responding

A program stops responding

A program crashes repeatedly

A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system

A solid blue screen appears

Other software problems

Memory Problems

Mouse Problems

Network Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

. . . . . . . . . . . . 119

. . . . . . . . . . 119

. . . . . . . . . . . . 119

. . . . . . . . . . 119

. . . . . . . . . . . . 120

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

Contents 7

Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

Printer Problems

Scanner Problems

Sound and Speaker Problems

No sound from speakers

No sound from headphones

Video and Monitor Problems

The screen is blank

The screen is difficult to read

3D image quality is poor

Only part of the screen is readable

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

. . . . . . . . . . . . 126

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

. . . . . . . . . . . 127

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

. . . . . . . . 129

12 Reinstalling Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

What Is a Driver?

Identifying Drivers

Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities

Restoring Your Operating System

Using Microsoft

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

. . . . . . . . . . 132

. . . . . . . . . . . . 136

Windows System Restore . . . . 136

Using Dell PC Restore and Dell Factory Image Restore

Using the Operating System Media

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

. . . . . . . . 141

13 Adding and Replacing Parts . . . . . . . . . 143

Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

Recommended Tools

Turning Off Your Computer

Before Working Inside Your Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

. . . . . . . 144

8 Contents

Removing the Computer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Inside View of Your Computer

System Board Components

. . . . . . . . . . . 146

. . . . . . . . . . . . 148

Power Supply DC Connector Pin Assignments

Removing the Front Panel

Chassis Intrusion Switch

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

Removing the Chassis Intrusion Switch

Replacing the Chassis Intrusion Switch

Resetting the Chassis Intrusion Detector

Memory

Cards

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

Memory Overview

Removing a Memory Module

Installing a Memory Module

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

PCI Cards

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

. . . . . . . . . . . 160

. . . . . . . . . . . . 160

. . 149

. . . . . . 155

. . . . . . 156

. . . . . 157

PCI Express Cards

Drives

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

Tower Computer Drive Configurations

Desktop Computer Drive Configurations

About Metal Shields (Present in Some Drive Configurations)

General Installation Guidelines

Hard Drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

. . . . . . . . . . 189

Removing a Hard Drive (Tower or Desktop Computer)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Installing a Hard Drive or Adding a Second Optional Hard Drive (Tower or Desktop Computer)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

Removing an Optional Third Hard Drive (Tower Computer)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

. . . . . . . 185

. . . . . . 187

Contents 9

Installing an Optional Third Hard Drive (Tower Computer)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199

Removing an Optional Fourth SATA Hard Drive (Tower Computer)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201

Installing an Optional Fourth Hard Drive (Tower Computer)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202

Removing an Optional Third Hard Drive (Desktop Computer)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203

Installing an Optional Third Hard Drive (Desktop Computer)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

Installing an Additional Fan

Drive Panel

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212

. . . . . . . . . . . . 210

Removing the Drive Panel (Tower Computer)

Replacing the Drive Panel (Tower Computer)

Removing the Drive Panel (Desktop Computer)

Replacing the Drive Panel (Desktop Computer)

Removing a Drive-Panel Insert

Installing a Drive-Panel Insert

Floppy Drive or Media Card Reader

. . . . . . . . . . . 218

. . . . . . . . . . . 219

Removing a Floppy Drive or Media Card Reader (Tower Computer)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 220

Installing a Floppy Drive or Media Card Reader (Tower Computer)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 222

Removing a Floppy Drive or a Media Card Reader (Desktop Computer)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 226

. . . 213

. . . 214

. . 215

. . 216

Installing a Floppy Drive or Media Card Reader (Desktop Computer)

Optical Drive

Removing an Optical Drive (Tower Computer)

Installing an Optical Drive (Tower Computer)

Removing an Optical Drive (Desktop Computer)

Installing an Optical Drive (Desktop Computer)

