Acer MXM Models and Cards

loopster: They are like the 9600M GT; an SBIOS patch is required for the x920G series.
AFAIK no Acer does vendor ID white/blacklisting.

 

Hi

The GT230M (Toshiba K000075450) fits perfect into 6930G ?

I see this post :

http://forum.notebookreview.com/5098348-post6.html

The SBIOS needs probably some mods ?

In case of problems, the GT230M fits into 7720G (i have one) ? (need probably BlackEdition bios, i suppose)

Regards.

 

The GT230M needs some modding to fit in ANY Acer; specifically, you have to solder on a ROM chip (type MX25L512 or AT25F512N) to the top left corner of the card, and replace the 15K SMD resistor between the ROM chip's SCLK and GND pins (use a multimeter to find it) with a 35K one. Then, blind-flash the card with the following VBIOS: request download ticket | GT230M.ROM - ifile.it

At this point, the card should work OOB (with original Acer SBIOS) in the 7720G. Not sure about the 6930G.

 

Hello guys,
I have a question about my Acer 5920g and need help with it.
So I recently bought off ebay a 9500m GS to replace the 8600m GT that stopped working.

In the first post it says it is compatible but when I put it in my laptop, I just get a blank screen.
I bought it from ebay and it was from an " Original Acer Aspire 6935G" and also said that it is compatible with 5920g.

So any ideas what I should do?
Should I update the acer bios or the card bios or something like that? (based on what I read around)
But since it came from another acer it should already have an acer bios on it I'm guessing.

Any help would be much appreciated. I'm stressing to the max lol.
Thanks

 

You need to install the MXM-patched system BIOS from the MXM BIOS modding thread.

The card having an Acer VBIOS means nothing; matched SBIOS and VBIOS vendors only matter on brands that do PCI ID whitelisting. Acer is not one of them. What does matter is whether or not the card has a true MXM VBIOS - with 9500M GS, it is a mixed bag (some come with a true MXM VBIOS, others don't - in fact, there is even both an MXM and a non-MXM Acer VBIOS). The SBIOS patch is required for all true-MXM cards, otherwise the error in the MXM-SIS structure will trip up the VBIOS's MXM structure parser.

 

Hi,
thanks for the reply.
I searched the forums for the bios. I found this but I'm not sure if it's the right one.
Aspire 5920G BIOS 3813 MOD R3.rar from Kizwan from this thread
Can you confirm it please.

Also I would need to do a blind flash with that file right.
I found this thread with instructions.
Number 3, sorry if it's a stupid question but how do I do that?
And number 11,"press it briefly" meaning I press and release after 2 sec or something right.

1 - Download the latest (or the version you are after) from the Acer website. (once you have gained access to a computer)

2 - Extract the files from the archive that are for the dos update.

3 - Next, write a small autoexec.bat file using notepad containing the ".bat" file included with Dos Bios files. Make sure you save it as "autoexec.bat" and not as ".txt"

4 - Using nero express (or any cdr program that can create bootable cd's) and start a new project to make a bootable disc.

5 - Put all the files from the bios archive (as explained in no3) and the autoexec.bat into the root of the new disc

6 - click "burn disc" and use the native boot image within nero. I used english US Boot Locale.

7 - Finalise the disc.

8 - Put disc in affected Laptop. (Remember, this will only work if your laptop will switch on, fan noise, lights etc.)

9 - Switch off Laptop and remove battery and AC/DC Power cable.

10 - Whilst holding down "Fn + Esc", plug in the power cable, and switch on the laptop but dont let go of the keys yet.

11 - disc will begin to spin, fans will come on full speed, but no lights.
Release the buttons, wait a couple of seconds and press the buttons "Fn + Esc" again breifly, then wait for a good 5 - 10 mins.

12 - The laptop should shut down by itself, then once you switch it back on, it should recover itself and boot normally.


Sorry if it seems like a lot of questions, I don't really want to screw it up

 

Nope, that is a menu-modded BIOS. The MXM mod is in the "MXM BIOS modding and discussion" thread (AKA "x920G"). AFA<!-- -->IK Kizwan didn't incorporate my MXM fix in his V3 BIOS.

Also, those flashing instructions are (preliminary/incorrect) instructions for the 5 720G (Insyde BIOS), and will not work on the 5 920G (Phoenix BIOS).

 

Ok thanks for the info, gonna check that tomorrow. Too sleepy now lol

Edit: Hi, I found your thread and got the file now : Aspire 5920G (Phoenix, with unlocked menus, updated 2011-11-06)

But I can't seem to find a tutorial for 5920g to blind flash it. Gonna search some more and see if I can find one.

 

Ok, I found finally some time and soldered eprom on my toshiba 230m mxm II, changed resistor and flashed with posted by .NetRolller 3D bios. I put it in 5930g and unfortunatelly I have no display on laptop screen. But I can hear loading windows. Unluckily I can't check now, if something show on external monitor. I tried few others bioses for 240m and have no luck with them either. Any suggestions?

 

Did the flash go correctly? Does a readback from the ROM (nvflash --save) produce the correct BIOS?

