Acer Aspire 1520 Service Guide

12Chapter 1
Ke y b o a r d
The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded keypad, separate cursor keys, two Windows keys and 
twelve function keys.
Special keys
Lock keys
The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on and off.
Lock keyDescription
Caps Lock
@
When @is on, all alphabetic characters typed are in uppercase.
Num Lock (Fn-F11)
]
When ] is on, the embedded keypad is in numeric mode. The keys function 
as a calculator (complete with the arithmetic operators ), -, *, and /). Use this...

Chapter 113
Embedded numeric keypad
The embedded numeric keypad functions like a desktop numeric keypad. It is indicated by small characters 
located on the upper right corner of the keycaps. To simplify the keyboard legend, cursor-control key symbols 
are not printed on the keys.
Desired accessNum lock onNum lock off
Number keys on embedded 
keypadType numbers using embedded keypad in a 
normal manner.
Cursor-control keys on embedded 
keypadHold Shift while using cursor-control keys. Hold Fn while using...

14Chapter 1
Windows keys
The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific functions.
KeysDescription
Windows logo keyStart button. Combinations with this key perform shortcut functions. Below 
are a few examples:
 + Tab (Activates next taskbar button)
 + E (Explores My Computer)
 + F (Finds Document)
 + M (Minimizes All)
j+  + M (Undoes Minimize All)
 + R (Displays the Run... dialog box)
Application key Opens a context menu (same as a right-click). 

Chapter 115
Hot Keys
The computer employs hot keys or key combinations to access most of the computer’s controls like screen 
contrast and brightness, volume output and the BIOS Utility.
To activate hot keys, press and hold the Fn key before pressing the other key in the hot key combination.
Hot KeyIconFunctionDescription
Fn-
lHotkey help Displays a list of the hotkeys and their functions.
Fn-
mSetup Accesses the notebook configuration utility. 
Fn-
nPower Management 
Scheme ToggleSwitches the power...

16Chapter 1
The Euro symbol
If your keyboard layout is set to United States-International or United Kingdom or if you have a keyboard with a 
European layout, you can type the Euro symbol on your keyboard.
NOTE: for US keyboard users: The keyboard layout is set when you first set up Windows.  For the Euro 
symbol to work, the keyboard layout has to be set to United States-international.
To verify the keyboard type:
1.Click on Start, Control Panel.
2.Double-click on Regional and Language Options.
3.Click...

Chapter 117
Launch Keys
Located at the top of the keyboard are six buttons. These buttons are called lauch keys. They are designated 
as mail button, Web browser button, P1, P2, Bluetooth and Wireless buttons. The Wireless and Bluetooth 
buttons cannot be set by the user. To set the other four launch keys, run the Acer Launch Manager.
 
#IconFunctionDescription
1 Mail Launches email application
2 Web browser Launches Internet browser application
3 e User-programmable
4 P User-programmable
5 Bluetooth...

18Chapter 1
Hardware Specifications and Configurations
 System Board Major Chips
Item Controller
System core logic VIA K8N800+VIA VT8235CE
Super I/O controller NS PC87392
Audio controller VIA VT1612A
Video controller
NVIDIA
® GeForceTM FX Go5200 for Aspire 1360 Series
NVIDIA
® GeForceTM FX Go5700 for Aspire 1520 Series
Hard disk drive controller Embedded in VT8235CE
Keyboard controller Mitsubish LPC keyboard controller M38857
CardBus Controller TI PCI 7420
RTC Embedded in VT8235CE
LAN Controller/Chipset...

Chapter 119
Above table lists some system memory configurations. You may combine DIMMs with various capacities to 
form other combinations.  Second Level Cache
ItemSpecification
Cache controller Built-in CPU
Cache size 128KB or 256KB for AMD Sempron CPU
1MB for AMD Athlon 64 DTR CPU
1st level cache control Always Enabled
2nd level cache control Always Enabled
Cache scheme control Fixed-in write back
System Memory
ItemSpecification
Memory controller VIA K8N800
Onboard memory size 0MB 
DIMM socket number 2...

20Chapter 1
.
Supports LAN protocol 10/100Mbps for Aspire 1360; 10/100/1000Mbps for Aspire 1520
LAN connector type RJ45
LAN connector location Rear side
PXE Version 2.0
Modem Interface
ItemSpecification
Chipset VIA VT8235CE
Fax modem data baud rate (bps) 14.4K
Data modem data baud rate (bps) 56K
Supports modem protocol V.90/V.92MDC
Modem connector type RJ11
Modem connector location Rear side
Hard Disk Drive Interface
Item
Vendor & Model 
NameHGST Moraga 
IC25N030ATMR04
Fujitsu V-40 MHT2030AT
Seagate N1...

Chapter 121
CD-ROM Interface
ItemsSpecification
Vendor & Model Name QSI SCR242
Mitsumi SR244W1
Performance Specification
Brust Data Transfer rate  PIO mode 4:
           16.7 MB/sec Max. (Mode 0~4)
Multi-word DMA mode 2:
           16.7 MB/sec Max. (Mode 0~2)
Ultra DMA mode 2:
           33.3MB/sec Max.
Access time (typ.) QSI-
Random: 90 ms
Full Stroke: 180 ms
Mitsumi-
Random: 100 ms
Full Stroke: 240 ms
Rotation speed 5100 rpm for QSI
5400 rpm for Mitsumi 24X CAV mode
Data Buffer Capacity 128 KB...