4820TG - Gaming, Heat, Switchable GFX, and HDMI

First of all, this seems like a great laptop.
That said I don't know how well it would fare on top of my lap.
It's thin and doesn't have the best cooling system.

Would any of you owners be able to check the temps?
According to reviews this thing can get pretty hot when gaming.

Are there any notebook cooling stands that can be recommended?
I was considering this one that blows cool air under the laptop
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4662503&CatId=3486

For the switchable gfx, does it work in Linux perfectly?
Is it controlled by hardware or software?
Is there a switch that puts it into battery savings mode or only through OS?

For HDMI, does it output in 1080p or only native res?
If you close the laptop lid can you still access the HDMI stream?
With the lid closed can you use a connected mouse and keyboard on an external HDMI monitor?

Thanks!

 

Sooo anybody got one?

 

There is a huge owner lounge here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/acer/499204-acer-aspire-timelinex-4820tg-owners-lounge.html

People who post there are knowledgeable and should help you out with your questions.

 

Go to the 4820tg owner's lounge and use the "search this thread" button to find mentions of linux etc in there. I run ubuntu 10.10 and it works well. There are articles on switching with ATI and Intel back and forth. you have to log out and back in to switch. Or you can just configure linux to NOT use the ATI card at all, and get about 4.5 to 5 hrs on battery with linux.

 

yea the 4820tg does get noticably warm. like 84C average for me in prime 95 and vantage running the gpu went 75ish. i use the zalman nc1500 and it dropped the temps by 6. ima dl bfbc2 real quick and run it, ill let you know tomorrow before i Install my ssd.

 

In Ubuntu 10.10 the CPU is autothrottled at 95C and I can trigger this with exactly one application and one only, handbrake while ripping DVDs. It hits 95 and I can watch the CPU scaling monitor jump between 2.53 and 2.4GHz while hovering at 94/95.

 

yea just ran bfbc2 for 30 mins with and without cooler.
CPU
core #1= 79C
core #2=83C
GPU
76C
with cooler i get
CPU
core #1-73
core#2-78C
GPU
72C
so i say i get a good 5-6C difference with the cooler without the wasd does get a little warm.

 

It's the single fan inside.. Why did they have to cheap out on the 14 inch models?
The 13.3" has much better cooling.. I hope I don't end up regretting my purchase!

I plan on OC the graphics card pretty heavily.
I hope that it can handle it.. I'll be applying some thermal paste to CPU and GPU (Arctic MX4).
Any information on how to get this sucker cool when gaming? I was thinking about installing heatsinks somewheres.

Also just bought a cooler.
I nearly got the zalman nc1500 as well. I ended up getting the one by ultra because its a single large fan instead of 2 small ones..
How has it been treating you? Not loud? Fits well?

 

1) they didn't cheap out, there is just not enough space in 14'' model to hold both disc drive and a second fan; 13'' model doesn't have disc drive
2) with thermal paste + cooling pad, you should be able to OC the GPU to its limits without getting the laptop too hot. By too hot I mean past 80. Note I mean only when the pastes are applied, and laptop seated on cooling pad, and ambient temperature below 25 C.

Read more info / post and ask about it in the 4820TG lounge instead of here.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/acer/499204-acer-aspire-timelinex-4820tg-owners-lounge.html
(especially about the noise level and temperatures, just search some key-words and you'll hit dozens of past responses instead of waiting for 1 or 2 responses here in this thread)

 

the laptop fits perfectly on the zalman the cooler is bigger on the sides by maybe 1/8 of an inch on each side. the zalman is quite i can barely hear it. Applying thermal paste would help lowering temps + cooler for ocing. No need to install heatsinks with the cooler + new paste you should see a drop of 10C+ average on this notebook. (im guessing)