Acer Aspire 5740G Owners Lounge

Some time ago I wanted to overclock my Vostro 1500's CPU and to do that i checked every clock generator in setfsb and no one worked (and nothing bad happaned), so i believe it's pretty safe to do some trial and error with setfsb.

 

All right. I'm going to try it later.

 

Ubuntu will never damage any hardware unless it was somehow told to overclock something to ridiculous levels.
I'm running Ubuntu 10.10 64bit on mine right now and it's buttery smooth.
On a side note: Ubuntu lets me MANUALLY clock my 5740G (with the i5-520m) can clock all the way down to 1.2GHz (and up to the stock 2.4GHz.) (The turbo mode doesn't show up as an option since it's not a "real" clock option anyway.) Without having to download any third part software. (I know windows does that automatically, but it's still nice.)

It would be awesome if setFSB works on it. I'm about to boot into Windows to try it now.

Side note: The Switchable Graphics thread has gone stale. (Maybe they're working on it but just not posting anything... I hope.)

 

@kizwan: I'm really looking forward to seeing your results.

 

I found this on n61jq forum, not worked for me

 

how to manually clock it using ubuntu 10.04 ??

 

We got some new potentially interesting information that's been sent to our resident experts- we'll see what's gonna happen.
Still AFAIK we're not really making any progress so don't keep your hopes up.

 

I've encountered several problems with this laptop and I'm afraid these are connected with Mobility 5650 or its drivers.

I run Win 7 HB x64. Civilization V in dx11 crashes just after 'Firaxis Games' intro sequence. The same thing happens to Dirt 2 (also dx11) - game crashes just after developer's and publisher's intros.

Different thing happens to Metro 2033. Running it in dx11 in 1366x768 causes the game to display vertical stripes running all over the screen, although game graphics is generated 'under' those black stripes. What's more bizzare, the game runs fine in 1360x768 in dx11. In dx9 and 10 game runs fine with all settings possible.

I thought I somehow have problems with dx11 but Unigine Heaven 2.1 runs fine. dx11 graphics demos like ATI Ladybug and Mecha also run fine. Nvidia's Stone Giant (dx11) too doesn't make any problems.

What do you think causes these problems?

 

Rajeshjsl,

There's no reason an operating system damage your hardware.

For compatibility, just check official Ubuntu site. They might publish list of compatible hardware.

About risk of damage, the only thing is if your system is not well-configured for Power Management.. but there's always a hardware protection that shutdown your station before creating any damages, don't worry...

 

just removed the multi-gesture decal from the touchpad...since i got my 5740g several months ago i could never figure out the benefit of the multi-gesture and never used it...

is anybody using it and why?...

 

I'm using it when i read long ebook, when i need to set font larger etc..

 

Right click on the top panel, click on add to panel, choose CPU Frequency Scaling Monitor. You can then use that to control Core 0. You can add one for each core and set the settings on each to match each core, if you want to control the cores separately. (Not sure if it actually lets you change them individually, but it supposedly does.)

 

I dont recommend Acer 5740g. I bought mine 3 months back in Mumbai from a repured branded store Croma. The keyboard all keys by turn started giving problems. I took it the authorised service center in Vashi. They said I will have to replace the key board. I said OK and was willing to pay for it even it was under waranty. After a week they said it was not available and asked me to collect back the advance Rs 1900/ which I had paid for the same. Surprising even external keyboard nor the on screen key board is working. So much for Acer's reputation. Decided on not buying any Acer product is future. Its a dead machine for all practical purposes.

 

Sorry to hear that. It doesn't seem to be keyboard related if external and on screen keyboards don't work either. It's more like a motherboard fault.
Faulty units happen to every manufacturer- it's the service center that is to blame. Your notebook is covered by warranty and you have the right to get either fixed or replaced for free especially that you haven't caused the problems. You should get a new notebook or a refund.
I'd go the legal way- try to contact Acer via phone (afterwards send them a letter- leave a paper trail). You may also inform them that you intend to contact consumer rights advocate (or whatever it's called in your country) unless your notebook is repaired or replaced.

