Acer 8204 experiance

I didn't. It was my opinion, based on my own experiance with 8204 and what I've learned reading various threads. You have one from the newest batch and chances to get notebook with (I hope) no issues are increasing, but don't praise the day before sunset - did you really check everything? Some issues (e.g. background noise) appear after couple of weeks...

 

As with any other lap-top... My PowerBook G4 12 inch (build 09/03) started making noises (hard drive) after just over a month. My dad's Lenovo T60p screen suddenly shut off on the third day and had to be replaced... due to a factory problem. My friends MacBook Pro 17 inch (build 04/06) that just came out WONT EVEN TURN ON due to a short-circuit... People's AlienWare lap-tops burn a few weeks use... You cant just single out one model and bash it. ALL LAPTOPS HAVE PROBLEMS. It's just that various laptops have various prolbems, you chose your problems yourself and then deal with them. I chose the Acer-related problems because i think they can be managed with easier than others. At least my graphics card wont die on me after a year (AlienWare)

 

jaad75 and Vlad_I are right, but there does appear to be a date pattern with these. A bit vague but people with 12/05, 01/06, 02/06 builds seem to have issues those after ...? It's not clear but we should be able to make this more definite. Anybody got an 04/06 build?

I'm about to order one of these and the supplier may send me a "newer build" if they can identify it. So, a couple of questions:

I see the manufacture date is printed on the bottom of the laptop:
http://www.esupport.acer.com.au/eSupport/ereg/notebook.jpg
But does anyone know if it is identifyable from the outside of the box?

Second, has anybody worked out the relationship between serial number and date?

I imagine that at least is printed on the outside of the packaging... Perhaps we can work the relationship out together. I people don't want to publish their serial number in a public forum than PM me. What's the serial number (I don't know which one, perhaps both... See the link above), the build date and what problems if any you have had. (Better: say which of the "common" problems you've checked for)
- Grey lines on screen (screen model no?)
- Display noise
- Memory speed (has anyone really got DDRIII?)
- ...

As soon as I have enough info I can publish a summary back here.

It is much easier to refuse delivery of a "known faulty" machine than to have to send it back once you've opened it!

 

"Background noise" is graphic term in this case. GPU doesn't display dark colors properly. It looks like a noise or grain. Or dusty LCD. It seems to be software related. I'm still working to figure out how could it gone after system reinstallation and I think that it is related with GPU high quality acceleration in overlay mode. I can get that noise back when I turn HQ acceleration on in WMP overlay mode settings. Propably Omega drivers turn that acceleraton on in every mode and it looks like it stays on with every other driver installed later... Anyway, the problem is still there - dark colors are not displayed correctly in HQ overlay mode!

 

jaad75,

well that is interesting. But using the Omega drivers could be the culprit. Does this behavior occur in ATI drivers, with a clean driver install?

In the past I have seen issues with Omega drivers on laptops. Funny thing is for all you know its the interaction of the driver with a app you have installed . Its amazing how apps will write newer Windows files thus introducing issues.

 

You cannot see the noise with original drivers until you turn on HQ overlay mode in Windows Media Player. Then you can easy see it in all the movies. Omegas turn that feature on somehow and you have noise in almost every situation, even if you install different driver.

 

06/03 build:
- Don't see any grey lines, but I do see the alternating patterns of grey in the pic someone posted. Doesn't bother me in the least.
- Don't see any display noise either. I do have Cat 6.4's installed though.
- I DO have 667MHz DDR2 RAM...yipee! (verified by cpuid)

 

Clintb, where did you get your 8204 from?

 

ncix.com in Canada. I paid credit card through Paypal and with upgraded shipping (2-3 day expedited) and upgraded insurance it came out under $2100. Darned good price, me thinks.

