Hardware Configuration Features: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 Systems User's Guide

Back to Contents Page

Hardware Configuration Features: Dell Precision™ WorkStation 420 Systems

User's Guide

Overview I/O Ports and Connectors

Jumpers Interrupt Assignments

System Board Labels Memory Allocations

Overview

This section provides specific information about the jumpers on your system board and the input/output (I/O) ports
and connectors on the back panel of your computer. It also provides some basic information on jumpers, a listing of
interrupt request (IRQ) assignments, and memory maps.

Jumpers

Jumpers provide a convenient and reversible way of reconfiguring the circuitry on a printed circuit board. When you
reconfigure your system, you may need to change jumper settings on your system board; you may also need to
change jumper settings on expansion cards or drives.

Jumpers are small blocks on a circuit board with two or more pins emerging from them (see Figure 1). Plastic plugs
containing a wire fit down over the pins. The wire connects the pins and creates a circuit.

Figure 1. Jumpers

To change a jumper setting, pull the plug off its pin(s) and carefully fit it down onto the pin(s) indicated.

NOTICE: Make sure that your system is turned off before you change a jumper setting. Otherwise, damage
to your system or unpredictable results may occur.

A jumper is referred to as open or unjumpered when the plug is pushed down over only one pin or if there is no plug
at all. When the plug is pushed down over two pins, the jumper is referred to as jumpered. The jumper setting is

file:///F|/IN%20S%20T%20A%20L-1.05/dell/docs/1223ten4/hardware.htm (1 of 15)13.6.2006 •. 14:31:52

 Hardware Configuration Features: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 Systems User's Guide

often shown in text as two numbers, such as 1-2. The number 1 is printed on the circuit board so that you can
identify each pin number based on the location of pin 1.

Figure 2 shows the location and default settings of the jumper blocks on your system board. See Table 1 for the
designations, default settings, and functions of your system's jumpers.

Figure 2. System Board Jumpers

Table 1. System Board Jumpers Settings

Jumper Setting Description

RTCRST Real-time clock and CMOS reset. Install a jumper plug on these pins for
approximately 1 second to reset the contents of the real-time clock and the
CMOS. Do not leave the jumper plug installed.
PSWD Password features enabled.
Password features disabled.
NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see the Glossary.

System Board Labels

file:///F|/IN%20S%20T%20A%20L-1.05/dell/docs/1223ten4/hardware.htm (2 of 15)13.6.2006 •. 14:31:52

 Hardware Configuration Features: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 Systems User's Guide

Table 2 lists the labels for connectors and sockets on your system board and control panel and gives a brief
description of their functions.

Table 2. System Board and Control Panel Connectors and Sockets

Connector or Socket Description

AUX_LED Hard-disk drive access indicator connector

BATTERY Battery socket
CD-IN, AUX Analog audio input connector
RIMMA_2, RIMMA_4 Memory RIMM sockets on channel A
RIMMB_1, RIMMB_3 Memory RIMM sockets on channel B
FAN_SYS System fan connector
FAN_CCAG Expansion card cage area fan connector
FLOPPY Floppy disk connector (34-pin)
HD_TEMP Hard-disk drive temperature sensor connector (on control panel)
IDEn EIDE interface connector
INTRUSION Chassis intrusion switch connector (on control panel)
KEYBOARD PS/2 keyboard connector
LINE-IN Line-in jack
LINE-OUT Line-out jack
M_PWR1 Desktop chassis power connector 1
M_PWR2 Desktop chassis power connector 2
MT_PWR1 Mini tower chassis power connector 1
MT_PWR2 Mini tower chassis power connector 2
MIC-IN Microphone jack
MOUSE PS/2 mouse connector
NIC 10/100 Ethernet RJ45 connector
PANEL Control panel connector
PARALLEL/SCSI Parallel connector over Wide SCSI connector (stacked)
PCI1, PCI2, PCI3 PCI expansion-card connectors on primary PCI bus
PCI4, (PCI5) PCI expansion-card connectors on secondary PCI bus
PCI5\RAIDPORT RAID port connector extension to PCI5
RAID Optional RAID PCI expansion card connector extension

file:///F|/IN%20S%20T%20A%20L-1.05/dell/docs/1223ten4/hardware.htm (3 of 15)13.6.2006 •. 14:31:52

