Introduction; System Features - Dell Precision 400 User Manual

Chapter 1

Introduction

D
®
ell workstation systems are high-speed, upgradable
personal computers designed around Intel
microprocessors. Each system has an Industry-Standard
Architecture (ISA) design that allows you to configure
the computer system to your initial requirements and then
upgrade it as necessary. These systems also support the
high-performance Peripheral Component Interconnect
(PCI) bus.
This chapter describes the major hardware and software
features of your system, provides information about the
indicators and controls on the computer's front panel, and
discusses connecting external devices to the computer.
S
ystem Features
Your system offers the following features:
•
An Intel Pentium II microprocessor. The following
microprocessor options are available:
— An Intel Pentium II microprocessor with an
internal speed of 266 megahertz (MHz) and an
external speed of 66 MHz
— An Intel Pentium II microprocessor with an
internal speed of 300 MHz and an external
speed of 66 MHz
The Intel Pentium II microprocessor includes
™
MMX technology designed to handle complex
multimedia and communications software. This
microprocessor incorporates new instructions and
data types as well as a technique called Single
Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) that allows the
microprocessor to process multiple data elements in
parallel, thereby improving system performance
when running application programs written to take
advantage of MMX technology.
® ®
Pentium II
•
•
•
•
•
The Intel Pentium II microprocessor has a
16-kilobyte (KB) internal data cache and a 16-KB
internal instruction cache, an internal math coproces-
sor, and other advanced internal logic.
A secondary cache of 512 KB of static random-access
memory (SRAM) integrated in the single-edge con-
tact (SEC) cartridge. The secondary cache for the
300-MHz processor also provides error correction and
checking (ECC) capability.
Dual-processor capability. The system allows the
installation of a second SEC cartridge (operating at
the same frequency as the installed microprocessor),
which can be purchased as a kit from Dell. Dual pro-
cessing improves performance under operating
systems that support multiprocessing, such as
®
Microsoft Windows NT
A 16-bit, integrated Plug and Play Crystal
CS4236B audio controller that is Sound Blaster
Pro-compatible and that supports the Microsoft Win-
®
dows Sound System. See Chapter 6, "Using the
Integrated Audio Controller," for details.
System memory that can be increased up to
512 megabytes (MB). Memory can be increased by
installing 16-, 32-, 64-, or 128-MB extended-data
out (EDO) dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) in
the four DIMM sockets on the system board. The
memory subsystem also provides ECC capability,
which corrects all single-bit memory errors and
detects all multibit errors. See "Adding Memory" in
Chapter 8 for details on installing additional
memory.
Self-Monitoring Analysis Reporting Technology
(SMART) support, which warns you at system start-
up if your hard-disk drive has become unreliable. To
take advantage of this technology, you must have a
SMART-compliant hard-disk drive in your
®
4.0.
Introduction 1-1