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PROPRIETARY NOTICE AND LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
The information disclosed in this document, including all designs and related materials, is the valuable property of NEC Computer Systems Division, Packard Bell NEC, Inc. (NECCSD, PBNEC) and/or its licensors. NECCSD and/or its licensors, as appropriate, reserve all patent, copyright and other proprietary rights to this document, including all design, manufacturing, reproduction, use, and sales rights thereto, except to the extent said rights are expressly granted to others. The NECCSD product(s) discussed in this document are warranted in accordance with the terms of the Warranty Statement accompanying each product. However, actual performance of each such product is dependent upon factors such as system configuration, customer data, and operator control. Since implementation by customers of each product may vary, the suitability of specific product configurations and applications must be determined by the customer and is not warranted by NECCSD. To allow for design and specification improvements, the information in this document is subject to change at any time, without notice. Reproduction of this document or portions thereof without prior written approval of NECCSD is prohibited.
NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation; Versa is a U.S. registered trademark of NEC Technologies, Inc.; all are used under license by NEC Computer Systems Division (NECCSD), Packard Bell NEC, Inc. All other product, brand, or trade names used in this publication are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective trademark owners.

First Printing -- April 1997 Copyright 1997 NEC Computer Systems Division, Packard Bell NEC, Inc. 1414 Massachusetts Avenue Boxborough, MA 01719 All Rights Reserved

xi

Preface
This service and reference manual contains the technical information necessary to set up and maintain the NEC Versa® 6200MX notebook computer. The manual also provides hardware and interface information for users who need an overview of the system design. The manual is written for NEC-trained customer engineers, system analysts, service center personnel, and dealers. The manual is organized as follows: Section 1 Technical Information, provides an overview of the hardware and interface components. System specifications are listed including computer dimensions, weight, environment, safety compliance, power consumption, and system memory specifications. Section 2 Setup and Operation, takes the authorized service technician or dealer from unpacking to setup and operation. The section includes a description of operating controls, setting parameters and accessing the NECCSD bulletin board system (BBS). Section 3 Troubleshooting, lists troubleshooting procedures as well as helpful servicing hints. Section 4 Field Service Guidelines, provides disassembly and assembly procedures, and an exploded-view diagram of the NEC Versa system with part numbers. Appendix A Connector Locations and Pin Assignments, provides a list of the main board internal connector pin assignments and a list of external pin assignments. Appendix B Video Modes, lists NEC Versa supported video modes. An Index is included for convenience.

xiii

Abbreviations
ampere alternating current advanced technology (IBM PC) BBS Bulletin Board System BCD binary-coded decimal BCU BIOS Customized Utility BIOS basic input/output system bit binary digit bpi bits per inch bps bits per second BUD BIOS Upgrade Diskette C Celsius or centigrade Cache high-speed buffer storage CAM constantly addressable memory CAS column address strobe CD-ROM compact disk ROM CGA Color Graphics Adapter CGB Color Graphics Board CH channel clk clock cm centimeter CMOS complementary metal oxide semiconductor COM communication CONT contrast CPGA ceramic pin grid array CPU central processing unit CRT cathode-ray tube DAC digital-to-analog converter DACK DMA acknowledge DC direct current DIMM dual-inline memory module DIP dual in-line package DLAB Divisor Latch Address bit DMA direct memory access A AC AT DMAC DOS DRAM DTE ECC ECP EDO EDS EGA EMS EPP EPROM EVGA F FAX FCC FG FM Fn FRU GB GND HDD HEX HGA Hz IC ID IDE IDTR IMR DMA controller disk operating system dynamic RAM data terminal equipment error checking and correction extended capabilities port enhanced date out error detecting system Enhanced Graphics Adapter Expanded Memory Specification enhanced parallel port erasable and programmable ROM Enhanced Video Graphics Array Fahrenheit facsimile transmission Federal Communications Commission frame ground frequency modulation Function field-replaceable unit gigabyte ground hard disk drive hexadecimal Hercules Graphics Adapter hertz integrated circuit identification intelligent device electronics interrupt descriptor table register Interrupt Mask register

xiv

Abbreviations

in. INTA IPB IR IRR ISA ISR I/O IPC ips IRQ K k KB kg kHz kV lb LDTR LED LSB LSI M mA max MB MDA MFM Mhz mm ms MSB NASC NC NDP NMI

inch interrupt acknowledge illustrated parts breakdown infrared Interrupt Request register Industry Standard Architecture In Service register input/output integrated peripheral controller inches per second interrupt request kilo (1024) kilo (1000) kilobyte kilogram kilohertz kilovolt pound local descriptor table register light-emitting diode least-significant bit large-scale integration mega milliamps maximum megabyte Monochrome Display Adapter modified frequency modulation megahertz millimeter millisecond most-significant bit National Authorized Service Center not connected numeric data processor Non-maskable Interrupt

nanosecond National Service Response Center PAL programmable array logic PC personal computer PCB printed circuit board PCI peripheral component interconnect PFP plastic flat package PIO parallel input/output pixel picture element PJQFP plastic J-lead quad flat pack PLCC plastic lead chip carrier PLL phase lock loop p-p peak-to-peak PPI programmable peripheral interface PROM programmable ROM QFP quad flat pack RAM random-access memory RAMDAC RAM digital-to-analog RAS row address strobe RGB red green blue RGBI red green blue intensity ROM read-only memory rpm revolutions per minute R read RTC real-time clock R/W read/write S slave SCSI Small Computer System Interface SDLC Synchronous Data Link Control SG signal ground SIMM single inline memory module SIR serial infrared SOIC small outline integrated circuit

ns NSRC

Abbreviations

xv

SQFP SVGA SW TCP TQFP TSC TTL tpi UART V Vdc VESA VFO VGA VLSI VRAM W µf µPD µs

silver quad flat package Super Video Graphics Array switch Thin chip package Thin-quad flat package Technical Support Center transistor/transistor logic tracks per inch universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter volt volts, direct current Video Electronics Standards Association variable frequency oscillator Video Graphics Array very large-scale integration virtual RAM watt microfarad microprocessor microsecond ohm

iii

Contents
Preface......................................................................................................................... xi Abbreviation ................................................................................................................ xiii
Section 1 Technical Information

