Acer Aspire M3420 User manual

Acer
Aspire M3420
Service Guide
SG V1.00
PRINTED IN TAIWAN

ii
Revision History
Please refer to the table below for the updates made on this service guide.
Date Version Chapter Updates
05-04-2012 First Draft
05-04-2012 V1.00

iii
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 by Acer Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language or computer language, in
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual or otherwise, without
the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.

iv
Disclaimer
The information in this guide is subject to change without notice.
Acer Incorporated makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the
contents hereof and specifically disclaims any warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular
purpose. Any Acer Incorporated software described in this manual is sold or licensed "as is". Should the
programs prove defective following their purchase, the buyer (and not Acer Incorporated, its distributor, or its
dealer) assumes the entire cost of all necessary servicing, repair, and any incidental or consequential
damages resulting from any defect in the software.
Acer is a registered trademark of Acer Corporation.
Other brand and product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

v
Conventions
The following conventions are used in this manual:
SCREEN
MESSAGES Denotes actual messages that appear on screen.
NOTE Gives additional information related to the current topic.
WARNING Alerts you to any physical risk or system damage that might result from doing
or not doing specific actions.
CAUTION Gives precautionary measures to avoid possible hardware or software
problems.
IMPORTANT Reminds you to do specific actions relevant to the accomplishment of
procedures.

vi
Service Guide Coverage
This Service Guide provides you with all technical information relating to the BASIC CONFIGURATION
decided for Acer's "global" product offering. To better fit local market requirements and enhance product
competitiveness, your regional office MAY have decided to extend the functionality of a machine (e.g. add-on
card, modem, or extra memory capability). These LOCALIZED FEATURES will NOT be covered in this generic
service guide. In such cases, please contact your regional offices or the responsible personnel/channel to
provide you with further technical details.
FRU Information
Please note WHEN ORDERING FRU PARTS, that you should check the most up-to-date information available
on your regional web or channel. If, for whatever reason, a part number change is made, it will not be noted in
the printed Service Guide. For ACER-AUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDERS, your Acer office may have a
DIFFERENT part number code to those given in the FRU list of this printed Service Guide. You MUST use the
list provided by your regional Acer office to order FRU parts for repair and service of customer machines.

vii
System Tour 1
Features 1
Block Diagram 5
System Components 6
Front Panel 6
Rear Panel 7
Hardware Specifications and Configurations 8
Power Management Function(ACPI support function) 12
System Utilities 13
CMOS Setup Utility 13
Entering CMOS setup 14
Navigating Through the Setup Utility 14
Setup Utility Menus 15
System Disassembly and Assembly 25
Disassembly Requirements 25
Pre-disassembly Procedure 26
Removing the Side Panel 27
Removing the Front Bezel 28
Removing the Heat Sink Fan Assembly 29
Removing the Processor 32
Removing the VGA Card 34
Removing the Wireless Lan Card 36
Removing the Hard Disk Drive 37
Removing the Optical Drive 40
Removing the System Fan 42
Removing the Power Supply 44
Removing the Memory Modules 46
Removing the Daughter Board 47
Removing the Mainboard 50
Removing the Top Cover 53
Removing the Power Switch and LED Cable Assembly 56
Removing the Card Reader 57
Removing the Top USB and Audio I/O Assembly 58
Assembly Requirements 61
Assembly Procedure 62
Romoving the Side Panel 63
Removing the Cage of Hard Disk Drive 64
Removing the Daughter Board 65
Removing the PCI Cover 66
Reinstalling the I/O Shielding 67
Reinstalling the MainBoard 68
Reinstalling the Daughter Board 70
Reinstalling the Memory 71
Reinstalling the Power Supply 73
Reinstalling the System Fan 75
Reinstalling the Optical Drive 76
Reinstalling the Hard Disk Drive 78
Reinstalling the Wireless LAN Card 81
Reinstalling the VGA Card 82
Reinstalling the Processor 83
Table of Contents

viii
Reinstalling the Heat Sink Fan Assembly 85
Reinstalling the Front Bezel 87
Reinstalling the Side Panel 89
System Troubleshooting 90
Hardware Diagnostic Procedure 90
System Check Procedures 91
Power System Check 91
System External Inspection 91
System Internal Inspection 91
Beep Codes 92
Checkpoints 93
BIOS Recovery 96
Jumper and Connector Information 99
M/B Placement 99
Jumper Setting 101
Setting Jumper 101
FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List 110
Aspire M3420 Exploded Diagram 111
Aspire M3420 FRU List 113