Installing the Optional Speaker

10 Contents

. . . . . . . . . . . . 228

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231

. . . 231

. . . 233

. . 236

. . 237

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 240

Processor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243

Removing the Processor

Replacing the Processor

Battery

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248

About the Battery

Removing the Battery

Replacing the Battery

I/O Panel

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251

I/O-Panel Components

Removing the I/O Panel

Replacing the I/O Panel

Power Supply

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256

Removing the Power Supply

Replacing the Power Supply

System Board

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255

. . . . . . . . . . . . 256

. . . . . . . . . . . . 257

Removing the System Board

Replacing the System Board

Replacing the Front Panel

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261

Replacing the Computer Cover

. . . . . . . . . . . . 258

. . . . . . . . . . . . 260

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 262

14 Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263

Obtaining Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263

Technical Support and Customer Service

DellConnect

Online Services

AutoTech Service

Automated Order-Status Service

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265

. . . . . . . . . 265

. . . . . 264

Contents 11

Problems With Your Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265

Product Information

Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit

Before You Call

Contacting Dell

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266

. . . . . 266

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269

15 Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271

FCC Notice (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271

FCC Class B

Macrovision Product Notice

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273

12 Contents

Contents 13

14 Contents

Finding Information

NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your

computer. Some features or media may not be available in certain countries.

NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer.

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• A diagnostic program for my computer

• Drivers for my computer

• Desktop System Software (DSS)

Drivers and Utilities Disc

NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities disc may

be optional and may not ship with your computer.

Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer. You can use the Drivers and Utilities disc to reinstall drivers (see "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 132), or to run the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 107).

Readme files may be included on your disc to provide last-minute updates about technical changes to your computer or advanced technical-reference material for technicians or experienced users.

Drivers and documentation updates can be found at support.dell.com.

Finding Information 15

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to set up my computer

• How to care for my computer

• Basic troubleshooting information

• How to run the Dell Diagnostics

• Tools and utilities

• How to open my computer

• Warranty information

• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)

• Safety instructions

• Regulatory information

• Ergonomics information

Quick Reference Guide

NOTE: This document is available as a PDF

at support.dell.com.

Dell™ Product Information Guide

• End User License Agreement

• How to remove and replace parts

• Specifications

• How to configure system settings

• How to troubleshoot and solve problems

Dell Precision™ User’s Guide

Microsoft Windows XP and Windows

™

Vista

Help and Support Center

Click

Start→

Help and Support→ Dell User and System Guides System Guides

Click the

User’s Guide

for your

→

computer.

16 Finding Information

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Service Tag and Express Service Code

• Microsoft

Windows® Product Key

Service Tag and Microsoft Windows Product Key

These labels are located on your computer.

• Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use

support.dell.com

or contact support.

• Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting support.

NOTE: As an increased security measure,

the newly designed Microsoft Windows license label incorporates a missing portion, or hole, to discourage removal of the label.

Finding Information 17

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles from technicians, online courses, and frequently asked questions

• Community — Online discussion with other Dell customers

• Upgrades — Upgrade information for components, such as the memory, hard drive, and operating system

• Customer Care — Contact information, service call and order status, and warranty and repair information

• Service and support — Service call status, support history, service contract, and online discussions with support

• Dell Technical Update Service — Proactive e-mail notification of software and hardware updates for your computer

• Reference — Computer documentation, details on my computer configuration, product specifications, and white papers

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

NOTE: Select your region or business

segment to view the appropriate support site.

• Downloads — Certified drivers, patches, and software updates

• Desktop System Software (DSS)— If you reinstall the operating system for your computer, you should also reinstall the DSS utility. DSS automatically detects your computer and operating system and installs the updates appropriate for your configuration, providing critical updates for your operating system and support for processors, optical drives, USB devices, etc. DSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer.

18 Finding Information

To download Desktop System Software:

Go to country/region, and then click

& Downloads

Click

support.dell.com

Select Model

, select your

Drivers

Enter a Tag

, make the appropriate selections or enter the appropriate information for your computer, and then click

Scroll down to

System and Configuration Utilities System Software

, and then click

Confirm

→

Desktop

Download Now.

NOTE: The support.dell.com user interface

may vary depending on your selections.

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to use Windows XP

• How to use Windows Vista

• How to work with programs and files

• How to personalize my desktop

• How to reinstall my operating system

Windows Help and Support Center

Click

Start→

Type a word or phrase that describes

Help and Support

your problem and click the arrow icon.

