Acer Aspire 8930G Owner's Lounge

@8930Guy : There is no mean to directly try the SDHC card into another computer,...only vintage are laying around

But my SDHC card works in my camera. I use the CF reader of my printer (with an SDHC to CF adapter) to transfers my pictures

Under Vista (see my previous post) I checked another SDHC
and an old MMC card without success on the 8930G reader

 

I have several questions about my ACER 8930g, 2 x 2.26GHz, 4GB DDR3 (2 x 2GB) and it is VT-x enabled.

What is the maximum memory I can install? I would like to use 2 x 4GB DDR3 since I do a lot of virtualisation and heavy photoshop work. Will 8930g accept it? I noticed some users in here use 6GB, which is over the Acer's official 4GB maximum allowance?

What is the highest CPU I can replace with? Will it take a quad like Q9100 or will X9100 be better?


Thanks for your answers

 

mine wouldnt boot with 2x 4gb ram
but runs ok with 6gb ram
as for the cpu , i went for the x9100 as i knew 100% it would run in the 8930g

 

VT is not enabled from factory , you have to flash the bios with vt-enabled version.

AFAIK, nobody reports installing 8GB on its 8930G...

Do a search in this thread upon "Q9000" you will see that you can only upgrade to Q9000 (not Q9100). Not all MB are upgradeable.
The difference between Q9000 and X9100 is only noticeable if your software takes advantage of the quad core.

 

Hi shakennstirred, you post quicker than I do

To go back to my card reader problem, I'm about to buy a I/O board on eBay to replace mine.

But I have a doubt now... Does the 8930G card reader support SDHC ?

TIA,

Laurent

 

They work with mine.

I have to say though, the card reader would not work when I first got the laptop.

I eventually re-loaded a completely clean version of Win 7, loaded the drivers and it has worked ever since.

If you have 2 drives, you could try a completely fresh install of the OS and dual boot, and see if that makes any difference before spending time and money replacing the card reader.

 

1. I flashed it to the "unofficial" BIOS v1.21, which is why I said that my machines is VT-x enabled.

2. My understanding that "unofficially" 8930G does supported up to 8GB. Several users from 'The Acer Guy' blog/forum confirmed that on certain 8930G machines 8GB worked. Maybe, it is all due to the BIOS?

3. I read if your motherboard is # MB.ASZ0B.004, then it will support any quad processors. Most 8930G are # MB.ASZ0B.001, which supported mostly dual cores. Just type in the motherboard serial # on ebay and it will listed the 8930G model #. Like mine, which is 8930G-884G32Bn and it uses MB.ASZ0B.001 motherboard.

Are you saying that even for a MB.ASZ0B.001 motherboard, it can use a quad cpu like Q9000?

 

Thank you for the quick answer

I just upgraded from Vista 32bit to Seven 64bit, so this is a fresh install.
About money, this is is not so expensive, I found a new board for 35€/50$ and on eBay it cost 12€/17$.
About time...well, this is not time, it's pleasure

 

I was refering to the post of starsie in this thread post5586891

You know more than, I know. I can't help you, I don't install any Q900x or more than 4GB of memory. (I'm just fighting with my card reader )

Regards,

Laurent

 

Can you confirm that your 8930G use MB.ASZ0B.001 motherboard? For example, mine is 8930G-884G32Bn so what is your model? Could be that your motherboard is # MB.ASZ0B.004, which uses quad cores?

 

*huggles Q9200*

But if I had to choose between a Q9000 and x9100, I would choose the X9100.

One question though, do you guys have a pheonix or insyde bios? If it's pheonix then you could potetially do the IDA mode mod.

Would get the Q9000 up to 2.266ghz which makes it more interesting.

 

if you have all this info you didnt need to ask on here really lol
i havent seen anyone have 8gb running on a 8930g

 

I don't understand why someone cannot mod the bios to support the qx9300? I am not expereinced at this but isn't it a case of whitelisting?

