Acer Aspire M3450 User manual

Acer
Aspire M3450
Service Guide
PRINTED IN TAIWAN

ii
Revision History
Please refer to the table below for the updates made on this service guide.
Date Chapter Updates

iii
Copyright
Copyright © 2011 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.
Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
Pentium Dual-Core, Celeron Dual-Core, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, Celeron, and combinations thereof, are
trademarks of Intel 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) 11
System Utilities 12
CMOS Setup Utility 12
Entering CMOS setup 13
Navigating Through the Setup Utility 13
Setup Utility Menus 14
System Disassembly and Assembly 24
Disassembly Requirements 24
Pre-disassembly Procedure 25
Removing the Side Panel 26
Removing the Front Bezel 27
Removing the Heat Sink Fan Assembly 28
Removing the Processor 30
Removing the VGA Card 32
Removing the TV-Tuner Card 34
Removing the PCI-E Modem Card 35
Removing the Wireless Lan Card 36
Removing the Memory Modules 37
Removing the Hard Disk Drive 38
Removing the Optical Drive 40
Removing the System Fan 42
Removing the Daughter Board 44
Removing the Power Supply 45
Removing the Mainboard 46
Removing the Top Cover 49
Removing the Power Switch and LED Cable Assembly 51
Removing the Card Reader 52
Removing the Top USB and Audio I/O Assembly 53
Assembly Requirements 55
Assembly Procedure 56
Install the Processor 57
Install the Heat Sink Fan Assembly 58
Install the Memory 60
Romoving the Side Panel 61
Removing the Daughter Board 62
Removing the Cage of Hard Disk Drive 63
Removing the PCI Cover 64
Install the Power Supply 65
Install the I/O Shielding 66
Install the Main Board 67
Install the Optical Drive 69
Install the Hard Disk Drive 71
Install the Daughter Board 74
Table of Contents

viii
Install the System Fan 75
Install the Wireless LAN Card 76
Install the PCI-E Modem Card 77
Install the TV-Tuner Card 78
Install the VGA Card 79
Install the Front Bezel 80
Install the Side Panel 81
System Troubleshooting 82
Hardware Diagnostic Procedure 82
System Check Procedures 83
Power System Check 83
System External Inspection 83
System Internal Inspection 83
Beep Codes 84
Checkpoints 85
BIOS Recovery 88
Jumper and Connector Information 89
M/B Placement 89
Jumper Setting 91
Setting Jumper 91
FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List 98
Aspire M3450 Exploded Diagram 99
Aspire M3450 FRU List 101

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 Home Premium x64
•Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic x64
•Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium x86
•Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic x86
•Microsoft Windows 7 Starter x86
•Linpus XWindows
•Free DOS
Processor
•Socket Type: AMD Socket AM3+.
•Socket Quantity: 1.
•Processor Type:
•Support AMD AM3 and FX series CPU (Max:95W) with AMD Turbo Core 2.0 Technology.
Chipset
•NB: AMD RS880P.
•SB: AMD SB950.
PCB
•MicroATX Size, 244mm x 244mm
Memory subsystem
•Socket Type: DDR III connector.
•Socket Quantity: 4 DIMMs.
•Channel A: Slot 2, 4; Channel B: Slot 1, 3.
•Different colors for slot 1/2 and slot 3/4.
•Speed: 1333MHz.
•Capacity support:
•DDR III un-buffered non-ECC DIMM support.
•1GB to 16GB max. Memory support.
•Should meet AMD chipset platform design guide.
•Dual channel should be enabled always when plug-in 2 same memory size DDRIII. memory module.
•Should meet AMD chipsets family BIOS specification.
System Tour
Chapter 1

2Chapter 1
Onboard Graphics Solution
•AMD RS880P on die graphic solution
•Dual independent display -- HDMI and D-Sub.
•Meet Microsoft Windows 7 Premium graphic requirement.
•Digital display HDMI with HDMI CTS 1.4 compliance.
•Need to measure VGA follow Acer VGA SOP.
•Support for Cool 'n' Quiet™ via FID/VID change.
•Support for AMD PowerNow!™.
•Monitor compative is requested to the monitor AVL and DQM recommended list.
•Support dual-head display and surround view.
Graphic Card Suppot Requirement
•PCIe x16.
•Latch design should be considered to release the latch from CPU side.
Hard disk drive
•Support up to four SATA ports
•3.5",25.4mm
•Capacity and models are listed on AVLC
Optical disk drive
•Support one 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
•Realtek ALC662 6-Ch 5.1 Channel High Definition audio CODEC.
•Rear IO: 3 jack
•Front IO: 1*Microphone-in, 1*head phone jack
Serial ATA controller
•Slot Type: SATA connector
•SATA ports quantity: 6
•Design requiremnt:
•Supported by AMD RS880P Express Chipset.
•6 x Serial ATA 6.0 Gb/s Host Controllers.
•HDD -- Support RAID mode / AHCI mode / Native IDE mode.
•Native IDE mode in non-Windows OS.
•AHCI/Native IDE mode supported for internal SATA port.
•CD-ROME/CD-RW/DVD-ROM/DVD-RW/DVD+RW/DVD Dual/DVD SuperMultiPlus/ Blu-Ray
ODD.
LAN
•Realtek 8111E VL Gigabit LAN.
•Port: 1 x RJ45 rear port from Gigabit Ethernet.

