Aspire G7710 Series User's Guide
Original Issue: 11 / 2008
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.
Aspire G7710 Series Desktop Computer
Model number: __________________________________
Serial number: ___________________________________
Place of purchase: ________________________________
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.
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.
iii
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
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.
v
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
information, check www.lamprecycle.org
. For lamp-specific disposal
.
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
Information for your safety and comfortiii
Safety instructionsiii
Disposal instructionsv
Tips and information for comfortable usevi
1 First things first1
Specifications2
Package contents5
Accessing the User Guide5
2 System tour7
External and internal structure8
Closed front panel8
Front panel10
Using the memory card reader12
Rear panel14
System board17
Mainboard17
System board switches and connectors20
IDE connector (for selected models)20
Serial ATA connector: SATA1~621
Fan power connectors21
Front panel connectors22
Serial port connector (for selected models)22
System LED indicators23
Front and rear panel LED indicators23
Contents
3 Setting up your computer25
Arranging a comfortable work area 26
Adjusting your chair26
Positioning your PC26
Positioning your monitor27
Positioning your keyboard27
Positioning your mouse27
Connecting the computer28
Connect your mouse and keyboard28
PS/2 interface28
Connect a monitor29
x
Connect to a broadband network29
Individual network configuration30
Connect to power30
Turning on your computer32
Turning off your computer34
4 Using your desktop35
Using the keyboard(optional) 36
Using the mouse(optional)38
Using the optical drive39
Taking care of your optical disks 40
Connecting options41
Printer41
IEEE 1394 devices41
eSATA devices42
Audio devices42
USB devices44
Connecting a video game console45
Removing and installing the bezel door 50
Removing and installing the side panel52
Removing and installing a hard drive54
Removing and installing an optical drive57
Upgrading the system memory58
System memory interface58
System memory configuration guidelines59
Installing an expansion card62
PCI bus slots interface62
5 Acer Empowering Technology65
Acer Empowering Technology66
Empowering Technology password66
Acer eRecovery Management 66
7 Frequently asked questions69
Frequently asked questions70
Recovering your system72
8 Regulations and safety notices77
Regulations and safety notices78
FCC notice78
Modem notices79
Laser compliance statement81
LCD pixel statement82
Radio device regulatory notice82
General82
European Union (EU)82
The FCC RF safety requirement84
Canada — Low-power license-exempt radio
communication devices (RSS-210)84
Federal Communications Commission
Declaration of Conformity85
xi
Index89
xii
1 First things
first
Specifications
1 First things first2
English
Operating
system
Processor
Genuine Windows Vista
®
CoreTM i7 processor Extreme Edition (up to 1600 MHz
Intel
®
Home Premium (64-bit)
FSB)
®
Intel
CoreTM i7 processor
Chipset
North Bridge: Intel
South Bridge: Intel
®
X58 chipset
®
ICH10R chipset
System memoryUp to 12 GB of DDR3 1066 MHz SDRAM (three-channel
support on six DIMMs)
Hard drivesUp to four Serial ATA hard disks, each up to 1 TB
Four 3.5" easy-swap HDD bays
Optical driveTwo 5.25" drive bays
Optical drive options:
•BD + SuperMulti burner
•BD/HD DVD reader + SuperMulti burner
•SuperMulti with Labelflash? technology
Card readerMulti-in-one card reader, supporting:
®
•CompactFlash
•CF+
™
Microdrive
(Type I and II)
•MultiMediaCard (MMC)
•MMC
mobile
™
•Reduced-Size MultiMediaCard (RS-MMC)
™
•Secure Digital
•miniSD
™
•xD-Picture Card
•Memory Stick
•Memory Stick PRO
•Memory Stick Duo
•Memory Stick PRO Duo
(SD) Card
Card
™
®
™
™
™
•USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 port
3
Graphics
Audio
Enabled ATI CrossFireX
•Two ATI Radeon
•Two ATI Radeon
•Two ATI Radeon
3x PCI Express
nd
Generation Dolby® Home Theater® audio enhancement,
2
®
featuring Dolby
Headphone, Dolby
TM
:
TM
HD 4870 X2 graphics cards
TM
HD 4870 graphics cards
TM
HD 4850 graphics cards
2.0 x16 graphics card support
®
Digital, Dolby® Pro Logic® IIx, Dolby®
®
Sound Space Expander and Dolby®
Digital Live technologies
Embedded high-definition audio with 7.1-channel and
®
4.0 audio support
EAX
Creative
EAX
®
Sound Blaster® X-Fi Titanium sound card with
®
5.0 audio support
S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) support
Networking•Gigabit Ethernet, Wake-on-LAN ready (dual LAN