 

I am having current issues with my 8930g and I'm wondering if anyone can help me out. After having this rig for almost 3 and a half years, running the same programs over and over, I have started having issues with the video card. Over the past 2 weeks of running World of Warcraft, Deadspace 2, or any game for that matter, the screen will randomly go black. I also notice that the video card must just given up because I have it hooked up to my flat screen and when the screen goes black the tv show's 'no input'. Yesterday it went really bad when everytime I logged on WoW, not two minutes later the screen goes black. The laptop is still running, the power button still reads blue 'on' and the hard drive is still on, so it has power. I have reformatted, reinstalled new drivers from the format, ran malware-bytes, ran anti-virus, all with no luck.

Here are my specs:

Summary

Product Name
Aspire 8930
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
Processor
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T9400 @ 2.53GHz
System Memory
4096 MB
Hard Drive
WDC WD3200BEVT-22ZCT0 ATA Device, 298.09 GB
CD/DVD Drive
HL-DT-ST BDDVDRW CT10N ATA Device
Video
NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT 512mb
Audio
NVIDIA High Definition Audio
High Definition Audio Device
Network
RAS Async Adapter
Atheros AR8121/AR8113/AR8114 PCI-E Ethernet Controller
Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 AGN
Agere Systems HDA Modem
UUID
785634123412785690ABCDDEEFAABBCC
Serial Number
1234567890123456789012
BIOS Version
V1.20
Battery
4800mAh, LI-ION



Thanks in advance. I really hope I don't have to replace the video card. It still runs fine on windows and everything outside gaming. But where's the fun in that?

JF

 

Could be overheating or driver issues

Check and clean your air vents thoroughly. Check your graphics card temperature with HWMonitor. Post results of max temp just before it goes black.

Update to the latest drivers OR if recently updated, regress by 1 release

 

I cleaned the vents, twice, haven't tried the rollback on the video drivers yet. I ran HWMonitor and here's my results.

Hardware monitor ACPI

Hardware monitor DIMM
Temperature 0 54°C (128°F) [0xC358] (core)

Hardware monitor DIMM
Temperature 0 53°C (126°F) [0xC348] (core)

Hardware monitor NVIDIA I/O
Temperature 0 78°C (172°F) [0x4E] (TMPIN0)

Hardware monitor NVIDIA NVAPI
Voltage 0 1.05 Volts [0x419] (VIN0)
Temperature 0 78°C (172°F) [0x4E] (TMPIN0)

With all settings on Max temp on the video card was 86C (186F). I haven't had a black screen yet but I figure it's only inevitable.

Tell me what you think.

JF

 

When you say cleaned the vents, you mean removed the panel underneath and cleaned it properly?

78 idle(?) or whilst in a game?

To give you an example. mine idles at 57c

If temp while gaming, it's good try rolling back a driver, check for latest bios update, you can find 1.21 here on the forum.

 

Yes I removed the panel underneath and cleaned it thoroughly. It was 78 while gaming but that was just a save i made during the game, 86 was the max I got to while playing. Ill update my bios and try rolling back the driver.

Edit: I have installed the rolled back drivers and tried another round at WoW. I got a black screen, followed by a shut down at 109C. That seems like its way hotter than it should be.

 

So my good ole 8930g has been treating me very well for almost a year, but I really want to start pimping it out, So I have done some research, and looked, and I do mean looked everywhere for what cpu that my laptop will take. So far I am stuck between the E8435 mac version, or the T9900 version. I am currently have the T5800 (yes, it does the job, but oh I so want to upgrade it!) Anyhow, I like the E8435 because of the price, but I don't like the thermal 44W. I wanted to stay around 35w thermal, so what should I do? I have already flashed my BIOS with the 1.21 floating around and it seems to be working fine, thankfully! Also found the RMClock program to allow me to modify the core voltages. So also may I ask, has anyone actually bought this E8435 cpu and what voltages are you running?

BTW here is the link for the Ebay item I am currently looking at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/SLAQD-Intel-Cor..._EN_Networking_Components&hash=item4157c887c6

 

I just got BSOD whilst listening to music on Youtube.