Chapter 1 3
Extension slot
•1 PCI Express x16 slot
•2 PCI Express x1
•1 PCI slot
USB 2.0 ports
•Controller: AMD SB950.
•Ports Quantity: 12
•6 port for rear ports.
•4 ports for front daughter board.
•2 ports for rear daughter board.
•Connector Pin: Standard FPIO pin definition.
•Data transfer rate support: USB 2.0/1.1
USB 3.0
•Controller: Etron EJ168A USB 3.0
•Rear IO: 2 ports.
Buzzer
•1 on board buzzer.
Rear I/O connectors
•1 * PS2 KB+MS.
•1 * VGA connector.
•1 * HDMI port.
•1 * RJ45 Lan port.
•6 * USB 2.0 ports.
•2 * USB 3.0 ports.
•1 * 3 ports Audio jack(Line in, microphone in and line out).
On-board connectors
•1 * AM3+ CPU socket.
•4 * DDR3 memory sockets.
•1 * PCI Express x16 slot.
•2 * PCI Express x1 slots.
•1 * PCI slot.
•1 * 24-pin ATX Power Supply connector.
•1 * 4-pin ATX Power Supply connector.
•1 * 3-pin CPU_FAN connector.
•1 * 3-pin SYS_FAN connector
•4 * USB 2.0 headers support additional 8 USB 2.0 ports.
•6 * Serial ATA 6Gb/s connectors.
•1 * Front panel switch/LED header.
•1 * Front panel audio header.
•1 * Clear CMOS header.

4Chapter 1
System BIOS
•AMI BIOS with 32Mb SPI Flash ROM.
•AMI Kernel with Acer skin/copyright.
•Supports Multi-language BIOS Utility.
Power supply
•300W/500W(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 2.0 ports 8 Slave optical drive eject button
2HDD activity indicator 9Master 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.
3 Micro SD slot 10 Power button
4 XD(XD-Picture) slot 11 MS/MS PRO slot
5 CF I/II (CompactFlash Type I/II) slot 12 SD/MMC(Secure Digital/MultiMedia
Card)slot
6 Master optical drive bay 13 Headphone/Speaker-out/line-out jack
7 Slave optical drive or Removable HDD bay 14 Microphone-in jack

Chapter 1 7
Rear Panel
No. Component
1 Power connector
2 PS2 keyboard port
3 HDMI port
4VGAport
5 USB 3.0 ports
6 USB 2.0 ports
7 Microphone jack
8 Line-out
9 Expansion slot (graphics card and TV tuner card and Mode 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 AMD AM3 and FX series CPU(Max: 95W)
Socket Type AMD Socket AM3+
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-A1
BIOS ROM type SPI Flash
BIOS ROM size 4Mb or 8Mb
Support protocol SMBIOS(DMI)2.4/DMI2.0
Device Boot Support 1st priority: Hard Disk
2nd priority: CD/DVT
3rd priority: Removable Device
4th 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
North Bridge AMD RS880P
South Bridge AMD SB950
USB2.0 controller AMD SB950
USB2.0 controller Etron EJ168A USB 3.0
Audio controller AMD SB950+ALC662-VC
LAN controller Realtek 8111E VL
SATA controller AMD SB950
Super IO
controller Fintek F71869A

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 1066/1333MHz
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 SB950
Audio controller type ALC662-VC
Audio channel 5.1 channel
Audio function control Enable/disable by BIOS Setup
Mono or stereo Stereo
Compatibility It should defined by system level
Music synthesizer HW not support , it should be S/W app
Sampling rate playback(DAC) 192K
Microphone/Headphone jack Supported

10 Chapter 1
SATA Interface
USB Port
Environmental Requirements
Power Management
•Devices wake up from S3 should be less than.
•Devices wake up from S5 should be less than 10 seconds.
Item Specification
SATA controller AMD SB950
Number of SATA channel SATA X 6(SATA 6Gb/s)
Support mode RAID/AHCI/IDE mode option
Item Specification
Universal HCI USB 2.0/1.1 or 3.0
USB Class Support legacy keyboard for legacy mode
USB Connectors Quantity USB2.0 Ports Quantity: 12
• 6 port for rear ports.
• 4 ports for front daughter board.
• 2 ports for rear daughter board.
USB3.0 Ports Quantity: 2(Rear IO).
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.
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

Chapter 1 11
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.

Chapter 2 12
CMOS Setup Utility
CMOS setup is a hardware configuration program built into the system ROM, called the complementary metal-
oxide semiconductor (CMOS) Setup Utility. Since most systems are already properly configured and
optimized, there is no need to run this utility. You will need to run this utility under the following conditions.
•When changing the system configuration settings
•When redefining the communication ports to prevent any conflicts
•When modifying the power management configuration
•When changing the password or making other changes to the security setup
•When a configuration error is detected by the system and you are prompted ("Run Setup"
message) to make changes to the CMOS setup
NOTE: If you repeatedly receive Run Setup messages, the battery may be bad. In this case, the system
cannot retain configuration values in CMOS. Ask a qualified technician for assistance.
CMOS setup loads the configuration values in a battery-backed nonvolatile memory called CMOS RAM. This
memory area is not part of the system RAM which allows configuration data to be retained when power is
turned off.
Before you run the CMOS Setup Utility, make sure that you have saved all open files. The system reboots
immediately after you close the Setup.
NOTE: CMOS Setup Utility will be simply referred to as “BIOS”, "Setup", or "Setup utility" in this guide.
The screenshots used in this guide display default system values. These values may not be the same
those found in your system.
System Utilities
Chapter 2