Acer PREDATOR G7710 SERIES User manual

User Guide

Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation
to notify any person of such revisions or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new
editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publications. This company makes
no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents
hereof and specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose.
Record the model number, serial number, purchase date, and place of purchase information in
the space provided below. The serial number and model number are recorded on the label
affixed to your computer. All correspondence concerning your unit should include the serial
number, model number, and purchase information.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in
any form or by any means, electronically, mechanically, by photocopy, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.
Model number: __________________________________
Serial number: ___________________________________
Purchase date: ___________________________________
Place of purchase: ________________________________
Copyright © 2008. Acer Incorporated.
All Rights Reserved.
Aspire G7710 Series User's Guide
Original Issue: 11 / 2008
Aspire G7710 Series Desktop Computer
Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated. Other companies'
product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to
their respective companies.

iii
Information for your safety and
comfort
Safety instructions
Read these instructions carefully. Keep this document for future reference.
Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.
Turning the product off before cleaning
Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid
cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.
Warnings
•Do not use this product near water.
•Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand or table. If the product
falls, it could be seriously damaged.
•Slots and openings are provided for ventilation to ensure reliable
operation of the product and to protect it from overheating. These
openings must not be blocked or covered. The openings should never be
blocked by placing the product on a bed, sofa, rug or other similar surface.
This product should never be placed near or over a radiator or heat
register, or in a built-in installation unless proper ventilation is provided.
•Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet slots as
they may touch dangerous voltage points or short-out parts that could
result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind onto or into
the product.
•To avoid damage of internal components and to prevent battery leakage,
do not place the product on a vibrating surface.
Using electrical power
•This product should be operated from the type of power indicated on the
marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power available, consult
your dealer or local power company.
•Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate this
product where people will walk on the cord.
•If an extension cord is used with this product, make sure that the total
ampere rating of the equipment plugged into the extension cord does not
exceed the extension cord ampere rating. Also, make sure that the total
rating of all products plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed the fuse
rating.

iv
•Do not overload a power outlet, strip or receptacle by plugging in too
many devices. The overall system load must not exceed 80% of the branch
circuit rating. If power strips are used, the load should not exceed 80% of
the power strip's input rating.
•This product's AC adapter is equipped with a three-wire grounded plug.
The plug only fits in a grounded power outlet. Make sure the power outlet
is properly grounded before inserting the AC adapter plug. Do not insert
the plug into a non-grounded power outlet. Contact your electrician for
details.
Warning! The grounding pin is a safety feature. Using a power
outlet that is not properly grounded may result in electric shock
and/or injury.
Note: The grounding pin also provides good protection from
unexpected noise produced by other nearby electrical devices that
may interfere with the performance of this product.
•Use the product only with the supplied power supply cord set. If you need
to replace the power cord set, make sure that the new power cord meets
the following requirements: detachable type, UL listed/CSA certified, type
SPT-2, rated 7 A 125 V minimum, VDE approved or its equivalent, 4.6
meters (15 feet) maximum length.
Product servicing
Do not attempt to service this product yourself, as opening or removing covers
may expose you to dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all servicing to
qualified service personnel.
Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service
personnel when:
•The power cord or plug is damaged, cut or frayed
•Liquid was spilled into the product
•The product was exposed to rain or water
•The product has been dropped or the case has been damaged
•The product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a need
for service
•The product does not operate normally after following the operating
instructions

v
Note: Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating
instructions, since improper adjustment of other controls may
result in damage and will often require extensive work by a
qualified technician to restore the product to normal condition.
CAUTION: Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced.
Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the
manufacturer. Dispose of used batteries according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Telephone line safety
•Disconnect all telephone lines from the equipment when not in use and/or
before servicing.
•To avoid the remote risk of electric shock from lightning, do not connect
the telephone line to this equipment during lightning or thunderstorms.
Disposal instructions
Do not throw this electronic device into the trash when discarding.
To minimize pollution and ensure utmost protection of the global environment,
please recycle. For more information on the Waste from Electrical and
Electronics Equipment (WEEE) regulations, visit
http://global.acer.com/about/sustainability.htm.
Mercury advisory
For projectors or electronic products containing an LCD/CRT monitor or display:
Lamp(s) inside this product contain mercury and must be recycled or disposed of
according to local, state or federal laws. For more information, contact the
Electronic Industries Alliance at www.eiae.org. For lamp-specific disposal
information, check www.lamprecycle.org.