 

Has anyone here used the PCSX2 emulator on this laptop. If anyone has gotten this emulator to work, i would appreciate help on configuring it.

 

Hi,

I have the acer aspire 5740G core i3 version and everytime I try to update my graphics driver with the catalyst software i keep getting a failure in the error log telling me that my ATI graphic driver was not updated. I am still sitting on the 2009 version. Do i need to unistall the driver in device manager and uninstall catalyst? I am not entirely sure how to get the driver to update to a newer version. Acer has told me I need to reinstall the chipset driver and then install the new ATI catalyst software and then the driver will update but this is not happening? Please help

Thank you
Stefan

 

Make sure that you are using Mobile Catalyst not the regular (desktop) ones.
Links to the most recent version (Cats 10.8) are in the second post of this thread (aka The Update Post )

 

thanks downloads for your promt reply

I have the mobility version (this is the one that fails). Do i unistall the software and driver? and then run the catalyst mobility software. I am worried I shall do something wrong and have to have the whole thing reloaded again.

Thanks Stefan

 

I had the same problem and all you have to do is uninstall the driver, restart your laptop then reinstall the latest version of the catalyst mobility driver. Don't worry about something going wrong because windows 7 has a default graphics driver that will be used while their is no catalyst driver.It's totally safe.

 

You don't have to uninstall- you can but let's leave this option for now.
I assume the driver is the only thing that doesn't install- meaning the Catalyst Control Center does?
Let's try to do it manually- go to device manager, choose ATI card, double click and go to the driver tab, choose "update driver" there and browse your computer and manually go to C:\ATI\Support\10-8_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc\Packages\Drivers\Display\W76A_INF chose the inf file and Mobility Radeon 5600/5700 from the list and confirm.

EDIT: I see jaggerjack beat me to it. His suggestion is also valid- it should work both ways.

 

Just noticed something in your first post, turbo will actually activate one or two bins up even with all cores loaded if it's cool enough, it's correct behavior

 

I know that by now but I didn't know that then . It was a new CPU and all reviews at the time were about Core i7-920XM which has Turbo Boost working in a different way (one core 3,2GHz, 2 core 3.06GHz, 4 cores 2.26GHz) so I assumed it works in similar manner on Core i5 430M. In fact 430M has TurboBoost at all- it's just another speedstep.

 

I've got a quick question. I have 1.22 BIOS and when I try to update it to 1.22 (so I only want to refresh the BIOS) WFlash V1.06.01 shows that ROM BIOS has a checksum of 0x631e and the new BIOS has a checksum of 0x38a? Is this OK?

Ok, I flashed the BIOS and WFlash V1.06.01 now shows 0x621e ROM BIOS cheksum. Is it OK?

Shouldn't the ROM BIOS checksum be the same as new BIOS checksum?

 

Hello guys!
I have a little concern..
I'll get my new 5740G in a few weeks and i know it comes with pre-installed Linux. The problem is i want to use windows 7, and i'm not too sure if it's easy enough to migrate from Linux to Win7. I have Win7 installation on a USB flash drive whick works fine (i installed it on my dad's Dell), can I still use it in this case ? Is it as easy as i think it is ? Just putting the USB flash drive and installing win7 ? Because i heard somewhere that the linux partitions are not the same like the windows ones and you have to erase everything on your HDD first and then start with a fresh copy of windows.
I also have one other quiestion. I assume the acer will be with only 1 partition. Do i have to make a couple of partitions while i'm still on Linux and then install windows or it would be better to do it afterwards ?
Thanks for your time

 

You'd rather be fine. If 5740g's support USB booting then they will surely run Windows Installation from USB stick.

