Contents 1 Working on Your Computer......................6 Before Working Inside Your Computer..........................6 Recommended Tools................................7 Memory Technology................................7 Turning Off Your Computer..............................8 After Working Inside Your Computer..........................8 2 Front Bezel..........................9 Removing the Front Bezel..............................9 Installing the Front Bezel..............................9 3 Cover............................10 Removing the Cover................................10 Installing the Cover................................
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11 System Fan..........................25 Removing the System Fans............................... 25 Installing the System Fans..............................25 12 Fan Bracket..........................27 Removing the Removable Fan Bracket..........................27 Installing the Removable Fan Bracket..........................28 13 Card Cages..........................29 Removing the Expansion Card Cages..........................29 Installing the Expansion Card Cages..........................31 14 Power Distribution Unit......................
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Removing the System Board............................. 54 Installing the System Board............................... 55 24 System Setup...........................57 Boot Menu....................................57 Timing Key Sequences................................57 Dell Diagnostics..................................58 System Setup Options................................58 25 Troubleshooting........................63 Diagnostic LEDs...................................63 Beep Codes..................................66 Error Messages..................................68 26 Specifications.......................... 74 Specifications..................................74 27 Contacting Dell.........................79 Contacting Dell..................................79 Contents...
Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.
Memory Supported The Dell Precision R5500 uses the 1333MHz DDR3 Triple channel memory. It is a system architecture that is designed to triple the theoretical peak bandwidth over equivalent single channel systems. Triple channel refers to the system architecture of the motherboard, not the memory itself.
2. Connect any telephone or network cables to your computer. 3. Connect your computer and all attached devices to their electrical outlets. 4. Turn on your computer. 5. Verify that the computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics. Working on Your Computer...
Front Bezel Removing the Front Bezel 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Unlock the front bezel using the given key. 3. Lift the bezel release tab and gently pull the front bezel away from the computer. Related tasks Installing the Front Bezel Installing the Front Bezel...
Cover Topics: • Removing the Cover • Installing the Cover Removing the Cover 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Rotate the latch-release lock counter-clockwise to the unlocked position. 4. Lift the latch and slide the cover towards the back of the computer. 5.
Installing the Cover 1. Place the cover on the computer and press down until it clicks into place. 2. Press down the cover latch. 3. Using a screwdriver, rotate the latch-release lock clockwise, to lock the cover. 4. Install the front bezel.
Cooling Shroud Topics: • Removing the Cooling Shroud • Installing the Cooling Shroud Removing the Cooling Shroud CAUTION: The computer will be populated with one or two CPUs. Currently, when there is a single CPU installed, airflow can bypass CPU1 which increases fan speeds and therefore leads to poor acoustic performance. Adding a mylar piece in this region redirects airflow across CPU1.
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2. Install the cover. 3. Install the front bezel. 4. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. Related tasks Removing the Cooling Shroud Cooling Shroud...
Optical Drive Topics: • Removing the Optical Drive • Installing the Optical Drive Removing the Optical Drive 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Remove the cover. 4. Remove the cooling shroud.
Installing the Optical Drive 1. Insert the optical drive into the drive bay. 2. Connect the power and data cables. 3. Install the cooling shroud. 4. Install the cover. 5. Install the front bezel. 6. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Hard Drive Carrier Topics: • Removing the Hard-Drive Carrier • Installing the Hard-Drive Carrier Removing the Hard-Drive Carrier 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Remove the cover. 4. Remove the cooling shroud.
Related tasks Installing the Hard-Drive Carrier Installing the Hard-Drive Carrier 1. Insert the hard drive into the drive bay. 2. Press the hard-drive carrier handle until it clicks into place. 3. Install the cooling shroud. 4. Install the cover. 5. Install the front bezel.
Hard Drive Assembly Topics: • Removing the Hard-Drive Assembly • Installing the Hard-Drive Assembly Removing the Hard-Drive Assembly 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Remove the cover. 4. Remove the cooling shroud.
Related tasks Installing the Hard-Drive Assembly Installing the Hard-Drive Assembly 1. Place the hard drive in the hard-drive caddy. 2. Tighten the screws that secure the hard drive on either side of the hard-drive caddy. 3. Install the hard drive carrier.
SAS Backplane Topics: • Removing the SAS Backplane • Installing the SAS Backplane Removing the SAS Backplane 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Remove the cover. 4. Remove the cooling shroud.
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5. Install the optical drive. 6. Install the cooling shroud. 7. Install the cover. 8. Install the front bezel. 9. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. Related tasks Removing the SAS Backplane SAS Backplane...
