Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 7
... Sink Fan Assembly 27 Removing the Processor 29 Removing the VGA Card 31 Removing the Wireless LAN Card 32 Removing the TV-Tuner Card 33 Removing the PCI-E Modem Card 34 Removing the Memory Modules 35 Removing the Hard Disk Drive 36 Removing the Bracket of Removable HDD 38 Removing the Optical Drive 39 Removing the System Fan 41 Removing the Daughter Board 43 Removing the Power Supply 44 Removing the Mainboard 45 Removing the Top Cover 48 Removing the Power Switch and LED Cable Assembly 50 Removing the Card Reader 51 Removing the Top USB and Audio...
... Sink Fan Assembly 27 Removing the Processor 29 Removing the VGA Card 31 Removing the Wireless LAN Card 32 Removing the TV-Tuner Card 33 Removing the PCI-E Modem Card 34 Removing the Memory Modules 35 Removing the Hard Disk Drive 36 Removing the Bracket of Removable HDD 38 Removing the Optical Drive 39 Removing the System Fan 41 Removing the Daughter Board 43 Removing the Power Supply 44 Removing the Mainboard 45 Removing the Top Cover 48 Removing the Power Switch and LED Cable Assembly 50 Removing the Card Reader 51 Removing the Top USB and Audio...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 8
... Card 74 Install the TV-Tuner Card 75 Install the Wireless LAN Card 76 Install the VGA Card 77 Install the Front Bezel 78 Install the Side Panel 79 System Troubleshooting 80 Hardware Diagnostic Procedure 80 System Check Procedures 81 Power System Check 81 System External Inspection 81 System Internal Inspection 81 Beep Codes 82 Checkpoints 83 BIOS Recovery 86 Jumper and Connector Information 89 M/B Placement 89 Jumper Setting 91 Setting Jumper 91 FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List 99 Aspire M3970 Exploded Diagram 100 Aspire M3970...
... Card 74 Install the TV-Tuner Card 75 Install the Wireless LAN Card 76 Install the VGA Card 77 Install the Front Bezel 78 Install the Side Panel 79 System Troubleshooting 80 Hardware Diagnostic Procedure 80 System Check Procedures 81 Power System Check 81 System External Inspection 81 System Internal Inspection 81 Beep Codes 82 Checkpoints 83 BIOS Recovery 86 Jumper and Connector Information 89 M/B Placement 89 Jumper Setting 91 Setting Jumper 91 FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) List 99 Aspire M3970 Exploded Diagram 100 Aspire M3970...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 9
... x86 • Linpus XWindows • Free DOS Processor • Intel Sandy Bridge Processor includes unlock K SKU CPU. • Socket type: LGA1155. • FMB: 65W / 95W TDP. Graphics • Intel® HD Graphics Support (supported by CPU) • Follow PCI Express spec. • Dual independent display. • Digital display (HDMI/DVI/DP/eDP) and VGA. • Support Intel InTru 3D technology (via HDMI1.4a port). Different colors for your reference...
... x86 • Linpus XWindows • Free DOS Processor • Intel Sandy Bridge Processor includes unlock K SKU CPU. • Socket type: LGA1155. • FMB: 65W / 95W TDP. Graphics • Intel® HD Graphics Support (supported by CPU) • Follow PCI Express spec. • Dual independent display. • Digital display (HDMI/DVI/DP/eDP) and VGA. • Support Intel InTru 3D technology (via HDMI1.4a port). Different colors for your reference...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 10
...; HDD : Support RAID 0/1/5/10 • Blue Ray ODD • RAID mode supported for double slot, full length graphics cards in , 1*head phone jack Serial ATA controller • Slot Type: SATA connector • SATA ports quantity: 6(2* SATA 6Gb/s, 4* SATA3Gb/s. • DVMT 5.0 technology support. • Enhanced 3D and Clear Video technology support. • Need to measure VGA follow Acer VGA SOP. • PCEx16 socket must with bezel • Models are listed on AVLC Optical disk drive • Support one SATA 5.25" standard ODD • Support DVD-ROM, DVD-SuperMulti...