 

I thought I'd share a bit of good news in case owners didn't grok it. We have 2 working mini PCIE slots in our laptops, on the 3G model the full sized one by the bottom of the hard drive is used, on non 3G the half sized one above the hard drive is used. However, they are both fully functional. This gives us a number of handy options:

a) Network testing awesomness - two WAN cards make it dead simple to generate traffic for when you are err... "testing" your network security.

b) Easy Bluetooth upgrade such as this DealExtreme: $18.08 WiFi + Bluetooth Combo Mini PCI-Express Card for Laptop
Wahooo... two wan cards + bluetooth or run your antennae from the top slot and free up the half sized miniPCIe.

c) Second SSD drive such as these from Samsung. Yes, you can have an SSD drive for OS and a fat HD for your DATA ;-)

d) 3G WWAN use a module like this: DealExtreme: $56.70 Genuine HUAWEI EM660 CDMA2000 3G Module with Mini PCI Express I/F (800/1900MHz) or just make sure you get one with compatible frequencies for your carrier.

Making up a second antennae for your extra wan or wwan card is 5 minutes work, just place it in the hd compartment, if you don't mind a very slight reception drop you can even use the secondary from the top slot.

So far I've tested the slot with a second wan/bluetooth combo card (bluetooth hw button works) and a 3g card. My plan is to get a 32GB/64GB SSD drive eventually.

P.S. I've got some dell bluetooth modules from the latitude series, I will try them out next weekend see if they are compatible with out bt connector (ugh, why did acer place it so you need to take the mobo out to plug it in, arghh...) the plug is the same but not sure about the pinout.


top 1/2 size slot


bottom full size slot

 

Can I tear this lappy apart and not loose warranty?

 

Is there a way or any provision in this laptop so that it can be fixed in with a Fingerprint Reader. I think there might be a small port (FPCN1 connector) on the motherboard for this purpose.
Can anybody confirm? specially those who have opened their laptop.

@consolation.
I have a non-3G model. Is there any good quality mini PCI 5.1 soundcard out there in the market. If yes, I wonder how I would be using it with the jacks.

 

You'd need to get a top case from the finger print model and connect it up, it should work I guess. You want mini PCIe not PCI. You could try to find something like this video capture card MPX-885 Mini-PCIe capture card the connector clips onto the card (you can remove the bracket) and you could feed the cables out the card reader slot. These people seem to have a good range MiniCards / Mini PCIe / PCI Express Mini Card Industrial Computer Parts and Systems, I noticed there is a few SATA300 controller cards - I'm thinking about sacrificing the card reader for an eSATA port. It's no hassle to use a usb card reader but the lack of firewire or eSATA on this laptop is a big PITA.

OK, here's a totally bonkers option. Look here; http://www.adexelec.com/pciexp.htm at the bottom of the page you find a mini PCIe to PCIx1 adapter (I kid you not).



You could run the ribbon outside and (theoretically) plug a desktop PCIe x1 audio card in. Use a USB port to supply the +5V header. I guess you could make a little case for it. I have no idea if this would work; if you succeed you will become an internet HERO.

 

Interesting info here, apparently we might need a miniPCIe SSD with a built in SATA or PATA interface, eg. this.

Anyone with deep pockets wants to test?

Also, option

E) built in TV tuner http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...321017&cm_re=mini_PCIe-_-16-321-017-_-Product

 

Well, the acer 5738g has exactly the same chassis as 5740g but it comes with a FP reader which is situated at the center of the touchpad's buttons.
The only thing I want to make sure about is the provision of the connector for the FP module and its availability in the market.

 

According to a service manual for 5740G it has the FPCN1 in the same place 5738G has. Service manual for 5740G is not really coherent in that respect- it states "Release the latch and disconnect the touch pad cable from TPCN1 connector on the main board" and next "Release the latch and disconnect the touchpad button cable from FPCN1 connector on the main board"
I'm not sure it's the second touchpad connector- they just used 5738G and changed one word.
Since the FPCN1 is just an inch to the right from the power button you could easily check it yourself. You don't have to dismantle the laptop- just take off the top panel.

 

You'll find this a lot.