 Hardware Configuration Features: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 Systems User's Guide

SCSI_LVD Primary (LVD/Wide) SCSI connector

SCSI_NARROW Secondary (Narrow) SCSI connector
SERIAL1/2 Serial port connectors (sometimes referred to as
COM1 and COM2; stacked)
SPKR Internal speaker connector (on control panel)
TAPI Telophony microphone and speaker connector
PROC_0 SECC2 cartridge connector for processor 0
PROC_1 SECC2 cartridge connector for processor 1
USB 1/2 USB connectors (stacked)
WUOL Remote wakeup on LAN connector
NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see the Glossary.

I/O Ports and Connectors

The I/O ports and connectors on the back panel of your computer are the gateways through which your computer
system communicates with external devices, such as a keyboard, mouse, printer, and monitor. Figure 3 identifies
the I/O ports and connectors for your computer.

Figure 3. I/O Ports and Connectors

Parallel
1 port
connector
Serial port
2
1 connector
PS/2
3 mouse
connector
PS/2
4 keyboard
connector
USB
5
connectors
6 Video out
connector
(may be in
bottom or
second
expansion
slot)

file:///F|/IN%20S%20T%20A%20L-1.05/dell/docs/1223ten4/hardware.htm (4 of 15)13.6.2006 •. 14:31:52

 Hardware Configuration Features: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 Systems User's Guide

NIC
7
connector
Diagnostic
8
LEDs
9 Line-in jack
Line-out
10
jack
Microphone
11
jack
Serial port
12
2 connector
External
13 SCSI
connector

Serial and Parallel Ports Overview

The two built-in serial ports use 9-pin D-subminiature connectors on the back panel. These ports support devices
such as external modems, printers, plotters, and mice that require serial data transmission (the transmission of data
one bit at a time over one line).

Most software uses the term COM (for COMmunications) plus a number to designate a serial port (for example,
COM1 or COM2). The default designations of your computer's integrated serial ports are COM1 and COM2.

The integrated parallel port uses a 25-pin D-subminiature connector on the computer's back panel. This I/O port
sends data in parallel format (where eight data bits, or one byte, are sent simultaneously over eight separate lines in
a single cable). The parallel port is used primarily for printers.

Most software uses the term LPT (for Line PrinTer) plus a number to designate a parallel port (for example, LPT1).
The default designation of your computer's built-in parallel port is LPT1.

Port designations are used, for example, in software installation procedures that include a step in which you identify
the port to which your printer is attached, thus telling your software where to send its output. (An incorrect
designation prevents the printer from printing or causes scrambled print.)

Serial Port Connectors

If you reconfigure your hardware, you may need pin number and signal information for the serial port connectors.
Figure 4 illustrates the pin numbers for the serial port connectors, and Table 3 lists and defines the pin assignments
and interface signals for the serial port connectors.

Figure 4. Pin Numbers for the Serial Port Connectors

file:///F|/IN%20S%20T%20A%20L-1.05/dell/docs/1223ten4/hardware.htm (5 of 15)13.6.2006 •. 14:31:52

 Hardware Configuration Features: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 Systems User's Guide

Table 3. Pin Assignments and Interface Signals for the Serial Port Connectors

Pin Signal I/O Definition

1 DCD I Data carrier detect

2 SIN I Serial input

3 SOUT O Serial output

4 DTR O Data terminal ready

5 GND N/A Signal ground

6 DSR I Data set ready

7 RTS O Request to send

8 CTS I Clear to send

9 RI I Ring indicator

Shell N/A N/A Chassis ground

Parallel Port Connector

If you reconfigure your hardware, you may need pin number and signal information for the parallel port connector.
Figure 5 illustrates the pin numbers for the parallel port connector, and Table 4 lists and defines the pin assignments
and interface signals for the parallel port connector.