...; HDD : Support RAID 0/1/5/10 • Blue Ray ODD • RAID mode supported for double slot, full length graphics cards in , 1*head phone jack Serial ATA controller • Slot Type: SATA connector • SATA ports quantity: 6(2* SATA 6Gb/s, 4* SATA3Gb/s. • DVMT 5.0 technology support. • Enhanced 3D and Clear Video technology support. • Need to measure VGA follow Acer VGA SOP. • PCEx16 socket must with bezel • Models are listed on AVLC Optical disk drive • Support one SATA 5.25" standard ODD • Support DVD-ROM, DVD-SuperMulti...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 11
...; 1 * HDMI • 1 * RJ45 + Dual USB2.0 • 1 * Qual USB2.0 connector (4 ports) • 1 * 3 ports Audio jack On-board connectors • 1 * ILM+SKT+BP for LGA 1155 CPU. • 1 * 24-pin ATX PWR connector. • 1 * H2X4 Power Supply Connector. • 4 * DDR3 DIMM Socket. • 4 * SATA 3Gb/s. • 2 * SATA 6Gb/s. • 4 * USB2.0 H5X2 Header (support 8 ports). • 1 * Front Audio Pannel H5X2 header. • 1 * Front Panel IO H7X2 Header for Acer pin define. • 1 * H1X4 CPU with SAMRT FAN controller...
...; 1 * HDMI • 1 * RJ45 + Dual USB2.0 • 1 * Qual USB2.0 connector (4 ports) • 1 * 3 ports Audio jack On-board connectors • 1 * ILM+SKT+BP for LGA 1155 CPU. • 1 * 24-pin ATX PWR connector. • 1 * H2X4 Power Supply Connector. • 4 * DDR3 DIMM Socket. • 4 * SATA 3Gb/s. • 2 * SATA 6Gb/s. • 4 * USB2.0 H5X2 Header (support 8 ports). • 1 * Front Audio Pannel H5X2 header. • 1 * Front Panel IO H7X2 Header for Acer pin define. • 1 * H1X4 CPU with SAMRT FAN controller...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 13
Removable HDD door button Press button to open drive bay door and access the optical drive. Power button MS/MS PRO slot SD/MMC(Secure Digital/MultiMedia Card)slot Headphone/Speaker-out/line-out jack Microphone-in jack Chapter 1 5 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 2 HDD activity indicator 9 3 Micro SD slot 10 4 XD(XD-Picture) slot 11 5 CF...
Removable HDD door button Press button to open drive bay door and access the optical drive. Power button MS/MS PRO slot SD/MMC(Secure Digital/MultiMedia Card)slot Headphone/Speaker-out/line-out jack Microphone-in jack Chapter 1 5 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 2 HDD activity indicator 9 3 Micro SD slot 10 4 XD(XD-Picture) slot 11 5 CF...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 15
Hardware Specifications and Configurations Processor Item Specification Processor Type Intel Sandy Bridge processor Socket Type LGA1155 Minimum operating speed 0 MHz (If Stop CPU Clock in Sleep State in BIOS Setup is set to Enabled.) BIOS Item Specification BIOS code programer AMI Kernel with Acer skin BIOS version P01-A0 BIOS ROM type SPI Flash BIOS ROM size 32Mb 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...
Hardware Specifications and Configurations Processor Item Specification Processor Type Intel Sandy Bridge processor Socket Type LGA1155 Minimum operating speed 0 MHz (If Stop CPU Clock in Sleep State in BIOS Setup is set to Enabled.) BIOS Item Specification BIOS code programer AMI Kernel with Acer skin BIOS version P01-A0 BIOS ROM type SPI Flash BIOS ROM size 32Mb 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...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 16
... Definition audio controller ALC662 2.1 channel Enable/disable by BIOS Setup Stereo It should defined by system level HW not support , it should be S/W app playback(DAC) 192K Supported 8 Chapter 1 Memory Combinations 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 System Memory Item Specification Memory slot number 4 slot Support Memory size...
... Definition audio controller ALC662 2.1 channel Enable/disable by BIOS Setup Stereo It should defined by system level HW not support , it should be S/W app playback(DAC) 192K Supported 8 Chapter 1 Memory Combinations 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 System Memory Item Specification Memory slot number 4 slot Support Memory size...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 17
... SATA controller Number of SATA channel Support mode Specification Intel H67 SATA X 6(2* SATA 6Gb/s, 4* SATA3Gb/s. Environmental Requirements 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 identify SATA 6Gb/ s and SATA 3Gb/s) RAID/AHCI/IDE mode option USB Port Item Universal HCI USB Class USB Connectors Quantity Specification USB 2.0/1.1 Support legacy keyboard for legacy mode 6 ports locate on MB rear side. 4 ports locate on Chassis TOP side. 2 ports locate...