No overheating, or anything like that, infact it's rather cool in here.

Just before the BSOD, windows explorer was going a bit 'funky', it was acting like it was restarting, the wallpaper had shrank into the middle instead of being stretched, and the audio was being a bit jumpy.

I've been having a problem with jumpy audio since I got my laptop, it is only jumpy if the volume is up to around 70% and above. By jumpy, I mean it makes the whole laptop freeze up for just under a second.

Any ideas guys?
(I have a theory it's the vibration from the speakers that's affecting the hard drive)


(also, that is hella cheap CPU kcraptor, go for it!)

 

Sounds like audio driver. try the new one from realtek website not acer.

Secondly, how do you get 14-25c CPU idle temp? Do you realise the temp monitor doesn't work on 8930g, something to do with the bios, I use Temp1 in speedfan to tell me the actual temperature. Never get less than 40 once running for 10 minutes.

 

I've got 38 degrees at the moment, and that's after a heavy session of Portal 2. I use a Zalman notebook cooler (which isn't on at the moment) along with a desktop fan behind it (which also isn't on at the moment). AS Ceramiqué is pretty good at knocking temps down too, got -5 from regular AS5. Granted 300 hours is a long time for it to settle. It also helps if you actually know how to apply thermal paste, I've seen some horrific jobs done on youtube, then followed by reviews saying such and such is ...


Trying newer drivers, hopefully it'll fix this problem. I rarely use my laptops speakers, got a lovely external sound card which does a much better job, plugged into some ADAM Monitors, it's just today I transported all my gear to another room and cba to set it all up as I'm moving in a few days.

 

So after a few more black screens I can say that the temperature has nothing to do with my video card dying. It seems to only happen when I run anything that requires the video card to work harder. Any video game for that matter. I can still play movies, play music, and watch youtube. I can even still watch blu-rays. Acer support tells me to do everything I have already told them I've done twice, which I'm not really surprised with because they've never been helpful with any technical problems.
Ideas?

 

RMA it IMO.

 

Shaken... It warms my heart to see the specs on your laptop. I just want to know before I do what you have done... Have you installed another cooling fan, upgraded the cooling system?
If no , is it hot?
If yes , what brand is the fan? Name?
Thanx man!

 

So after another full day of scouring all the forums I could on my video card i came across http://discussions.apple.com/thread/1767221?threadID=1767221&tstart=0
I had rivatuner installed previously, however I had it overclocked. Now I don't know if after a while it was too much for it to handle, but now I have it underclocked following this thread. I am happy to announce that I have been playing games without a BlackSOD and the temp on my card hasn't risen about 70C.. usually sticks around 65-68. Another problem solved at no cost. Hope this helps anyone else with the same problem.

----------------------------------

I do have another problem however. For some reason my laptop doesn't have a serial number. Both the bios, and acer esettings shows up laptop as having 1234567890123456789012 as the serial number. I don't have the box I bought it in since it's been over 3 years, and the sticker underneath has either faded overtime, or has always been white without me noticing. Any ideas where else I could find it?
Thanks

 

Download Acer System Information

 

The problem with that is I also need my SNID to download that, however it seems that was also on the sticker that doesn't exist on the bottom of my laptop.

Edit: I ran Acer system information and got an SNID of 12328428090 which Acer tells me is wrong. I guess my laptop doesn't exist?

 

no running standard fan, but the 8930g is also on a zalmon nc1500 cooler
at the moment it running at 36c

 

Thanx for your quick response man.
I'm gonna get all that... I got a new quest to achieve now.

 

How much of a difference does it make?

 

the cpu only runs about 1-2c cooler, but the fan intake is in the wrong place
but the hdd runs 6c cooler and the ssd 5c cooler

 

I use my cooler backwards so the intakes are right under the cpu/gpu

 

i cant on mine as it has longer legs at the back

 

SSD Cant be run cooler because it doesnt pick up thermal

Cool Master has THermal Pad for 8930g that U can adjust everywere you want the funs. Summer Default ide 38 52 full load , with Thermal pad idle 32 and full load 46. CPU Quad Core .
GPU idle 40 full load 71 with thermal pad 36 idle 62 full load.

