Dell Optiplex Second Serial port

[John Fox]

I have a Dell optiplex GX270, a I would like to use the second serial
port that is present on de motherboard. Does anyone have the pinout of
this 12-pin connector?
I assume that 9 of them are used to connect to the 9-subD, and one pin
is not present. So there are two pins left, which I expect to be used
for availibility detection (enable).
But I'd like to be more certain before trying.

Who can help?

 

[Gareth Tuckwell]

I have a Dell optiplex GX270, a I would like to use the second serial
port that is present on de motherboard. Does anyone have the pinout of
this 12-pin connector?
I assume that 9 of them are used to connect to the 9-subD, and one pin
is not present. So there are two pins left, which I expect to be used
for availibility detection (enable).
But I'd like to be more certain before trying.

Who can help?

That doesn't sound like a serial port - perhaps a joystick port??

 

[John Fox]

Well,
it is definitely a serial port. The connector is also mentionned in
the documentation, but no pins are described....

 

[Gareth Tuckwell]

Well,
it is definitely a serial port. The connector is also mentionned in
the documentation, but no pins are described....

A recount here reveals that joysticks are 15 pin connectors and I';m sure
you know what a VGA connector looks like, so that leaves me stumped! Serial
ports are either 9 pin or 25 pin affairs. I have never encountered a 12pin
serial port or cable. Do they mention anything about convertor adapters to
connect to standard RS232 serial cables?

 

[John Fox]

Well,
the connector on the main board is one for inserting a flatcable
connector., male
It looks like this:
------------
| oooo o |
| oooooo |
-----__----

Where o = a pin.
So pin 1 to 9 are present, pin 10 is empty, and pin 11 and 12 are also
present.

As I mentionned in first, I think the 2 extra pins (11 & 12) are
use to detect the presence of the adapter cable, so it can be visible
in the bios setup.
I know DELL sells such an adaptor cable (option when buying a PC)

 

[David Maynard]

Well,
the connector on the main board is one for inserting a flatcable
connector., male
It looks like this:
------------
| oooo o |
| oooooo |
-----__----

Where o = a pin.
So pin 1 to 9 are present, pin 10 is empty, and pin 11 and 12 are also
present.

As I mentionned in first, I think the 2 extra pins (11 & 12) are
use to detect the presence of the adapter cable, so it can be visible
in the bios setup.
I know DELL sells such an adaptor cable (option when buying a PC)

Have you tried searching their support site for information on it?

 

[John Fox]

Well,

I searched the DELL site, but they seem to do very mysterious about
it. No pinning info is found...

 

[David Maynard]

Well,

I searched the DELL site, but they seem to do very mysterious about
it. No pinning info is found...

Email Dell support.