About Your Small Form-Factor Computer

Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX280 Systems User's Guide

Attaching and Removing the Computer Stand

Front View

1

USB 2.0 connectors (2)

Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as joysticks or cameras (see "System Setup" for more information on booting to a USB device).
It is recommended that you use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.

2

CD/DVD drive-activity light

The drive activity light is on when the computer reads data from the CD or DVD drive.

3

CD/DVD drive eject button

Press to eject a CD/DVD from the drive.

4

floppy-drive eject button

Press to eject a floppy disk from the floppy drive.

5

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.

NOTE: If your operating system has ACPI enabled, when you press the power button the computer will perform an operating system shutdown.

6

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 power-saving state. (S1 or S3)

Blinking or solid amber — See "Power Problems."

To exit from a power-saving state, press the power button or use the keyboard or the 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."
See "Diagnostic Lights" for a description of light codes that can help you troubleshoot problems with your computer.

7

hard-drive activity light

The hard drive light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the hard drive. The light might also be on when a device such as your CD player is operating.

8

headphone connector

Use the headphone connector to attach headphones and most kinds of speakers.

Back View

1

back panel connectors

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

2

security cable slot

Use a security cable with the slot to help secure your computer.

3

padlock ring

Insert a padlock to lock the computer cover.

4

card slots

Access connectors for any installed PCI and PCI Express cards.

5

voltage selection switch (may not be available on all computers)

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

6

power connector

Insert the power cable.

1

serial connector

Connect a serial device, such as a handheld device, to the serial port. The default designations are COM1 for serial connector 1 and COM2 for serial connector 2.
For more information, see "System Setup Options."

2

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 1-Gbps (or 1000-Mbps) network and the computer.

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

3

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 the back panel of your computer. A click indicates that the network cable has been securely attached.
NOTE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the network connector.

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

4

network activity light

Flashes a yellow light 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.

5

line-in connector

Use the blue line-in connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach a record/playback device such as a cassette player, CD player, or VCR.
On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.

6

line-out connector

Use the green line-out connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers.
On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.

7

microphone connector

Use the pink microphone connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.
On computers with a sound card, the microphone connector is on the card.

8

USB 2.0 connectors (6)

Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.
It is recommended that you use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as joysticks or cameras, or for bootable USB devices.

9

diagnostic lights

Use the lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem based on the diagnostic code. For more information, see "Diagnostic Lights."

10

video connector

Plug the cable from your VGA-compatible monitor into the blue connector.
NOTE: If you purchased an optional graphics card, this connector will be covered by a cap. Connect your monitor to the connector on the graphics card. Do not remove the cap.

NOTE: If you are using a graphics card that supports dual monitors, use the y-cable that came with your computer.

11

parallel 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."

Inside Your Computer

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

CAUTION: To avoid electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover.

NOTICE: Be careful when opening the computer cover to ensure that you do not accidentally disconnect cables from the system board.

1

hard drive

6

system board

2

floppy drive

7

power supply

3

CD/DVD drive

8

padlock ring

4

internal speaker

9

heat sink and blower assembly

5

chassis intrusion switch

System Board Components

1

RTC reset jumper (RTCRST)

14

line-in, line-out, and microphone connectors (AUDIO)

2

floppy drive connector (DSKT)

15

network connector (NIC) and USB connector (USB2)

3

battery socket (BATTERY)

16

USB connectors (USB1)

4

internal speaker (SPEAKER)

17

diagnostic lights (DIAG LED)

5

CD/DVD drive connector (IDE)

18

serial port connector (SER1) and video connector (VGA)

6

front-panel connector (FRONTPANEL)

19

parallel port connector (PAR)

7

serial ATA drive 0 connector (SATA0)

20

power connector (12VPOWER)

8

standby power light (AUX_PWR)

21

processor and heat-sink connector (CPU)

9

memory module connectors (DIMM1 and DIMM2)

22

heat sink/blower retention pad

10

PCI Express x16 connector (PEG)

23

serial port 2 connector (SER_PS2)

11

PCI riser connector (PCI)

24

fan connector (FAN)

12

CD drive analog audio cable connector for optional analog audio cable (CD_IN)

25

password jumper (PSWD)

13

front-panel audio cable connector (FRONTAUDIO)

26

power connector (POWER)

Attaching and Removing the Computer Stand

NOTE: Place your computer on a soft surface to prevent scratching the top cover.