 

Did you check HQ mode video mixing renderer in WMP10? That's the easiest way to get/check the noise... It looks like X1600 issue right now and there is a chance that all notebooks with this device onboard are affected... Take a closer look at dark backgrounds - X1600 can display strange things there...
BTW, if you failed that pattern test then you have grey lines, but if you are unable to see them, I wouldn't care about it. I have old Gateway 450 notebook here and it passed that test without a problem, but in fact a lot of LCDs that I use didn't, so it is a common issue.

 

Check this site, the background should be solid grey:
http://www.thegamebooks.com/ezdloads.php

 

Well when I get mine, I'll take a look see if the issue there. I'll check with installed drivers first. Where was the link for the gray bar test.

jaad75, went to that site, the only grey is at the very edge and that is not really grey (checked the color) more like a grey/blue. Sorry, I'm kinda anal like that.

But if this a card issue. It needs to be reported to ATI.

 

I mean very dark grey in the background - it is solid color, I've checked it with many desktops and laptops. X1600 displays it noisy and lighter than it should. With grey lines on LCD it looks like it was "brushed". But the best way to experience "noise problem" is to turn on HQ Video Mixing Renderer in WMP 10 Video Acceleration settings.

 

ClintB,
You got me thinking after your post about your 667 memory. So I checked mine with CPUID and I have 667 MHz memory too. Thanks dude! No wonder my 8204 did so well against my Dell E1705...they are clocked the same.

Also, has anyone else noted that their power supply "brick" gets REALLY HOT? I just want to make sure that's normal, at least for Acer. It was so hot after being plugged in for about 4 hours that it really suprised me. Anyone else?

 

Mine gets hot also, but I don't think that it's "normal"...

 

Coincidentally i checked mien today and i found it to be perfectly cold. Not even a hint of warmth on the brick. And thats after being plugged in for like a week

 

Load F.E.A.R. and check it again after half an hour...

 

The power supply for my Acer ezdock does not get anywhere near that hot after hours of use. Maybe I need to send it back for a new one.

Also, I noticed that the ATI display manager is very buggy when using the ezdock and an external display. I was trying to make the external display my main screen, then disabling the laptops lcd so that the external display would automatically take over when I'm docked. This was working well (only after logging on using the laptop lcd), but then it started to have issues. I have found that leaving these ATI settings alone and using the function keys is fairly bulletproof.

 

The power supply does get hot, I assume that is normal because every notebook I've ever had the power supply gets very hot (if running the notebook at high percentage, such as running latest games).

 

Ok fine... it does get hot after a while. i was only kidding. its hotter than my G4's powercord brick.

 

well just got mine today. it has a manufacturer date of 0603 which i am assuming is 03/2006 or 6th day of march though suspect first is correct.

quick look and seem the drivers and acer apps are most recent (video probably not have not checked) bios supposedly most recent at least what is up on there site. going to verify.

Did have a stuck pixel managed to unstick with qtip . Yeah there is light leakage on an all black screen, not too bad though and certainly not noticeable in normal use. do have in lower corners slightly dark again not really noticeable, but there. Love the right hand built in warmer ;P, but heah wanted the higher rez that the w3j don't have. viewing angle could be better, but that ok too, keep prying eyes away.

interesting have to upgrade BT for logitech v270 mouse. thats it so far, probably check vlaad video issue tomorrow

 

onlyme serial is viewable from outside box. I got mine from newegg and clearly shown on label. easy to id date of manufacture. first 4 digits after LXTAX

hope that helps

 

That's not true. It's just a coincidence, mine is O601 and LXTAX0603...

 

http://www.notebookforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147853

 

yeah, my bad after checking on dealer sites saw that. oh well so much for functioning on lack of sleep, LOL.

 

Hello everyone,

I currently own a acer 5672.. but i'm probably gonna sell taht to my sister and grab the travelmate 8204.. I am very intrigued by the specs on it .. Anyways I live in Ontario, Canada and I'm wondering if anyone knos where the the cheapest place to buy it is.. The cheapest I've come across is Buy.com Canada.. which sells it for about 2250 plus taxes... Please let me kno :O

Thx

 

I got mine from buy.com and it is perfect. No problems like other people mentioned and they have the 03/06 build date and the 667mhz ram. I'd recommened going with them.