With the recent model shifts from 5935G to 5940G and all similar models they kept the same casing so they just copy and pasted most of the service guide.

 

True but there are some valuable (and new) bits there anyway.
I understand them- I wouldn’t waste my time doing the same thing all over again either

 

Well there is some confusion over the 5940g and if it can take an MXM card, the FRU lists none, but the guide has a section on replacing the MXM card....

 

Hey guys, I have one of these with the following specs: i5 520m, 6ghz memory, ati 5650, 640gb 5400rpm. Anyway, ive seen it came with 2x 1gb memory kingston on slot1, and 2x 2gb sansumg memory on slot 2. I was wondering If i can put the samsumg sticks on slot1 and just chill with 4 gbs of ram(which is enough...), and put the kingstom sticks(2x 1gb) on my friends notebook(hes only got 2 gbs)? Cheers.

 

You can if your friend's notebook supports DDR3 memory which is what you have in 5740G.

 

Wait the 5740G has 4 memory slots?

Most laptops dont, his even if it is DDR3 will likely already be full and the sticks you have are the same density.

 

somebody buy my 5740G its in the marketplace =P

 

Can we purchase parts from acer?........like the built-in finger-print reader.
I haven't opened my notebook's top lid yet but still I am pretty much sure that there is a FPCN1 (fingerprint) connector. I tried opening it but I thought I might break it.
The 5740 service guide says that the FPCN1 is a touchpad button cable connector but as far as I know the 'touchpad+buttons+its power button' only requires a single connector (small ribbon connector).
Does anybody have the courage to take a look inside.

 

On my Aspire 9420, touchpad & touchpad button are connected to board by two separate cable. I'm sure it is the same on 5740G.

 

Now that breaks my heart. I think i'll have to get a new laser mouse with an integrated fingerprint reader.
Can anybody suggest one.

 

Actually I have 6Gb too in my 5740G, it´s 4+2. It only has 2 slots.

There is a version of the 5745 with 4 memory slots

 

Hi all,

I have a 5740G, core 3i, ATI HD 5470.

Struggling installing the 10.8 ATI drivers, CCC does not start. Anyone else unable to install.

I have tried the methods in this thread but no luck.

Also, my 3dMark06 is only 1740.... I thought according to reviews I've seen I should get in the 3500 range?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark.

 

do you have microsoft framework 2.0 (or higher) installed?
CCC requires it to work.

btw, your 3dmark06 score is actually low.
can't remember mine, but i can run it this evening and report the results.

 

Oh well, now that uve mentioned, I checked CPU-Z, and it displays 2 gbs on slot1 and 4 gbs on slot2, then I have slots 3, and 4 empty. So this is actually stupid isnt it? I could be wrong but I though the ram sticks had to be same model to work in dual channel(having a 4gb+2gb atm), so wouldnt 2gb+2gb of the same model ram work better?

 

I don't know CPU-Z detection is correct or not but I always assume it is correct. Maybe SMBUS controller (I believe this device responsible in communicating with memory) report there is four memory slot but for sure only two physically available, while the other two is not implemented.

Don't need to have same model for dual-channel to work. You only need both modules have identical speed, timings & capacity.

 

yeah, well they are not the same capacity(2gb+4gb), so yeah I dont think so... am I being too picky because I have the feeling that 4 gbs in dual channel would be better than 6gbs single channel.... but then again idk what acer was thinking when they decided for this setup....

 

The different in performance between dual-channel & single-channel is not noticeable. If you're still want to run dual-channel memory, you can just replaced the 2GB module with 4GB module. You'll have 4GB-4GB dual-channel memory instead of you go back to 2GB-2GB dual-channel configuration.

Which one was you're referring to? All manufacturer implement dual-channel memory on their notebooks.

 

Managed to get 3700+ from a successful install of 10.6 ATI drivers.

Just downloading MS Framework 2.0 to see if I can get the CCC working

Think I'll give 10.8 a miss for a while!

M