Acer Ethos AS8951G/AS5951G Owners Lounge

I haven't tried an external monitor yet, but in the nVidia control panel under Manage 3D settings it says that "Programs that launch on external displays that are driven by the NVIDIA GPU will always use the NVIDIA GPU". I assume that means that if you add it to the Program Settings tab there, it will use the GPU for both monitors.

There's always something better just down the pike I've had a lot better luck with the "tock" CPU's from Intel than the "tick" ones and the next wave will be the "tick" - new technology, so I'm happy to wait for the next "tock" - fixing the new technology so it works better and consumes less power.

 

You've had bad luck? Like what?

Sandy bridge was the new technology and Ivy bridge is the shrink, so ivy bridge is the tick and that's what is coming out.

All of intels tick and tock CPUs have consumed less power or offered significantly higher performance.

So to sum it all up:

There is a difference in waiting for new technology and ignoring it when it's right on your doorstep.

 

Crap, I hate it when I'm wrong. Yes, I had the tick and tock attributes backwards (it just doesn't make sense to me that the "tick", which comes before "tock" on every tick tock clock I've ever met, would be a die shrink of the previous technology).

My last two chips were Nehalim and this Sandy Bridge, and both have been wonderful (so far, knock on wood). Previously I had a Core 2 Penryn that overheated all the time, before that I went AMD for a while because my previous Pentium (tick) I had to replace twice because they burned out. I realize this is far from scientific, just saying I've been spooked by the ticks.

 

Hey everyone,

Thinking about the Benchmarking scores..
I went again over the Notebookcheck review (which I found not 100% reliable..)
Review Acer Aspire Ethos 8951G Notebook - Notebookcheck.net Reviews
....Going down to their Benchmarking Cinebench R10 + 11.5 scores
their 8951G testing model performed really bad...

CB10 especially in Multi rendering.. and OpenGL.
and in
CB11.5 everything, especially the CPU 64 bit multiple cpu ratio score.

So I checked mine, comparing them to theirs..

---mine reached much better overall scores than their model (probably because mine has no CPU-throttling issues, .. and their 'BAD' 8951G testing-machine did...

I was wondering how all of our aspire 8951G owners machines compare to their testing model? CPU wise.. (and the Cinebench R10- R11.5 OpenGL-scores)
Any CPU throttling issues?



My specs compared to Notebookcheck.com
everything the same, except :
no ssd (mine got 2x 750GB hdd)
and 12GB of ram instead of 16GB




Here are my Cinebench scores


---Cinebench R10 32 bit---

(Again----I've only got 12GB 1333MHz of ram installed, instead of the full 16GB
Someone else with full 16GB of ram, seemed to get a bit higher score in the single-core rendering... around notebookchecks-benchmark single-core scores--
and just a little bit higher in multiple CPU rendering... --a bit higher than my scores
--so just take that into account)

1st Run
Rendering (Single CPU) : 3567 CB-CPU
Rendering (Multiple CPU) : 13893 CB-CPU
Multiprocessor Speedup : 3.89
Shading (OpenGL Standard) : 5361 CB-GFX

2nd Run
Rendering (Single CPU) : 3532 CB-CPU
Rendering (Multiple CPU) : 13960 CB-CPU
Multiprocessor Speedup : 3.95
Shading (OpenGL Standard) : 5353 CB-GFX

3rd Run
Rendering (Single CPU) : 3552 CB-CPU
Rendering (Multiple CPU) : 13831 CB-CPU
Multiprocessor Speedup : 3.89
Shading (OpenGL Standard) : 5373 CB-GFX


---Cinebench 64 bit---

(Again----I've only got 12GB 1333MHz of ram installed, instead of the full 16GB
Someone else with full 16GB of ram, seemed to get a bit higher score in the single-core rendering... around notebookchecks-benchmark single-core scores--
and just a little bit higher in multiple CPU rendering... --a bit higher than my scores
--so just take that into account)

1st Run
Rendering (Single CPU) : 4445 CB-CPU
Rendering (Multiple CPU) : 16934 CB-CPU
Multiprocessor Speedup : 3.81
Shading (OpenGL Standard) : 5550 CB-GFX

2nd Run
Rendering (Single CPU) : 4450 CB-CPU
Rendering (Multiple CPU) : 17001 CB-CPU (in the 17000 !!)
Multiprocessor Speedup : 3.82
Shading (OpenGL Standard) : 5494 CB-GFX

