Acer 3820TG North America Purchase Options

Wait so are you saying the refreshed ones will be priced at 36900 or 29900? If 36900, what will I be able to get for 29900?

 

I for one would definately not get a i3 processor with a ati hd 5650 graphics card. If you plan on getting the i3 processor, why dont you just get a 5470 gfx or a intergrated? it just does not make sense to have the GPU power of a 5650 and a i3 cpu(which is designed to take light workload). I would recommend waiting for the refresh, if you cannot, just go for an open box item. Why not?

 

I would get the 3820TG with i5-450M right now if it wasn't for that "opened box" warning on the website.

Did the 1st batch that went out of stock have that warning? Also, what was the price?

 

He is saying that when the new models get released they will sell at full price around 7500 RMB, which is the price when the 3820tg was initially launched. Now if you go with the current models, they will retail at around 5700RMB according to my sources. So my advice will be to purchase the current model with i5-450M for the discounted price because the performance gain from the refreshed models will NOT be worth the extra ~2000rmb you spend.

 

And for those located in China, this is a reputable dealer from Taobao with a physical store in Shanghai.
ÕýÆ·Ðлõ ºê»ù AS3820TG-5452G32NSS I5 450 2G 320G HD5650-ÌÔ±¦Íø

NOTE: I have no affiliation with them.

 

Interesting suggestion. I am reluctant because I don't want to have to ship the unit back to Taiwan if there are problems, and it seems to me that problems are more likely to occur in an open box unit (ie one that has been returned after it is opened). I don't have any real basis for thinking this; just that if it has been returned then more than likely there was an issue with it, and I have no way of confirming how rigorous pchome are in repairing/testing returned units before reselling them.

I don't want to reopen the Acer-build-quality debate again, but suffice to say that while it seems the build quality of most of the 3820tgs is excellent, every now and then customers have received a unit that had to be RMAed. It is no doubt the same with every laptop manufacturer, but in circumstances where I can't take the unit to a local shopfront/repair centre/the POS and am not 100% sure that I will be covered by warranty at all, it seems more important than usual to minimise the risk of receiving a unit that has to be RMAed.

If anyone has had any experience with the open box units from PChome, then please do let us know. Similarly, it would be good to hear from people that have successfully returned their unit to PChome (I think Lastdon was one? Though he went through at least two units before giving up; I wonder whether this process cost him anything in shipping, for example?), so that we know we are covered if there is a problem.


@Bronsky: Thanks for the tip regarding the 4820tg thread; it is indeed a useful source of information.

To summarise for anyone else that has not already read that thread: It appears that one 4820tg i3 owner was having serious trouble with throttling (and sent their unit off for repair, only for it to be returned without repair...); other i3 owners were reporting some issues with some games, but in general were only occasionally seeing temperatures high enough for throttling to kick in. As you mentioned earlier, it remains to be seen how much more difficult it would be to overheat the 3820tg (with its two fans as opposed to the 4820tg’s one). At the very least, the risk of throttling being an issue is much reduced (if not removed) with an i5… reason alone to get an i5 if possible. As Bronsky has been saying all along...


@MyOnlySt4r: the only reason I will get a 3820tg is for the 5650; if I can live with the 5470 then I think I can also live with the Nvidia 310m (with Optimus) in the ASUS U33jc, which is free from the above concerns re returning to Taiwan (and has better battery life to boot), and is therefore preferable. That said, you certainly have a point; if having an i3 is going to handicap the 5650 then I may as well give up on the dream...

I'm not giving up yet, but everything is certainly in the balance...

 

I completely concur with the logic of this post.

 

If it bothers you so much, feel free to reorganize the thread. Knock yourself out.

 

Bear in mind that ASUS used really cheap VRAM in the U33jc and U35jc Nvidia GPUs. The end result is that the GPUs are basically underclocked.

 

Sorry you feel that way but I thought these forums were for discussing laptops and creating threads about info that people want to know.
I don't know why being a ASUS owner has anything to do with me asking questions that some members would like more info about.
Oh well!I hope you enjoy your laptop and it lasts a long time.
Good Luck

 

I am sure the refreshed i5, when it first comes on sale in, say September, won't be NT$29900 -- the newly arrived i3-370m is already going for 29900 in PCHome, so there is no way the i5 would be this cheap initially. Eventually, around December, the refreshed one will come on sale, too, but if you want to buy it in a month you better buy it now because the old ones are on clearance sale.

 

What do you think the prices of i5 450m's will be? Hopefully they'll get more stock...

 

No, PCHome won't get anything till the refresh, and I don't know what are in store for the refresh in Taiwan. I think if i5 450m is still there in the refreshed line up, it would not be higher than NT$36900, but I would not be surprised if i5 450m MSRP is still 36900 but with 4G RAM and 640GB HDD.

 

LOL! I was just kidding! A little friendly ASUS - Acer rivalry (they're both Taiwanese companies) is all. Nothing serious meant by it!

I amended my post so that it's less vague. Still, it was intended all in good, friendly fun.

 

I am glad I got my i5-450M with ATI 5650 when I did.

PCHome threw in the 2 GB of RAM for free and included a "cheaper" 500 GB HDD.

So when I upgrade to 8 GB RAM and a SSD, I'll won't have lost to much money by upgrading.

 

If that happens I'll seriously be sad.. Just when I decided that the 3820tg was for me at 29900... i'll have waited for nothing

 

Just take a flight to Taiwan, I'm sure there are still retailers trying to clean out their inventory. Or just order the i3 ones from PCHome. They really are not that bad.

 

The processor is upgradable on these units? Might just take the i3 and buy a 620 to replace it.

 

I actually have lots of family in Taiwan.. but I'm afraid of customs duties..
And like other people have been saying, throttling.. and no ocing...

 

Yes it is.