... SATA controller Number of SATA channel Support mode Specification Intel H67 SATA X 6(2* SATA 6Gb/s, 4* SATA3Gb/s. Environmental Requirements 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 identify SATA 6Gb/ s and SATA 3Gb/s) RAID/AHCI/IDE mode option USB Port Item Universal HCI USB Class USB Connectors Quantity Specification USB 2.0/1.1 Support legacy keyboard for legacy mode 6 ports locate on MB rear side. 4 ports locate on Chassis TOP side. 2 ports locate...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 18
... 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...
... 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...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 19
... "BIOS", "Setup", or "Setup utility" in 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 repeatedly receive Run Setup messages, the battery may not be bad. CMOS setup loads...
... "BIOS", "Setup", or "Setup utility" in 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 repeatedly receive Run Setup messages, the battery may not be bad. CMOS setup loads...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 21
...-second format. Parameter System BIOS Version Build Date Processor Core Frequency Count Memory Size Product Name System Serial Number Asset Tag Number System Date System Time (hh:mm:ss) Description Version number of this system. Asset tag number of the BIOS setup utility. Serial number of the menu screenshots, settings in boldface are the default and suggested settings. Setup Utility Menus Main The Setup Main menu includes the following each of...
...-second format. Parameter System BIOS Version Build Date Processor Core Frequency Count Memory Size Product Name System Serial Number Asset Tag Number System Date System Time (hh:mm:ss) Description Version number of this system. Asset tag number of the BIOS setup utility. Serial number of the menu screenshots, settings in boldface are the default and suggested settings. Setup Utility Menus Main The Setup Main menu includes the following each of...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 25
... used to force a HDD formatted drive to boot as harddrive. Enables or disables the onboard LAN controller. Enables or disables the load of embedded option ROM for legacy USB devices. Integrated Peripherals Parameter Onboard SATA Controller Onboard SATA Mode Onboard USB Controller Legacy USB Support USB Storage Emulation Onboard Audio Controller Onboard LAN Controller Onboard LAN Option ROM Description Enables or disables the onboard SATA controller. Option Enabled Disabled Native IDE RAID AHCI Enabled Disabled Enabled Disabled Auto Floppy Hard Disk Enabled Disabled Enabled...
... used to force a HDD formatted drive to boot as harddrive. Enables or disables the onboard LAN controller. Enables or disables the load of embedded option ROM for legacy USB devices. Integrated Peripherals Parameter Onboard SATA Controller Onboard SATA Mode Onboard USB Controller Legacy USB Support USB Storage Emulation Onboard Audio Controller Onboard LAN Controller Onboard LAN Option ROM Description Enables or disables the onboard SATA controller. Option Enabled Disabled Native IDE RAID AHCI Enabled Disabled Enabled Disabled Auto Floppy Hard Disk Enabled Disabled Enabled...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 28
... Yes to access the sub menu. Type a new password then press Enter. 4. Select Yes to select Change Supervisor Password menu then press Enter. 2. If not, Not Installed displays. Setting a supervisor password 1. Type a password then press Enter. Press F10. 6. Removing a supervisor password 1. Security Parameter Supervisor Password User Password Change Supervisor Password Description Option This item indicates whether a supervisor password has been set. Changing the supervisor password 1. The password may consist up /down arrow keys to save the new password and close...
... Yes to access the sub menu. Type a new password then press Enter. 4. Select Yes to select Change Supervisor Password menu then press Enter. 2. If not, Not Installed displays. Setting a supervisor password 1. Type a password then press Enter. Press F10. 6. Removing a supervisor password 1. Security Parameter Supervisor Password User Password Change Supervisor Password Description Option This item indicates whether a supervisor password has been set. Changing the supervisor password 1. The password may consist up /down arrow keys to save the new password and close...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 29
... access the Removable Device Priority submenu and specify the boot device priority sequence from available network drives. Press Enter to access the Optical Disk Drive Priority submenu and specify the boot device priority sequence from available hard drives. When enabled, the BIOS splash screen displays during startup. When disabled, the diagnostic screen displays during startup. Press Enter to access the Network Device Priority submenu and specify the boot device priority sequence from available removable drives. Enabled Disabled Determines whether the system will stop for an error...
... access the Removable Device Priority submenu and specify the boot device priority sequence from available network drives. Press Enter to access the Optical Disk Drive Priority submenu and specify the boot device priority sequence from available hard drives. When enabled, the BIOS splash screen displays during startup. When disabled, the diagnostic screen displays during startup. Press Enter to access the Network Device Priority submenu and specify the boot device priority sequence from available removable drives. Enabled Disabled Determines whether the system will stop for an error...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 53
Release the the cable retention clip. Disconnect the power switch cable/top audio cable/top USB cable/card reader cable from the cable retention clip. 2. Chapter 3 45 Open the cable retention clip, then take out the these cables from the main board. 3. Removing the Mainboard 1.