3rd Run
Rendering (Single CPU) : 4469 CB-CPU
Rendering (Multiple CPU) : 16933 CB-CPU
Multiprocessor Speedup : 3.79
Shading (OpenGL Standard) : 5602 CB-GFX




---Cinebench R11.5 64 bit---

(lowest score over 3 runs)

OpenGL : 32.17 fps
CPU (Multiple core) : 4.95 points
CPU (Single Core) : 1.12 points
MP Ratio : 4.44x


(highest score over 3 runs)

OpenGL : 32.50 fps
CPU (Multiple core) : 4.97 points
CPU (Single Core) : 1.13 points
MP Ratio : 4.60x

checking my scores with theirs, I must say their testing machine performed really below what you should expect from the i7-2630qm... Especially in Multiple CPU rendering..

in the CB10 Multiple CPU rendering scores, even all my 32 bit scores are higher than their 64 bit! so they really seemed to have a very BIG CPU throttling problem with their machine...


----I will be doing some new Benchmarking tests when I have installed the full 16GB of ram.. to see how much more of a (little/medium) boost that gives me in the different render scores.

All I can say now...
---I'm very happy! with my aspire 8951G scores!---

 

Hello
I would like to know if there is possibility to upgrade laptop Ethos 8951G
There are probably 3 or 4 models and they are vary from hardware components.

The highest configuration is:

Processor Intel Core i7 2630QM
Memory 16GB DDR3 SDRAM-PC3-8500-1066
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M 2GB

The Lowest configuration is:
Processor Intel Core i5 2410M
Memory 6GB DDR3 SDRAM-PC3-8500-1066
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M 1GB

My question is
Will I be able to upgrade this lower config. laptop with better hardware components? May be higher than Acer selling?

CPU:
Intel Core i7 2630QM
Intel Core i7 2720QM
Intel Core i7 2820QM
Intel Core i7 2920XM
Intel Core i7 2860QM

RAM:
8GB
12GB
16GB

GPU:
NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M

Thank You Very Much

 

8951G's power supply is important. Generally you can assume every compatible hardware can be plugged in as long as you do not overload the psu.

1- i7 QM cpus use 45W. XM use 55W. All QMs should work without any problem. XMs will probably work but may overload psu under load.

2- If there are 4 slots then there is psu power enough for 4 ram modules. So Ram upgrade won't be a problem. (By the way 2 slots of ram 8GB for example + A XM CPU should also work.

3- I don't know the power consumption of neither 555M nor 560M. I cannot just assume they are very similar by the look of their model name. Code name of 555M is N12E-GE-B and 560M is GF116. They are totally different chips. 560M is much more powerful card so it probably requires a bit more Watts.

Also there is heat problem to be considered. 8951G is not a gaming laptop. It has already have high end components and a small fan. Replacing parts with better components if not overload psu will heat up the system. If one to try such an upgrade, I would recommend use of a good notebook cooler.

 

@fatihdemirdag

Thank you very much for explain!
I am considering to buy one.
Acer Aspire 8951G with low specs. - price about £1040
There is Core i5 - 2410M/i5-2520M/i5-2540M one of these and 6GB RAM
Seller on one website states there is GF 555M 2GB
But Tesco direct selling with lower GF 450M 1GB
I am considering to buy cheapest 8951G 18.4'' model and upgrade
1.CPU
2.RAM
I think GPU is impossible to upgrade it's soldered on motherboard
I've got some SSDs so I do not need drives
It will cost me less I assume
So I will buy at least i7-2820QM 45W it cost about £200 on ebay but ES
Then 12GB RAM cost £80-£90
One 4GB module is already installed so it willbe full 16 GB
I still wanna check PSU specs whether it can manage extreme core i7's
One more thing I need to checkif this laptop supports DDR3 1333 or 1066 only

 

to get all this faster/ more-powerful hardware working, especially an
GTX 560m and i7-2820QM it can go good or bad, taking into account you Double/tripple check everything else that needs to be replaced with it, like a bigger power-adaptor (for GTX-560m) and ' a must' a better cooling-fan!.

The i7-2820QM does also run 45 watts and accourding to acer-specs-info the 8951G comes also with the i7-2720QM and 2820QM ...??
(and still,.. we haven't seen either of them ...jet...)

