Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
board, but you'd have to do some cutting and splicing in addition to swapping some ter-
minals around. Usually, it isn't worth the time and effort.
Systems known to have this nonstandard connector wiring include the following Dell
models:
Dimension 2100, 4100, B1000R, L Series, V350, V400, XPS B Series, XPS Dxxx,
XPS Mxxx, XPS P133c MT, XPS Pro 180n, XPS Rxxx, XPS Txxx
OptiPlex G1, GX1, GX110, GX115, GX300, GXa, GXi
Power Edge 2100, 2200
Precision Workstation 210, 400
If you do decide to upgrade the motherboard in any of these nonstandard Dell systems,
just be sure you replace both the motherboard
and
power supply with industry-standard
ATX components at the same time. That way nothing gets fried, and you'll be back to
having a true industry-standard ATX system. If you want to replace just the Dell mother-
board, you're out of luck unless you get your replacement board from Dell. On the other
hand, if you want to replace just the power supply, you have several alternatives. Both PC
Power and Cooling (
www.pcpower.com
)
and
ATXPowerSupplies.com
sell replacement
power supplies with the modified Dell wiring.
Fortunately, starting in 2000, Dell switched to using industry-standard ATX power con-
nections in its systems.
Additional Power Connectors
Besides the motherboard power connectors, all power supplies include a variety of addi-
tional power connectors, mainly used for internally mounted drives but usable by other
components, such as graphics cards. Most of these connectors are industry-standard types
required by the various power supply form factor specifications. This section discusses
the various types of additional device power connectors you're likely to find in your PC.
Peripheral Power Connectors
Perhapsthemostcommonadditionalpowerconnectorseenonvirtuallyallpowersupplies
is the
peripheral power connector
, also called the
disk drive power connector
. What we
know as the peripheral power connector was originally created by AMP as part of the
commercial MATE-N-LOK series, although since it is also manufactured and sold by
Molex, it is often incorrectly called a
Molex connector
.
To determine the location of pin 1, carefully look at the connector. It is usually embossed
in the plastic connector body; however, it is often tiny and difficult to read. Fortunately,