Figure 5. Pin Numbers for the Parallel Port Connector

Table 4. Pin Assignments and Interface Signals for the Parallel Port Connector

Pin Signal I/O Definition

file:///F|/IN%20S%20T%20A%20L-1.05/dell/docs/1223ten4/hardware.htm (6 of 15)13.6.2006 •. 14:31:52

 Hardware Configuration Features: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 Systems User's Guide

1 STB# I/O Strobe

2 PD0 I/O Printer data bit 0

3 PD1 I/O Printer data bit 1

4 PD2 I/O Printer data bit 2

5 PD3 I/O Printer data bit 3

6 PD4 I/O Printer data bit 4

7 PD5 I/O Printer data bit 5

8 PD6 I/O Printer data bit 6

9 PD7 I/O Printer data bit 7

10 ACK# I Acknowledge

11 BUSY I Busy

12 PE I Paper end

13 SLCT I Select

14 AFD# O Automatic feed

15 ERR# I Error

16 INIT# O Initialize printer

17 SLIN# O Select in

18-25 GND N/A Signal ground

External SCSI Connector

The 68-pin external small computer system interface (SCSI) connector on the system back panel supports external
Ultra SCSI devices such as scanners, zip drives, and optical drives.

If you reconfigure your hardware, you may need pin number and signal information for the external SCSI connector.
Figure 6 illustrates the pin numbers for the external SCSI connector, and Table 5 lists and defines the pin
assignments and interface signals for the external SCSI connector.

Figure 6. Pin Numbers for the External SCSI Connector

file:///F|/IN%20S%20T%20A%20L-1.05/dell/docs/1223ten4/hardware.htm (7 of 15)13.6.2006 •. 14:31:52

 Hardware Configuration Features: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 Systems User's Guide

Table 5. Pin Assignments and Interface Signals for the External SCSI Connector

Pin Signal I/O Definition

1-16 GND N/A Signal ground

17-18 TRMPWR N/A Terminator power

19 RSVD N/A Reserved

20-34 GND N/A Signal ground

35 D12 I/O SCSI data bit 12

36 D13 I/O SCSI data bit 13

37 D14 I/O SCSI data bit 14

38 D15 I/O SCSI data bit 15

39 DPARH I/O SCSI data parity high

40 D0 I/O SCSI data bit 0

41 D1 I/O SCSI data bit 1

42 D2 I/O SCSI data bit 2

43 D3 I/O SCSI data bit 3

44 D4 I/O SCSI data bit 4

45 D5 I/O SCSI data bit 5

46 D6 I/O SCSI data bit 6

47 D7 I/O SCSI data bit 7

48 DPARL I/O SCSI data parity low

49-50 GND N/A Signal ground

51-52 TRMPWR N/A Terminator power

53 RSVD N/A Reserved

54 GND N/A Signal ground

55 ATN I/O SCSI attention

56 GND N/A Signal ground

57 BSY I/O SCSI busy

58 ACK I/O SCSI acknowledge

59 RST I/O SCSI reset

file:///F|/IN%20S%20T%20A%20L-1.05/dell/docs/1223ten4/hardware.htm (8 of 15)13.6.2006 •. 14:31:52

 Hardware Configuration Features: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 Systems User's Guide

60 MSG I/O SCSI message

61 SEL I/O SCSI select

62 C/D I/O SCSI command/data

63 REQ I/O SCSI request

64 I/O I/O SCSI in/out

65 D8 I/O SCSI data bit 8

66 D9 I/O SCSI data bit 9

67 D10 I/O SCSI data bit 10

68 D11 I/O SCSI data bit 11

Keyboard and Mouse Connectors Overview

Your system uses a Personal System/2 (PS/2)-style keyboard and supports a PS/2-compatible mouse. Cables from
both devices attach to 6-pin miniature Deutsche Industrie Norm (DIN) connectors on the back panel of your
computer.

A PS/2-compatible mouse works identically to an industry-standard serial mouse or bus mouse except that it has its
own dedicated connector, which frees up both serial ports and does not require an expansion card. Circuitry inside
the mouse detects either the movement of a small ball or the input from an optical sensor and relays the direction to
the computer.

Mouse driver software can give the mouse priority with the microprocessor by issuing IRQ12 whenever a new
mouse movement is made. The driver software also passes along the mouse data to the application program that is
in control.