I do know of an 8951G being tested with the i7-2720Qm, so maybe we'll see those higher CPU ethos-models in the upcoming months... (it would make sense do, since with the 1st gen i7 a few months later down the road Acer did also release some of the higher-clocked Aspire-Ethos-models..)

So--- you could either give your upgrade-plans a go,... or wait just a little bit longer, to see if/what other models acer could/will release in the upcoming months...
--the choice is yours..

About the memory, the 8951G supports both ddr3 1066 and 1333MHz (I've got 12GB of ddr3 1333MHz installed.)

Again, wait a little longer,.... or give your plans green-light.. (if you do, just make sure you first do some extended! research.. to have all the info needed to not be angry later down the road messing things up.

 

No I would like to install by my self for example this one :
eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

And what about 1600MHz ?
KINGSTON HYPERX 8GB DDR3 1600MHz SODIMM NOTEBOOK MEMORY | eBay

 

Just ordered the AS8951G after quite a bit of research. Display size may have jaded my view just a hair. No pun intended. Can't wait nonetheless

 

i7-2630QM supports 1066 and 1333 MHz memories.

(Source: Intel® Core? i7-2630QM Processor (6M Cache, 2.00 GHz))

 

Aha
i7-2720QM and i7-2820QM etc supports 1600 ..
Link: http://ark.intel.com/compare/53472,54644,50067,52219,52227
Question is if Ethos supports these CPUs
Edit
Strange things is that they saying 2630QM supports up to 8GB RAM? but Ethos got max 16GB
fatihdemirdag's Link above

 

Well, the i7-2720QM and i7-2820QM etc do support 1600 .. but so does the 2630QM ...
------when Intel came out with the SandyBridge platform (Intel HM65 Express Chipsets) they were JEDEC certified for only 1066Mhz and 1333MHz. but by-original design the chipsets (also including the 2630QM !) could support the more faster RAM...easily!
Yet It was only since resently, that JEDEC released compliant for these Chipsets to also support that faster RAM ...even up to 1866MHz!...

The only thing needed to get those Faster memory working on say, like' the 2630QM, was to have RAM-companies make memory with the right SPD-settings to get those memory-modules to auto-overclock themselves to the Higher-speed... (those RAM-modules are Called PnP --Plug and Play memory)
http://www.kingston.com/hyperx/pnp/default.asp

--As far as I know Kingston is the only company with those Auto-overclocking Memory-modules, and they Do! work on the 2630QM!!
I finally' have them in my 8951G where they are shown to run full speed 1866MHz,
the Video-editing (which I do in Adobe-CS5) does get quite a Boost! and also gaming gets a few to medium extra fps... (and a lot more when using the Sandy-Bridge onboard intel HD3000 Graphics ...which just loves! the speedy memory..

So the 2630QM isn't limited to just max 1333MHz of memory...
(even an 2nd gen i5 works with the HyperX PnP-memory from Kingston)
--You just have to pay some $$$$ for them..

about the max amount of memory 8GB max for the 2630QM,.... well, it's kind of the same story... it does support 16GB... ( 8GB in dual-channel and higher in Single-channel)

Yet at the time of its release 8GB was really standard max for any program (is still very high) , so officially the 2630QM was released with 8GB max... while 'officially' supporting more...
but things have changed with Notebook companies since then, ..going beyond the 8GB of ram, as software does to...

The reason why intel's website still says 8 GB max,...?
Simply answer....intel doesn't really update their website on the changes with their hardware the specs 'almost' never change, when the support for their chips does...
#

 

Hi all,

I just got the 5951g the other day and so far it's been great, except for one thing, I can't get the touchpad to work. I don't know if the problem is that it is broken or I am just too stupid to get it to work, but no matter what I do I cannot get it to function. Thanks for the help.

 

Have you tried the Fn+F7 combination to try and enable to touchpad?

 

What about intel wireless display in acer as 8951G? anyway to have intel wieless display ,4G wimax and intel my wifi with 8951G? mamnoon

 

Yeah I tried that too, also the touchpad does turn on and everything, and pressing the button on it cycles through all its modes but no matter which mode it's in nothing happens on my actual laptop.

 

Hi. I have problem on my 5951g. I cant see firewire 1394 port in device manager in Windows. Any solution?