Power Supply Topics: • Removing the Power Supply • Installing the Power Supply Removing the Power Supply 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Remove the cover. 4. Remove the cooling shroud.
Control Panel Topics: • Removing the Control Panel • Installing the Control Panel Removing the Control Panel CAUTION: Two different Torx drivers are needed for the control panel disassembly/reassembly, a T10 and T8. 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer.
Installing the Control Panel 1. Attach the control panel cables. 2. Replace the torx screw securing the control panel. 3. Install the power supply. 4. Install the backplane. 5. Install the hard drive assembly. 6. Install the hard-drive carrier. 7. Install the optical drive.
System Fan Topics: • Removing the System Fans • Installing the System Fans Removing the System Fans 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Remove the cover. 4. Remove the cooling shroud.
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2. Repeat step 1 for the remaining cooling fans. 3. Install the control panel. 4. Install the power supply. 5. Install the backplane. 6. Install the hard drive assembly. 7. Install the hard-drive carrier. 8. Install the optical drive. 9. Install the cooling shroud.
Fan Bracket Topics: • Removing the Removable Fan Bracket • Installing the Removable Fan Bracket Removing the Removable Fan Bracket 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Remove the cover. 4. Remove the cooling shroud.
Installing the Removable Fan Bracket 1. Place the fan bracket in the computer. 2. Press both release tabs downwards simultaneously to secure the bracket. 3. Install the system fans. 4. Install the control panel. 5. Install the power supply. 6. Install the backplane.
Card Cages Topics: • Removing the Expansion Card Cages • Installing the Expansion Card Cages Removing the Expansion Card Cages 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Remove the cover. 4. Remove the cooling shroud.
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16. Flip the expansion cage over. 17. Disconnect cables leading to the expansion cards. 18. Carefully lift the outer expansion card-cage away from the computer. 19. Disconnect cables leading to the expansion card cage. Card Cages...
20. Carefully lift the inner expansion card-cage away from the computer. Related tasks Installing the Expansion Card Cages Installing the Expansion Card Cages 1. Fix the inner expansion card cage in the computer. 2. Connect the cables leading to the expansion card cage. 3.
Power Distribution Unit Topics: • Removing the Power Distribution Unit • Installing the Power Distribution Unit Removing the Power Distribution Unit 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Remove the cover. 4.
17. Remove the screws securing the Power Distribution Unit. 18. Carefully lift the Power Distribution Unit up and away from the computer. Related tasks Installing the Power Distribution Unit Installing the Power Distribution Unit 1. Place the power distribution unit on the computer. 2.
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16. Install the cover. 17. Install the front bezel. 18. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. Related tasks Removing the Power Distribution Unit Power Distribution Unit...
Center Riser Board Topics: • Removing the Center Riser Board • Installing the Center Riser Board Removing the Center Riser Board 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Remove the cover. 4.
Installing the Center Riser Board 1. Place the center riser board on the computer. 2. Slide the center riser board into place and press the release tab downwards. 3. Install the power distribution unit. 4. Install the card cages. 5. Install the bracket.
CMOS Battery Topics: • Removing the CMOS Battery • Installing the CMOS Battery Removing the CMOS Battery 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Remove the cover. 4. Remove the cooling shroud.
Related tasks Installing the CMOS Battery Installing the CMOS Battery 1. Fix the coin-cell battery in the socket of the computer. 2. Connect the cables leading to the power distribution unit. 3. Install the center riser board. 4. Install the power distribution unit.
Video Card Topics: • Removing the Video Card • Installing the Video Card Removing the Video Card 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Remove the cover. 4. Remove the cooling shroud.
Related tasks Installing the Video Card Installing the Video Card 1. Insert the video card in the slot provided until it clicks into place. 2. Press the release latch to secure the video card. 3. Install the CMOS battery. 4. Install the center riser board.
SAS Controller Card Topics: • Removing the SAS Controller Card • Installing the SAS Controller Card • RAID Configuration Removing the SAS Controller Card 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Remove the cover. 4.
For more information, see the SAS controller card user guide available on support.dell.com/manuals NOTE: Due to the Dell Precision R5500 hard disk drive backplane architecture, only one hard disk drive controller can be used at any one time. You must set your computer to RAID-enabled mode before starting any RAID configuration procedures. Use the following steps to configure RAID on your computer: 1.
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4. Select Save/Exit and press <Enter>. Exit the system setup and resume the boot process. SAS Controller Card...
Remote Access Host Card Topics: • Removing the Remote Access Host Card • Installing the Remote Access Host Card Removing the Remote Access Host Card 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3.
