Are you trying to add a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express card to your Lenovo Thinkcentre computer system? The Lenovo Thinkcentre S51 computer system with part numbers 8098, 8171, 8172, and 8173 will beep with error code 4 2 3 3 if you try to install any Peripheral Component Interconnect Express card, besides a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express type X1 card. This type of Lenovo ThinkCentre computer system only supports Peripheral Component Interconnect Express X1 cards.
You can read over the official hardware maintenance manual from Lenovo, for your Lenovo Thinkcentre S51 computer system. The bezel is removable but must be replaced with a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express X1 card only. If you feel your Lenovo Thinkcentre computer system is having this problem then make sure to check with Lenovo support to see if this affects your particular model computer.
You can find Peripheral Component Interconnect Express X1 type cards from many popular online retailers like the ones listed in a Google search. You might also want to contact a local retail computer store to see if they have any, if you do not want to purchase one online. You can just ask them if they have any Peripheral Component Interconnect Express X1 type cards.
Installing a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express card is pretty straight forward. Now that you have verified if your Lenovo ThinkCentre computer system has an empty Peripheral Component Interconnect Express X1 card slot or not, you can begin the installation process. Remember you will only be able to install a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express card type X1 card.
First, you will need to remove the computer case cover. This will depend on which Lenovo ThinkCentre computer system you are installing this add on card into. You will want to power off your computer and then disconnect any cables attached including the power cable.
There should be two release buttons, one on both sides of the case cover on your computer system. You will need to press in on these buttons and it should release the case cover. Now you will want to pull up and away from the computer to partially remove the case cover.
Now you can access the inside of the computer system. You can look for the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express card type X1 slot. There may only be one of these slots on the motherboard.
Also, the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express X1 type card is very short in comparison to other Peripheral Component Interconnect Express type cards. There may or may not be a factory default blank that you have to take out in order to slide in the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express X1 card. Also, there may be a screw holding this blank in place that you would need to remove.
There could be a blank that if you twist it correctly, will break out. Some blanks are designed to become temporary until you physically remove them by twisting them. Once the blank is removed, if one exists, then you will want to slide the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express X1 card tight into this slot.
You want to make sure to tighten the screw if one was supplied, in order to make certain that this add in card will not come loose. Now that you have the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express X1 card installed, you will need to replace the cover by sliding it back down towards the motherboard. It should lock itself in place without too much force applied.
Once this is accomplished then you can plug in all necessary cables including the power cable. You will want to power on and see if your Lenovo ThinkCenter computer system will successfully boot the operating system. If your computer starts beeping or will not boot the operating system, you will want to make sure that you installed that Peripheral Component Interconnect Express X1 card tight and flush.
You may need to apply some pressure downwards as you insert the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express X1 card. However, you do not need to apply so much pressure that the card breaks. These instructions were written for a Lenovo ThinkCentre computer system, but can be used as a basis point for other computer hardware.