 

@RAY24
Thanx so much for nice and clear explanation!

So you saying you've got Kingston DDR3 16GB 1866MHz ???? !!!Blimey!!!
It cost you £200 not bad
Kingston HyperX PnP - Memory - 8 GB : 2 x 4 GB - SO DIMM 204-pin - DDR3 - 1866 MHz / PC3-14900 - CL1 / KHX1866C11S3P1K2/8G / Kingston / Kingston / DDR3 SDRAM / Memory / Products / e-ShopBrokers
I have older laptop with DDR2 and 8GB cost me £150 but from ebay. Normally it was £300
And still DDR2 are more expensive than DDR3 dunno why

 

Hey, jdons23..

At first I had also the same problem with the touchpad.

I eventually found out the problem, and the solution for it.#

It seems that your remote isn't paired (connected) with the 8951G this can be the case sometimes taking it out of the box..

The solution is simple...
Just make sure you follow the steps correctly... (i didn't at first, and thought it was a faulty one... ) eventually I did go through these steps again correctly, and it connected with the 8951G, --haven't had a problem with it since..

here are the steps..

--Turn off the MediaRemote (press the mode button for three seconds). --make sure the blue/orange blinking light goes out.

--Press and hold the left and the right click button (beneath the remote)
hold them both, pressed for at least three seconds.

--Press the left click button key once.

--Press the mode button on the touchpad.

--The status light will flash to confirm the pairing was successful.

If it doesn't work the first time, which can happen, because the order of clicking (especially holding the right and left key together) needs to be done right.)
try it again, .. eventually it should work.


--Hope it helps..

..yeah they don't come cheap...
but then again, for the editing-work I do, the extra-boost is quite a bit... (the more the better)
It doesn't do much for gaming do when using the nVidia-card---just a few extra fps here and there,
... but when you're on the road and want to play some games with longer battery life,.. in which case switching to the on-board Intel HD 3000 is the way to go,... your gaming does receive quite a BIG boost in fps... (depending by game..)

So the only question left for you is,.... do you find it worth the extra Cash..?

about some ddr2 being more expensive than DDR3,....
..it is all about the size of the modules... 4GB DDR2 can be more expensive than 2GB DDR3.. ..etc... it also depends on the manufacturer...

 

Thanks RAY24, it's working perfectly now.

 

You Know
I love to upgrade laptops. I wanna upgrade it to the top,as much is possible.
I will be thinking about them kingston 1866 and 2820QM this cpu supports few more features than 2630QM
I've got som SSDs so I think I will make perfect Ethos
One thing worries me that this super-mega laptop doesn't support RAID feature.
With two SSDs Vertex 3 it would be supe-fast machine - nah.. shame.

About those DDR 2 and DDR3 you not quite right 4GB DDR2 will be more expensive than 4GB DDR3 you can check everywhere

 

..hhm You're partially right I see,.. around here where I live (online or none-online stores) at many places the 4GB DDR3 modules are still not cheaper (not much difference) then the 4GB DDR2..
..yet ...I do see, there are popping-up stores more and more where the DDR2 does indeed cost more than DDR3
--it seems one thing especially is causing this price/switch....
(when I asked around) they all say about the same thing
: ---it seems to have to do with the availability..
a shrinking number of systems still uses DDR2 modules
and they say it has to do with production-cost? vs selling them..)
in other words....... the more rare they get, the higher the price...?

 

Hello Guys
Just playing with my new Aspire Ethos 8951G and it perfect apart display!
Display is not very good just compared with Vaio RGB LED display no chance!
But Hardware performance is very good

My Configuration is:

Intel Core i7 2630QM
Nvidia GeForce GT 555M
Intel HD Graphics Family
Kingston 2x4GB DDR3 1333MHz
Seagate 2x750 GB, 5400RPM
Broadcom 802.11n Wi-Fi
Realtek PCIe GBE LAN

I will be upgrading system to this:

CPU Core i7 2820QM or i7 2920XM
GPU No changes
RAM Kingston 4x4GB DDR3 1866 MHz
SSD Kingston/OCZ/Samsung/Intel/Crucial/Corsair 2x128 GB Definetely SATA III
Wi-Fi Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 wireless card A/B/G/N
LAN No changes

 

Is the space bar not supposed to be back-lit at all on the AS8951G?

