The Acer IPISB-VR Rev 1.01 Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
motherboard typically uses a 14-pin front panel header. Because this board is often found in pre-built systems like the Gateway DX4860, the pins are not always clearly labeled on the PCB. Front Panel Header Pinout
The header is organized into two rows: the Odd row (1, 3, 5, 7...) and the Even row (2, 4, 6, 8...). Pin 1 is usually marked by a small white square or triangle on the motherboard. Positive Pin (+) Negative Pin (-) HDD LED Shows disk activity Power LED Indicates PC is on Reset Switch Reboots the system Power Switch Turns the system on/off LAN LED Network activity indicator Key Connection Tips
Polarity Matters for LEDs: For the HDD LED and Power LED, the positive (+) and negative (-) wires must match the pins exactly or they will not light up.
Switches are Non-Polarized: The Power and Reset switches can be plugged in either way as they simply complete a circuit when pressed.
Missing Pin: Pin 10 is typically "keyed" (missing) to help orient the factory connector block. acer ipisb-vr rev 1.01 front panel
USB Headers: Front panel USB ports are separate from this 14-pin block and should be plugged into the yellow headers elsewhere on the board.
For more technical details, you can find discussions on this board's layout at the Acer Community Forum or Tom's Hardware.
Are you moving this motherboard to a new case, or just repairing the existing front panel wiring?
Connecting the front panel of an Acer IPISB-VR Rev 1.01 motherboard—common in systems like the Gateway DX4860 or Acer Aspire M3970—can be challenging because Acer often uses proprietary headers without clear labels on the board itself. Front Panel Header Pinout
The front panel header is typically a 14-pin block found at the bottom-right corner of the motherboard. The pins are usually arranged in two rows: the bottom row (odd numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.) and the top row (even numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.). Pin Numbers HDD LED 1 (+) & 3 (-) Lights up during drive activity Power LED 2 (+) & 4 (-) Indicates if the system is powered on Reset Switch Restarts the PC; polarity does not matter Power Switch Turns the PC on/off; polarity does not matter LAN LED Indicates network activity (if supported by case) The Acer IPISB-VR Rev 1
Note: Pin 1 is often marked by a white square or a small "1" printed on the motherboard silkscreen. Pin 10 is usually missing to serve as a "key" for orientation. Connection Tips
Acer IPISB-VR Rev 1.01 motherboard, commonly found in the Acer Aspire M3970 and Gateway DX4860, uses a standard but sometimes unlabeled front panel header. Use the following pinout to connect your case cables correctly. Front Panel Header Pinout
Locate the cluster of pins usually found on the bottom-right edge of the motherboard. Pin 1 is typically marked by a white square on the PCB. Pin Numbers Description
Hard Drive activity light. Pin 1 is Positive (+), Pin 3 is Negative (-).
Power status light. Pin 2 is Positive (+), Pin 4 is Negative (-). Reset Switch Resets the PC. Polarity does not matter for switches. Power Switch Main power button. Polarity does not matter. Header Label: FP1 (located on the bottom right
Network activity indicator (often unused by standard cases). Important Connection Tips Missing Pin:
Pin 10 is typically missing from the header to help with orientation. LED Polarity:
do not light up, flip the connector 180 degrees. LEDs only work in one direction. Positive (+) Identification: Look for a small
or arrow on the back of the plastic connector to identify the positive wire.
The Power and Reset switches are non-polarized, meaning they will work regardless of which way the connector is facing. Other Front Panel Connections Explaining PC Front Panel Connectors 23-Oct-2022 —
FP1 (located on the bottom right corner of the board)