Dell E510

[dukeharsha]

Hello,
I am a proud owner of a Dell E510 dimension desktop, and recently I decided to install a media card reader into the bay where the floppy drive normally would be. However, I purchased a unit online that had a lot of good reviews from new egg. I did not realize that Dell uses something called a "flexbay" connector on their motherboard. The problem I'm having is that the motherboard connector has 10 pins but I only need eight. I looked up some and wiring diagrams online and then proceeded to insert the eight I need.

The other problem arose in that the connector types do not match so I cannot even put the pins on the connector. Has anybody else run into this problem? I checked the Dell support site and they claim that the connector is a standard USB connector but clearly it is not. I have no desire to argue and get tossed around technical support since that has happened to me many times in the past. Has anybody been able to successfully install an aftermarket media card reader into the floppy drive bay on a dimension E510?

I must note that there is a front connector that has the microphone, headphone, and two USB ports. There is a small white connector off to the side that has nothing in it and I'm not sure what device would go into that. Can anyone provide some insight as to what I am doing wrong?

In all honesty I am thinking of going with a Macintosh next time around!!!

HS

 

[magreen]

bump

 

[SmoochyTX]

OP, I would recommend that you call Dell Sales @ 800-357-3355 and order the media card reader through them. The one for your computer is Dell part # KD104. It includes the cable that you will need. The drivers can be downloaded from their site.

The media card reader (with cable) is $19.00 and 3-5 day shipping through Fedex or DHL will bring your total up to around $29.00.

Hope that helps you out.

 

[dukeharsha]

I just checked the dell website and the part is listed as "not found". I will give the sales folks a call tommorrow and get this settled. Why indicate through tech support that it is a standard USB connector when it is not? If this is their way of doing biz then I hope they continue to lag in sales!!!

dh

 

[SmoochyTX]

OP, I just called the sales line and gave them my service tag # (as it's also an E510) and the part is currently in stock.

Of course, it took a couple of different calls as one agent refused to sell it to me at all since she noticed that my system already came with one and I told her it was working fine. She didn't understand why I would would to buy a second one and flat out refused to sell it to me. She also told me that the part # that I gave her was wrong.

The second call I made, 'Amanda' didn't notice that I already had one but she did try to get me to buy an external card reader for $89. I told her I wanted an internal one (again) and she tried to sell me a PCI card. I went through it again with her and finally she came across the correct part # KD104 (the one I provided earlier in the thread) but told me it was $20 instead of the $19 I had been told earlier and kept trying to pressure me into ordering it immediately. LOL

Anyway, have fun.

 

[dukeharsha]

It is interesting that you bring up the PCI card offering. Would it be easier for me to get a PCI USB internal card that would have an internal port for me to connect to or should I just bite the bullet and get the Dell reader? I will give them a call and see what they say...

dh

 

[mechBgon]

In all honesty I am thinking of going with a Macintosh next time around!!!

Or you could build your own custom PC If you ever get to that point, post a thread in General Hardware with your budget and the intended uses of the computer, and they'll set you up with a parts kit in no time

 

[theknight571]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

In all honesty I am thinking of going with a Macintosh next time around!!!

Or you could build your own custom PC If you ever get to that point, post a thread in General Hardware with your budget and the intended uses of the computer, and they'll set you up with a parts kit in no time

Unless you're trying to build a cheap one... in which case they'll tell you to buy a Dell.

At least that's what they did for me. LOL

They were right too... just couldn't beat the Dell price.

 

[SmoochyTX]

Update from OP?

 

[magreen]

Originally posted by: theknight571

Originally posted by: mechBgon

In all honesty I am thinking of going with a Macintosh next time around!!!

Or you could build your own custom PC If you ever get to that point, post a thread in General Hardware with your budget and the intended uses of the computer, and they'll set you up with a parts kit in no time

Unless you're trying to build a cheap one... in which case they'll tell you to buy a Dell.

At least that's what they did for me. LOL

They were right too... just couldn't beat the Dell price.

LOL