Hardware Overview--Front.........................................................................................1-2 Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)................................................................................1-2 Power Button .......................................................................................................1-3 LCD Status Bar and Power Indicator ....................................................................1-4 Status Icons ...................................................................................................1-5 Keyboard ..............................................................................................................1-6 NEC VersaGlide ...................................................................................................1-6 Diskette Drive and the NEC VersaBay II ..............................................................1-7 Infrared (IR) Assembly..........................................................................................1-8 Hardware Overview--Right Side .................................................................................1-8 Hardware Overview--Left Side ...................................................................................1-9 PC Card Slots .......................................................................................................1-10 Battery Compartment............................................................................................1-10 Audio Ports and Volume Control ..........................................................................1-10 Hardware Overview--Rear Side ..................................................................................1-11 Keyboard/Mouse Port ...........................................................................................1-11 Parallel Port (LPT1)..............................................................................................1-11 Expansion Port .....................................................................................................1-12 External Monitor (Video) Port ..............................................................................1-12 Serial Port (COM1) ..............................................................................................1-12 Hardware Overview--Internal Components .................................................................1-12 Battery Pack .........................................................................................................1-12 Hard Disk Drive....................................................................................................1-12 Diskette Drive.......................................................................................................1-13 10X CD-ROM Reader ..........................................................................................1-13 CPU Board ...........................................................................................................1-13 Sound Board.........................................................................................................1-14 Graph Board .........................................................................................................1-15 I/O Board .............................................................................................................1-15 CMOS Battery......................................................................................................1-16 Bridge Battery ......................................................................................................1-16

iv

Contents

System Memory...........................................................................................................1-16 Memory Map ........................................................................................................1-16 System Video...............................................................................................................1-17 Parallel Interface ..........................................................................................................1-18 Serial Interface.............................................................................................................1-18 NEC Versa Chip Set ....................................................................................................1-18 Intel Pentium P55CLM Microprocessor ................................................................1-19 M-Triton System Controllers ................................................................................1-19 256K X Flash ROM ..............................................................................................1-20 ROM BIOS....................................................................................................1-20 VGA Controller ....................................................................................................1-20 Parallel Interface ...................................................................................................1-21 Keyboard Controller .............................................................................................1-21 PC CardBus Controller .........................................................................................1-21 Sound Integrated Circuit .......................................................................................1-21 Interrupt Controllers .............................................................................................1-22 Power Management Overview .....................................................................................1-23 System Power Management ..................................................................................1-24 Local Power Management.....................................................................................1-24 Plug and Play...............................................................................................................1-25 Specifications...............................................................................................................1-26
Section 2 Setup and Operation

Unpacking the System..................................................................................................2-1 Hardware Setup ...........................................................................................................2-1 Cable Connections ................................................................................................2-3 Power Sources.............................................................................................................2-4 Using the AC Adapter...........................................................................................2-4 Using the Main Battery Pack.................................................................................2-5 Checking Battery Power Levels......................................................................2-5 What to Do When Battery Power Gets Low...................................................2-6 Returning the Battery to Full Operation..........................................................2-6 When to Change the Battery ..........................................................................2-6 Battery Handling ............................................................................................2-6 Replacing the Battery Pack ............................................................................2-7 Battery Precautions........................................................................................2-10 Recharging Battery Precautions......................................................................2-10

Contents

v

NEC VersaBay II Battery and Adapter Kit ............................................................2-11 Extending Battery Life ..........................................................................................2-11 Using the DC Car Adapter ....................................................................................2-11 Operating Controls ......................................................................................................2-12 LCD Status Bar ....................................................................................................2-13 Status Icons ...................................................................................................2-13 Function Keys (Fn Keys).......................................................................................2-14 Smart Power Switch .............................................................................................2-14 Setting Switches ...................................................................................................2-15 Updating the System BIOS ............................................................................2-16 Changing Switch Settings...............................................................................2-17 Performing the BIOS Update .........................................................................2-20 Power-on Self-Test (POST).........................................................................................2-21 POST Errors.........................................................................................................2-22 Setup Utility ................................................................................................................2-25 Accessing Setup....................................................................................................2-25 With an Error at POST ..................................................................................2-25 With No Errors at POST................................................................................2-25 Setup Utility Main Menu.......................................................................................2-25 How to Use Setup..........................................................................................2-26 Looking at Screens ........................................................................................2-26 Using Keys.....................................................................................................2-27 Checking/Setting System Parameters..............................................................2-27 Setup Menus..................................................................................................2-30 Advanced CMOS Setup .................................................................................2-31 Power Management Setup Power Management Setup ....................................2-31 Peripherals Setup ...........................................................................................2-33 Other Setup Options ......................................................................................2-33 Using Setup to Set Power Management ................................................................2-34 Using the Save to File (STF) Feature..............................................................2-34 STF Benefits ..................................................................................................2-34
Section 3 Troubleshooting

Quick Troubleshooting ................................................................................................3-3 Helpful Questions ........................................................................................................3-6

vi

Contents

Section 4

Field Service Guidelines

Preventive Maintenance ...............................................................................................4-1 Cleaning the Notebook's Exterior .........................................................................4-1 Cleaning the Notebook's Interior ..........................................................................4-2 Protecting the Disk Drives ....................................................................................4-2 Handling the Battery Packs ...................................................................................4-3 Maintaining the LCD Quality ................................................................................4-3 Required Tools and Equipment ....................................................................................4-3 Disassembly and Reassembly........................................................................................4-4 Hard Disk Drive....................................................................................................4-5 Diskette Drive.......................................................................................................4-7 Main Battery Pack (Li-Ion Type) ..........................................................................4-8 Removing the Keyboard........................................................................................4-10 Memory Upgrade..................................................................................................4-12 LCD and Top Cover .............................................................................................4-15 VersaGlide...................................................................................................................4-18 LCD Status Bar ....................................................................................................4-19 Bridge Battery, CMOS Battery, Buzzer ................................................................4-20 Sound Board.........................................................................................................4-21 IR Assembly and Graph Board.....................................................................................4-21 CPU Assembly......................................................................................................4-23 I/O Board .............................................................................................................4-24 Illustrated Parts Breakdown.........................................................................................4-25 Service Information......................................................................................................4-29 Technical Support ........................................................................................................4-29 Product Information.....................................................................................................4-30 Ordering Information from FaxFlash ............................................................................4-30
Appendix A Connector Locations and Pin Assignments

