Acer Aspire M3900 User manual

Acer
Aspire M3900
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 © 2010 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 12
Navigating Through the Setup Utility 12
Setup Utility Menus 14
System Disassembly 27
Disassembly Requirements 27
Pre-disassembly Procedure 28
Removing the Side Panel 29
Removing the Heat Sink Fan Assembly 30
Removing the Processor 32
Removing the VGA Card 33
Removing the TV Card 34
Removing the Mode Card 35
Removing the Memory Modules 36
Removing the Hard Disk Drive 37
Removing the USB Board of Rear Panel 39
Removing the Front Bezel 41
Removing the Optical Drive 43
Removing the Removable HDD 45
Removing the Power Supply 48
Removing the Card Reader 50
Removing the Mainboard 52
System Troubleshooting 54
Hardware Diagnostic Procedure 54
System Check Procedures 55
Power System Check 55
System External Inspection 55
System Internal Inspection 55
Beep Codes 56
Checkpoints 57
BIOS Recovery 60
Jumper and Connector Information 61
M/B Placement 61
Jumper Setting 63
Setting Jumper 63
Table of Contents

viii
FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List 68
Aspire M3900 Exploded Diagram(AM350-ASSY) 69
Aspire M3900 Exploded Diagram(AM351-ASSY) 70
Aspire M3900 FRU List 71

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
•MicrosoftWindows Windows 7 Home Premium x64 x86
•MicrosoftWindows Windows 7 Home Basic x64x86
•Linpus Linux x-Window mode
•Free Dos
Processor
•Socket Type: IntelR Socket T LGA 775 pin
•Socket Quantity: 1
•Processor Type:
•CPUs which compliant with Intel FSB 800/1066/1333 MHz CPUs
•FMB
•95W FMB
•VRD 11.1
Chipset
•PCH:Intel G43 + ICH10R
•Design Criteria:
•Should meet Intel G45/G43+ICH10R platform design guide
•Super I/O: ITE8720
•Should support Intel ASFC
•Should support Intel PECI
•Should support SST signal output
PCB
•Max. 244 mm x 244 mm, MicroATX
Memory subsystem
•Socket Type: DDR III connector
•Socket Quantity: 4
•Channel A: slot 0, 1; Channel B: slot 2, 3
•Different colors for slot 0/2 and slot 1/3
•Dual channel support
•Support Intel Flex Memory Mode
•Capacity support:
System Tour
Chapter 1

2Chapter 1
•1GB / 2GB DDR III 800/1066/1333 Un-buffered Non-ECC DIMM support
•1GB to 8GB Max memory support
•Design Criteria:
•Should meet Intel G45/G43 Express Chipset platform design guide
•Dual channel should be enabled always when plug-in 2 same memory size DDRIII memory
module
Hard disk
•Support up to two SATA ports
•3.5", 25.4mm
•Capacity and models are listed on FRU list
Optical disk
•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 FRU list
On-Board Graphic solution
•Intel G45/G43 on die graphic solution
•DVMT 5.0 technology support
•Enhanced 3D and Clear Video technology support
•1 D-sub VGA port on rear
•1 HDMI port on rear
•Dual View function support
Serial ATA controller
•Slot Type: SATA slot
•Six SATA ports:6
•Storage Type support:
•HDD/CD-ROM/CD-RW/DVD-ROM/DVD-RW/DVD+RW/DVD Dual/DVD SuperMultiPlus/Blu-Ray
ODD
Audio
•Chip:HD audio codec ALC888S HD codec 7.1
•Connectors support:
•Rear 6 jack follow HD audio definition
•Audio jacks color coding: should meet Microsoft Windows Logo Program Device Requirements:
Audio-0002
•2 S/PDIF-out header (1*4) for ALC888S-VC sku
•1 front panel audio header (2*5)
•S/N ration: 90dB at rear output jack
LAN
•MAC Controller:ICH10R
•PHY:Intel Boazman 82567V PCI-E Giga LAN

Chapter 1 3
USB ports
•Controller: Intel ICH10R
•Ports Quantity: 12
•4 back panel ports
•On-board: Four 2*5 headers(8 ports)
•4 ports for front daughter board
•Connector Pin: standard Intel FPIO pin definition
•Data transfer rate support: USB 2.0/1.1
Extension slot
•PCI Express Slot Type: x16
•PCI Express x16 Slot Quantity: 1
•PCI Express Slot Type: x1
•PCI Express x1 Slot Quantity: 1
•PCI Slot Quantity: 2
Total I/O ports
•Rear I/O connectors:
•1 PS/2 Keyboard port
•1 PS/2 Mouse port
•1 D-Sub VGA port
•1 HDMI VGA port
•1 RJ45 LAN port
•1 1394 port
•4 USB ports
•7.1 channel phone jack
•On-board connectors:
•1 LGA 775 CPU socket
•4 DDRIII memory sockets
•1 PCI Express x16 slot
•1 PCI Express x 1 slot
•2 PCI slot
•6 SATA2 connectors
•Four 2*5 pin Intel FPIO specification USB pin connectors (follow Intel FPIO standard Specification)
•One 2*5 pin Intel FPIO spec. Microphone In/ Headphone Out pin connectors
•One 4 pin CPU Fan connector
•One 3 pin System FAN connector with linear circuit
•One 24pin + 4pin ATX interface PS3/PS2 SPS connector
•One 2*7 pin front panel IO header
•1 Jumper for clear CMOS
•One 2*5pin Front Audio header
•1 SPDIF out header x2
•One 2*5pin 1394 header
•1 on board buzzer
•2 reserved 2pin GPIO connector
•1 3pin ME enable/disable connector (with 1 jumper)

