Acer Aspire 5538 Service Guide

							Chapter 11
System Specifications
Features
Below is a brief summary of the computer’s many features:
Operating System
• Genuine Windows Vista®
Platform
• AMD Better By Design Program, featuring:
• AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 dual-core processor*
• AMD Athlon™ 64 processor*
• AMD M780G Chipset
• Acer InviLink™ Nplify™ 802.11b/g/Draft-N*
• Acer InviLink™ 802.11b/g* 
System Memory
• Dual-Channel SDRAM support
• Up to 2 GB of DDR2 667 MHz memory, upgradeable to 4 GB using two SODIMM modules*
Display and graphics
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• 15.6 HD 1366 x 768
• ATI Radeon™ HD 3200 Graphics*
• ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 4330*
Storage subsystem
• 2.5 hard disk drive
• DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive
• 5-in-1 card reader
Audio subsystem
• High-definition audio support
• S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) support for digital speakers
• MS-Sound compatible
• Built-in microphone
Chapter 1 
						

							2Chapter 1
Communication
• Integrated Acer Crystal Eye webcam
•WLAN:
• Acer InviLink™ Nplify™ 802.11b/g/Draft-N*
• Acer InviLink™ 802.11b/g*
• WPAN: Bluetooth® 2.1+Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)*
• LAN: Gigabit Ethernet; Wake-on-LAN ready
Privacy control
• BIOS user, supervisor, HDD passwords
• Kensington lock slot
Dimensions and Weight
• 380 (W) x 259 (D) x 26.4/30.8 (H) mm (14.82 x 10.1 x 1.02/1.2 inches)
• 2.4 kg (5.3 lbs.) with 6-cell battery pack
Power subsystem
•ACPI 3.0
• 48.84 W 4400 mAh
• 3-pin 65 W AC adapter
• ENERGY STAR®* compliant
Special keys and controls
• 103-/104-/107-key keyboard
• Touchpad pointing device
I/O interface
• 5-in-1 card reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/xD)
• USB 2.0 port
• HDMI™ port with HDCP support
• External display (VGA) port
• Headphones/speaker/line-out jack with S/PDIF support
• Microphone-in jack
• Ethernet (RJ-45) port
• DC-in jack for AC adapter
Environment
• Temperature:
• Operating: 5 °C to 35 °C
• Non-operating: -20 °C to 65 °C
• Humidity (non-condensing): 
						

							Chapter 13
• Operating: 20% to 80%
• Non-operating: 20% to 80%
NOTE: The specifications listed above are for reference only. The exact configuration of the PC depends on 
the model purchased. 
						

							4Chapter 1
System Block Diagram
Power On/Off CKT.
CRT Conn.
LPC BUS uFCBGA-528
Int.KB
USB conn 
X 2A link Express2
DC/DC Interface CKT.
AMD S1G1 Processor
3.3V 48MHz
yper Transport Link
          16 x 16
Fan Control
Power CircuituPGA-638 Package
ATI RS780MN
BIOS
HD Audio
ATI SB710
ENE KB926
LVDS Conn.
BT Conn
3.3V 24.576MHz/48Mhz
RTC CKT.
SATA HDD
Conn.port 0
CameraPort 1
Port 6USB
CDROM 
Conn.
PCI-Express 1x
port 1
Port 3 Port 12 Port 5
MINI Card 1
WLANPort 0
Dual ChannelBANK 0, 1, 2, 3200pin DDRII-SO-DIMM X2
1.8V DDRII 667/800
Memory BUS(DDRII)
Clock GeneratorSLG8SP626VTRThermal SensorADM1032
ATI M92-S2 LP
VRAM 512MB
64M16 x 4
PCI-Express 8x DDR3
uFCBGA-528 uFCBGA-631
HDMI Conn.
HDA Codec
ALC269X-GR
Phone Jack x2Digital MIC
LID SW/Cap sensor Board
Gen1
5 in 1 socket
Card ReaderRTS5159
Port 4
Port 8Mini Card 1
(WLAN)
Mini Card 2
(WWAN)To IO Board
USB conn  X 2
Port 0
Port 2
S-ATA
MINI Card 2
WWANPort 2Port 1
Realtek RTL8111CA
To IO board
LAN(GbE)
IO Board
PWR Board
TP Board
LED 
						

							Chapter 15
Your Notebook Tour
This section provides an overview of the features and functions of the notebook.
Front View
No.IconItemDescription
1 Acer Crystal Eye 
WebcamWeb camera for video communication.
2 Microphone Internal microphone for sound recording.
3 Display screen Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD), displays 
computer output.
4 Power button/
indicatorTurns the computer on and off while indicating the 
computer’s power status.
5 Keyboard For entering data into your computer.
6 TouchPad Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions like 
a computer mouse.
7 Click buttons (left 
and right)The left and right buttons function like the left and 
right mouse buttons.
8 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands when you 
use the computer.
9 Touchpad toggle Turns the internal touchpad on and off. 
						