vi
Tips and information for comfortable use
Computer users may complain of eyestrain and headaches after prolonged use.
Users are also at risk of physical injury after long hours of working in front of a
computer. Long work periods, bad posture, poor work habits, stress,
inadequate working conditions, personal health and other factors greatly
increase the risk of physical injury.
Incorrect computer usage may lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis,
tenosynovitis or other musculoskeletal disorders. The following symptoms may
appear in the hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, neck or back:
•numbness, or a burning or tingling sensation
•aching, soreness or tenderness
•pain, swelling or throbbing
•stiffness or tightness
•coldness or weakness
If you have these symptoms, or any other recurring or persistent discomfort
and/or pain related to computer use, consult a physician immediately and
inform your company's health and safety department.
The following section provides tips for more comfortable computer use.
Finding your comfort zone
Find your comfort zone by adjusting the viewing angle of the monitor, using a
footrest, or raising your sitting height to achieve maximum comfort. Observe
the following tips:
•refrain from staying too long in one fixed posture
•avoid slouching forward and/or leaning backward
•stand up and walk around regularly to remove the strain on your leg
muscles
•take short rests to relax your neck and shoulders
•avoid tensing your muscles or shrugging your shoulders
•install the external display, keyboard and mouse properly and within
comfortable reach
•if you view your monitor more than your documents, place the display at
the center of your desk to minimize neck strain
Taking care of your vision
Long viewing hours, wearing incorrect glasses or contact lenses, glare, excessive
room lighting, poorly focused screens, very small typefaces and low-contrast
displays could stress your eyes. The following sections provide suggestions on
how to reduce eyestrain.
Eyes
•Rest your eyes frequently.

vii
•Give your eyes regular breaks by looking away from the monitor and
focusing on a distant point.
•Blink frequently to keep your eyes from drying out.
Display
•Keep your display clean.
•Keep your head at a higher level than the top edge of the display so your
eyes point downward when looking at the middle of the display.
•Adjust the display brightness and/or contrast to a comfortable level for
enhanced text readability and graphics clarity.
•Eliminate glare and reflections by:
•placing your display in such a way that the side faces the window or
any light source
•minimizing room light by using drapes, shades or blinds
•using a task light
•changing the display's viewing angle
•using a glare-reduction filter
•using a display visor, such as a piece of cardboard extended from the
display's top front edge
•Avoid adjusting your display to an awkward viewing angle.
•Avoid looking at bright light sources, such as open windows, for extended
periods of time.
Developing good work habits
Develop the following work habits to make your computer use more relaxing
and productive:
•Take short breaks regularly and often.
•Perform some stretching exercises.
•Breathe fresh air as often as possible.
•Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy body.
Warning! We do not recommend using the computer on a couch
or bed. If this is unavoidable, work for only short periods, take
breaks regularly, and do some stretching exercises.
Note: For more information, please refer to “FCC notice” on page
78.

viii

Contents
Information for your safety and comfort iii
Safety instructions iii
Disposal instructions v
Tips and information for comfortable use vi
1 First things first 1
Specifications 2
Package contents 5
Accessing the User Guide 5
2 System tour 7
External and internal structure 8
Closed front panel 8
Front panel 10
Using the memory card reader 12
Rear panel 14
System board 17
Mainboard 17
System board switches and connectors 20
IDE connector (for selected models) 20
Serial ATA connector: SATA1~6 21
Fan power connectors 21
Front panel connectors 22
Serial port connector (for selected models) 22
System LED indicators 23
Front and rear panel LED indicators 23
3 Setting up your computer 25
Arranging a comfortable work area 26
Adjusting your chair 26
Positioning your PC 26
Positioning your monitor 27
Positioning your keyboard 27
Positioning your mouse 27
Connecting the computer 28
Connect your mouse and keyboard 28
PS/2 interface 28
Connect a monitor 29

x
Connect to a broadband network 29
Individual network configuration 30
Connect to power 30
Turning on your computer 32
Turning off your computer 34
4 Using your desktop 35
Using the keyboard(optional) 36
Using the mouse(optional) 38
Using the optical drive 39
Taking care of your optical disks 40
Connecting options 41
Printer 41
IEEE 1394 devices 41
eSATA devices 42
Audio devices 42
USB devices 44
Connecting a video game console 45
6 Upgrading your computer 47
Installation precautions 48
ESD precautions 48
Preinstallation instructions 48
Post-installation instructions 49
Opening your Aspire G7710 50
Removing and installing the bezel door 50
Removing and installing the side panel 52
Removing and installing a hard drive 54
Removing and installing an optical drive 57
Upgrading the system memory 58
System memory interface 58
System memory configuration guidelines 59
Installing an expansion card 62
PCI bus slots interface 62
5 Acer Empowering Technology 65
Acer Empowering Technology 66
Empowering Technology password 66