Click the topic that describes your problem.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Operating System Media

The operating system is already installed on your computer. To reinstall your operating system, use the Operating System reinstallation media that came with your computer (see "Restoring Your Operating System" on page 136).

After you reinstall your operating system, use the optional Drivers and Utilities disc to reinstall drivers for the devices that came with your computer

Your operating system product key label is located on your computer.

NOTE: The color of your operating system

installation media varies according to the operating system you ordered.

Finding Information 19

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to use Linux

• E-mail discussions with users of Dell Precision products and the Linux operating system

• Additional information regarding Linux and my Dell Precision computer

Dell Supported Linux Sites

• linux.dell.com

• lists.us.dell.com/mailman/listinfo/linuxprecision

20 Finding Information

About Your Computer

Front View (Tower Orientation)

1 upper 5.25-inch drive

bay

2 lower 5.25-inch drive

bay

3 upper 3.5-inch drive

bay

Supports an optical drive.

Supports an optical drive or an additional hard drive (SATA only).

Supports a floppy drive, a Media Card Reader, or an additional hard drive (SATA or SAS).

About Your Computer 21

4 lower 3.5-inch drive

bay

Supports a floppy drive or a Media Card Reader.

5 hard drive activity

light

6 IEEE 1394 connector

(optional)

7 USB 2.0 connectors

(2)

The hard drive activity light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the hard drive. The light may also be on when a device such as an optical drive is in operation.

Use the optional IEEE 1394 connector for high-speed data devices such as digital video cameras and external storage devices.

Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as flash memory keys or cameras, or for bootable USB devices (see "System Setup" on page 81 for more information on booting to a USB device).

NOTE: It is recommended that you use the back USB

connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.

8 Dell badge (rotatable) Use the plastic handle on the back of the Dell badge to

rotate the badge for tower-to-desktop or desktop-totower conversion.

9 power button Press to turn on the computer.

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the

power button to turn off the computer. Instead, perform an operating system shutdown.

NOTICE: If your operating system has ACPI

enabled, when you press the power button the computer will perform an operating system shutdown.

NOTE: The power button can also be used to wake the

system or to place it into a power-saving state (see "Power Management" on page 40 for more information).

22 About Your Computer

10 power light The power light illuminates and blinks or remains solid

to indicate different states:

• No light — The computer is turned off (S4, S5, or mechanical OFF).

• Steady green — The computer is in a normal operating state.

• Blinking green — The computer is in a powersaving state (S1 or S3).

• Blinking or solid amber — See "Power Problems" on page 123.

To exit from a power-saving state, press the power button or use the keyboard or mouse if it is configured as a wake device in the Windows Device Manager. For more information about sleep states and exiting from a power-saving state, see "Power Management" on page 40.

For a description of diagnostic light codes for troubleshooting problems with your computer, see "Diagnostic Lights" on page 100.

11 microphone

connector

Use the microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.

12 headphone connector Use the headphone connector to attach headphones.

13 diagnostic lights (4) Use the diagnostic lights to help you troubleshoot a

problem with your computer (see "Diagnostic Lights" on page 100).

14 network link light The network link light is on when a good connection

exists between a 10-Mbps, 100-Mbps, or 1000-Mbps (1-Gbps) network and the computer.

About Your Computer 23

Back View (Tower Orientation)

1 power connector Insert the power cable.

2 voltage selection

switch

See the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide for more information.

NOTE: The voltage selection switch is available on the 375-W

PSU only.

3 back panel

connectors

Plug serial, USB, and other devices into the appropriate connector.

24 About Your Computer

4 card slots Access connectors for any installed PCI or PCI Express

cards.

NOTE: The upper five connector slots support full-length

cards; the connector slot at the bottom supports a half-length card.

NOTE: Check the documentation for cards to ensure that you

can accommodate them in your configuration. Some cards that require more physical space and power (such as PCI Express graphics cards) may restrict the use of other cards.

Front View (Desktop Orientation)

1 2 7

1 upper 5.25-inch drive

bay

2 lower 5.25-inch drive

bay

5 6

Supports an optical drive.

Supports an optical drive or an additional hard drive (SATA only).

9101112

3 3.5-inch drive bay Supports a floppy drive or a Media Card Reader.

