Introduction: Dell™ Precision™ WorkStation 610 Mini Tower Systems

Overview System Features Important Note to Windows NT 4.0 Users Front Panel Back Panel Getting Help

Overview

Dell Precision 610 systems are high-speed, upgradable workstations designed around Intel® Pentium® II Xeon® processors. These Dell systems support the high-performance Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus and the accelerated graphics port (AGP) bus. Each system also has an Industry-Standard Architecture (ISA) design with one ISA slot that allows you to configure the computer system to your initial requirements and then upgrade it as necessary.

This chapter describes the major hardware and software features of the system and provides information you will need to reinstall the operating system, if necessary. It also provides information about the indicators and controls on the computer's front panel and discusses connecting external devices to the computer.

System Features

The system offers the following features:

An Intel Pentium II Xeon processor. The following processor option is available:

-Single or dual Intel Pentium II Xeon processor(s) with an internal speed of 400 MHz or 450 MHz and an external speed of 100 MHz

The Intel Pentium II Xeon processor includes MMX technology designed to handle complex multimedia and communications software. This processor incorporates new instructions and data types as well as a technique called single instruction, multiple data (SIMD). SIMD allows the processor to process multiple data elements in parallel, thereby improving system performance when you are running application programs written to take advantage of MMX technology.

The Intel Pentium II Xeon processor has a 16-kilobyte (KB) internal data cache and a 16-KB internal instruction cache, an internal math coprocessor, and other advanced internal logic.

A secondary cache of 512 KB or 1 megabyte (MB) of static random-access memory (SRAM) integrated in the Slot 2 single- edge contact (Slot 2 SEC) cartridge. The secondary cache also provides error checking and correction (ECC) capability. Dual-processor capability. The system allows the installation of a second Slot 2 SEC cartridge (operating at the same frequency as the installed processor), which can be purchased as a kit from Dell. Dual processing improves performance

under operating systems that support multiprocessing, such as Microsoft®

Windows NT® 4.0.

A 16-bit, integrated Plug and Play Crystal CS4237B audio controller that is Sound Blaster Pro-compatible and that supports

the Microsoft Windows® Sound System. See "Using the Integrated Audio Controller" for details.

System memory that can be increased incrementally up to 512 MB using unbuffered synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs), or up to 2048 MB using registered SDRAM DIMMS.

The memory subsystem also provides ECC capability, which corrects all single-bit memory errors and detects all multibit errors. See "Adding Memory". for details on installing additional memory.

Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART) support, which warns you at system start-up if the hard-disk drive has become unreliable. To take advantage of this technology, you must have a SMART-compliant hard-disk drive in the computer. All enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) and small computer system interface (SCSI) hard-disk drives shipped with Dell Precision 610 systems are SMART-compliant.

The system's basic input/output system (BIOS), which resides in flash memory and can be upgraded remotely or by diskette if required.

Plug and Play capability, which greatly simplifies the installation of expansion cards. Plug and Play support included in the