Appendix B Video Modes

Contents

vii

List of Figures 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4 1-5 1-6 1-7 1-8 1-9 1-10 1-11 1-12 1-13 2-1 2-2 2-3 2-4 2-5 2-6 2-7 2-8 2-9 2-10 2-11 2-12 2-13 2-14 2-15 2-16 2-17 2-18 2-19 2-20 NEC Versa 6200MX Notebook ..................................................................... LCD Panel ..................................................................................................... Power Button Location.................................................................................. System Status Bar .......................................................................................... Keyboard Layout ........................................................................................... VersaGlide Location ...................................................................................... NEC VersaBay II Location ............................................................................ Right Side Features ........................................................................................ Left Side Features .......................................................................................... Rear Features................................................................................................. CPU Board Layout ........................................................................................ Sound Board Layout ...................................................................................... I/O Board Layout........................................................................................... Connecting the AC Adapter ........................................................................... Powering on the System................................................................................. Power and I/O Connector Locations .............................................................. NEC Versa AC Adapter................................................................................. Removing the Cover ...................................................................................... Removing the Battery .................................................................................... Inserting the Battery Pack .............................................................................. Replacing the Cover....................................................................................... Connecting the Car DC Adapter..................................................................... Keyboard Panel LEDs and Controls ............................................................... Status Bar Location ....................................................................................... Dip Switch Location ...................................................................................... Locating the Speaker Cap Screws .................................................................. Removing the Speaker Caps........................................................................... Lifting the Keyboard ...................................................................................... Positioning the Keyboard ............................................................................... Dip Switches.................................................................................................. Reassembling the System ............................................................................... Setup Main Menu........................................................................................... Advanced CMOS Setup Menu ....................................................................... 1-1 1-3 1-4 1-5 1-6 1-7 1-7 1-8 1-9 1-11 1-13 1-14 1-15 2-1 2-2 2-3 2-4 2-8 2-8 2-9 2-9 2-11 2-12 2-13 2-15 2-17 2-17 2-18 2-18 2-19 2-20 2-25 2-26

viii

Contents

4-1 4-2 4-3 4-4 4-5 4-6 4-7 4-8 4-9 4-10 4-11 4-12 4-13 4-14 4-15 4-16 4-17 4-18 4-19 4-20 4-21 4-22 4-23 A-1 A-2

Removing the Drive Bay Cover...................................................................... 4-5 Removing the Hard Disk Drive ...................................................................... 4-6 VersaBay II Release Latches .......................................................................... 4-7 Removing the Standard Diskette Drive........................................................... 4-8 Removing the Battery Compartment Cover .................................................... 4-9 Removing the Battery .................................................................................... 4-9 Locating the Speaker Cap Screws .................................................................. 4-10 Removing the Speaker Caps........................................................................... 4-10 Lifting up the Keyboard ................................................................................. 4-11 Positioning the Keyboard ............................................................................... 4-12 DIMM Features ............................................................................................. 4-13 Installing the DIMM....................................................................................... 4-13 Removing an Installed DIMM ........................................................................ 4-14 Removing the Bottom Base Screws................................................................ 4-15 Location of Three Screws .............................................................................. 4-16 Separating the Top Cover from Base Unit ...................................................... 4-17 Removing the VersaGlide............................................................................... 4-18 LCD Status Board ......................................................................................... 4-19 Removing Bridge Battery, CMOS Battery, and Buzzer .................................. 4-20 Removing the IR Assembly ............................................................................ 4-22 Removing the CPU Board from the Graph Board........................................... 4-24 Removing the I/O Board ................................................................................ 4-25 NEC Versa Model 6200MX Illustrated Parts Breakdown............................... 4-26 Graph Board Layout ...................................................................................... A-1 I/O Board Layout........................................................................................... A-2

List of Tables 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4 1-5 1-6 1-7 Model Configurations .................................................................................... Memory Map ................................................................................................. NEC Versa Series Chip Types and Technologies............................................ Interrupt Controllers ...................................................................................... Automatic Power-Saving Features ................................................................. Maximum Performance Default Settings......................................................... Specifications................................................................................................. 1-2 1-17 1-19 1-22 1-23 1-25 1-26

Contents

ix

2-1 2-2 2-3 2-4 2-5 2-6 2-7 3-1 4-1 4-2 4-3 4-4 A-1 A-2 A-3 A-4 A-5 A-6 A-7 A-8 B-1 B-2 B-3 B-4 B-5 B-6 B-7 B-8 B-9

I/O Connector Descriptions............................................................................ Control and Switch Functions ........................................................................ Fn Key Operations ......................................................................................... POST Error Messages.................................................................................... Beep Codes.................................................................................................... Setup Key Functions ...................................................................................... Setup Parameters ...........................................................................................

2-3 2-12 2-14 2-22 2-24 2-27 2-28

Quick Troubleshooting................................................................................... 3-1 NEC Versa 6200MX Series Disassembly Sequence........................................ System RAM Expansion ................................................................................ NEC Versa 6200MX Series Field-Replaceable Parts ...................................... NEC Service and Information Telephone Numbers......................................... Graph Board Connectors................................................................................ I/O Board Connectors.................................................................................... Keyboard/Mouse Connectors ......................................................................... Serial Port Connector Pin Assignments .......................................................... CRT Connector Pin Assignments ................................................................... Parallel Printer Pin Assignments ..................................................................... Power Connector ........................................................................................... Hard Disk Drive Connector............................................................................ LCD Display Mode Setting (1024x768 TFT Color LCD and Simultaneous CRT Display) Standard Video Mode .................................... Frequency Table of Standard Video Mode ..................................................... Expanded Video Mode................................................................................... Frequency Table of Extended Video Mode..................................................... CRT Display Mode Setting (CRT-only Display) ............................................. Extended Video Mode ................................................................................... Panning Video Mode for (1024x768 TFT Color LCD and Simultaneous CRT Display)....................................................................... NTSC/PAL TV Display Mode ....................................................................... Panning NTSC/PAL TV Mode....................................................................... 4-4 4-12 4-26 4-29 A-2 A-3 A-3 A-3 A-4 A-4 A-5 A-5

B-1 B-2 B-2 B-2 B-3 B-4 B-5 B-5 B-5

Section 1

Technical Information
The NEC Versa 6200MX notebook computer is lightweight, compact, and fully IBM compatible. The latest addition to the NEC Versa family includes the NEC Versa 6200MX.

This service manual covers only the NEC Versa 6200MX model. All figures in this manual reflect this model.

NOTE

Figure 1-1

NEC Versa 6200MX Notebook

This section of the manual provides system configuration information, including an overview of hardware and interface components. See the following table for a systems specific breakdown of hardware.

1-2

Technical Information

Table 1-1
FEATURE CPU

Model Configurations
NEC Versa 6200MX Intel Pentium® with MMX technology P55CLM/166 MHz 32-MB 2-MB 2.1 GB 10X CD ROM Reader 13.3" Extended Graphics Array (XGA),TFT Color Display

On-Board DRAM Video Memory Hard Disk Drive CD-ROM Reader Color LCD

HARDWARE OVERVIEW--FRONT
Take a moment to become familiar with the location and function of controls located on the front of the system.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
The LCD operates with the Chips & Technologies 65550 VGA controller. The controller supports XGA, uses a 64-bit accelerator with a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) interface. The LCD also supports VESA timing. The NEC Versa 6200MX LCD features the following:

T 13.3-inch Extended Graphics Array (XGA) TFT high resolution active matrix
XGA color display

T 0.264 mm dot pitch T 18-bit digital interface T 1024 x 768 resolution T 256,000 colors.
Additional LCD panel features: T Power LED that indicates the current power status. This LED is visible with the LCD panel opened or closed.

T Slide switch that adjusts screen brightness.

Technical Information

1-3

Figure 1-2

LCD Panel

Another video feature includes a CRT port on the system's rear panel that allows the user to connect an optional monochrome or color external display to the system. The computer can support the LCD and external display simultaneously. Power-saving features for controlling the LCD's backlighting include the ROM-based hot key combination Fn F5, and Auto Setup power management settings. See Section 2, Setup and Operation, for information on using these settings. In addition, the automatic LCD status feature conserves the backlight. When the LCD is closed the backlight shuts off automatically, saving battery power.

Power Button
Slide the power button to the right to power on and power off the computer. The power button is a "smart" switch, meaning that it recognizes when the system is in Suspend mode. If in Suspend mode, you cannot power off until you press the suspend button again to bring the system out of Suspend mode.

1-4

Technical Information

Figure 1-3

Power Button Location

LCD Status Bar and Power Indicator
The LCD status bar is situated right below the LCD screen. It provides an easy way to detect system status. Different graphic icons appear on the LCD bar indicating that a device is accessed, an operation performed, or a power mode activated. The graphic icons displayed on the LCD bar resemble either their physical characteristics or their primary function. See the LCD Status Bar figure shown next, and the descriptions that follow for the specific meaning of each icon. The power indicator is located just above and to the left of the status bar. The power indicator lights green when computer power is on.

Technical Information

1-5

Figure 1-4

System Status Bar

Status Icons

The following list defines the status icons displayed in the system status bar.

T Suspend -- appears when the system is in Suspend mode. Suspend mode conserves system power by shutting down devices in the system while retaining data and system status.

T Power Management -- shows the current power management mode in use, including Off, Custom, High Performance or Longest Life.

T Diskette Drive -- appears when the NEC Versa writes data to or retrieves data
from a diskette.

T Hard Disk -- shows when the NEC Versa writes data to or retrieves data from
the hard disk.

T Caps Lock -- appears when Caps Lock is in effect. T Scroll Lock -- shows that Scroll Lock is in effect. T Num Lock -- appears when Num Lock is in effect. Num Lock lets the user enter
numbers for calculations via the numeric keypad.

T Battery Status -- displays the percentage of battery power available.
Battery 1 appears when you have the main battery installed in the battery bay. Battery 2 appears when you have an optional battery installed in the VersaBay II.

1-6

Technical Information

Keyboard
The built-in, 85-key keyboard (U.S.) or 79-key keyboard (UK and Germany) uses the standard QWERTY format. The keyboard provides 12 function keys and 7 cursor control keys, with an Fn key for ROM-based key functions. The numeric keypad is embedded in the standard key layout.

Figure 1-5

Keyboard Layout

NEC VersaGlide
The NEC VersaGlide is a built-in mechanism that functions as the system's mouse. It controls the on-screen pointer (cursor). To use the VersaGlide, move your finger across the NEC VersaGlide pad, and the cursor follows. The buttons below the NEC VersaGlide allow the user to select or deselect menu items. Tap and double-tap are supported on the VersaGlide pad. The PS/2 Microsoft mouse is the system's default pointing device until the user selects the NEC Setup icon. When the user selects the NEC Setup icon, the NEC VersaGlide is installed as the system pointing device. If an external mouse is installed, the NEC VersaGlide is deactivated. A serial mouse is not supported.

Technical Information

1-7

Figure 1-6

VersaGlide Location

Diskette Drive and the NEC VersaBay II
A standard 1.44-MB diskette drive comes installed in the VersaBay II slot on the front of the computer. The VersaBay II expansion slot lets the user replace the standard diskette drive with the 10X CD-ROM reader that also ships with the system. In addition to the CD-ROM reader, the VersaBay II accepts NEC options including a second battery pack, or an additional hard disk.

Figure 1-7

NEC VersaBay II Location

1-8

Technical Information

Infrared (IR) Assembly
The IR assembly consists of a small board with two infrared LEDs, connected to the Graph board at connector P10. The board allows the NEC Versa computer to communicate with other infrared-ready computers. For example, the infrared port allows the user to transfer files between the NEC Versa and an IR-equipped computer, or print to an IR-equipped printer without using cables.

Do not use the IR port directly under fluorescent incandescent light.

NOTE

HARDWARE OVERVIEW--RIGHT SIDE
Review the following section for a description of the hardware on the right side of the NEC Versa.

Figure 1-8

Right Side Features

T Kensington Lock -- Gives the user the option to add an optional Kensington
Lock.

T Hard Disk Drive Bay Cover Release Latch -- The hard disk drive bay contains
the removable hard disk drive. The system ships 2.1-GB hard disk drive. To access the hard disk drive, simply turn the system over and lift up the hard disk drive bay cover release latch while pushing the cover away from the system.

Technical Information

1-9

T Fan Vents -- Allow your system to cool properly and maintain a safe operating
temperature.

!

CAUTION

Always keep the fan vents clear to allow proper system cooling.

T TV Out Jack -- Lets you use your television set as an external monitor. This port
supports both NTSC and PAL signals.

The TV Out port does not support the SECAM signal used in some countries. For proper display, set the video mode to 640 x 480.

NOTE

T AC Power Port -- Use the power jack to attach the NEC Versa to a DC power
source, such as the AC adapter or the optional DC car adapter.

HARDWARE OVERVIEW--LEFT SIDE
Review the following section for a description of the hardware on the left side of the NEC Versa.

Figure 1-9

Left Side Features

1-10

Technical Information

PC Card Slots
The PC card slot compartment houses two Type II devices, or one Type III device. For Type III cards, insert the PC card into the lower slot. Insert the card with the pin sockets facing towards the drive and the label facing up. To remove the PC card, push on the eject button to release the pin connections and slowly pull out the card. The NEC Versa also comes with DOS/Windows PC card drivers for supporting various PC cards like modem and network cards.

Battery Compartment
The battery compartment houses the rechargeable Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) battery pack. The battery pack instantly charges whenever you connect the AC adapter to the notebook. It is very important to always have the battery installed in the notebook to insure that it is continuously charged. If the battery pack is uninstalled for a long period of time, the battery cells are drained, causing battery pack to deteriorate. The battery bay contains an eight-cell Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) battery that lets you run your system on DC power.

Audio Ports and Volume Control
Audio ports let you plug in external audio devices and the volume controls gives you control over speaker volume.

T Volume Control -- Allows you to control the speaker volume. T Headphones -- Let you connect external headphones or speakers to your NEC
Versa 6200MX. Plugging in headphones disables the built-in system speakers.

T Line-Out -- Lets the NEC Versa 6200MX act as an input source for another
audio system. Connect this port to a Line-In port on another audio system to play or record.

T Line-In -- Lets you use another audio system, like a home stereo, as an input
source. Use a cable to connect to the Line-Out port on the other audio system to record or play.

T Microphone (MIC) -- Allows you to connect an external microphone for monophonic recording or amplification through the unit. Plugging in an external microphone disables the built-in microphone.

Technical Information

1-11

HARDWARE OVERVIEW--REAR SIDE
Review the following section for a description of the hardware on the rear of the NEC Versa.

Figure 1-10

Rear Features

Keyboard/Mouse Port
Use the standard PS/2 port to connect an external PS/2-style mouse or a PS/2-style keyboard to the system. With an optional Y-cable adapter, you can connect both a mouse and a keyboard at the same time. A serial mouse is not supported.

Parallel Port (LPT1)
The 25-pin printer port provides a parallel interface to which you can connect a parallel printer or pocket network adapter. Use this port to connect a parallel printer or other parallel device. The port is IEEE 1284 compatible. It supports bi-directional (AT) mode, Enhanced Capabilities Port (ECP) mode, Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP) mode, (365SLcompatible), nibble mode, and byte mode (PS/2). The parallel port default is Extended Capabilities Port (ECP) mode. Use Setup to change the default to one of the following.

T Uni-directional T Bi-directional T EPP T ECP

1-12

Technical Information

Expansion Port
This port provides a connection for NEC Versa options including the NEC PortBar 6000, NEC Versa Docking Station 6000 Plus and the NEC Floppy Disk Drive (FFD) Connector.

External Monitor (Video) Port
Use this 15-pin port to attach an external monitor to your NEC Versa. You can run the LCD display and the external monitor simultaneously or run either alone.

Serial Port (COM1)
The 9-pin serial port provides a serial interface to which you can connect an RS-232C device such as an external serial printer or modem. A serial mouse is not supported.

HARDWARE OVERVIEW--INTERNAL COMPONENTS
Review the following sections for a description of the system's internal hardware.

Battery Pack
The system uses a rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery as its transient power source. The battery pack installs in the compartment next to the VersaBay II on the bottom of the NEC Versa. The battery stores 14.4 volts with a 2600 mAh capacity. The battery pack powers the NEC Versa for approximately 2 to 4 hours. In addition, the user detects how much battery power is available via the percentage displayed on the status bar or accessing the Power Gauge utility. When battery power is getting low, connect the AC adapter to a wall outlet and recharge the battery. It takes approximately 2 hours to recharge the battery whether or not the system is in use. When battery power is very low, the power LED flashes amber.

Hard Disk Drive
A standard 2.5-inch 2.1-GB hard disk drive ships with the system. The 2.1-GB hard disk drive specifications are listed next.

T T T T T

Track-to-track seek rate Average seek time Revolutions per minute Data transfer rate Internal data rates

Toshiba 3 ms 13 ms 4200 16.6 MB/sec 38.669.8 bit/sec

IBM 4 ms 13 ms (read), 14 ms (write) 4000 16.6 MB/sec 39.1~61.6 Mbit/sec

Technical Information

1-13

Increase the system hard disk space by installing another hard disk drive in the VersaBay II slot in the front of the computer using the optional hard disk drive adapter kit.

Diskette Drive
The interchangeable 3.5-inch 1.44 MB diskette drive installs in the front of the system in the VersaBay II slot.

10X CD-ROM Reader
A 10X CD-ROM reader ships with the NEC Versa 6200MX. The interchangeable tenspeed CD-ROM reader features the latest in CD-ROM technology. It installs in the front of the system in the VersaBay II slot. The CD-ROM reader is assigned to the next available drive letter. The CD-ROM reader operates at different speeds depending on whether the CD in use contains data or music. This improves video and sound quality.

CPU Board
The CPU board (G8YAL) is a rectangular-shaped board located between the main board and I/O board. The CPU board is part of a subassembly, which includes a heat sink, fan and the CPU board. The NEC Versa 6200MX models ship with Intel's P55CLM/166 MMX installed on the CPU board. The board uses the industry standard PCI interface, with a 66 MHz bus speed.

Figure 1-11

CPU Board Layout

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Technical Information

Sound Board
The sound board (G8YAQ) provides the NEC Versa system with its audio capabilities via line-in/line-out jacks, and headphone/microphone jacks. It is situated on top of the main board. The sound board integrates the following features:

T ESS Technology Plug and Play support
ES1878 Integrated Music Synthesis, ESFMTM and Stereo Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) FM Synthesizer 16 bit Stereo CODEC 4.0KHz to 44.1KHz Sampling Rate 7 Channel Mixer.

T 3D Audio Effects Chip
ES938 Spatializer® 3D Stereo Sound

Figure 1-12

Sound Board Layout

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Graph Board
The system Graph board (G8YAN) houses a variety of connectors and controls, including the DIMM connectors. These are identified in the diagram shown in Appendix A.

Figure 1-13

Graph Board Layout

I/O Board
The system I/O board (G8YAP) contains peripheral subsystems including serial, parallel and video ports, and charger. It is located underneath the main board. Refer to Appendix A for a list of connectors.

Figure 1-14

I/O Board Layout

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Technical Information

CMOS Battery
The lithium battery (3 Volts, 280 mAh capacity) is attached to P13 on the Graph board. It provides battery backup and prevents data loss in the system's complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) RAM. This memory area contains information on the system's configuration like date, time, drives, and memory. The CMOS battery lasts approximately three years.

Bridge Battery
The bridge battery saves the memory contents and system status for up to 5 minutes while in Suspend mode. It is connected to the Graph board via connector P11. The AC adapter maintains voltage in the bridge battery when the system is powered on or off. The bridge battery stores 7.2 Volts, 70 mAH.

SYSTEM MEMORY
The Graph board provides 32 MB (3.3 V SO-DIMM) of standard RAM. Optional SO-DIMMs with a value of 16-, 32-, or 64-MB can be added to increase system memory up to a maximum of 128-MB (70 ns 3.3V EDO access). In addition, 256-KB of read-only memory (ROM), 1 x 28F020, enables the system BIOS to be flashed. The system provides 2 MB of video RAM (50-ns HyperPage mode, self-refresh). The following Cache RAM is provided:

T L1: 16 KB (Internal Pentium) T L2: 256 KB write back (External).
Memory Map
The system supports system and video shadowing, both controlled through complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS). The system supports BIOS as a cacheable area with write protection. Table 1-2 lists the system's memory map.

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Table 1-2
MEMORY SPACE 000000-0002FFh 000300-0003FFh 000400-0004FFh 000500-09FFFFh 0A0000-0AFFFFh 0B0000-0B7FFFh 0B8000-0BFFFFh 0C0000-0CBFFFh 0CC000-0CFFFFh 0D0000-0DFFFFh 0E0000-0EFFFFh 0F0000h-0FFFFFh 100000h-1FFFFFF 2000000-5FFFFFF SIZE 768 bytes 256 bytes 256 bytes 640 KB 64 KB 32 KB 32 KB 48 KB 16 KB 64 KB 64 KB 64 KB 32 MB 64 MB

Memory Map
FUNCTION BIOS Interrupt Vector Table BIOS Stack Area BIOS Data Area Applications Memory (used by the OS, device drivers, TSRs, and all DOS applications) Video Buffer (EGA and VGA) Video buffer (monochrome, CGA color, VGA monochrome) Video Buffer (CGA, EGA color, and VGA color) Video ROM (EGA and VGA) Unused, (Reserved for Adapter ROMs and other devices requiring ROMs) Used by Adapter ROMs (i.e., network controllers, hard disk controllers, SCSI host adapters) Used by System ROM adapters (i.e., network controllers with boot capability) System AMIBIOS (includes Setup and hard disk drive utilities) Built-in Extended Memory Extended Memory

SYSTEM VIDEO
The system's LCD operates using the Chips and Technologies 65550 VGA Controller. Video signals travel from the controller through the system's 15-pin D-SUB connector using 5 volts. System video integrates a PCI-bus interface. The system ships with 2 MB Video RAM (VRAM). It supports video modes up to 1024 x 768 with 64K colors in LCD mode. See Appendix B for a list of Video modes.

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Technical Information

PARALLEL INTERFACE
The system' s parallel interface integrates National Semiconductor's PC87338 chip with a 25-pin D-subconnector. The port is located on the system's rear panel. The modes of operation available for a PC87338 chip are:

T compatibility mode T nibble mode T byte mode T Extended Capabilities Port (ECP) T Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP).
The user selects between four parallel interface modes using Auto Setup. These include unidirectional, bidirectional, extended or enhanced. Unidirectional mode sends data output from the standard ISA port only. Bidirectional mode sends data using the standard ISA port or PS/2 technology. Enhanced mode enables high speed data transmission to occur using either the unidirectional or bidirectional modes. The default parallel port address is 378h and the interrupt level is IRQ07. Pin locations for the parallel interface are listed in Appendix A.

SERIAL INTERFACE
The RS-232C serial port is a 9-pin connector on the system's rear panel. The serial port consists of a 16550A and 16450 compatible serial port controller with a programmable baud rate up to 115,200 bps. The serial port connects an RS-232C device or an external modem. The default serial port address is 3F8h and the interrupt level is IRQ04.

NEC VERSA CHIP SET
Refer to Table 1-3 for a quick summary of chip types used in the system. See the Abbreviations section at the beginning of this manual for a translation of chip technologies.

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Table 1-3
CHIP

NEC Versa Series Chip Types and Technologies
DESCRIPTION 166 MHz CPU M-Triton System Controller M-Triton Data Path Controller M-PCI IDE ISA Xcelerator 256k x 8 Flash ROM VGA Controller Diskette Controller, IDE, Parallel Interface Keyboard Controller PC Card Controller Sound Controller 3D Sound Controller TECHNOLOGY 320-pin TCP 208-pin SQFP 100-pin TQFP 176-pin TQFP 32-pin PLCC 208-pin FQFP 100-pin TQFP 64-pin TQFP 208-pin QFP 100-pin PQFP 28-pin SSOP

MANUFACTURER

Intel Pentium P55CLM Intel 82437MX (MTSC) 82438MX (MTDP) 82371MX (MPIIX) N28F020-150 C&T 65550 PC87338 M38813E PC1131 ES1878 ES938 Intel Intel Intel Intel Chips & Technologies National Semiconductor Mitsubishi Texas Instruments ESS Technologies ESS Technologies

Intel Pentium P55CLM Microprocessor
The 166 MHz Intel Pentium microprocessor with MMX technology used in the NEC Versa series computer is built on Intel's advanced 2.5V BiCMOS silicon technology. The CPU has on-chip dual-processing, a local multiprocessor interrupt controller, and power management features. NEC adopted the chip specifically for its pipelined Floating Point Unit (FPU), and local interrupt management.

M-Triton System Controllers
NEC implements Intel's Mobile Triton technology (MTDP 82430MX and MTSC 83437MX) for several of the notebook's subsystems including the DRAM controller, Second Level Cache Controller and PCI Bus interface. The Mobile Triton PCI set features include:

T 3.3V EDO DIMM (70-ns) support T direct mapped organization write-back policy T fully synchronous 33 MHz PCI bus interface.

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Technical Information

256K X Flash ROM
The N28F020 flash ROM is a 32-pin, plastic lead chip carrier (PLCC). The chip allows easy updates to the system's BIOS if needed. More specifically, the ROM is flashed electronically, installing the latest BIOS revisions to the system. It is possible to reprogram the BIOS up to 100,000 times. See Section 2, Setup and Operation, for BIOS update procedures. The N28F020 provides the system upgrade capability as well as the following: T 256 KB memory

T T T T

Quick-Pulse Programming Algorithm 150 nanoseconds (ns) maximum access time ETOX Nonvolatile flash technology CMOS low power consumption

ROM BIOS

The system uses a Flash ROM known as the system's ROM BIOS to store machine language programs. The BIOS size is 256 KB, consisting of the system utility (for PC cards, Auto Setup), system BIOS, video BIOS, and power management. The BIOS programs execute the power-on self-test (POST), initialize CPU controllers, and interact with the LCD indicator panel, diskette drive, hard drive, communication devices and peripherals. The system BIOS also contains Auto Setup and provides VGA controller support. The ROM BIOS is copied into RAM (shadowing) for optimum performance. The ROM BIOS contains both the system and video BIOS. The system BIOS is located in the upper portion of the device; video BIOS is located in the lower portion. System BIOS is located between F0000h-FFFFFh. The BIOS often changes after the product release to provide enhanced features or bug fixes. To acquire the latest BIOS release, the ROM is flashed electronically allowing the BIOS update to occur without removing the ROM. See Section 2, Setup and Operation, for BIOS upgrade procedures.

VGA Controller
The Chips and Technologies 65550 is a PCI 64-bit Graphics Accelerator. The integrated programmable linear address feature accelerates the graphics user interface (GUI) performance. The controller also supports Hardware Multimedia and VESA interface standards. The controller provides advanced power management that helps to minimize power usage in the following modes:

T normal operation T Standby (sleep) mode T panel off power saving modes.

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Parallel Interface
The PC87338VJG chip is a 100-pin Thin Quad Flat Plastic (TQFP) chip. The controller changes 8-bit parallel data into serial data and writes the data to the diskette. Conversely, the serial data is transmitted from the diskette into parallel data, where it remains until the read operation takes place. Additional PC87338VJG chip operations include: T ISA compatibility

T low-power CMOS with enhanced power-down mode

Keyboard Controller
The keyboard controller (M38813E) supports a PS/2-style keyboard, mouse and password security feature. Refer to Appendix A for keyboard interface connector pin assignments. When data is written to the output buffer, the controller generates an interrupt, and requests the CPU to receive the data. The controller automatically adds an even parity bit to the data sent and waits for a response. The device must acknowledge that the data was successfully received by sending a response to the controller for each byte of data received.

PC CardBus Controller
The Texas Instruments PC1131 controller interfaces with the PCI bus, PC CardBus socket and configuration registers to provide:

T compliant with PCI 2.1 and 1995 PC card standards T CardBus slots with hot insertion and removal T independent Read and Write buffers for each direction T burst transfers to maximize data throughput on the PCI CardBus bus.
Sound Integrated Circuit
The ESS Technologies chip set (ES1878 Audio Drive and ES938) provides dynamic audio circuitry with the following:

T Audio digital processor T Plug and Play support T High-performance 16-bit Stereo Codec T Full-duplex operation for simultaneous record and playback T Analog joystick quad timer and digital joystick support.

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Technical Information

Interrupt Controllers
Using interrupts, it is possible to change the system's code sequence. To change the sequence, reassign the interrupt-levels. Fifteen interrupts can be used with a cascade connection of two 82C59 interrupt controllers. Interrupt-level assignments 0 through 15 are listed in Table 1-4, in order of decreasing priority.
Table 1-4
CONTROLELR (MASTER/SLAVE) Master Master Master Slave Slave Slave Slave Slave Slave Slave Slave Master Master Master Master Master PRIORITY 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Interrupt Controllers
NAME IRQ00 IRQ01 IRQ02 IRQ08 IRQ09 IRQ10 IRQ11 IRQ12 IRQ13 IRQ14 IRQ15 IRQ03 IRQ04 IRQ05 IRQ06 IRQ07 DEVICE Counter 0/Timer 1 Keyboard INT output from controller 2 Real-time Clock Infrared Port Reserved (CardBus controller) Reserved (CardBus controller) NEC VersaGlide Mouse Math Coprocessor (built into CPU) Hard Disk Controller 1 Reserved (2nd IDE on Docking Station or CardBus card) Not used Serial Port 1 Sound Diskette Drive Controller Parallel Port 1

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POWER MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW
Power Management in the NEC Versa lets you conserve energy, save battery power, extend the life of your LCD backlight, and protect against data loss due to low battery power. Set some features to function automatically or activate them manually with the keyboard or a button. It is wise to keep Power Management features enabled, even when using AC power. The system ships with many power-saving features already enabled. See the following table.
Table 1-5
DEVICE Video

Automatic Power-Saving Features
COMMENT Video turns off after there is no keyboard or VersaGlide input for the specified timeout. Hard disk motor stops when hard disk is not accessed for specified timeout. System enters Standby mode after total system inactivity.

DEFAULT TIMEOUT 2 minutes

Hard Disk Standby

2 minute 4 minute

You can change the timeout period for any of the devices using Setup. See Section 2 for Setup utility procedures. Use the FnF7 key combination to set the power management level. The faucet icon changes when the power management setting changes. You can toggle between Highest Performance, Longest Battery Life, Custom Power Management, and Off. Default values change depending on the type of power management you use.

Some power management features are not available when connected to a docking station. For example, the Suspend and Save to File features do not work. The system enters Standby mode if Suspend or Save to File is activated.

NOTE

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Technical Information

System Power Management
NEC Versa system power management consists of the following operation modes. These modes are:

T Active Mode In active mode, the system uses maximum power. It operates
with the default clock speed. The system continues to run at this speed unless overwritten by the power management features.

T Standby Mode The system switches automatically to Standby mode. This
eliminates unnecessary power consumption when you operate the system on battery power or AC. Standby mode shuts down the LCD panel, providing privacy as well as power savings.

T Suspend Mode Suspend mode causes the CPU power down, local devices to
shut down, and register values to be stored in RAM. System RAM is put into a slow refresh state. A moon icon in the LCD Status Bar indicates that Suspend mode is in effect. The system resumes Active mode when you press the Suspend button, or the system is set to resume at a certain time of day. Suspend mode lets you save power without first saving the working data. Press the Suspend button to enter Suspend mode when you need to be away from the system for a short period of time and want to return to where you left off. In addition, to quickly activate the Save to File feature, press the Fn and Suspend button simultaneously. This shuts down the system, and saves the current working data to a file.

Local Power Management
Use Auto Setup to select one of four power management settings for local devices. These include Longest Battery Life, Highest Performance, Custom Setup, and Power Management Off. The power management levels are also available during AC operation. The NEC Versa computer ships with Longest Battery Life as the default power management setting. See Section 2 for specific procedures on using Auto Setup to select the power management settings. When set to Longest Battery Life, CMOS will set local device timeout values, a local standby timeout value, and a suspend timeout value to ensure the longest battery life. The Highest Performance setting selects CMOS values that will provide minimal energy savings and a shorter battery life. The custom settings enable end-users to set the timeout values of their choice. The Power Management Off selection terminates all power management timers.

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Local device timers in the system control power consumption in the LCD and Hard Disk Drive. Table 1-6 shows NEC Versa Series Maximum Performance default power management timers.
Table 1-6
POWER MANAGEMENT MODE Longest Battery Life Highest Performance Custom

Maximum Performance Default Settings
AUTOMATIC SUSPEND 10 minutes 30 minutes 10 minutes HARD DISK TIMER 2 minutes 10 minutes 30 seconds VIDEO TIMEOUT 2 minutes 10 minutes 30 seconds

PLUG AND PLAY
The NEC Versa features a Plug and Play functionality. Plug and Play is the ability of the BIOS and/or operating system to dynamically assign system resources to a newly installed device without user intervention. For example, you can suspend the system, add an external keyboard, mouse, or monitor, and when you resume working, the NEC Versa recognizes the devices that have been connected to it. Similarly, you can remove external devices in Suspend mode and the NEC Versa detects the status when resumed.

The system must be turned off when installing the CD-ROM reader, diskette drive or hard disk drive in the VersaBay II. Installing these devices in Suspend mode may cause damage to the system.

NOTE

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Technical Information

SPECIFICATIONS
Table 1-7 provides a complete list of NEC Versa series system specifications.
Table 1-7
ITEM Chassis Configuration Size

Specifications

SPECIFICATION Width: 11.69 in. (297 mm) Depth: 9.88 in. (251 mm) Height: 2.3 in. (58.5 mm) Weight: 7.94 lb (3.61 kg), Exact weight depends on options

Keyboard

PS/2 compatible, 85-key (both U.S. and International) with QWERTY-key layout (International keyboards are countryspecific) Two PC Card slots that support up to two optional cardsoriented one on top of the other One 3 1/2-inch x 0.75-inch high slot, front access, for standard 1.44 diskette drive, 10X CD-ROM reader optional hard disk drive or Li-Ion battery.

Device Slots

Power

100 to 240 Volts AC at 50 or 60 Hz Output Voltage -- 18.5 V DC, 2.45 A (45.5 W)

Battery Pack

Weight .85 lb (.38 Kg) Voltage 14.4 V Capacity 2600 mAH Battery Life Approximately 2 to 4 hours (depending on model and power management settings) Recharging Time Approximately 2 hours when the system is on or off Bridge Battery Backs up memory contents up to 5 minutes in Suspend mode

Front Panel Controls

Power Button Suspend Button Brightness Control

LEDs

Power LED Battery Status LEDs

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Table 1-7
ITEM System Board CPU Clock Speed CPU Bus Speed Flash ROM Connector Support

Specifications

SPECIFICATION Intel Pentium 166 MHz with 16 KB L1 cache and built-in numeric coprocessor 166 MHz 66 MHz 256 KB: 28F020 Parallel --1 port, 25-pin D-sub Serial -- 1 port, 9-pin D-sub Infrared -- 1 on front of system VGA -- 1 port, 15-pin high-density D-sub External Keyboard/External Mouse -- 1 port, PS/2, 6-pin MiniDin; exclusionary use or both supported with optional Y-adapter Expansion -- 1 port, for optional NEC Docking Station 6000 Plus, optional PortBar 6000, or optional FDD Connector Kit. Mono MIC IN -- 1 port, 3-pin, Mini Pin Jack Stereo Headphones -- 1 port, 3-pin, Mini Pin Jack, .5 watts per channel Stereo Line-In -- 1 port, 3-pin, Mini Pin Jack Stereo Line-Out -- 1 port, 3-pin, Mini Pin Jack TV Out -- 1 port; RCA Jack DC In -- 1 port, for AC adapter cable

Memory S