Chapter 1 1
Features
Below is a brief summary of the computer’s many feature:
NOTE: The features listed in this section is for your reference only. The exact configuration of the system
depends on the model purchased.
Operating System
•Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 32bit
•Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64bit
•Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 32/64bit dual load
•Microsoft Windows7 Home Premium 64bit
•Microsoft Windows7 Home Premium 32bit
•Microsoft Windows7 Home Basic 32bit
•Linpux Linux X window mode
•Linpux Linux Console mode
•FreeDos
Processor
•Socket Type: AMD Socket-FM2.
•Socket Quantity: 1
•Processor Type:
•Support AMD “Trinity”APU which supports AMD Turbo Core 3.0 Technology.
•Support 65W/100W/ 125W TDP ;125W is reserved (need to quote based on these two TDP CPUs
solutions).
•Support for Cool'n'Quiet™ via FID/VID change.
•Support for AMD PowerNow!™.
Chipset
•FCH: AMD A75.
PCB
•Max. 244 mm x 244 mm, compatible with uATX.
•4 layer.
Memory subsystem
•Socket Type: DDR III connector.
•Socket Quantity: 4 DIMMs.
•Support DDR3 1.5V 1066/1333/1866(1GB / 2GB / 4GB).
•Max memory of 16GB supported(Using 4GB tech).
•Dual channel should be enabled always when plug-in 2 same memory size 1.5V DDRIII. memory
module.
System Tour
Chapter 1

2Chapter 1
•Follow Follow Acer Mother Board EE Design Request-v5.5-2011-1103 or later version.
Graphics
•HD Graphics Support:
•Suport Digital display (HDMI/DVI/DP) and VGA.
•AMD Blu-ray 3D technology support (only A- Series APU).
•Complicant with HDMI CTS v1.4a.
•Dual View function support.
•Need to measure VGA follow Acer VGA SOP.
•Monitor compatible is requested to the monitor AVL and DQM recommended list.
Graphic Card Suppot
•No mechanical retriction to support for double slot, full length graphics cards in the single PCIe X16 slot.
Hard disk drive
•Support up to two SATA ports.
•3.5",25.4mm.
•Capacity and models are listed on AVLC.
Optical disk drive
•Support two SATA 5.25" standard ODD.
•Support DVD-ROM, DVD-SuperMulti, BD-combo, BD-rewrite.
•Maximum ODD depth to 185mm with bezel.
•Models are listed on AVLC.
Audio
•Chip : HD audio codec ALC662-VD HD codec 5.1.
•Rear IO: 3 jack
•Front IO: 1*Microphone-in, 1*head phone jack
Serial ATA controller
•Slot Type: SATAIII connector
•SATA ports quantity: 6(6Gb/s*6 for A75)
•Storage Type support:
•3.5” SATA/SATAII/SATAIII HDD.
•DVD-ROM/DVD-RW/DVD+RW/DVD Dual/DVD SuperMultiPlus/ Blu-Ray ODD.
•RAID/AHCI/IDE mode option.
•Default AHCI mode in Microsoft windows OS. Native IDE mode in non-windows OS.
LAN
•Controller: Giga Lan, MB vendor propose.
•Need support Wake up on LAN function.
•RJ-45 Back panel port with Link/Activity LEDs.
•compliant with China rural request for Surge protecting (BOM option).
•Support IOAC: REALTEK 8111FA.

