1 x PCI Express x16 Gen 2.0 and often 1 x PCIe x1 or standard PCI slots depending on the specific revision.
Before modifying your hardware, consult these baseline limits to prevent component failure:
The Acer H81H3-AM V1.0 is an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) motherboard specifically designed for Acer's line of mainstream desktop computers. It's built around the Intel H81 chipset and utilizes the LGA 1150 socket, making it a crucial piece of hardware for powering 4th generation Intel Core processors (commonly known as Haswell). You will typically find this motherboard inside Acer Veriton M2631, M2631G, and E430 desktop PCs.
The service guide contains the motherboard layout, jumper settings, and removal/replacement procedures. Alternatively, community archives like or ManualsPlus may have scanned copies of the original Acer H81H3-AM manual.
The board features standard 9-pin USB 2.0 internal headers. Use these to add extra rear brackets, connect front-case USB 2.0 ports, or power internal smart hardware (like liquid CPU coolers or RGB controllers). 6. Clearing the BIOS / Resetting CMOS Acer H81h3-am V1.0 Manual
Realtek RTL8111E Gigabit Ethernet controller (10/100/1000 Mbps) Micro-ATX / DTX (approx. 200mm × 244mm) Board Layout and Connectors
Turn off the computer and unplug the power supply from the wall.
Press the key or the F2 key repeatedly before the Acer logo appears. Common Clear CMOS Procedure
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Because this is an OEM motherboard, the BIOS is streamlined but offers essential configuration tools. Accessing the BIOS Turn on or restart the computer.
| Symptom | Root Cause | Fix | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | No power, 5VSB present | Blown EC fuse (F1, 3A 32V) near J12 | Bridge with 3A polyfuse | | Continuous reboot loop | Failed 3.3V linear regulator (U34) | Replace APL5912 or wire 3.3V from PSU's purple wire (5VSB → 3.3V LDO) | | No USB 3.0 | Burned ASM1042 (PCIe to USB 3.0 controller) | Reball or replace; optional: disable via BIOS and use add-in card | | PCIe x16 only works at x1 speed | Dirty contacts or cracked BGA on H81 PCH | Reflow with 220°C; check capacitors near PCIe slot pins A13/A14 |
Whether you are troubleshooting a no-POST issue, upgrading to a Xeon CPU, or simply trying to connect the power button, refer back to this article. Bookmark it, because Acer is unlikely to release any new documentation for this legacy board.
If a standard PSU is used without converting PWR_OK to pin 12, the EC never releases the system from reset. The fans will spin, but no POST. 1 x PCI Express x16 Gen 2
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If the system fails to POST (Power On Self Test) after a hardware change, reset the BIOS settings: Turn off the PC and unplug the power cord. Locate the 3-pin header on the motherboard.
: You can upgrade to a maximum of 16GB (2 x 8GB) of DDR3 memory. The chipset natively supports speeds up to 1600MHz. Note that this board does not support newer DDR4 memory.
⚠️ The H81 chipset does not support CPU overclocking. Installing a "K-series" processor (like the i7-4790K) will work, but it will run strictly at stock base and turbo speeds. 3. Memory Configuration & Installation The board contains two (2) 240-pin DDR3 DIMM slots . Maximum Capacity: 16 GB total (2 x 8 GB modules). Supported Speeds: DDR3 1600 / 1333 MHz. You will typically find this motherboard inside Acer
The board supports processors with a Thermal Design Power (TDP) up to 84W. i7-4770, i7-4790 Intel Core i5: i5-4430, i5-4460, i5-4570, i5-4590 Intel Core i3, Pentium, and Celeron: All LGA 1150 variants