xi
Acer eRecovery Management 66
7 Frequently asked questions 69
Frequently asked questions 70
Recovering your system 72
8 Regulations and safety notices 77
Regulations and safety notices 78
FCC notice 78
Modem notices 79
Laser compliance statement 81
LCD pixel statement 82
Radio device regulatory notice 82
General 82
European Union (EU) 82
The FCC RF safety requirement 84
Canada — Low-power license-exempt radio
communication devices (RSS-210) 84
Federal Communications Commission
Declaration of Conformity 85
Index 89

xii

1 First things
first

1 First things first2
English
Specifications
Operating
system Genuine Windows Vista®Home Premium (64-bit)
Processor Intel®CoreTM i7 processor Extreme Edition (up to 1600 MHz
FSB)
Intel®CoreTM i7 processor
Chipset North Bridge: Intel®X58 chipset
South Bridge: Intel®ICH10R chipset
System memory Up to 12 GB of DDR3 1066 MHz SDRAM (three-channel
support on six DIMMs)
Hard drives Up to four Serial ATA hard disks, each up to 1 TB
Four 3.5" easy-swap HDD bays
Optical drive Two 5.25" drive bays
Optical drive options:
• BD + SuperMulti burner
• BD/HD DVD reader + SuperMulti burner
• SuperMulti with Labelflash? technology
Card reader Multi-in-one card reader, supporting:
• CompactFlash®(Type I and II)
•CF+
™Microdrive
• MultiMediaCard (MMC)
•MMC
mobile
™
• Reduced-Size MultiMediaCard (RS-MMC)
• Secure Digital™(SD) Card
• miniSD™Card
• xD-Picture Card™
• Memory Stick®
• Memory Stick PRO™
• Memory Stick Duo™
• Memory Stick PRO Duo™
• USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 port

3
English
Graphics Enabled ATI CrossFireXTM:
• Two ATI RadeonTM HD 4870 X2 graphics cards
• Two ATI RadeonTM HD 4870 graphics cards
• Two ATI RadeonTM HD 4850 graphics cards
3x PCI Express®2.0 x16 graphics card support
Audio 2nd Generation Dolby®Home Theater®audio enhancement,
featuring Dolby®Digital, Dolby®Pro Logic®IIx, Dolby®
Headphone, Dolby®Sound Space Expander and Dolby®
Digital Live technologies
Embedded high-definition audio with 7.1-channel and
EAX®4.0 audio support
Creative®Sound Blaster®X-Fi Titanium sound card with
EAX®5.0 audio support
S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) support
Networking • Gigabit Ethernet, Wake-on-LAN ready (dual LAN
support)
• Modem: 56K ITU V.92, Wake-on-Ring ready
I/O ports Front I/O ports:
• Five USB 2.0 ports
• Multi-in-one card reader
• Headphone and microphone jacks
Rear I/O ports:
• Six USB 2.0 ports
• IEEE 1394 port (6-pin)
• PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports
• Two Ethernet (RJ-45) ports
• Two eSATA ports
• Five audio jacks
• S/PDIF jack
• Clear CMOS button
Graphics card I/O ports (each card):
• Two DVI-D ports
• TV-out port

1 First things first4
English
Note: The specifications listed above are for reference only. The exact
configuration of your PC depends on the model purchased.
I/O expansion Three PCI Express®x16 slots (one full x16 slot, two x8
refitted to x16 size)
Two PCI Express®x1 slots
PCI Express®x8 slot
PCI 2.3 5 V slot
Software Acer Empowering Technology (Acer eRecovery
Management)
Acer GameZone
Acer Arcade™Live
McAfee®Internet Security Suite 2008
Adobe®Reader®
eSobi™
NTI MediaMaker™
Dimensions 490 (L) x 430 (H) x 190 (W) mm
BIOS AMI PnP BIOS compatible with SMBIOS 2.4
Power supply 750W ~ 1000W
System
compliance
PC 2001
Certification FCC, CE, BSMI, CCC, C-tick, Nemko (CB & Bauart), UL, VCCI
Optional
accessories Logitech®gaming keyboard and gaming mouse
Acer G series LCD monitor

5
English
Package contents
Before you unpack your computer, make sure that you have enough space to
set up your computer.
Carefully unpack the carton and remove the contents. If any of the following
items are missing or damaged, contact your dealer immediately:
• Aspire G7710
• Items contained in the accessory box
• USB keyboard
• USB mouse
• User's Guide and installation poster
• Other user documentation and third-party software
Accessing the User Guide
This User Guide is also available on your computer as an Adobe Acrobat
PDF file.
To access the User Guide
1 On the Windows Vista taskbar, click on the Start button then select All
Programs.
2 Double-click AcerSystem User Guide.

1 First things first6
English

2 System tour

2 System tour8
English
External and internal structure
Closed front panel