Installing System Components 61

Expansion Cards

The system is available with one of two optional PCI riser configurations.
PCIe Riser Board Expansion Slots
The PCIe riser configuration provides two PCI Express expansion slots with the following features:
• Two PCIe risers, installed in the left and center riser connectors.
• Two x8-lane PCIe expansion slots.
• Support for full height/half-length PCI cards in both slots.
PCI-X Riser Board Expansion Slots
The PCI-X riser configuration provides two PCI-X slots with the fol lowing features:
• Two PCI-X risers, installed in the left and center riser connectors.
• Two PCI-X 64-bit/133-M Hz expansion slots (on separate buses) .
• Support for full height/half-length PCI cards in both slots.

Expansion Card Installation Guidelines

NOTE: You cannot combine PCIe and PCI-X risers. Two risers must be installed or the system will not power up.
NOTE: The expansion-card slots are not hot-pluggable.
To identify expansion slots, see Figure 3-12. The two expansion card slots are on separate buses.

Installing an Expansion Card

CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not cover ed by your
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.
1
Unpack the expansion card and prepare it for installation.
For instructions, see the documentation accompanying the card.
2
Turn off the system, including any attac hed peripherals, and discon nect th e system from the electrical
outlet.
3
Open the system. See "Opening and Closing the System" on pag e 46.
4
If you are adding a new card, ope n the expansion-card latch and remove the filler bracket. See
Figure 3-12.
5
Install the expansion card:
a
Position the expansio n c ard so th at th e card-e dge con nect or aligns with the exp ansion-ca rd c onnector
on the PCI riser board.