Acer Predator 21 X GX21-71 User manual

Category
Notebooks
Type
User manual

This manual is also suitable for

User’s Manual
2 -
© 2017. All Rights Reserved.
Predator 21 X
Covers: GX21-71
This revision: January 2017
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support.
For more information, please visit the Acer BYOC website:
www.acer.com/byoc-start
Model number: ___________________________________________
Serial number: ___________________________________________
Date of purchase: _______________________________________
Place of purchase: ______________________________________
Important
This manual contains proprietary information that is protected by
copyright laws. The information contained in this manual is
subject to change without notice. Images provided herein are for
reference only and may contain information or features that do
not apply to your computer. Acer Group shall not be liable for
technical or editorial errors or omissions contained in this
manual.
Table of contents - 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
First things first 6
Your guides .................................................... 6
Basic care and tips for using your
computer........................................................... 7
Turning your computer off....................... 7
Taking care of your computer................ 7
Dual AC adapters ........................................... 8
Taking care of your AC adapters ......... 8
Cleaning and servicing ................................ 8
Your Predator notebook tour 10
Screen view.................................................. 10
Keyboard view............................................. 11
Front view ..................................................... 12
Left view ........................................................ 13
USB 3.0 information ................................. 13
Right view...................................................... 14
Rear view ...................................................... 14
USB Type-C information ........................ 15
Base view ...................................................... 16
Using the keyboard 17
Lock keys ...................................................... 17
Hotkeys .............................................................. 17
Windows keys............................................. 19
The keyboard has two keys that
perform Windows-specific functions. 19
Alternative WASD and space key-
caps................................................................... 19
Reversible Slide Module 20
Installing the Slide Module.................. 20
Using the Precision Touchpad 21
Touchpad gestures.................................. 21
Changing touchpad settings............. 23
Tobii Eye Tracking 25
Illumination and sensor bar.............. 25
Setting up..................................................... 25
Further settings (options may vary) 26
Games and Experiences ......................... 26
Settings ............................................................. 27
Gaze Trace...................................................... 28
User profiles.................................................. 28
Tips and more help................................. 28
Recovery 29
Creating a factory default backup 29
Backing up your wireless and LAN
drivers ............................................................ 32
Restoring your computer................... 32
Reset this PC and keep my files ........ 32
Reset this PC and remove everything 34
Using a Bluetooth connection 36
Enabling and disabling Bluetooth . 36
Enable Bluetooth and add a device 36
Connecting to the Internet 39
Connecting to a wireless network. 39
Connecting to a wireless LAN ............ 39
Connecting with a cable ...................... 42
Built-in network feature ........................ 42
Connecting to a cellular network... 43
PredatorSense 44
The PredatorSense main screen ... 44
Overclocking.................................................. 45
PredatorSense settings ......................... 45
Adjusting the keyboard backlight . 46
Dynamic lighting .......................................... 47
Lighting zones ............................................... 47
Adjusting the hotkeys .......................... 48
Assign an action to a hotkey............... 49
Record a macro ........................................... 49
Creating profiles ...................................... 50
Fan control................................................... 51
Monitoring .................................................... 51
Bluelight Shield 52
Securing your computer 54
Using a computer security lock...... 54
Using passwords ..................................... 54
Entering passwords ................................... 55
BIOS utility 56
Boot sequence .......................................... 56
Setting passwords.................................. 56
Power management 57
Saving power............................................... 57
Battery pack 59
Battery characteristics........................ 59
Charging the battery................................ 59
Optimizing battery life............................. 60
Checking the battery level..................... 61
Battery-low warning ................................. 61
Traveling with your computer 62
Disconnecting from the desktop.... 62
Moving around .......................................... 62
Preparing the computer......................... 62
What to bring to meetings.................... 63
Taking the computer home................ 63
Preparing the computer......................... 63
What to take with you............................. 64
4 - Table of contents
Special considerations ............................ 64
Setting up a home office........................ 64
Traveling with the computer............. 65
Preparing the computer......................... 65
What to take with you............................. 65
Special considerations ............................ 65
Traveling internationally..................... 66
Preparing the computer......................... 66
What to bring with you........................... 66
Special considerations ............................ 66
Universal Serial Bus (USB) 69
Thunderbolt 3 port 70
Displays......................................................... 70
SD card reader 71
Video and audio connectors 72
HDMI 73
Customizing your computer’s inside
panel 74
Eligibility and limitations..................... 74
Installing the new panel....................... 75
Frequently asked questions 77
Requesting service .................................. 79
Tips and hints for using Windows
10 ....................................................................... 81
How do I get to Start?............................. 81
How do I turn off my computer? ...... 81
How do I unlock my computer? ........ 82
How do I set the alarm? ........................ 83
Where are my apps?................................ 84
What is a Microsoft ID (account)? .. 85
How do I check for Windows
updates? .......................................................... 85
Where can I get more information? 86
Troubleshooting....................................... 87
Troubleshooting tips ................................. 87
Error messages ............................................ 87
Internet and online security 89
First steps on the net ........................... 89
Protecting your computer .................... 89
Choose an Internet Service Provider 89
Network connections ................................ 91
Surf the Net! ................................................. 93
Security ............................................................ 93
Getting started...