							6Chapter 1
Closed Front View
Left View
10 Communication
keyEnables / disables the WLAN function.
Backup key Launches Acer Backup Management for
three-step data backup.
HDD Indicates when the hard disk drive is
active.
7 Eject button  Presses to eject the optical disk from the
drive. 
8 Speakers Left and right speakers deliver stereo
audio output.
No.IconItemDescription
1 Battery Indicator Indicates the computers battery status.
1. Charging: The light shows amber
when the battery is charging.
2. Fully charged: The light shows blue
when in AC mode.
2 5-in-1 card 
readerAccepts Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard 
(MMC), Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick 
PRO (MS PRO), xD Picture Card (xD).
Note: Push to remove/install the card. Only one 
card can operate at any given time.
No.IconItemDescription
1 Kensington Lock 
SlotConnects to a Kensington-compatible 
computer security lock. 
Note: Wrap the computer security lock cable 
around an immovable object such as a table or 
handle of a locked drawer. Insert the lock into 
the notch and turn the key to secure the lock. 
Some keyless models are also available.
No.IconItemDescription 
						

							Chapter 17
Right View
2 Ventilation slots Enable the computer to stay cool, even after 
prolonged use.
3 External display 
(VGA) portConnects to a display device (e.g., external 
monitor, LCD projector).
4
HDMIHDMI port Supports high definition digital video 
connections.
5 USB 2.0 port Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, 
USB camera).
6 Microphone-in 
jackAccepts inputs from external microphones.
Headphones/
speaker/ line-out 
jack with S/PDIF 
supportConnects to audio line-out devices (e.g., 
speakers, headphones).
No.IconItemDescription
1 Optical drive Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs.
2 Optical disk 
access
indicatorLights up when the optical drive is active.
3 Emergency eject
holeEjects the optical drive tray when the computer 
is turned off. Note: Insert a paper clip to the 
emergency eject hole to eject the optical drive 
tray when the computer is off.
4 USB 2.0 port Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB mouse, 
USB camera).
5 Ethernet (RJ-45)
portConnects to an Ethernet 10/100/1000- based 
network.
6 DC-in jack Connects to an AC adapter.
No.IconItemDescription 
						

							8Chapter 1
Base View
Rear View
No.IconItemDescription
1 Battery bay Houses the computers battery pack.
Note: The battery shown is for reference only. Your 
PC may have a different battery, depending on the 
model purchased.
2 Battery lock Locks the battery in position.
3 Memory 
compartmentHouses the computers main memory.
4 Hard Disk Bay Houses the computers hard disk (secured with 
screws).
5 Ventilation slots 
and/or cooling fanEnable the computer to stay cool, even after 
prolonged use.
Note: Do not cover or obstruct the opening of the fan.
6 Battery Release 
LatchReleases the battery for removal.
No.IconItemDescription
1 Battery bay Houses the computers battery pack. 
						

							Chapter 19
Indicators
The computer has several easy-to-read status indicators. The battery indicator is visible even when the 
computer cover is closed.
NOTE: 1. Charging: The battery light shows amber when the battery is charging. 2. Fully charged: The light 
shows green when in AC mode.
Icon Function Description 
Bluetooth  Indicates the status of Bluetooth communication. 
Wireless LAN  Indicates the status of Wireless LAN communication. 
3G communication  Indicates the status of 3G communication. 
HDD  Indicates when the hard disk drive is active. 
Num Lock  Lights up when Num Lock is activated. 
Caps Lock  Lights up when Caps Lock is activated. 
Battery  Indicates the computers battery status.  
						

							10Chapter 1
TouchPad Basics
The following items show you how to use the TouchPad:
• Move your finger across the TouchPad (1) to move the cursor.
• Press the left (2) and right (3) buttons located beneath the TouchPad to perform selection and 
execution functions. These two buttons are similar to the left and right buttons on a mouse. 
Tapping on the TouchPad is the same as clicking the left button.
NOTE: When using the TouchPad, keep it - and your fingers - dry and clean. The TouchPad is sensitive to 
finger movement; hence, the lighter the touch, the better the response. Tapping too hard will not 
increase the TouchPad’s responsiveness.
FunctionLeft Button (2)Right Button (3)Main TouchPad (1)
Execute Quickly click twice. Tap twice (at the same speed 
as double-clicking a mouse 
button).
Select Click once. Tap once.
Drag Click and hold, then use 
finger on the TouchPad to 
drag the cursor.Tap twice (at the same speed 
as double-clicking a mouse 
button); rest your finger on 
the TouchPad on the second 
tap and drag the cursor.
Access 
context menuClick once.
1
2
3