Related tasks Installing the Remote Access Host Card Installing the Remote Access Host Card 1. Place and insert the Remote Access Host Card in to the slot provided. 2. Replace the release latch to secure the Remote Access Host Card. 3.
Front Chassis Assembly Topics: • Removing the Front Chassis Assembly • Installing the Front-Chassis Assembly Removing the Front Chassis Assembly 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Remove the cover. 4. Remove the cooling shroud.
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3. Install the SAS controller card. 4. Install the video card. 5. Install the CMOS battery. 6. Install the center riser board. 7. Install the power distribution unit. 8. Install the card cages. 9. Install the bracket. 10. Install the system fans.
Processor and Heat Sink Topics: • Removing the Processors and Heat Sink • Installing the Processors and Heat Sink Removing the Processors and Heat Sink 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3.
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23. Position your thumb firmly over the processor socket-release lever. Release the lever from the locked position by pushing down and pulling out from under the tab. 24. Rotate the lever 90 degrees upward until the processor is released from the socket. Rotate the processor shield upward and remove 25.
Related tasks Installing the Processors and Heat Sink Installing the Processors and Heat Sink 1. Place and insert the processor in the socket. 2. Press the processor shield downwards and cover the socket. 3. Press the processor socket-release lever downwards and fix it under the tab in the locked position. 4.
Memory Topics: • Removing the Memory • Installing the Memory Removing the Memory 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Remove the cover. 4. Remove the cooling shroud. 5. Remove the optical drive.
24. Repeat steps 22 and 23 for the other memory modules. Related tasks Installing the Memory Installing the Memory 1. Insert the memory module in the slot. 2. Press back the memory tabs to lock it into place. 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the remaining memory modules. 4.
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Related tasks Removing the Memory Memory...
System Board Topics: • Removing the System Board • Installing the System Board Removing the System Board 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the front bezel. 3. Remove the cover. 4. Remove the cooling shroud.
25. Carefully lift the system board up and away from the chassis. Related tasks Installing the System Board Installing the System Board 1. Place the system board on the chassis. 2. Gently slide the system board towards the back of the computer. Press the blue release tab. 3.
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Related tasks Removing the System Board System Board...
Since the one-time boot menu only affects the current boot, it has the added benefit of not requiring the technician to restore the customer's boot order after completing troubleshooting. The computer has several keystroke options available during the POST process at the Dell Logo screen. These keystrokes make several options available.
Diagnostics. After pressing the keystroke, the appropriate modules load and the PSA diagnostics run. If this passes, the standard Dell Diagnostics main menu appears. When exiting the diagnostics, the system reboots and returns to the installed operating system. Restarting the computer with the <Ctrl><Alt><Del>...
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Drives • Disabled • Enabled (default) SATA Operation Configures the operating mode of the integrated hard-drive controller. • RAID Autodetect / AHCI • RAID Autodetect / ATA • RAID On (default) SMART Reporting Controls if hard drive errors for integrated drives are reported during start up. Enable Smart Reporting —...
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Performance Enable Multi Core Support — Enabled by default. Hyper-Threading Technology Enables or disables the Hyper-Threading Technology. Enable Hyper-Threading Technology — Disabled by default. Intel TurboBoost Enables or disables the Intel TurboBoost mode of the processor. Enable Intel Turbo Boost Technology — Enabled by default Intel SpeedStep Enables or disables the Intel SpeedStep mode of the processor.
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Security TPM Security (disabled by default) When the option is enabled, the user can select between three options: • Deactivate • Activate • Clear CPU XD Support Enables or disables the Execute Disable mode of the processor. Enable CPU XD Support — Enabled by default OROM Protection Determines whether access to the Option ROM configurations are permitted during boot (like CTRL+I or CRTL+P).
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Maintenance Asset Tag Allows you to create a system asset tag if an asset tag is not already set. System Management Controls the System Management mechanism. • Disable (default) • DASH/ASF 2.0 SERR Messages Controls the SERR message mechanism. Enable SERR Messages — Enabled by default POST Behavior Fast Boot Allows speeding up the boot process by bypassing some compatibility steps.
Troubleshooting Topics: • Diagnostic LEDs • Beep Codes • Error Messages Diagnostic LEDs NOTE: The diagnostic LEDs only serve as an indicator of the progress through the POST process. These LEDs do not indicate the problem that caused the POST routine to stop. The diagnostic LEDs are located on the front of the chassis next to the power button.