 

candyman,

How is your screen do you notice a slight darkening in the lower left and right corners ( not necessary easily noticeable unless taskbar is white or silver).

Also learned that their applications can be a little buggy. I like to use an application called TopDesk , which gives XP an OSX Expose like feature, and found that if it loaded first before the power management and/or gravisense that those apps put massive strain on the cpus. Yet if it loaded afterwards all was good.

Right now not sure if its ACER's apps or Otakusoftware's TopDesk, but I'll keep ya posted.

 

I also live in ontario, canada and i got my 8204 from CDW Canada. Came to about 2700 canadian... i got ripped off i guess. But really when you think about it, it was worth it. The computer was delivered to me only after 2 and a half business days and CDW has amazing customer service. The lap-top itself came from Illanois in USA... --> that was a bit of a surprise. But it is the 03/06 version with the 667Mhz RAM installed.

 

sonicdivx,

I found the definitive answer to the serial number problem by calling Acer:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=51081

I checked this against mine which arrived last week... THe mfg data is 06/03
and the serial number gives 2006 week 12

I see some people perhaps with 0604 machines got 667Mhz memory... I didn't :-(

tOnY

 

onlymee,

Awesome! Yeah sometimes its amazing what a phone call will reveal, hehe.
Mine is week 9 (last week of Feb/Mar). So now what we really need to find out is what week the 667 Mhz memory laptops are and the ones that are problem free.


For all if you have Realtek 51xx drivers upgrade, I just did and my audio is noticeably louder (will try on train tonight to verify) and the static at max volume is gone. I listened through my Sony MD71 earbuds.

 

Friend just got his and well couple of things.

One, his is week 11 and his LTN screen is much better , color is brighter overall and much much less leakage, there is a very faint darkening at the corners but is almost non-existent. Also rippling not there. So overall screen very good.

Now get this, he got it from Compusa. Well it seems to have been a previous users. Did even have a fresh install. Also has a slightly loose right trackpad button. Compusa said "we get from Manufacturer", hmmm.

So right now they are sending him a new one. he is holding on to existing, so will be interesting to see that one.

 

Hmm... Mine definitely has the Q what ever it is screen, and it is a little dark (have to tweak the Gamma setting)... It's totally useless if there is more than a little sunlight.

I also see some odd patterning mentioned on other threads in solid grey colours.

Can you cnfirm... Are both issues fixed with the LTN screen?

 

onlymee, I assumed you used Everest to get LCD info if so. what was the default gamma reported. Also instead of adjusting Gamma, try adjust Avivo Color Correction in Notebook Display Properties in ATI Catalyst Control Center.

I would say both our screen are reasonably bright, his being brighter. Though brightness can actually work against you in sunlight.

On the gray issue his panel didn't have any upon quick check (opened photoshop looked at gray background) , mine doesn't really either.

That said we all talk about this but really need to take pictures of screen exhbiting this and it may just be our eyes playing tricks on us.

 

Ok. I'm gonna take some pictures of my LTN when I get a chance and I'll post it in my thread. I'll let you know.

 

sonicdivx, do both you and your friend have the same bios version? I also have a week 9 and it came with bios 3311. Someone else on here mentioned that upgrading to 3312 increased the max. screen brightness. I upgraded to 3315 (latest at the moment) and after upgrading the LCD _seems_ a bit brighter, but it could just be my imagination.

 

rudolph, I upgraded my bios to 3315 also, yeah mine seemed to be brighter too. I know my friend did not since he just got it. In his case it seems to me (and it may be lighting conditions) that screen is more consistent in brightness (less hot spots) so maybe that makes it seem brighter.