OptiPlex 3070 Micro Serial Adapter Cable

Question

I am trying to find out how to get the optional serial port adapter cable for the OptiPlex 3070 Micro.

https://www.dell.com/en-ca/work/shop/cty/pdp/spd/optiplex-3070-micro?view=configurations

I have tried Dell sales support they referred me to technical support. Neither of them seemed to have any idea what I was talking about. Which is odd since the cable is mentioned multiple places on the Dell website and in the service manual. If you follow the above link see #6 in the picture in the Ports & Slots section near the bottom of the page.

The serial port is actually present in the system it shows as COM1 (IRQ 0x04, I/O Range 0x3F8-0x3FF) in device manager and there is a place on the case to install the DB9 connector. All I need is the cable to go from the motherboard to a DB9.

Why don't I just use a USB to serial adapter? Well that was my original plan. I am using VirtualBox to virtualize an old 486 PC running QNX 2.21 which runs an piece of industrial equipment. QNX is pretty fussy about serial ports from what I have found. I have tried a couple different industrial grade USB to serial adapters without success, it does however appear to like(by like I mean QNX boots without error) the native COM1 port on the 3070. Unfortunately I cannot connect it to the machine to continue my testing without the aforementioned adapter cable. I have had similar experiences with USB to serial adapters in the past and I thought I was hedging my bets with this computer as I could always fall back to the native serial port.

I would be most grateful if someone could provide the part number for the serial adapter.

Thanks in advance.

Gary

speedstep · Accepted Answer

Unfortunately its several parts because the "PORT" can be VGA or Serial or Display port or HDMI.

New models like this likely will NEVER Have this because legacy ports and CSM are no longer supported.

The Serial port you are seeing is INTEL AMT HECI SOL (Serial Over Lan)

Which shows up as missing drivers for PCI Serial port when chipset and Intel Management Engine drivers are missing.

You should try a USB to Serial port adapter. If you have software that must have legacy serial port then I would say you are too late as these ports are no longer supported. PL2303 or FTDI chipset may be required.

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Converter-Prolific-Chipset-CB-9P6F/dp/B07RFNHTL9/

All of the optional ports go to a specific spot, have screws holding a daughter board, and a special cable between the motherboard and daughter board. The options are (DisplayPort / HDMI 2.0b / VGA / USB Type-C alt mode)

Similar to Micro VGA 15 Pin Card PKGGG 0PKGGG

Dell Optiplex 3020M 9020M Micro PC I/O PS/2 serial Card WN80W + Cable 17P6V

Its not a passive cable its a daughter board and cable.

DISPLAY PORT TO HDMI

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-adapter-displayport-to-hdmi-20-4k/apd/492-bbxu/pc-accessories

Manufacturer part PGFHY
Dell part 492-BBXU

VGA PORT

https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/accessories/apd/492-bcbc
Manufacturer part R19G7
Dell part 492-BCBC

SERIAL PORT

https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/accessories/apd/492-bbzx
Manufacturer part PRJH3

Dell part 492-BBZX

DISPLAY PORT

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/accessories/apd/492-bbzy
Manufacturer part DDPPJ
Dell part 492-BBZY

Yetanotherid · Answer

Thanks for the quick reply speedstep.

I find it amazing that I receive more information from someone who does not even work for Dell in a single post than I received in multiple conversations with Dell sales and technical support. The technical support representative even talked to their supervisor.

The links you provided do not work in Canada they just took me to a generic Dell shop page. Once I switched my VPN to the US I could view them, however the link for the serial port just flashed a brief message about the link being changed or invalid.

I chatted with Dell sales to inquire about the pricing and availability of part # 492-BBZX. After waiting for over an hour I received the following response:

"Thank you for waiting. I've confirmed that this part is not available currently. Afraid I will be unable to provide any guarantees as to timeframes or if this part will become available again at all."

I would understand this response if I was trying to purchase a part for a computer that was a couple of years old, but this is the new 3070 model. If Dell has no plans to actually offer the serial port option they should update the marketing material and the service manual to reflect that.

In the future I will post questions here before I buy, so I do not waste my time.

Thanks again for your help speedstep.

Gary

P.S. I went through my collection of USB to serial adapters one by one and found one that appears to be working for me, at least as far as some preliminary tests show. It is the Trendnet TU-S9, which uses the prolific chipset, if anyone is interested.

speedstep · Answer

If others are looking for that specific one https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Converter-Installation-Universal-TU-S9/dp/B0007T27H8/

sbus · Answer

Dell part number DKJHY is what you (were) looking for. Serial port add-on for the 3070 micro. Internal installation.

Optiplex Desktops

OptiPlex 3070 Micro Serial Adapter Cable

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