 

Looking at the prices, it's almost not worth getting the i3 =(

So where did you guys find the info about the upcoming refresh/new batch of units?

 

secret intel, the ones pentagon used to go into iraq

 

Haha, I feel it in the gut too =P

 

Just posted Part 10: Basic Overclocking http://forum.notebookreview.com/6625738-post3849.html

 

The night time sale of i3-350m + 2G RAM for NT$26900 is not that bad, I think. The pricing for i3-370m is not good because it's new with practically no sale discount.

 

i'd rather have the i5 at 29900

I'm thinking i should jsut get the 4820tg at 31900 now.. since the prices i'm waiting for for the i5 3820tg's are not gonna happen?

 

sh1t, just restock the damn i5-450M/ati 5650 at least PCHome. I'm willing to buy it at $1,500 lmao. Acer's plan is working wonderfully.

 

lol 1500.. i really don't think they're gonna restock.. well at least for 29900..

Is the 4820tg a good deal at 31900? Is the cooling actually that bad?

 

anyone? should i buy the 4820tg?

 

I guess you should probably change your signature then LOL!

Tell you what, I'll sell you mine for $1500 USD. Interested? Of course, it would be the original stock configuration. No extra RAM or Intel WiFi card for you.

 

I'm not sure if you've done this already, but could you make a post (or thread) with all the parts of your review/links to the parts in one place? It would make it a lot easier to find them in the 300+ page thread. Thanks.

 

Looks like the 460M is already on sale in Malaysia in the 4820TG. http://forum.notebookreview.com/6628196-post804.html Thanks Lee.

Edit: they are not for sale yet ... september!

Bronsky

 

yes! Perfect timing.

 

Just posted Part 11: Overclocking the CPU http://forum.notebookreview.com/6629602-post3924.html

 

Just posted Part 12: Final Overclocking http://forum.notebookreview.com/6631707-post3966.html

 

Just posted Part 13: Zeroshock III for the 3820TG http://forum.notebookreview.com/6631990-post3969.html

 

I'm sending an e-mail to computeruniverse to see if I can order it and have it shipped to the US.

According to their website though, it appears you can after a 51 pound shipping charge... =X

 

Best of luck. You might let them know that units have been shipped via air to the US from Taiwan with no problem. Computeruniverse has a better selection of units. It would be nice to have them importing as well. I got my 3820TG from them and have been very happy with it.

Bronsky

 

Haha, got my hopes up for nothing. They can't due to the battery situation. I wonder if I'll hit the same obstacle if I get a family member to order it for me then have it shipped here.

 

Does PCHome sell parts? I'm looking for a motherboard for my 3820TG. Does anyone know if they can get one? How about that store in vancouver?

I have been trying to deal with Shark Technology in China but it's slow going.

 

Haha, why are you looking for parts?

 

I want to swap my motherboard to see if I can get one with a PLL that will overclock. I'm putting in a new CPU anyway, and you have to take the motherboard out to do it. Might as well take the chance that I get an OC'able unit.

Bronsky

 

Ah... are you the only one with that problem? Or is there someone that has the same issue who purchased from PCHome?

I think I might just order the brand new i3 version from PCHome and then upgrade it to a i5 540. Does that sound like a good idea? =X

Yikes, just noticed the RAM is only 2gb...

Kinda tempted to buy a refurb, but I dunno what risk that entails. =X

 

I bought my unit from Computeruniverse before the Germans stopped sending units to the US. I think I had the first 3820TG in north america. The earlier models don't OC. So, I'm ordering a new mobo in hopes that I can get one without TME enabled.

Anybody know a decent retailer other than Shark Technologies LTD?

Bronsky

 

For those who wish to import the 3820TG to the US but were afraid to do so because of no warranty, read this:

Email from Acr Customer Service in the US

 

Thats pretty cool. I wonder if they would have all the parts necessary for the all repairs.

 

Just posted Part 14: How to get a 1-year warranty for your 3820TG in the US http://forum.notebookreview.com/6635476-post4048.html

An outstanding laptop just got even better....

 

If anyone is looking to buy a Samsung 2 GB RAM 1333 MHz or PQI 2 GB RAM 1066 MHz and match them up with what you have from PCHome, let me know.

Both are for sale and we can work out a good price.

 

Just posted Part 15: To RAM or not to RAM http://forum.notebookreview.com/6638820-post4097.html

If any of you who purchased a 3820TG with 2 GB of RAM from PCHome and want to match it with 2 GB of Samsung or PQI RAM, let me know.

If you bought the laptop with 2 GB of RAM thrown in for free, they will not match what you already have in your 3820TG.

 

For those thinking of the i3 from PChome, I just received mine.

Ordered the non-nightly special 26900 with i3-330, 5650 and 3 gifts including the extra 2 gig.

Mine was stuck at JFK customs for 4 days.
Still only took a total of 7 days from order to shipment to Florida.

Same stuff included as others, so won't go into details there. Screen perfect, everything perfect.

Surprise, it came with the i3-350! I saved $30 by ordering the i3-330m, and still got the i3-350m.

Since these are all you can get, performance is what you might want to know.

I did not clean install yet. Tests were done "stock, as shipped".

3dm2k6 = 7304, sm2-2711, sm3-3378, CPU-2378
WEI 5.7, CPU-6.3, mem-5.9, graphics-6.7, game-6.7, hd-5.7
locked up with video clocked above 640/950 (stock drivers), but jumped to 3dm2k6 of 8273. Temperatures of CPU and GPU never hit 70c in a hot 27c florida home.

Will clean install and run thorough tests over the next couple days.

Oh, and it did pass all the setfsb tests with the ics9Lprs365bgif and G73jh setting, so will also pay for the button press and post how fast it can go.

The 3820tg with an i3 is not a slug...