Keyboard Connector

If you reconfigure your hardware, you may need pin number and signal information for the keyboard connector.
Figure 7 illustrates the pin numbers for the keyboard connector, and Table 6 lists and defines the pin assignments
and interface signals for the keyboard connector.

Figure 7. Pin Numbers for the Keyboard Connector

Table 6. Pin Assignments and Interface Signals for the Keyboard Connector

file:///F|/IN%20S%20T%20A%20L-1.05/dell/docs/1223ten4/hardware.htm (9 of 15)13.6.2006 •. 14:31:52

 Hardware Configuration Features: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 Systems User's Guide

Pin Signal I/O Definition

1 KBDATA I/O Keyboard data

2 NC N/A No connection

3 GND N/A Signal ground

4 FVcc N/A Fused supply voltage

5 KBCLK I/O Keyboard clock

6 NC N/A No connection

Shell N/A N/A Chassis ground

Mouse Connector

If you reconfigure your hardware, you may need pin number and signal information for the mouse connector. Figure
8 illustrates the pin numbers for the mouse connector, and Table 7 lists and defines the pin assignments and
interface signals for the mouse connector.

Figure 8. Pin Numbers for the Mouse Connector

Table 7. Pin Assignments and Interface Signals for the Mouse Connector

Pin Signal I/O Definition

1 MFDATA I/O Mouse data

2 NC N/A No connection

3 GND N/A Signal ground

4 FVcc N/A Fused supply voltage

5 MFCLK I/O Mouse clock

6 NC N/A No connection

Video Connector

For information on your video connector, see the manufacturer's specifications that came with your video card.

file:///F|/IN%20S%20T%20A%20L-1.05/dell/docs/1223ten4/hardware.htm (10 of 15)13.6.2006 •. 14:31:52

 Hardware Configuration Features: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 Systems User's Guide

NIC Connector

Your system contains an RJ45 connector (see Figure 9) on the back panel for attaching an unshielded twisted pair
(UTP) Ethernet cable, which is used in 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX networks. The network interface controller
(NIC) provides all the functions normally handled by a separate network expansion card. To connect your system to
and configure it for use on an Ethernet network, see "Using the Network Interface Controller."

Figure 9. NIC Connector

USB Connectors

Your system contains two Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors for attaching USB-compliant devices. USB
devices are typically peripherals such as keyboards, mice, printers, and computer speakers.

NOTICE: Do not attach a USB device or a combination of USB devices that draw a maximum current over
500 milliamperes (mA) per channel at +5 volts (V). Attaching devices that exceed this threshold may cause
the USB ports to shut down. See the documentation that came with the USB devices for their maximum
current ratings.

If you reconfigure your hardware, you may need pin number and signal information for the USB connectors. Figure
10 illustrates the pin numbers for the USB connectors, and Table 8 lists and defines the pin assignments and
interface signals for the USB connectors.

Figure 10. Pin Numbers for the USB Connectors

Table 8. Pin Assignments and Interface Signals for the USB Connectors

file:///F|/IN%20S%20T%20A%20L-1.05/dell/docs/1223ten4/hardware.htm (11 of 15)13.6.2006 •. 14:31:52

 Hardware Configuration Features: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 Systems User's Guide

Pin Signal I/O Definition

1 Vcc N/A Supply voltage

2 DATA I Data in

3 +DATA O Data out

4 GND N/A Signal ground

Microphone Jack

You can use the microphone jack (see Figure 11) to attach a nondynamic monaural microphone for personal
computers. Connect the audio cable from the microphone to the microphone jack. The microphone input is a mono
source with maximum signal levels of 130 millivolts root mean squared (mVrms).

Figure 11. Microphone Jack

Line-Out Jack

You can use the line-out jack (see Figure12) to attach most computer speakers. The line-out jack is not amplified,
so speakers with integrated amplifiers are required. Connect the audio cable from the speakers to this jack.