 

You can see a few spots of light under mine when it's dark, but definitely nothing like the other keys.

 

Same me

 

...Just like mine..

I don't see why one would need it to be backlit anyways...? it's not like we have to look for it.. ". now where is that space bar...?"

 

Here is Wireles card advanced menu described
Very useful
http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php?threads/broadcom-wireless-lan-adapter-user-guide.15819/
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/network/p70008/EN/vista_7/props.htm

I have edited it its not spreaded

 

Please can someone help me with problem with FireWire 1394? The connector is on left side of notebook, but in Device Manager in windows there is not any 1394 bus or controller or anything.
I want to buy new firewire soundcard, but I am worried about its functionality.

 

Hi,

Just would like to know if AS8951G supports 3d vision and playback 3d bluray movie through the HDMI. please advise. Thanks.

 

hi just plug something init and u will see if it works
it just drivers are not installed
once u plug something init windows will install it and u will see it
in device manag.
AnywY i dont think its still usable that port.I was thinking my self once i got the laptop why it't there such unecessary port
you can connect devices only with supplied power there is no power so if u have device such ssd hdd enclosures u will need additional or aux power you know that port is technically dead and very slow

 

I don't know about 3d Vision,.. but if you've got a 3D-ready TV, than playback a 3D bluray movie through the HDMI does work.

I myself got a 2011 Samsung 3D LED-tv, and it works beautifully!

When you put in a 3D Bluray, it will Automatically open with Acer's Clearfi

You've then got to select the 3D-mode button in the down right-corner.
Clearfi will restart, and then You'll have to select from (most down right-corner button) you're corresponding 3D-TV option (in most case the HDMI 1.4 enabled 3D TV -- option) that should do it.. (did for me) --if not, you're probably got to select some 3D options on your 3D-TV.

 

Hi Ray24,

Thanks for your info. In fact, I am thinking to buy AS8951G and there are two available versions. One with 16g ram and 120g SSD, the other with 8g ram and two 750g hdd and cheaper. Because of the budget, I prefer the 2nd option, but would like to check if I can replace one of the 750g hdd by SSD to improve the boot time by myself if I have more budget in the future. Please advise if you have any idea. Thanks.

 

It's no problem to replace any of the hdd by an SSD, it's very easy to do so..
--aI myself am in the same position.

>Here's what I did/bought and upgraded myself...

I bought an 8951G with only one 750GB hdd (of-course standard 5400rpm..) and even less 4GB of memory..
This was also my choice because of my low budget..

Eventually I replaced the original hdd with one of the fastest notebook-drives available, a 7200rpm WD scorpio black hdd. I also put a 2nd hdd in the 2nd bay myself.. (The overall speed boost I got was VERY NICE!)
(all I needed to get the 2nd hdd in was to get the 2nd hdd-cable + brackets!)

I also placed an extra 8GB of 1333MHz for a total of 12GB 1333MHz.
---for comparison the models, I don't include the eventually bought Kingston DDR3 16GB (4x4) 1866MHz-- --

-----In the future when budget and SSD seize are accepteble for me. I am also going to put in an SSD in (nothing less then +400GB SSD)

Right now my budget + self changes were... (living in Europe)
€ 1119,- for the 8951G
€ 200,- for 2x WD Scorpio Black 750GB 7200rpm
€ 56,- for 8GB (2x4GB) Kingston 1333MHz memory
€ 75,- for 2x 2nd hdd-cable (1 + 1 spare) - 2 hdd brackets - (incl. shipping!)

Total € 1450,- !!


//----
If I had bought your 2nd choice In my country with 8g ram and two 750g hdd
It would have cost me € 1499,- ..+ € 200,- for replacing both hdd! and another € 125,- to replace the 8GB 1066MHz modules with 12gb of 1333MHz

= total € 1825,- !!

So... total € 1450,- incl my own upgrades ..( min future costs for SSD)
... or total € 1825,- incl my own upgrades ..( min future costs for SSD)

----My self-upgrade choice gave me the same specs (+ 4GB more memory!) but, ...for around € 400,- less!!

---// Back to your question.
Yes You can replace any of those hdd's in the future with SSD drives.

---If you can upgrade all those things yourself (while lowering the costs - considering the Full-specs AS8951G)
I would say,..go for the AS8951G with 2x 750GB..

 

Ray24,

Thanks a lot for your detail analysis.