Chapter 1 3
Extension slot
•1 * PCIE x16 (PCIE V2.0).
•3 * PCIE x1 (PCIE V2.0).
USB Ports
•Controller: AMD A75 chipset.
•Rear I/O:
•4 * USB2.0 ports.
•2 * USB3.0 ports.
•Onboard Header:
•Three H2X5 USB2.0 headers.
•One H2X10 USB3.0 headers.
•Connector Pin: standard Intel FPIO pin definition.
•Cardreader: 1 on borad header should be delegate to cardreader as internal device and use different
color.
•Data transfer rate support:
•USB 3.0/2.0/1.1.
•All USB ports must be boot-capable includes USB-ODD, USB-HDD, USB-FDD, and etc…
•All USB ports must provide the over current protection.
•Enable the USB EHCI Debug Ports.
Buzzer
•1 on board buzzer.
Rear I/O connectors
•1 * PS2 KB+MS.
•1 * HDMI port.
•1 * VGA connector.
•4 * USB 2.0 ports.
•1 * RJ45 + 2 * USB 3.0 ports.
•1 * 3 ports Audio jack(Line in, microphone in and line out).
On-board connectors
•1* FM2 CPU socket.
•1 * 24-pin ATX PWR connector.
•1 * H2X2 Power Supply Connector.
•4 * DDR3 DIMM Socket.
•3 * USB2.0 H5X2 Header.
•1 * USB3.0 H2*10 Header.
•1 * Front Audio Pannel H5X2 header.
•1 * Front Panel IO H7X2 Header for Acer pin define.
•1 * H1X4 CPU with SAMRT FAN controller.
•1 * H1X4 SPDIFOUT Header.
•1 * H1X4 System with SAMRT FAN controller.
•1 * H3X1 Clear CMOS Header (with jumper).

4Chapter 1
•1 * H2X4 HD internal speaker header.
•1 * onboard Buzzer.
•2 * H1X2 GPIO header.
System BIOS
•Type:
•Use SPI Flash.
•System BIOS 4MB.
•Kernel:
•AMI Kernel with Acer skin/copyright.
Power supply
•300W/(500W only for JP).
•Support models are listed on AVLC.

Chapter 1 5
Block Diagram

6Chapter 1
System Components
This section is a virtual tour of the system’s interior and exterior components.
Front Panel
No. Component
1 USB 3.0 ports 9 Slave optical drive eject button.(Press to
open drive bay door and access the optical
drive.)
Removable HDD door button.(Press button
to access the removable HDD.)
2HDD activity indicator 10 Master optical drive eject button
3 Micro SD slot 11 Power button
4 XD(XD-Picture) slot 12 MS/MS PRO slot
5 CF I/II (CompactFlash Type I/II) slot 13 SD/MMC(Secure Digital/MultiMedia
Card)slot
6 Master optical drive bay 14 Headphone/Speaker-out/line-out jack
7 Slave optical drive or Removable HDD bay 15 Microphone-in jack
8 Acer logo 16 USB 2.0 ports

Chapter 1 7
Rear Panel
No. Component
1 Power connector
2 PS2 keyboard port
3 HDMI port
4VGAport
5 USB 2.0 ports
6 USB 3.0 ports
7 Line-out jack
8 Microphone-in jack
9 Expansion slot (Graphics card and Wireless Lan card)
10 Line-in
11 USB 2.0 ports
12 LAN connector
13 System FAN
14 PS2 mouse port

8Chapter 1
Hardware Specifications and Configurations
Processor
BIOS
BIOS Hotkey List
Main Board Major Chips
Item Specification
Processor Type Support AMD Trinity APU
Socket Type AMD Socket-FM2
Minimum operating speed 0 MHz (If Stop CPU Clock in Sleep State in BIOS Setup is set to Enabled.)
Item Specification
BIOS code programer AMI Kernel with Acer skin
BIOS version P01-A0
BIOS ROM type SPI Flash
BIOS ROM size 4MB
Support protocol SMBIOS(DMI)2.7
Device Boot Support 1st priority: EFI Deivce
2nd priority: SATA HDD
3rd priority: CD-ROM
4th priority: Removable Deivce
5th priority: LAN
Support to LS-120 drive N/A
Support to BIOS boot block feature YES
Hotkey Function Description
Del Enter BIOS Setup Utility Press while the system is booting to enter BIOS Setup Utility.
Item Specification
Chipset AMD A75
USB controller AMD A75
Audio controller ALC662-VD
LAN controller RTL8111FA
SATA controller AMD A75

