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System Overview: Dell PowerEdge 300 Systems Service Manual
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System Overview: Dell PowerEdge 300 Systems Service Manual
Dell PowerEdge 300 systems are high-speed, upgradable servers with Intel � Pentium� III microprocessors. These systems support the high-performance
PCI bus; each system also supports ISA design with one ISA slot that allows you to
configure the computer system to your initial requirements and then upgrade it as
necessary.
The PowerEdge 300 system offers the following features:
- Single or dual Intel Pentium III microprocessor(s) with an internal speed of 800 MHz and
an external speed of 100 MHz, and an integrated 256 KB L2 SDRAM cache with ECC
capability. SMP is supported when a second Pentium III microprocessor is
installed. An operating system that supports SMP is required to use SMP
capabilities.
 |
NOTE: When installing a second microprocessor, you must order the
microprocessor upgrade kit from Dell. Not all versions of the Pentium III
microprocessor will work properly as additional microprocessors. |
- Plug and Play BIOS. RCU is used to configure ISA cards.
- USB ports for
serial devices. USB ports must be supported by the operating system.
 |
CAUTION: Do not attach a USB device or a combination of USB devices that draw
a maximum current over 500 mA per channel or +5 V. Attaching devices that exceed this
threshold may cause the USB ports to shut down. See the documentation that accompanied the
USB devices for their maximum current ratings. |
- SDRAM DIMMs. Memory is upgradable to 1 GB.
- BIOS in upgradable flash memory on the ISA bus.
The system board includes the following integrated features:
- Six 32-bit PCI expansion slots, including one that is a shared PCI (32-bit) /ISA
(16-bit) expansion slot
- ATI RAGE IIC AGP video controller with 2 MB of SGRAM
- Integrated server management circuitry that works in conjunction with Dell
OpenManage Server Agent.
- Diskette drive interface to support a 3.5-inch diskette drive
- EIDE controller for CD-ROM and hard-disk drive
- Two high-performance serial ports and one bi-directional parallel port
- PS/2-style keyboard port and a PS/2-compatible mouse port
The following network operating systems are supported on PowerEdge 300 systems:
- Microsoft� Windows NT� Server 4.0
- Microsoft� Windows� 2000 Server
- Novell� intraNetWare 4.2 and NetWare� 5.x
- Microsoft BackOffice� Small Business Server (SBS) 4.x
- Linux 7.x
Within this document, assume the locations or direction relative to the computer is as
shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Orientation
Figure 2 shows the location of the key front-panel features.
Figure 2. Front Panel
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Figures 3 and 4 show the locations of the key back-panel features.
Figure 3. Back Panel
Figure 4. Security Cable
Slot and Padlock Ring
Figure 5, Inside the Chassis, shows some of the key features of the PowerEdge 300's
internal components. The procedure to remove the cover to access interior components
is described in Removing the Computer Cover.
Figure 5. Inside the Chassis
System memory has a minimum of 64 MB of 72-bit unbuffered memory. The system
memory capacity can be expanded up to 1 GB by using combinations of 64-, 128-, and/or
256-MB unbuffered or registered SDRAM DIMMs. Maximum capacity using unbuffered SDRAM
DIMMs is 512 MB. Maximum capacity using registered SDRAM DIMMs is 1 GB.
 |
NOTE: DIMMs must be rated to run at 100 MHz. |
The system board has four, 168-pin DIMM sockets. The DIMMs do not have to be
inserted in pairs. The socket population guidelines are as follows:
- Populate the DIMM sockets in order from DIMM_A (right) to DIMM_D (left).
- The largest-capacity DIMM should be in socket DIMM_A, with smaller-capacity DIMMs
installed in decreasing sized toward socket DIMM_D.
- Unbuffered and registered SDRAM DIMMs cannot be mixed in the system. Remove any
64- or 128-MB unbuffered DIMMs before installing 256-MB registered DIMMs.
- DIMMs support the ECC feature, which detects memory errors and corrects single-bit
memory errors. The ECC feature is built into the memory controller on the system
board.
Figure 6, DIMM Sockets, shows an isolated view of the DIMM sockets on the system board
(see the system board illustration).
Figure 6. DIMM Sockets