 

Good morning everybody,

I decided to grab one of these laptops for work. I've gone through all of the posts here, and you've discussed RAM upgrades, HDD upgrades, and even Wireless/Bluetooth upgrades.

But what about what's outside of the laptop? Now that I bought the laptop (online), I need to get a carrying case for it. What do you use to carry this monster around? Relevant links appreciated.

edit: More specifically, do you carry the remote/trackpad in the laptop itself? Or if you prefer to use a separate mouse and therefore avoid (from what I've read) sensitivity issues altogether, do how do you protect the trackpad during travel?

 

Hi Xaxio - I use a Targus backpack similar to this one, but older:
Targus XL 17-18 inch Laptop Backpack Product Review The Urban Shogun
Amazon.com: Targus XL Backpack Designed for 17 Inch Notebooks TXL617 (Black with Blue Accents): Electronics
I've had mine for six years using it 4x a week plus trips and it's still in great condition. Tons of space, lots of pockets.
You don't need to remove the trackpad, I just leave it in all the time. If you aren't using it you can just turn it off with it's power switch on it or use the Fn-F6 key combination to turn it off temporarily.

 

Thanks, good sir.

 

I have been using that targus backpack with fair results. It is more than large enough. The only complaint I have is that it lacks padding on the edges, and this is a fragile machine. It would be a good idea to add foam to the bottom.

 

@RAY24
Hi man
so i have purchased i7 2820 and those kingston RAM pnp 1866
now i need some disassembling manual to know how to get in cpu area
memory it should be ok but cpu need to dismantle even further than just keyboard
what do u think?

 

New BIOS for 5951g:
BIOS Acer Updates kernel and CPU micro code. 1.05 4.1 MB 2011/08/22

 

You're correct about that, to get to the CPU you will have to disassemble more things..

Right now (as far as I know) there isn't any service-manual for the 8951G ---not yet.. Eventually there will be.

So right now, I would suggest, to keep looking around, and wait till it's online, cause One-thing I've learned: better go the way of the service-manual, then figure it out on your own.. and mess things up... (even-though you'll learn a lot from it)

Okay, just checked-- and this Bios update is also available for the 8951G..
I'm --not yet going to update the bios,.. doesn't seem to need it..

If any of you does update the Bios with this update, I'd love to know if it causes any changes (good --or-- Bad)

 

hi
its quite old i updated it 2weeks ago

 

...The last time I checked the Acer-website was around 3 weeks ago, so I'll guess I' just missed it....


Did you notice any changes since updating the Bios?

 

@ray
hi no obviously as i updated couple of times other motherboards and laptop motherboards I didnt see notice here is WRITTEN notice what BIOS improvements are:
BIOS Acer 1.04 (4.1MB) version:
Improves the charging performance of the USB3.0 port.
2011/06/30
BIOS Acer 1.05 (4.1MB) version:
Updates kernel and CPU micro code
2011/08/22
----------------------
hey guys
if anybody wants be mega tuned up with RAM
try to install 32GB RAM
here is link 1x8GB Samsung module so-dimm:
eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

 

--thanks,
I already checked the written notice of the BIOS improvements...
--I always check forums before updating these kind of CPU BIOS
because I've sc***d things up before by just blindly updating the BIOS...

In this case, as it only states it's an
'Kernel and CPU micro code' -- "update"
with No specifics' as to what kind of improvements it brings...

I just want to be sure..

--
So, according to what you say, its okay then? to update the 8951G with the BIOS Acer version: 1.05 (4.1MB) ?

 

yes of course
you can update BIOS with no worries IF it's from original manufacturer of laptop or motherboard manuf.

 

Hey Guys
Hi @RAY24
Just received and installed RAM Kingston RAM pnp 1866MHz
I must say it was quite easy to open,replace and install tiny bit fiddling.
I was easy to remove few screws but keyboard didn't pop up
I had to pry plastics clips on the back of laptop
here are some pictures:

 

Hi

My 8951g-9600 is arriving 20/9.

Here are my doubts:

1 - Do you guys install a clean copy of Windows or just unninstall the crapware?
2 - Anyone tried any Linux? If so, how it worked? (switching between 555m and Intel graphics)
3 - How is the autonomy of the battery life of the touchpad?
4 - Any other place to buy the 2nd hdd cable?