In this section you will find:
• Useful information on caring for your computer and
your health
• Where to find the power button, ports and connectors
• Tips and tricks for using the touchpad and keyboard
• How to create recovery backups
• Guidelines for connecting to a network and using
Bluetooth
• Information on using Acer’s bundled software
6 - First things first
FIRST THINGS FIRST
We would like to thank you for making this Predator
notebook your choice for meeting your mobile gaming
computing needs.
Your guides
To help you use your Predator notebook, we have designed
a set of guides:
First off, the Setup Guide (or Setup Poster) helps you get
started with setting up your computer.
The Quick Guide introduces you to the basic features and
functions of your new computer. For more on how your
computer can help you to be more productive, please refer
to the User’s Manual. This guide contains detailed
information on such subjects as system utilities, data
recovery, expansion options and troubleshooting.
There are two ways to download the User’s Manual. You
must first be connected to the internet.
1. Open Acer Care Center from the desktop and select My
System > Summary and click User’s Manual to download
the User’s Manual.
2. Click on the link under Support.
1. The link will open the Acer Service & Support webpage.
2. From this page you can download and install the Acer
identification tool that will automatically detect your
computer’s serial number and SNID and allow you to
copy it to the clipboard.
3. Scroll down to Drivers and Manuals and search for your
model by pasting in or manually entering the serial
number, SNID, or product model.
4. Once you have found your product model, select
Documents and select your language to download the
User’s Manual.
First things first - 7
Basic care and tips for using your computer
Turning your computer off
To turn the power off, do any of the following:
• Use the Windows shutdown command: Press the Windows
key or select the Windows Start button, select Power >
Shut down.
•Right-click the Windows Start button > Shut down or sign
out > Shut down.
If you need to power down the computer for a short while,
but don’t want to completely shut it down, you can put it to
Sleep by doing any of the following:
• Press the power button.
• Press the sleep hotkey.
•Press the Windows key or select the Windows Start
button, select Power > Sleep.
•Right-click the Windows Start button > Shut down or sign
out > Sleep.
Taking care of your computer
Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it.
• Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight. Do not
place it near sources of heat, such as a radiator.
• Do not expose the computer to temperatures below 0º C
(32º F) or above 50º C (122º F).
• Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields.
• Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture.
• Do not spill water or any liquid on the computer.
Note
If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and hold the
power button for up to ten seconds to shut down the computer. If
you turn off the computer and want to turn it on again, wait at least
two seconds before powering up.
8 - First things first
• Do not subject the computer to heavy shock or vibration.
• Do not expose the computer to dust or dirt.
• Never place objects on top of the computer.
• Do not slam the computer display when you close it.
• Never place the computer on uneven surfaces.
Dual AC adapters
Your computer uses one adapter for basic performance, but
requires two adapters for full performance with all graphical
abilities.
• Only use the adapters provided with your device, or Acer-
approved adapters to power your device.
• Use the provided support to hold both adapters securely.
Taking care of your AC adapters
Here are some ways to take care of your AC adapters:
• Do not connect the adapters to any other device.
• Do not step on the power cords or place heavy objects on
top of them. Route the power cords and any cables away
from where people walk.
• When unplugging the power cords, do not pull on the cord
itself but pull on the plug.