Figure 12. Line-Out Jack

Line-In Jack

You can use the line-in jack (see Figure 13) to attach record/playback devices such as cassette players, CD
players, and VCRs. Connect the line-out cable from any of these devices to the line-in jack on the back of your
computer.

file:///F|/IN%20S%20T%20A%20L-1.05/dell/docs/1223ten4/hardware.htm (12 of 15)13.6.2006 •. 14:31:52

 Hardware Configuration Features: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 Systems User's Guide

Figure 13. Line-In Jack

Interrupt Assignments

Problems can arise if two devices attempt to use the same IRQ line. To avoid this type of conflict, check the
documentation for the default IRQ line setting for each installed device. Then consult Table 9 to configure each
device for one of the available IRQ or other lines.

NOTE: Interrupts for the integrated sound, NIC, and both SCSI channels are assigned dynamically by the
system basic input/output system (BIOS).

Table 9. Interrupt Assignments

IRQ Line Used By/Available

IRQ0 System timer

IRQ1 Keyboard controller

IRQ2 Interrupt controller (enables IRQ8 through IRQ15)

IRQ3 COM2 and COM4 serial ports (if enabled in System Setup program)

IRQ4 COM1 and COM3 serial ports (if enabled in System Setup program)

IRQ5 Available

IRQ6 Diskette drive interface

IRQ7 Parallel port (if enabled in System Setup program)

IRQ8 RTC

IRQ9 Available

IRQ10 Available

IRQ11 Available

IRQ12 Mouse controller

IRQ13 Math coprocessor

file:///F|/IN%20S%20T%20A%20L-1.05/dell/docs/1223ten4/hardware.htm (13 of 15)13.6.2006 •. 14:31:52

 Hardware Configuration Features: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 Systems User's Guide

IRQ14 Primary EIDE interface (if enabled in System Setup program)

IRQ15 Secondary EIDE interface (if enabled in System Setup program)

NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in the table, see the Glossary.

Memory Allocations

Programs operating under MS-DOS® (real-mode operation) can address only 1 megabyte (MB) (1024 kilobytes
[KB]) of system memory. This area is divided into conventional memory (sometimes called base memory) and upper
memory. All system memory above this 1 MB is called extended memory and cannot be directly addressed by MS-
DOS-based programs without the aid of memory-managing software as found in Microsoft® Windows® 98 or
Windows NT®.

Table 10 provides a map of the conventional memory area. When the microprocessor or a program addresses a
location within the conventional memory range, it is physically addressing a location in main memory, which is the
only main memory it can address under MS-DOS.

Table 10. Conventional Memory Map

Address Range Use

00000h-003FFh Interrupt vector table

00400h-004FFh BIOS data area

00500h-005FFh MS-DOS and BASIC work area

00600h-0FFFFh User memory

10000h-1FFFFh User memory

20000h-2FFFFh User memory

30000h-3FFFFh User memory

40000h-4FFFFh User memory

50000h-5FFFFh User memory

60000h-6FFFFh User memory

70000h-7FFFFh User memory

80000h-8FFFFh User memory

90000h-9FBFFh User memory

NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see the Glossary.

Table 11 provides a map of the upper memory area. Some of these addresses are dedicated to various system
devices, such as the system BIOS. Others are available for use by expansion cards and/or an expanded memory

file:///F|/IN%20S%20T%20A%20L-1.05/dell/docs/1223ten4/hardware.htm (14 of 15)13.6.2006 •. 14:31:52

 Hardware Configuration Features: Dell Precision WorkStation 420 Systems User's Guide

manager (EMM). When the microprocessor or a program addresses a location within the upper memory area, it is
physically addressing a location within one of these devices.

Table 11. Upper Memory Map

Address Range Use

0009FC00-0009FFFF PS/2-mouse data area

000A0000-000BFFFF Video RAM

000C0000-000C7FFF Video BIOS

000C8000-000EFFFF Available

000F0000-000FFFFF System BIOS

00100000-0010FFEF High memory area

0010FFF0-3FFFFFFF Extended memory

40000000-FFF7FFFF Reserved

FFF80000-FFFFFFFF BIOS ROM

NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see the Glossary.

Back to Contents Page

file:///F|/IN%20S%20T%20A%20L-1.05/dell/docs/1223ten4/hardware.htm (15 of 15)13.6.2006 •. 14:31:52