 

who said anything about picking up heat, they make a lot of heat
and like anything else that produces heat(they do run hotter than hdd`s) they can be cooled

 

So does mine, I just angle the screen down a bit. It's not ideal but it's better than having a hot notebook...

 

I'm curious about updating the video card. Currently running the 9600m GT. I'm pretty sure it's close to fried anyway, and I'm going to either get the same, or upgrade to something better. After reading the previous post about cpu upgrade, I've got the right motherboard to upgrade to Quad, and I'm going to get the Q9000. I've got the cooling pad on ship (thanks for that, it looks awesome) and last but not least a new HDD. Any suggestions on what would be the best one? Anything around 500gb+ would be spectacular. Thanks all.

 

Depends on the SSD Some run cooler than others.

They are themselves pretty immune to heat (up to a point of course) compared to normal HDDs.

 

I think the best video card you can put in the 8930G is a nVidia Geforce 9700M GT. Don't quote me on that.
Also, I recently purchased and love the Western Digital Scorpio Black hard drive.

 

There is ROOM in the chassis for a bigger MXM 2.1 III cards such as the gtx 280m.

We will never know if it works until someone tries it.

Acers are made my Compal. Sometimes I think the acer brand was an experiment in extreme standardization towards cost effectiveness.
Depending on the accuracy of this assertion and the business model of acer, I believe we could get lucky.

 

Depends on the machine and the bios. I mean look at the specs in my sig.

The only card not to play nice was an HD4870 not showing on the internal display and a GTX460M which needs a bios hook specifically programmed into the system bios (which obviously mine does not have).

HD5850 - worked
HD5730 - worked
HD4670 - worked
HD4650 - worked
GT240M - worked

Also I am using a Q9200, 8GB of ram and a 1080p display.

So it depends how acer felt the day they designed the machine.

 

I have a couple of questions on this - but am not very technically savvy when it comes to Laptops, so bear with me.

I have an 8930 running a 9600M GT on the factory installed bios.

I have been doing quite a bit of 3D graphics work (with rendering) as well as HD video editing.

Although the laptop handles this OK, I could do with it being a bit faster on the graphics side.

So of the above cards, which would fit and work with my setup and offer better performance than the 9600M - I believe that the GT240M is probably the fastest as it has Cuda which I am told is up to 10x faster on rendering, but I am led to believe it also has a problem with HDMI output. And would this require a bios upgrade?

Also, how hot would these run compared to the 9600M - would any of them require extra cooling.

 

I was talking about my 7738G in my list. You would be looking at MXM III cards or type IV if you feel adventurous.

 

Sorry - my mistake.

So is there such a thing as a Cuda enabled MXM card?

 

I think any Geforce series 8 and up can use CUDA.

I know the GT240M can.

 

:::

This mean your Mainboard was replaced by Acer.
Do you RMA before or buy it Used...?

:::

 

My first E8435 was broken. I got 2 new E8435 now.Put one i my first 8930G and works fine now. I have lapped my cpu heatsink and put Innovation Cooling Diamond 7 Carat thermal paste on. It shines like a mirror now. Replaced the chipset Thermal Pad for a new one. Temperatures of the CPU are IDL around 34. Read it out with SIW. I have put in 1x2GB DDR3 1066 and 1x4GB DD3 1066 module. I shall do this upgrades also to my second Acer Aspire 8930G and i have for both also a SSD 256GB Vertex II ready.

Is there much advantage if i replaced the E8435 for Q9000??

 

Doesn't appear that the any of the compatible MXMIII will be of any benefit as I have an 8930 with 9600M GT.

That's assuming that this post is correct.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/acer/396320-acer-mxm-models-cards.html

 

they are the ones that have been tried.