• The total ampere ratings of the equipment plugged in
should not exceed the ampere rating of the cord if you are
using an extension cord. Also, the total current rating of all
equipment plugged into a single wall outlet should not
exceed the fuse rating.
Cleaning and servicing
When cleaning the computer, follow these steps:
1. Turn off the computer.
2. Disconnect the AC adapters.
First things first - 9
3. Use a soft, moist cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol
cleaners.
If your computer is dropped or visibly damaged, or does not
work normally, please contact your nearest authorized Acer
service center.
10 - Your Predator notebook tour
YOUR PREDATOR NOTEBOOK
TOUR
After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Setup
Guide, let us show you around your new Acer computer.
Screen view
1
3
4
2
# Icon Item Description
1 Webcam
Web camera for video
comm
unication.
A light next to the webcam
indic
ates that the webcam is
active.
2 Microphones
Internal stereo digital
m
icrophones for sound
recording.
3 Screen Displays computer output.
4
Eye Tracking
sens
or
Eye Tracking for cursor and
game control. See page 25.
Your Predator notebook tour - 11
Keyboard view
1
4
2
3
5
7
6
# Icon Item Description
1
Power button Turns the computer on and off.
2
Programmable
ke
ys
Keys that allow you to change
comput
er settings to suit your
current game.
You can define settings for each
ke
y in the PredatorSense
application. See page 44.
3
Backlit
ke
yboard
For entering data into your
comp
uter.
See "Using the keyboard" on
page 17.
4 Speakers Deliver stereo audio output.
5
Slide module
(T
ouchpad or
keypad)
Reversible module that features
a ke
ypad or touchpad pointing
device.
See "Reversible Slide Module"
on page 20.
12 - Your Predator notebook tour
Front view
1
# Icon Item Description
1 Speakers Deliver stereo audio output.
6
Power
indicator
Indicates the computer’s power
status.
Hard drive
indicator
Indicates when the computer’s
hard drive is active.
Battery
indicator
Indicates the computer’s
b
attery status.
Charging: Lights amber
when
the battery is charging.
Fully charged: Lights
teal when
in AC mode.
7
Main storage
and memory
c
ompartment
Houses the computer’s main
st
orage and memory.
See "Customizing your
computer’s inside panel" on
page 74.
You may upgrade your
computer’s main storage and
memory. Acer recommends
asking an approved service
center to do this.
# Icon Item Description
Your Predator notebook tour - 13
Left view
421 3
# Icon Item Description
1
Ventilation
and c
ooling
fan
Allows the computer to stay
cool.
Do not cover or obstruct the
op
enings.
2
USB ports Connect to USB devices.
3
Mic-in jack
Connects to an external
micr
ophone for recording audio.
Headset/
speaker jack
Connects to audio devices (e.g.,
speakers, headphones)
4
SD card
reader
Accepts one Secure Digital (SD
or S
DHC) card.
Only one card can operate at a
time.
USB 3.0 information
• USB 3.0 compatible ports are blue.
• Compatible with USB 3.0 and earlier devices.
• For optimal performance, use USB 3.0-certified devices.
• Defined by the USB 3.0 specification (SuperSpeed USB).
14 - Your Predator notebook tour
Right view
3 421
# Icon Item Description
1
USB port with
power-off
charging
Connects to USB devices.
2
USB port Connects to USB devices.
3
Kensington
lock slot
Connects to a Kensington-
compatible security lock.
4
Ventilation
and c
ooling
fan
Allows the computer to stay
cool.
Do not cover or obstruct the
op
enings.
Rear view
1
2 4 53 6
# Icon Item Description
1
Ventilation
and c
ooling
fan
Allows the computer to stay
cool.
Do not cover or obstruct the
op
enings.
2
HDMI port
Supports high-definition digital
video c
onnections.
Your Predator notebook tour - 15
USB Type-C information
• USB 3.1 Gen 2 with transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps.
• Supports DisplayPort
â„¢
audio/video output.
• Compatible with Thunderbolt
â„¢
3.
• Delivers up to 3 A at 5 V DC for USB charging.
3
External
display
(DisplayPort)
ports
Connect to display devices using
the high-definition
DisplayPort
interface.
4
USB Type-C /
Thunderbolt 3
port
Connects to USB devices with a
USB T
ype-C connector.