Chapter 1 9
Memory Combinations
System Memory
Audio Interface
Slot Memory Total Memory
Slot 1 1MB,2GB,4GB 1G ~4GB
Slot 2 1MB,2GB,4GB 1G ~4GB
Slot 3 1MB,2GB,4GB 1G ~4GB
Slot 4 1MB,2GB,4GB 1G ~4GB
Maximum System Memory Supported 1G~16GB
Item Specification
Memory slot number 4 slot
Support Memory size per socket 1GB/2GB/4GB
Support memory type DDRIII
Support memory interface DDRIII 1066/1333/1866 MHz
Support memory voltage 1.5V
Support memory module package 240-pin DDRIII
Support to parity check feature Yes
Support to error correction code (ECC) feature No
Memory module combinations You can install memory modules in any combination as long as
they match the above specifications.
Item Specification
Audio controller AMD FCH HUDSON-D3
Audio controller type ALC662-VD
Audio channel 5.1 CHANNEL
Audio function control Enable/disable by BIOS Setup
Mono or stereo Stereo
Compatibility The ALC662-VD supports host audio from Intel chipsets, and also from any
other HDA compatible audio controller. With EAX/Direct Sound 3D/I3DL2
compatibility, software utilities like Karaoke mode, environment emulation,
multi-band software equalizer, 3D positional audio, and optional Dolby R Digital
Live and DTS R CONNECT ™ programs, the ALC662-VD provides an
excellent home entertainment package and game experience for PC users.
Music synthesizer No
Sampling rate 192 kHz (max.)
MPU-401 UART support No
Microphone&Headphone jack Supported

10 Chapter 1
SATA Interface
USB Port
Environmental Requirements
Item Specification
SATA controller AMD A75
Number of SATA channel SATA X 6(SATA 6Gb/s)
Support mode RAID/AHCI/IDE mode option.
Default AHCI mode in Microsoft windows OS. Native IDE mode in non-windows
OS.
Item Specification
Universal HCI USB 3.0/2.0/1.1
USB Class Support legacy keyboard for legacy mode
USB Connectors Quantity Rear I/O:
• 4 * USB2.0 ports.
• 2 * USB3.0 ports.
Onboard Header:
• Three H2X5 USB2.0 headers( 6ports) .
• One H2X10 USB3.0 headers( 2ports).
Item Specification
Temperature
Operating +5°C ~ +35°C
Non-operating -20 ~ +60°C (Storage package)
Humidity
Operating 15% to 80% RH
Non-operating 10% to 90% RH
Vibration
Operating (unpacked) 5 ~ 500 Hz: 2.20g RMS random, 10 minutes per axis in all 3 axes.
5 ~500 Hz: 1.09g RMS random, 1 hour per axis in all 3 axes.

Chapter 1 11
Power Management
•Devices wake up from S3 should be less than.
•Devices wake up from S5 should be less than 10 seconds.
Devices S1 S3 S4 S5
PowerButtonVVVV
USB Keyboard/Mouse V V N/A N/A
PME Disabled Disabled Disabled Disabled
RCT Disabled Disabled Disabled Disabled
WOR Disabled Disabled Disabled Disabled

12 Chapter 1
Power Management Function(ACPI support function)
Device Standby Mode
•Independent power management timer for hard disk drive devices(0-15 minutes,time step=1minute).
•Hard Disk drive goes into Standby mode(for ATA standard interface).
•Disable V-sync to control the VESA DPMS monitor.
•Resume method:device activated (keyboard for DOS, keyboard &mouse for Windows.
•Resume recovery time 3-5sec
Global Standby Mode
•Global power management timer(2-120minutes,time step=10minute).
•Hard disk drive goes into Standby mode(for ATA standard interface).
•Disable H-sync and V-sync signals to control the VESA DPMS monitor.
•Resume method: Resume to original state by pushing external switch Button,modem ring in,keyboard
an mouse for APM mode.
•Resume recovery time :7-10sec
Suspend Mode
•Independent power management timer(2-120minutes,time step=10minute)or pushing extern switch
button.
•CPU goes into SMM
•CPU asserts STPCLK# and goes into the Stop Grant State.
•LED on panel turns amber colour.
•Hard disk drive goes into SLEEP mode (for ATA standard interface).
•Disable H-sync and V-sync signals to control the VESA DPMS monitor.
•Ultra I/O and VGA chip go into power saving mode.
•Resume method: Resume to original state by pushing external switch Button,modem ring in,keyboard
an mouse for APM mode
•Return to original state by pushing external switch button,modem ring in and USB keyboard for ACPI
mode.
ACPI
•ACPI specification 1.0b
•S0,S1,S2 and S5 sleep state support.
•On board device power management support.
•On board device configuration support.