For more detailed information about DIMM installation guidelines and samples of DIMM
configurations, see "Installing System Board Options" in the Installation
and Troubleshooting Guide.
For information on removing and replacing DIMMs, refer to DIMM Removal and Installation.
Advanced Expansion Subsystems
The computer system offers advanced expansion subsystems that can support a mixture of
traditional ISA expansion cards, Plug and Play ISA expansion cards, and PCI expansion
cards. The RCU (included with the system) provides a means of avoiding resource conflicts
that might arise from such an arrangement. See the User's Guide for
information about using the RCU.
After all legacy cards have been configured with the RCU, the system automatically
assigns any required memory space, IRQ lines, and DMA channels to any installed Plug and
Play ISA expansion cards and PCI expansion cards the next time the system is rebooted.
"Using the Resource Configuration Utility," in the Users Guide
describes the RCU and provides instructions for using it to configure the system.
There are seven expansion-card connectors on the system board.
Expansion-card connectors PCI1 through PCI6 support 32-bit PCI expansion cards;
expansion-card connector ISA6 can accommodate an 8- or 16-bit ISA expansion card.
The PCI1 slot is limited to a half-length card. See Expansion Card for more information.
 |
NOTES: Connector ISA6 shares expansion-card slot space with connector PCI6.
Therefore, only one card of either type can be installed in this slot.
PCI4 has an in-line connector to support a DRAC card (the SVR_MGT connector on the system
board). |
Video Controller
The video subsystem is built into the system board and consists of an AGP
VGA-compatible video subsystem with an ATI RAGE IIC video controller. The video
subsystem contains 2 MB of SGRAM (non-upgradable), allowing resolutions up to 1024 x 768 x
256.
The Dell PowerEdge 300 provides one 330 W system power supply that operates from an AC
power source of 115 VAC at 60 Hz or 230 VAC at 50 Hz. The system power supply
provides the DC operating voltages and currents listed in Table 1, DC Voltage
Ranges.
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NOTE: The power supply produces DC voltages only under its loaded condition.
Therefore, when you measure these voltages, the DC power connectors must be connected to
their corresponding power input connectors on the system board or drives. Under typical
line conditions and over the entire system ambient operating range, the inrush may reach
140 A for the installed power supply. |
Table 1. DC Voltage Ranges
| Voltage |
Range |
Maximum
Output Current1 |
| +3.3 VDC |
+3.15 to +3.45 VDC |
18.0 A |
| +5 VDC |
+4.75 to +5.25 VDC |
35.0 A |
| +12 VDC |
+11.40 to + 12.60 VDC |
14.0 A |
| -12 VDC |
-10.80 to -13.20 VDC |
0.3 A |
| -5 VDC |
-4.50 to -5.50 VDC |
0.3 A |
| +5 VFP2 |
+4.75 to +5.25 VDC |
1.2 A |
| 1 |
Maximum continuous DC output power should not exceed 330 W.
Maximum combined load on +5 VDC and +3.3 VDC cannot exceed 230 W. |
| 2 |
VFP (volts flea power) sometimes called "standby power." |
The power-supply output voltages can be measured at the back (wire side) of the
connectors without disconnecting them. Figures 7, 8, and 9 show the wire side of the
connectors.
Figure 7. DC Power Connector P1

| 1 |
Pin 13 PSON# should measure between +4 and +5 VDC except when the power button on
the front panel is pressed, taking PSON# to its active-low state. |
| 2 |
Pin 21 Thermal fan-speed control (TFSC) is a
power-supply input signal used to control the power supply fan speed in special
applications. |
| 3 |
Pin 5 PWRGOOD should measure between +4 and +5
VDC when the power supply is operating to indicate that all power supply output voltages
are within the ranges specified in Table 1, DC Voltage
Ranges. |
Figure 8. DC Power Connectors P3, P4,
P5, and P6

