The front panel header for the Acer IPISB-VR Rev 1.01 is a standard Acer OEM 14-pin header (with one pin missing). If you are moving this motherboard to a new case, you will likely need to connect individual 2-pin cables (Power SW, Reset, etc.) to this specific pinout. Front Panel Pinout Diagram
The pins are arranged in two rows. Row 1 (Odd) is typically closer to the center of the board, and Row 2 (Even) is closer to the edge. Acer Community Description 1 (+) / 3 (-) Indicates hard drive activity (Polarity matters) 2 (+) / 4 (-) Constant light when system is ON (Polarity matters) Connects to the Reset button (Polarity doesn't matter) Connects to the Power button (Polarity doesn't matter) Key / Reserved No pin (Empty space) Key / Reserved No pin (Empty space) Indicates network activity (Often sideways) Connection Quick-Guide Identify Pin 1
: Look for a white square or small "1" printed on the motherboard silkscreen. Power SW (Pins 6 & 8) Reset SW (Pins 5 & 7)
are not polarized. You can plug them in either way, and they will work as long as they bridge the correct two pins. HDD LED (Pins 1 & 3) Power LED (Pins 2 & 4)
are polarized. If they do not light up after booting, simply flip the connector 180 degrees. USB & Audio
: These are separate from the front panel button header. USB headers are typically yellow with 9 pins, while the Front Panel Audio Header is usually located near the back I/O ports. Acer Community
Are you also looking for the USB 3.0 or HD Audio header locations for this specific board? Front panel pin installation, help! - Acer Community
Connecting the front panel of the Acer IPISB-VR Rev 1.01
(often found in the Acer Predator G3610 or Gateway DX4860) can be tricky because the motherboard lacks clear on-board silk-screening. Front Panel Header Pinout acer ipisb-vr rev 1.01 front panel
The header is typically a 14-pin or 15-pin block. Pin 1 is identified by a white square printed on the motherboard's corner. Pin Numbers 1 (+) & 3 (-) HDD LED Indicates hard drive activity; polarity matters. 2 (+) & 4 (-) Power LED Lights up when the PC is on; polarity matters. 5 & 7 Reset Switch Restarts the PC; polarity does not matter. 6 & 8 Power Switch Turns the PC on/off; polarity does not matter. 10 No Pin Used as a "key" for orientation. 12 (+) & 14 (-) LAN LED
Indicates network activity; often unused in aftermarket cases. Pin Layout Visualization
Pins are arranged in two rows. The odd-numbered row (1, 3, 5, 7...) is closer to the center of the motherboard, while the even-numbered row (2, 4, 6, 8...) is closer to the motherboard's edge.
[Center of Motherboard] 01 03 05 07 09 11 13 (Odd Row) 02 04 06 08 [X] 12 14 (Even Row) [Edge of Motherboard] Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard (Note: Pin 10 [X] is the missing pin or "key") Key Installation Tips
Identify Polarity: For LED connectors, the positive (+) wire is usually colored (red, green, or blue), while the negative (-) wire is typically white or black. You can also look for a small arrow symbol on the back of the plastic connector, which indicates the positive side.
Case Swap Difficulty: If you are moving this motherboard to a new case, the standard individual 2-pin connectors from the new case must be plugged in vertically (e.g., bridging pins 1 and 3) according to the diagram above.
Safety Check: If the PC won't turn on, ensure the Power Switch is on pins 6 and 8. You can briefly bridge these two pins with a screwdriver to test if the board powers up without the case button.
For further troubleshooting, you can check the Acer Community Forum or the Tom's Hardware Forum for user-verified diagrams. The front panel header for the Acer IPISB-VR Rev 1
Are you currently doing a case swap or just troubleshooting an existing setup? front panel pin order Acer IPISB-VR motherboard
The Acer IPISB-VR Rev 1.01 is a micro-ATX motherboard commonly found in OEM systems like the Acer Aspire M3970 and Gateway DX4860. Because it is an OEM board, finding an official manual for the front panel header can be difficult, as these systems often use proprietary single-block connectors. Front Panel Header Pinout (JFP1)
The front panel header on this board is typically a 14-pin or 10-pin block located near the bottom right edge. The pins are numbered in an alternating fashion: even numbers on one row and odd numbers on the other. Connection Description 1 HDD LED + Hard Drive Activity Light (Positive) 2 Power LED + Power Indicator Light (Positive) 3 HDD LED - Hard Drive Activity Light (Negative) 4 Power LED - Power Indicator Light (Negative) 5 Reset SW Reset Switch Not Polarized 6 Power SW Power Button Not Polarized 7 Reset SW Reset Switch (Ground) Not Polarized 8 Power SW Power Button (Ground) Not Polarized 10 Empty Key Pin (Missing) 12 LAN LED + Network Activity Light (Positive) 14 LAN LED - Network Activity Light (Negative) Key Installation Tips
Identifying Pin 1: Look for a white square or a small "1" printed on the motherboard's silk-screen near the corner of the header.
Polarity Matters for LEDs: If your HDD or Power LED does not light up, reverse the connector on the pins. Reversing LED polarity will not damage the board.
Switches are Universal: The Power and Reset switches are "momentary" and do not have a specific positive or negative orientation.
Testing without a Case: You can start the motherboard by briefly touching a screwdriver to pins 6 and 8 (Power Switch). General Specifications Explaining PC Front Panel Connectors
The Acer IPISB-VR Rev 1.01 is a solid, reliable motherboard for budget builds or repairs—once you conquer its front panel puzzle. Remember the golden rules: Part 7: Conclusion & Final Wiring Cheat Sheet
Keep this article bookmarked or print the pinout table above. Tape it inside your PC case for future reference. With the correct wiring, your Acer motherboard will behave just like any standard board—giving new life to an old system.
Need further help? Leave a comment with your specific case model or the color of wires on your front panel connector, and we will map them for you.
Disclaimer: Always disconnect your power supply before working on your motherboard. This guide is based on reverse engineering and community testing. Revisions of the IPISB-VR (1.00, 1.01, 1.02) may have minor pinout differences—always test with a multimeter if unsure.
Use a metal screwdriver to momentarily short Pin 3 and Pin 4 (PWR_BTN+ and PWR_BTN-). If the system powers on, your case’s power switch is faulty, or you misidentified the wires.
[Pin 1] [Pin 2] [Pin 3] [Pin 4] [Pin 5] HDD+ HDD- PWR+ PWR- GND | | | | | o o o o o
o o o o (key) [Pin 6] [Pin 7] [Pin 8] [Pin 9] [Pin 10] RST+ RST- PLED+ PLED- N/A
This motherboard uses a proprietary front panel pinout (common in Acer prebuilt systems like the Aspire M3970, M1470, etc.). Do not use a standard Intel pinout without verification.
PWR_LED+ (Pin 8) outputs 3.3V, not the standard 5V. Some aftermarket case LEDs (especially older ones with 5V bulbs) will appear dim or not function. This is normal.Most retail PC cases (Corsair, NZXT, Cooler Master, Fractal Design) have front panel connectors that are broken into single 2-pin blocks. Here is how to connect them to this specific board.