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Go to SolutionOptiplex 790 SFF cannot install a Dell NIC card
My Optiplex 790 SFF has two PCIe slots. I have both of the two slots working with a Realtek RTL8168 NIC card and a SATA adaptor. However, I wish to replace the Realtek NIC card with a new Dell quad port NIC card.
When I install the Dell NIC, the Optiplex 790 cannot boot, and stuck at a black screen. The front panel LED 1 and 2 are on with orange light. I looked up the user manual and it says,
LED 1 and 2 means:
Problem Description: A possible expansion card failure has occurred.
Things I have tried:
1. I have tested both PCIe slots with other cards, both working. So the two slots are fine.
2. I plugged in the Dell NIC card ONLY on either 2 PCIe Slots with no other cards plugged in, no hard drives, only one RAM stick.
Same problem: LED 1 and 2 on, black screen, no boot, cannot get into the BIOS setup.
3. I have tested the Dell NIC card on a different PC, Dell Optiplex 755. it's working! So the Dell NIC card is not the problem.
The Dell NIC card spec sheet can be downloaded here:
It says the Dell NIC card
Typical power consumption: 8.4W
PCI Express bus type: 2.0
So why doesn't this NIC card work on Optiplex 790 SSF? Please help!
fireberd,Thank you so much for your help!
Apparently, my PC's BIOS version is A6, and never got upgraded since it was purchased in 2011. In order to upgrade to the latest version A22, I have to upgrade it to A10 first.
But after I upgrade the BIOS, the NIC card works right away! I did NOT have to clear CMOS and everything is working!
Cheers!
PCI Express bus type: 2.0 is one of the problems.
Newer machines require PCI-E bus type 2.1 or 3.0 cards.
Older cards are NOT forward compatble due to differences in line code and bus speed. K code 8b/10b Encoding Scheme is replaced by 128b/130b Encoding Scheme
If you need additional nic I suggest you use USB 2.0 to Ethernet adapter.
https://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Ethernet-10-100-1000-Compatible-Chromebook/dp/B003VSTDFG
https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Ethernet-Adapter-Nintendo-Chromebook/dp/B00MYT481C/
bingo ,old BIOS.
mine has newest bios
and my dell, Qlogic 2 port card works from R310 server, expelled.
my card is 0f169G broadcom chip yours is intel.
ok progress but OPENBSD will be harder,,, use the list I posted for them showing all tested Card with your unstated kernel version.
fireberd
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Posted September 12th, 2019 03:00
This could be a BIOS issue. Do you have the latest BIOS version? If not update the BIOS. If you do have the latest BIOS, a CMOS Memory (BIOS) reset may help. Install the card then, with the PC powered off, remove the CR2032 coin cell battery located on the motherboard for a least 10 minutes. Reinstall the battery and power on and see if this corrected it. If not I would suspect an incompatibility with this model.