Your computer can be used in either a vertical or horizontal position.

To use the computer in a vertical position, you must attach the computer stand:

Place the computer on its right side so that the drive bays are at the bottom.
Fit the stand onto what was the left side of the computer.
1. Position the stand as shown in the following illustration by aligning the large round hole in the stand with the securing button on the side of the cover and aligning the captive screw in the stand with the screw hole in the cover.
1. When the stand is in place, tighten the thumbscrew.
Rotate the computer so that the stand is at the bottom and the drives are at the top.

To remove the stand:

Turn the computer over so that the stand is at the top.
Loosen the thumbscrew and lift the stand away.
Place the computer in a horizontal position.

Back to Contents Page

1	back panel connectors	Plug serial, USB, and other devices into the appropriate connector.
2	security cable slot	Use a security cable with the slot to help secure your computer.
3	padlock ring	Insert a padlock to lock the computer cover.
4	card slots	Access connectors for any installed PCI and PCI Express cards.
5	voltage selection switch (may not be available on all computers)	See the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide for more information.
6	power connector	Insert the power cable.

1	serial connector	Connect a serial device, such as a handheld device, to the serial port. The default designations are COM1 for serial connector 1 and COM2 for serial connector 2. For more information, see "System Setup Options."
2	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 1-Gbps (or 1000-Mbps) network and the computer. Off — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network.
3	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 the back panel of your computer. A click indicates that the network cable has been securely attached. NOTE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the network connector. On computers with a network connector card, use the connector on the card. 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.
4	network activity light	Flashes a yellow light 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.
5	line-in connector	Use the blue line-in connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach a record/playback device such as a cassette player, CD player, or VCR. On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.
6	line-out connector	Use the green line-out connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers. On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.
7	microphone connector	Use the pink microphone connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program. On computers with a sound card, the microphone connector is on the card.
8	USB 2.0 connectors (6)	Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards. It is recommended that you use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as joysticks or cameras, or for bootable USB devices.
9	diagnostic lights	Use the lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem based on the diagnostic code. For more information, see "Diagnostic Lights."
10	video connector	Plug the cable from your VGA-compatible monitor into the blue connector. NOTE: If you purchased an optional graphics card, this connector will be covered by a cap. Connect your monitor to the connector on the graphics card. Do not remove the cap. NOTE: If you are using a graphics card that supports dual monitors, use the y-cable that came with your computer.
11	parallel 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."

1	hard drive	6	system board
2	floppy drive	7	power supply
3	CD/DVD drive	8	padlock ring
4	internal speaker	9	heat sink and blower assembly
5	chassis intrusion switch

1	RTC reset jumper (RTCRST)	14	line-in, line-out, and microphone connectors (AUDIO)
2	floppy drive connector (DSKT)	15	network connector (NIC) and USB connector (USB2)
3	battery socket (BATTERY)	16	USB connectors (USB1)
4	internal speaker (SPEAKER)	17	diagnostic lights (DIAG LED)
5	CD/DVD drive connector (IDE)	18	serial port connector (SER1) and video connector (VGA)
6	front-panel connector (FRONTPANEL)	19	parallel port connector (PAR)
7	serial ATA drive 0 connector (SATA0)	20	power connector (12VPOWER)
8	standby power light (AUX_PWR)	21	processor and heat-sink connector (CPU)
9	memory module connectors (DIMM1 and DIMM2)	22	heat sink/blower retention pad
10	PCI Express x16 connector (PEG)	23	serial port 2 connector (SER_PS2)
11	PCI riser connector (PCI)	24	fan connector (FAN)
12	CD drive analog audio cable connector for optional analog audio cable (CD_IN)	25	password jumper (PSWD)
13	front-panel audio cable connector (FRONTAUDIO)	26	power connector (POWER)