Also, it is a good idea to first check the removed resistor to see if it is really 15K before replacing with a 35K one. Plus, make sure that the resistor you are replacing is the one connected to SCLK (the one farther from the card's edge).

 

Yes I replaced correct resistor-15k. Yes, saving bios is giving me correct bios. Card is working for a moment in d900c during the boot (I can see initial messages on screen but after that laptop is turning off itself). Like I said, when I put card in 5930g I can hear loading windows but no display on laptop screen, that same situation like with msi 4670 1gb ddr2.
Offtopic. Another little sad news . I just missed opportunity to buy brand new dell 6990m for about 300$, I can only blame myself for that.

 

Does the screen stay completely off, or just the backlight?

Also, what LCD panel type does the 5930G have? (Toshiba cards depend on a valid panel EDID for driving the internal display.)

 

I dont know which one exatly is in my 5930g but there ware 4 panels used in this laptop, acording to F.R.U: Chi mei N154I3-L03 http://donteh.ucoz.ua/_ld/0/61_n153i3-lo3.pdf, AUO B154EW02-V7: lcdtech.no-ip.info/download/specs/AUO/B154EW02%20V7.pdf, AUO B154EW08-V1: beyondinfinite.com/lcd/Library/Auo/B154EW08_V1.pdf, and LgPhilips LP154WX4: http://beyondinfinite.com/lcd/Library/LG-Philips/LP154WX4-TLC1.pdf.
Yes screen stay completely off.

 

Must be an EDID issue, I just had a strange experience with 2 seemingly identical LTN154X3-L03 on the Dell m1530. Although there may be whitelisting going on here, one stayed completely off, while the other showed a double purplish image.
Both tested good on other laptops and the m1530 displays over VGA.

EDID is something that bothers me very much. Maybe we can help each other, since I bought one of those Toshiba cards as well as an Asus gts 360m both for my 5720g/7720g and I have 2x 17" and 8x 15.4" LCDs to test. + a 14"

 

Did you try dumping and comparing the EDIDs from the 2 LTN154X3s?

 

Im open for a propositions. Just tell me what to do. How to dump EDID from lcd?

 

Something with RW everything I'm sure.

Anyone know a linux equivalent of RWeverything?

 

I used EDID Menager (Extron), and that's what it gave me:

 

Is it feasible to flash the EDID using this method:
Installing a QXGA display in a R/T60 or 61 - ThinkWiki
???

 

Yes, but I believe that there are easier (and free) methods.

 

Like what??

Nice sig.

 

I read a few days ago of a DOS-based EDID updater, supposedly made by Nvidia. (I haven't downloaded it, as in the end, I didn't need to flash my EDID.)

 

Hy guys, nice work really ,

A question please. Ive an ACER Aspire 7720G, i would like to know if the ATI HD 4650 1Go DDR (or 4670 1 Go DDR3) is ok for my machine... I see some other modele are ok with this card but i dont see the card in my section 7720G. But im in MXM2 too so is there compatibility problem with my Aspire 7720G and the ATI HD 4650 ?

Thanks guys, and good job again for this topic ^^.

 

The HD 4570 DDR3 (with the needed HW mods to work outside Toshiba machines) did work in my 5720G (a 7720G in a smaller case). However, the 4650 DDR2 might be different, as it is not a Toshiba/Compal card.

 

I am the lucky owner of such a Toshiba 4650 DDR3 card (part no K000075440). NetRoller could you please point me in the right direction for the hardware mods you mention? Is it missing the EEPROM?

I have been reading through this thread hoping to get it to work in my Aspire 7720G. Screen stays of, card not detected in Windows. Would be great if I could get it to work after all.

 

You will need:
-One ST M25P05A or compatible NOR flash chip. (I used an M25P10A.)
-Three 10kOhm resistors in size 0402 imperial or 1005 metric.
- A good soldering iron, tweezers and steady hands.

Procedure:
-Solder the M25P05A to the SOIC8 pads in the top left corner of the card. (One side of the pad is marked - orient the chip so that the "dot" falls on the marked side.)
-Flip over the card, and solder the 3 resistors to the space opposite the SOIC8 pads, as shown below:
https://plus.google.com/photos/1052...ms/5693861149925706737?authkey=CLTx-5_368SJYw

(Apologies - the image may be hard to read, as it went through several revisions.)

Now, the card is ready for flashing. Use the following flash image: request download ticket | HD4650-NEW.ROM - ifile.it
(The MSI HD4670 VBIOS may also work, but it will overclock the card to 4670 speeds.)

 

Thanks, you're the best. Photo looks exactly like my card, so I'll be trying that very soon. I will try to make some photos before/after, for the archive.

 

I have another one..

As a second effort for the 7720G I got myself the HP Quadro 770M card (part no 502338-001). From the 7720G upgrade thread I concluded that this combination should work. Unfortunately:

- no display (internal / external)
- Windows does not detect the card
- nvflash gives me "No nvidia display adapters found"
- tried the above on two different 7720G's that work with another card

I it broken? In the EEPROM corner ( see image) there is a MX25L512a present, but a small IC with resistors is missing. Could this be the reason for nvflash not detecting the card? The Ebay seller insists the card is functional in an HP notebook.