Figure 9. DC Power Connector P2

Figure 10, DC Power Cables and Figure 11, Power Distribution provide the following information about
DC power distribution:
- Power-supply connector identification
- Power cable connections for diskette, tape, CD-ROM, and hard-disk drives
- Power distribution to sockets and connectors on the system board
Figure 10. DC Power Cables

Figure 11. Power Distribution

Figure 12, System Board, illustrates the location of important system board
components. The subsections that follow provide service-related information about
the system board components.
Figure 12. System Board

Figure 13, System Board Jumpers, illustrates the location of the system board
jumpers. Table 2,
Jumper Descriptions, lists and describes the jumper settings.
Figure 13. System Board Jumpers

Table 2. Jumper Descriptions
Table 3, IRQ Assignments, lists the default interrupt request assignments.
Table 3. IRQ Assignments
| IRQ Line |
Used By/Available |
| IRQ0 |
Used by the system timer |
| IRQ1 |
Used by the keyboard to signal that the output buffer is full |
| IRQ2 |
Used by interrupt controller 1 to enable IRQ8 through IRQ15 |
| IRQ3 |
Used by serial port 2 (COM2 and COM4) |
| IRQ4 |
Used by serial port 1 (COM1 and COM3) |
| IRQ5 |
Available unless used by a secondary parallel port |
| IRQ6 |
Used by the diskette drive controller |
| IRQ7 |
Used by the primary parallel port |
| IRQ8 |
Used by the RTC |
| IRQ9 |
Used for power management functions |
| IRQ10 |
Available |
| IRQ11 |
Available |
| IRQ12 |
Used by the PS/2 mouse port unless the mouse is disabled in
the System Setup program |
| IRQ13 |
Used by the math coprocessor |
| IRQ14 |
IDE secondary |
| IRQ15 |
IDE primary |
Table 4, DMA Channel Assignments, lists the direct memory address channel assignments.
Table 4. DMA Channel Assignments
| DREQ Line |
Used By/Available |
| DREQ0 |
Available |
| DREQ1 |
Available |
| DREQ2 |
Generated by super I/O controller to initiate DMA cycle for attached
diskette drive |
| DREQ3 |
Available |
| DREQ4 |
Generated by bus controller chip to activate second DMA controller |
| DREQ5 |
Available |
| DREQ6 |
Available |
| DREQ7 |
Available |
Table 5, Technical Specifications, provides the technical specifications for the Dell
PowerEdge 300 systems.
Table 5. Technical Specifications
| Microprocessor |
| Microprocessor type |
Intel Pentium
III microprocessor that runs at 800 MHz internally and 100 MHz externally. |
| Internal cache |
32-KB (16-KB data cache; 16-KB instruction cache) |
| L2 cache |
256-KB pipelined burst, eight-way
set-associative, write-back ECC SRAM on each SEC cartridge |
| Math coprocessor |
Internal to the microprocessor |
| System Information |
| System chip set |
Intel 440BX PCI chip set |
| Data bus width |
64 bits |
| Address bus width |
32 bits |
| DMA channels |
seven |
| Interrupt levels |
15 |
| System BIOS chip |
4 Mb |
| I/O controller |
National PC 87309 |
| Expansion Bus |
| Bus types |
PCI and ISA |
| Bus speed |
PCI: 33.3 MHz
ISA: 8.33 MHz |
| PCI expansion-card connectors |
six (one of the PCI connectors shares a card-slot
opening with the ISA connector) |
| ISA expansion-card connectors |
one (the ISA connector shares a card-slot opening