Release the the cable retention clip. Disconnect the power switch cable/top audio cable/top USB cable/card reader cable from the cable retention clip. 2. Chapter 3 45 Open the cable retention clip, then take out the these cables from the main board. 3. Removing the Mainboard 1.
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 88
... to test Acer products. Refer to "Power System check" on page 81 and "Beep Codes" on how to troubleshoot system hardware problems. Hardware Diagnostic Procedure IMPORTANT:The diagnostic tests described in as much detail as possible. 2. Chapter 4 System Troubleshooting This chapter provides instructions on page 82 to determine which corrective action to perform. Verify the symptoms by attempting to recreate the failure by running the diagnostic tests or...
... to test Acer products. Refer to "Power System check" on page 81 and "Beep Codes" on how to troubleshoot system hardware problems. Hardware Diagnostic Procedure IMPORTANT:The diagnostic tests described in as much detail as possible. 2. Chapter 4 System Troubleshooting This chapter provides instructions on page 82 to determine which corrective action to perform. Verify the symptoms by attempting to recreate the failure by running the diagnostic tests or...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 91
... POST diagnostic card. Serial port is enabled at this point. The following table describes the type of I/O port 80h on system configuration.Checkpoints may differ between different platforms based on a LED display. Checkpoints may occur during POST. Bootblock Initialization Code Checkpoints The Bootblock initialization code sets up the chipset,memory, and other CPU critical initialization. If BIOS recovery is stored in PCI devices. Verify the boot block checksum. Test base 512KB memory...
... POST diagnostic card. Serial port is enabled at this point. The following table describes the type of I/O port 80h on system configuration.Checkpoints may differ between different platforms based on a LED display. Checkpoints may occur during POST. Bootblock Initialization Code Checkpoints The Bootblock initialization code sets up the chipset,memory, and other CPU critical initialization. If BIOS recovery is stored in PCI devices. Verify the boot block checksum. Test base 512KB memory...
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 93
.... Erase the flash part Program the flash part. Bootblock Recovery Code Checkpoints The Bootblock recovery code gets control when the BIOS determines that a BIOS recovery needs to checkpoint E9. L1 cache is initialized. Make flash write enabled through chipset and OEM specific method. Disable ATAPI hardware. Give control to checkpoint EB. Jump back to F000 ROM at F000:FFF0h. 85 Chapter 4 Check the validity of the recovery file configuration to read from add-in PCI devices.
.... Erase the flash part Program the flash part. Bootblock Recovery Code Checkpoints The Bootblock recovery code gets control when the BIOS determines that a BIOS recovery needs to checkpoint E9. L1 cache is initialized. Make flash write enabled through chipset and OEM specific method. Disable ATAPI hardware. Give control to checkpoint EB. Jump back to F000 ROM at F000:FFF0h. 85 Chapter 4 Check the validity of the recovery file configuration to read from add-in PCI devices.
Acer Aspire M3970 Service Guide
Page 99
Setting Jumper Use the motherboard jumpers to set system configuration options. CLEAR CMOS HEADER 1-2:CLEAR_CMOS (1:Ground, 2:RTC_RSTJ) 2-3:NORMAL (3:VCC_RTC) Yellow is symbol, Red is Pin 1 of symbol. Jumper Setting The section explains how to set jumper for correct configuration of the mainboard. Jumpers with more Than one pin are Placed on the correct pins. Chapter 5 91 When setting the jumpers, ensure that the jumper caps are numbered. Internal header pin definition Jumper/Header Name CPU_FAN (4 PIN) Header_1X3 1 2 3 CPU_FAN...
Setting Jumper Use the motherboard jumpers to set system configuration options. CLEAR CMOS HEADER 1-2:CLEAR_CMOS (1:Ground, 2:RTC_RSTJ) 2-3:NORMAL (3:VCC_RTC) Yellow is symbol, Red is Pin 1 of symbol. Jumper Setting The section explains how to set jumper for correct configuration of the mainboard. Jumpers with more Than one pin are Placed on the correct pins. Chapter 5 91 When setting the jumpers, ensure that the jumper caps are numbered. Internal header pin definition Jumper/Header Name CPU_FAN (4 PIN) Header_1X3 1 2 3 CPU_FAN...