 

^ I have had about 20 of those cards. They have a very high rate of failure.
You can try reseating the card in the slot. Some of them just don't work with all notebooks.

Its not because there are missing components on the board, often times its the way of manufacturing to leave some spaces empty. If its damaged, the places where components have broken off will look different.

 

In case anyone is interested, I found the DOS based EDID updater but was not able to get it to work with a laptop panel. In any case, it was VERY difficult to find. So I'll upload it here.

 

I just thought I'd let everybody know about my experience with the guy from aliexpress. After waiting for three months, I received my package back in the mail with a sticker saying "Insufficient Address." I told him what had happened and sent him pictures of the sticker. I also showed him the address to which I had sent it and the address he had given me. They were both the same. I received this e-mail from him:

"hello sir
i saw your picture, and why you not write the zip code :213022 and my morbile number :13915077548????
your address write is not very clear!!!! and if you write my morbile number , the people of course can deliver me!!!!
you are very stupid man!!!
thank you sir
mihcael yao"

I don't recommending anyone ever buy from him anymore. There are a couple other sellers with the 6770M on that site, and they are cheaper, too. In case you are wondering, I have lodged a complain with aliexpress. Hope something gets done.

 

Hi niffcreature, any idea what was wrong with the cards you had? Were they completely undetectable, or were you able to fix some of them (temporarily) by re-heating them. Would be good to know if it is a compatibility issue, or just a broken card (so I could return it).

I am also still wondering what exactly is checked by the nvflash tool, just the eeprom or the chipset as well. Because on some of the cards I found on Ebay do have the small IC in the corner.

 

I haven't tried baking them. I don't think its that simple of an issue. Maybe they were all incompatible but I know some of them worked before.

The IC in the corner wasn't what I was talking about. Thats a 3rd type. I'll return your email about it and find a picture of the kind that I think worked.

Its not unheard of that a certain laptop will destroy a certain type of card or vice versa. As much as I hate this superstition I cannot trust any HP fx 770m in a non HP laptop.

 

I've had quite a few of those original HP spares (maybe 8) and they have always worked perfectly in any Amilo Pi 1536 or 1556 (a.k.a Alienware M5550-R3), so my personal experience is quite different.

 

@niffcreature: FX 770Ms die just as commonly in HP EliteBooks as in non-HPs. Sellers on eBay are dumping failed 770Ms in heaps. It appears to be an end-of-life failure. (Fortunately the HP blade server cards appear to be unaffected.)

 

Has anyone heard of a FirePro M5950? I found one for US$175 after shipping.

 

^ Good bet, give it a try. Yes we've heard of it, its a Dell card, most Dell cards work pretty well on Acers.

 

Yes, I did actually get the firepro stuff in my CC when I had a 6770M so maybe they were dell cards actually.

Either case I have always had good luck with dell cards in acers.

 

Thanks for the replies. For another question, even though I probably already know, how is its being a business card going to effect gaming? And if it does effect it too much, can it be flashed to a 6770m?

 

Hello,

I have one Aspire 7520G that needs fixing and the dreaded 8400M card. Anyone has any spare 8400M G, 8600M GS, HD 3650 that would fit in for a reasonable price?

Thanks!

 

I went ahead and ordered the M5950. Hopefully my transaction with this site will be better than the transaction with AliExpress.

 

Good luck man

 

Bad luck trying this on friday the 13th
Everything is in its place on the HD4650, but the 7720G keeps rebooting every 3 seconds (without the EEPROM present it ignored the card). At this point I blamed this to the EEPROM being empty. So I programmed the EEPROM by wiring it to the parallel port (directly with resistors like this ( english), then using the great tool Flashrom with -p rayer_spi). Reads back the same image, but the Acer keeps rebooting.

Any ideas..? Would be much appreciated.
Just in case, the resistors that need to be placed are the three in a row that are marked in green in NetRolller's image? Might it differ when I place the fourth resistor marked in green?

 

Do not add the 4th resistor.

Check if the EEPROM is not soldered on backwards. Also, the card may need a copper shim.

 

Anyone have experience with one of these?
USB SPI FLASH EEPROM PROGRAMMER STANDARD BIOS FLASHER | eBay
I have a different version but it can't read mx25l512mc or whatever, maybe its broken.

 

Sorry, niff, I'm not into it

On another note, it seems that after we found out that (back then) new Acers are non-MXM (since xx40 or so), there is no information about the current line-up. Anything about 7750G for example?

 

Still soldered on, seen a motherboard on ebay. Looks pretty cool but not practical:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ACER-ASPI...therboards&hash=item2316ffc060#ht_2412wt_1396

 

It means Acerless future for me. At least my current one is up'n'running, but if I decide to do something demanding, I'll have to go elsewhere - MSI/Sager.

 

Intresting!!!I follow youre link and i saw the
NVIDIA Quadro 2000M 2GB DDR3 MXM 3.0

for just 175$ prety cheap,i wonder if is going to work with my ACER 5739G.Keep us post it,and tell us how it went!!

 

Wont do better than your 6770M.