4Chapter 1
System BIOS
•Type:
•Use SPI Flash
•Size:2MB
•Kernel:AMI Kernel with Acer skin
Power supply
•500W/300W/250W in stable mode (Acer Assign System Power Unit)
•Design for Intel G43 series chipset compatible system
•Voltage design should be covered +5V, +3.3V, +12V, +5VSB, -12V (attention to 12V output capability)
•Demand for both PFC/Non-PFC solutions (two different quotations are needed)
•Minimum 4 Serial ATA power connector solution should be included (by default)
•Minimum 3 big 4-pin power connector included
•Minimum 1 small 4-pin power connector included
•PFC version will not provide switch selector for 115/230V AC input but it should be universal for Europe
and China
•Non-PFC version should provide switch selector for 115/230V AC input and universal for worldwide
•PS2 style
•EupLot6 support

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
2 Master optical drive bay door
3 Slave bay door(Optical drive bay for AM350 bezel, Removable
HDD bay for AM351 bezel)
4XDslot
5 Memory Stick / Micro Secure Digital
6 CF I/II (CompactFlash Type I/II) slot
7 Memory Stick / Memory Stick Pro.
8 Secure Digital / Multi media card
9 Master optical drive button
10 Cosmetic LED
11 Slave optical drive button
12 Power button
13 Headphone/Speaker-out/line-out jack
14 Microphone-in jack
1
2
3
11
12
14
10
9
13
4
5
68
7

Chapter 1 7
Rear Panel
No. Component
1 Power connector
2 PS2 keyboard port
3VGAport
4 HDMI port
5 USB 2.0 ports
6 Side Surround jack
7 Line-out jack
8 Microphone/speaker-out/line-in jack
9 Expansion slot (graphics card and TV tuner card and Mode card)
10 Center speaker/subwoofer jack
11 Surround rear L/R
12 Line-in jack
13 USB 2.0 ports
14 RJ45 LAN connector
15 1394 Port
16 PS2 mouse port
17 Fan aperture
1
2
9
17
14
3
8
4
76
5
11
10 12
13
15
16

8Chapter 1
Hardware Specifications and Configurations
Processor
BIOS
IOS Hotkey List
Main Board Major Chips
Item Specification
Processor Type CPUs which complaint with Intel FSB 800/1066/1333 MHz CPUs
Socket Type Intel Socket T LGA 1156 pin
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 ROM
BIOS ROM size 2Mb
Support protocol SMBIOS(DMI)2.4/DMI2.0
Device Boot Support Support BBS spec
1st priority:SATA HDD
2nd priority:CD-ROM
3th priority:FDD
4th priority:LAN
5th priority:USB device
Support to LS-120 drive YES
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 Intel G43
South Bridge Intel ICH10R
Audio controller HD audio codec ALC888S
LAN controller ICH10R+82567V
SATA controller Intel ICH10R
USB controller Intel ICH10R

Chapter 1 9
Memory Combinations
System Memory
Audio Interface
Slot Memory Total Memory
Slot 1 1GB,2GB 1G ~2GB
Slot 2 1GB,2GB 1G ~2GB
Slot 3 1GB,2GB 1G ~2GB
Slot 4 1GB,2GB 1G ~2GB
Maximum System Memory Supported 1G~8GB
Item Specification
Memory slot number 4 slot
Support Memory size per socket 1GB/2GB
Support memory type DDRIII
Support memory interface DDR III 800/1066/1333
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 Intel ICH10R
Audio controller type HD audio codec ALC888S
Audio channel codec 7.1
Audio function control No
Mono or stereo Stereo
Compatibility The ALC888S series support host audio controller from the Intel ICH series
chipset, and also from any other HDA compatible audio controller. With EAX/
Direct Sound 3D/I3DL2/A3D compatibility, and excellent software utilities like
environment sound emulation, multiple bands of software equalizer and
dynamic range control, optional Dolby, Digital Live, DTS CONNECT, and Dolby
Home Theater programs, provides an excellent home entertainment package
and game experience for PC users.
Music synthesizer No
Sampling rate 192KHz (max)
MPU-401 UART support No
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 Intel ICH10R
SATA controller resident bus PCI bus
Number of SATA channel SATA X 6
Support bootable CD-ROM YES
Item Specification
Universal HCI USB 2.0/1.1
USB Class Support legacy keyboard for legacy mode
USB Connectors Quantity 4 back real ports
On-board:Four 2*5 headers ( 8 ports)
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