Supports Thunderbolt
â„¢
3
displays.
5
Ethernet (RJ-
45) port
Connects to an Ethernet 10/
100/1000-based network.
6
DC-in jacks
Connects to the two AC
adapt
ers.
Only one AC adapter is required
for nor
mal use, but both
adapters are required to power
advanced graphic capabilities.
Warning: Shut down your
computer before unplugging
either AC adapter.
# Icon Item Description
16 - Your Predator notebook tour
Base view
1
2 3 4 5
# Icon Item Description
1
Acer
DustDefender
Reduces dust accumulation,
enabling
the components to
stay cool, perform better and
last longer.
2
Main storage
and memory
c
ompartment
Houses the computer’s main
st
orage and memory.
You may upgrade your
computer’s main storage and
memory. Acer recommends
asking an approved service
center to do this.
3
Ventilation
and c
ooling
fan
Allows the computer to stay
cool.
Do not cover or obstruct the
op
enings.
4
Battery reset
pinhole
Simulates removing and
reinst
alling the battery.
Insert a paperclip into the hole
and press f
or four seconds.
5 Subwoofer Delivers enhanced bass audio.
Using the keyboard - 17
USING THE KEYBOARD
The keyboard has backlit keys with mechanical action,
separate cursor, lock, Windows, function and special keys. A
reversible module allows you to add a keypad for quick
number entry or game control (see "Reversible Slide
Module" on page 20).
Lock keys
The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on
and off.
Hotkeys
The computer employs hotkeys or key combinations to
access most of the computer's controls like screen
brightness and volume output.
Note
You can adjust backlight settings in the PredatorSense
application.
Lock key Description
Caps Lock
When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic
characters typed are in uppercase.
Num Lock
When Num Lock is on, the keypad is in
numeric mode. The keys function as a
calculator (complete with the arithmetic
operators +, -, *, and /). Use this mode when
you need to do a lot of numeric data entry.
Scroll Lock
When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves one
line up or down when you press the up or
down arrow keys respectively. Scroll Lock
does not work with some applications.
18 - Using the keyboard
To activate hotkeys, press and hold the Fn key before
pressing the other key in the hotkey combination.
Hotkey Icon Function Description
Fn + F3
Airplane
mode
Turns on / off the
computer's network devices.
Fn + F4 Sleep
Puts the computer in Sleep
mode.
Fn + F5
Display
toggle
Switches display output
between the display screen,
external monitor (if
connected) and both.
Fn + F6 Display off
Turns the display screen
backlight off to save power.
Press any key to return.
Fn + F7
Speaker
toggle
Turns the speakers on and
off.
Fn + F8
Keyboard
backlight
toggle
Turns the keyboard
backlight on and off.
Fn +
Brightness
up
Increases the screen
brightness.
Fn +
Brightness
down
Decreases the screen
brightness.
Fn + Volume up Increases the sound volume.
Fn +
Volume
down
Decreases the sound
volume.
Using the keyboard - 19
Windows keys
The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows-specific
functions.
Key Description
Windows key
Pressed alone it returns to the Start
screen or to return to the last open
app.
It can also be used with other keys
f
or special functions, please check
Windows Help.
Application key
This key has the same effect as
clicking the right mouse button; it
opens the application's context menu.
Alternative WASD and space key-caps
A set of alternative kep-caps have been provided with your
computer.
Use the provided tool to extract the keys from the
accessory box. Use the same tool to carefully remove the
same keys from the keyboard, and then insert the
replacement keys in the appropriate locations.
Note
You can turn these keys off and on in the PredatorSense
application.
20 - Reversible Slide Module
REVERSIBLE SLIDE MODULE
Your computer includes a reversible touchpad/keypad
module. Choose the function that best matches your needs,
and install or reverse the module in an instant.
Installing the Slide Module
1. Remove the Slide Module from the packaging.
2. Remove any protective covers and stickers.
3. Choose either the touchpad or keypad function.
4. Slide the top of the Slide Module into the area to the right
of the keyboard so that the connectors match.
5. Rotate the Slide Module down until it snaps into place.
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Acer Predator 21 X GX21-71 User manual

Category
Notebooks
Type
User manual
This manual is also suitable for

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