with one of the PCI connectors) |
| PCI expansion-card connector size |
120 pins |
PCI expansion-card connector data
width (maximum) |
32 bits |
| ISA expansion-card connector size |
98 pins |
ISA expansion-card connector data
width (maximum) |
16 bits |
| System Clocks |
| System clock |
100 MHz |
| SDRAM memory clock |
100 MHz |
| I/O APIC clock |
14 MHz |
| Diskette/communications ports |
48 MHz |
| USB clock |
48 MHz |
| Memory |
| Architecture |
72-bit ECC SDRAM |
| DIMM sockets |
four |
| DIMM capacities |
64- and 128-MB unbuffered, 72-bit SDRAM; 256-MB
registered, 72-bit SDRAM |
| Standard RAM |
64 MB |
| Maximum RAM |
1 GB |
| BIOS address |
F000:0000h-F000:FFFFh |
| Drives |
| Externally accessible bays |
three 5.25-inch bays accommodate one 3.5-inch
diskette drive (standard), one IDE CD-ROM drive (optional) and one other optional
5.25-inch peripheral. |
| Internally accessible bays |
removable drive cage accommodates up to
three1-inch EIDE hard-disk drives |
| Ports and Connectors |
| Externally accessible: |
| Serial (DTE) |
two 9-pin connectors; 16550-compatible |
| Parallel |
one 25-pin connector (bi-directional) |
| Video |
one 15-pin connector |
| PS/2-style
keyboard |
6-pin mini-DIN connector |
| PS/2-compatible
mouse |
6-pin mini-DIN connector |
| USB |
two USB-compliant 4-pin connectors |
| Internally accessible: |
| EIDE drive |
two 40-pin connectors on PCI local bus |
| Diskette
drive |
one 34-pin connector |
| Fan |
3-pin connector |
| Control panel connectors: |
| Thermal
sensor |
3-pin connector |
| Chassis
intrusion |
2-pin connector |
| Video |
| Video type |
ATI RAGE IIC AGP integrated video controller |
| Key Combinations |
| <Ctrl><Alt><Del> |
restarts (reboots) the system |
| <F2> |
starts System Setup program (during POST only) |
| <F10> |
starts Utility Partition |
| Controls and Indicators |
| Reset control |
push button |
| Power control |
push button |
| Power indicator/sleep mode indicator |
green LED (indicates power) amber LED
(indicates sleep mode) |
| Hard-disk drive access indicator |
green LED |
| Power indicator (on system board) |
green LED |
| Standby power indicator (on system board) |
green LED |
| Power |
| DC power supply: |
| Wattage |
330 W |
| Heat
dissipation |
900 BTU/hr (nominal) |
| Voltage |
Autoranging 90 to 265 V at 47 to 63 Hz |
| Backup battery |
3-V CR2032 coin cell |
| Physical |
| Height |
45.9 cm (18.1 inches) |
| Width |
21.6 cm (8.5 inches) |
| Depth |
43.6 cm (17.6 inches) |
| Weight |
16.0 kg (37.0 lb) or more, depending on options
installed |
| Environmental |
| Temperature: |
| Operating |
10� to 35�C* (50� to 95�F) |
| Storage |
-40� to 65�C (-40� to 149�F) |
| Relative
humidity |
8% to 80% (noncondensing) |
| Maximum vibration: |
| Operating |
0.25 G at 3 to 200 Hz for 30 min |
| Storage |
0.5 G at 3 to 200 Hz for 30 min |
| Maximum shock: |
| Operating |
half-sine wave form: 50 G for 2 ms |
| Storage |
half-sine wave form: 92 G for 2 ms
square wave form: 27 G for 15 ms |
| Altitude: |
| Operating |
-16 to 3048 m* (-50 to 10,000 ft) |
| Storage |
-16 to 10,600 m (-50 to 35,000 ft) |
| * At
35�C (95�F), the maximum operating altitude is 914 m (3000 ft). |
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