4 hard drive activity

light

The hard drive activity light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the hard drive. The light may also be on when a device such as an optical drive is in operation.

About Your Computer 25

5 IEEE 1394 connector

(optional)

Use the optional IEEE 1394 connector for high-speed data devices such as digital video cameras and external storage devices.

6 USB 2.0 connectors

(2)

NOTE: It is recommended that you use the back USB

connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.

7 power button Press to turn on the computer.

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the

power button to turn off the computer. Instead, perform an operating system shutdown.

NOTICE: If your operating system has ACPI

enabled, when you press the power button the computer will perform an operating system shutdown.

NOTE: The power button can also be used to wake the

system or to place it into a power-saving state. See "Power Management" on page 40 for more information.

26 About Your Computer

8 power light The power light illuminates and blinks or remains solid

to indicate different states:

• No light — The computer is turned off (S4, S5, or mechanical OFF).

• Steady green — The computer is in a normal operating state.

• Blinking green — The computer is in a powersaving state (S1 or S3).

• Blinking or solid amber — See "Power Problems" on page 123.

For a description of diagnostic light codes for troubleshooting problems with your computer, see "Diagnostic Lights" on page 100.

9 diagnostic lights (4) Use the diagnostic lights to help you troubleshoot a

problem with your computer (see "Diagnostic Lights" on page 100).

10 microphone

connector

Use the microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.

11 headphone connector Use the headphone connector to attach headphones.

12 network link light The network link light is on when a good connection

exists between a 10-Mbps, 100-Mbps, or 1000-Mbps (or 1-Gbps) network and the computer.

About Your Computer 27

Back View (Desktop Orientation)

1 card slots Access connectors for any installed PCI or PCI Express

cards.

NOTE: Check the documentation for cards to ensure that

you can accommodate them in your configuration. Some cards that require more physical space and power (such as PCI Express graphics cards) may restrict the use of other cards.

2 power connector Insert the power cable.

3 voltage selection

switch

4 back panel connectors Plug serial, USB, and other devices into the

28 About Your Computer

See the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide for more information.

NOTE: The voltage selection switch is available on the

375-W PSU only.

appropriate connector.

Back Panel Connectors

1 mouse connector Plug a PS/2 mouse into the green mouse connector. Turn off

2 parallel

connector

2 345

891011

the computer and any attached devices before you connect a mouse to the computer. If you have a USB mouse, plug it into a USB connector.

Connect a parallel device, such as a printer, to the parallel connector. If you have a USB printer, plug it into a USB connector.

NOTE: The integrated parallel connector is automatically

disabled if the computer detects an installed card containing a parallel connector configured to the same address. For more information, see "System Setup Options" on page 82.

3 link integrity

light

• Green — A good connection exists between a 10-Mbps network and the computer.

• Orange — A good connection exists between a 100-Mbps network and the computer.

• Yellow — A good connection exists between a 1000-Mbps (or 1-Gbps) network and the computer.

• Off — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network.

About Your Computer 29

4 network adapter

connector

To attach your computer to a network or broadband device, connect one end of a network cable to either a network jack or your network or broadband device. Connect the other end of the network cable to the network adapter connector on your computer. A click indicates that the network cable has been securely attached.

NOTICE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the network

connector.

On computers with an additional network connector card, use the connectors on the card and on the back of the computer when setting up multiple network connections (such as a separate intra- and extranet).

It is recommended that you use Category 5 wiring and connectors for your network. If you must use Category 3 wiring, force the network speed to 10 Mbps to ensure reliable operation.

5 network activity

light

6 line-out

connector

7 line-in connector Use the blue line-in connector to attach a record/playback

8 Rear Dual USB

2.0 connectors (2)

The network activity light is on (flashing) when the computer is transmitting or receiving network data. A high volume of network traffic may make this light appear to be in a steady on state.

Use the green line-out connector to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers.

On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.

device such as a microphone, cassette player, CD player, or VCR.

On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.

Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.

NOTE: It is recommended that you use the front USB

connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as flash memory keys or cameras, or for bootable USB devices.

30 About Your Computer

+ 260 hidden pages

Dell Precision NT499, T3400, Precision Workstation T3400 DCTA User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual