How to open Acer Nitro 17 (AN17-41) – disassembly and upgrade options
Step 1: Accessing the Internal Components
- Ensure the Acer Nitro 17 (AN17-41) is powered off and placed on a soft, clean surface to prevent damage.
- Remove the 11 Phillips-head screws securing the bottom panel.
- Use a plastic tool to pry the bottom plate off, or carefully lift it by holding the two plastic exhaust vents on the back.
Hint: Keep track of the screws to avoid losing them.
Step 2: Removing the Battery
- Locate the battery’s connector on the mainboard.
- Disconnect the battery by pulling out the connector.
- Lift the battery away from the chassis, noting that it is held in place by a dedicated socket, not screws.
Caution: Pull the connector gently to avoid damaging the mainboard.
More info: The battery is a 90.61Wh variant, capable of lasting for 20 hours of web browsing or 9 hours and 5 minutes of video playback, an impressive feat for a gaming laptop. Achieving these numbers requires enabling Optimus mode in the BIOS.
Step 3: Upgrading Memory
- Find the two SODIMM slots designated for memory.
- Upgrade or replace the DDR5-5600MHz RAM sticks as needed. Note that devices with refreshed Zen 3+ CPUs are limited to 4800MHz RAM speed.
Hint: The RAM is cooled by a thermal pad for better heat dissipation.
You can buy DDR5 RAM modules here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)
More info: The Acer Nitro 17 supports up to 32GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM in dual-channel mode.
Step 4: Upgrading Storage
- Identify the two M.2 slots on the motherboard that are compatible with Gen 4 SSDs.
- Install new or upgrade existing Gen 4 M.2 SSDs as required.
You can buy Gen 4 M.2 SSD modules here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)
Step 5: Examining the Cooling System
- Review the cooling setup, which includes two fans, two heat pipes shared between the CPU and GPU, an additional pipe for the CPU, and two more for the GPU, complemented by two large cooling plates and four heat sinks.
More info: The Acer Nitro 17 features a robust cooling system designed to effectively manage heat from both the processor and the graphics card, ensuring optimal performance during gaming sessions.