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Light Pattern Problem Description Troubleshooting Steps Power Diagnostic LEDs Button A possible system board failure Unplug the computer. Allow one minute for the power has occurred. to drain. Plug the computer into a working electrical outlet and press the power button. A possible system board, power •...
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Light Pattern Problem Description Troubleshooting Steps Power Diagnostic LEDs Button • If the problem persists, the system board is faulty. A possible coin cell battery failure Remove the coin cell battery for one minute, reinstall has occurred. the battery, and restart. The computer is in a normal on Ensure that the display is connected and powered on.
Light Pattern Problem Description Troubleshooting Steps Power Diagnostic LEDs Button A possible expansion card failure • Determine if a conflict exists by removing an has occurred. expansion card (not a graphics card) and restarting the computer. • If the problem persists, reinstall the card you removed, then remove a different card and restart the computer.
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Code 1-2-3 Cause DMA page register read/write failure Code 1-3-1 through 2-4-4 Cause DIMMs not being properly identified or used Code 3-1-1 Cause Slave DMA register failure Code 3-1-2 Cause Master DMA register failure Code 3-1-3 Cause Master interrupt mask register failure Code 3-1-4 Cause...
Dell Technical Support. Description The computer failed to complete the boot routine three consecutive times for the same error. Contact Dell and report the checkpoint code (nnnn) to the support technician Alert! Security override Jumper is installed.
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Bad error-correction code (ECC) on disk read Description The floppy or hard drive controller detected an uncorrectable read error. Controller has failed Description The hard drive or the associated controller is defective. Data error Description The floppy or hard drive cannot read the data. For the Windows operating system, run the chkdsk utility to check the file structure of the floppy or hard drive.
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Hard-disk drive controller failure Description The hard drive failed initialization. Hard-disk drive failure Description The hard drive failed initialization. Hard-disk drive read failure Description The hard drive failed initialization. Invalid configuration information-please run SETUP program Description The computer configuration information does not match the hardware configuration. Invalid Memory configuration, please populate DIMM1 Description DIMM1 slot does not recognize a memory module.
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Memory double word logic failure at address, read value expecting value Description A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them. Memory odd/even logic failure at address, read value expecting value Description A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated.
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Not a boot diskette Description The operating system is trying to boot to a floppy disk that does not have a bootable operating system installed on it. Insert a bootable floppy disk. Plug and play configuration error Description The computer encountered a problem while trying to configure one or more cards. Read fault Description The operating system cannot read from the floppy or hard drive, the computer could not find a particular sector...
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It is advisable to immediately back up your data and replace your hard drive by calling your support desk or Dell. Description During initial startup, the drive detected possible error conditions. When your computer finishes booting, immediately back up your data and replace your hard drive (for installation procedures, see "Adding and Removing...
Specifications Topics: • Specifications Specifications NOTE: Offerings may vary by region. The following specifications are only those required by law to ship with your computer. For more information regarding the configuration of your computer, click Start > Help and Support and select the option to view information about your computer.
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Expansion Bus Bus type: PCI Express 2.0 PCI 2.3 SATA 1.0 and 2.0 USB 2.0 Bus speed: PCI: 133 MB/s PCI Express: • x4-slot bidirectional speed - 2 GB/s • x8-slots bidirectional speed - 4 GB/s • x16-slots bidirectional speed - 8 GB/s SATA: 1.5 Gbps and 3.0 Gbps USB: 480 Mbps high speed, 12 Mbps full speed, 1.2 Mbps low speed...
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Internal connectors SATA two 36-pin Mini-SAS connectors; one seven-pin SATA connector Risers two 280-pin connectors Front USB one 14-pin connector Add-in HBA HDD LED one four-pin connector System power one 24-pin connector Power distribution board communication one six-pin connector Front panel control one 28-pin connector Systems fans six four-pin connectors...
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Controls and Lights off (no light) — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network. Network link integrity lights (rear): green light — A good connection at 10 Mbs exists between the network and the computer orange light — A good connection at 100 Mbs exists between the network and the computer.
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Environmental Storage 105 G +/- 5% with pulse duration of 2 msec +/- 10% (equivalent to 50 in/sec [127 cm/sec]) Altitude: Operating –15.2 m to 3048 m (–50 ft to 10,000 ft) Storage –15.2 m to 10,668 m (–50 ft to 35,000 ft) Airborne contaminant level G1 or lower as defined by ISA-S71.04–1985 Specifications...
Dell product catalog. Dell provides several online and telephone-based support and service options. Availability varies by country and product, and some services may not be available in your area. To contact Dell for sales, technical support, or customer service issues: 1.