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    Acer TM8210 motherboard doesn't support INTEL VT?

    Discussion in 'Acer' started by ZT3000, Dec 18, 2006.

  1. ZT3000

    ZT3000 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I know the Acer installed INTEL Core 2 DUO T7200 2.0GHZ CPU supports hardware virtualization (Intel VT) ( http://www.intel.com/cd/channel/res...obile/processors/core2duo_m/feature/index.htm)

    but there is NO BIOS option to enable/disable it by the user!

    Assuming this brand new laptop (Acer TM8210-6597) has Intel VT hardware virtualization support, today I tried to install Xen Express 3.1 via CD.
    After accepting the license agreement, the install checks your system for hardware virtualization support and I proudly got the message "Hardware virtualization assist support is not available on this system".
    I was further informed, by the installation, to either enable it in BIOS or limp along without it.

    Question is: Has Acer hidden the VT option from CMOS or does the motherboard not support it?

    I hope a few people, besides myself, scream at Acer for this one.
     
    ZT3000, Dec 18, 2006
    #1
  2. bundys

    bundys Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'll join in on the screaming - my Aspire 5680 also has the T7200 with VT, but when running VMWare, the software tells me to first enable VT in the BIOS before VM can use it.

    Sadly the BIOS has no visible option to turn it on/off. Worse yet, the Canadian website doesn't even have any drivers or BIOS updates listed for the 5680.

    I managed to find BIOS updates for the 5680 on the European website but sadly still no mention of VT support. Also, I'm not too sure if I should even think about updating my North American system with a European BIOS.

    Come on Acer Canada, how about listing some drivers on your website and giving us a BIOS with VT-enable option?

    Just my 2 cents.
     
    bundys, Dec 21, 2006
    #2
  3. k3l0

    k3l0 Notebook Consultant

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    VT does not have a noticeable effect on VMware performance on 32-bit usage...
     
    k3l0, Dec 21, 2006
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  4. bundys

    bundys Notebook Enthusiast

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    k3I0, maybe true, but I'd still like to have a feature I paid for enabled.
     
    bundys, Dec 22, 2006
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  5. ZT3000

    ZT3000 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Me thinks Acer could have (should have) installed a motherboard capable of supporting Intel VT (since the CPU does support it), when....They advertise it's support on the exact notebook I bought.
    On the same note, they DO support the Execute bit Enable hardware feature but again, leave the user with no CMOS changeable option.

    Lastly, my company uses the Asset ID tag in CMOS, but not on this TM8210 laptop since the Asset ID tag option is not changeable, leaving you to only longingly stare at it's empty label in the CMOS summary page.

    I wish someone would publish a 3rd party CMOS release, like what's being done with wireless routers by DD-WRT and Sveasoft.
     
    ZT3000, Dec 22, 2006
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  6. andyasselin

    andyasselin Notebook Deity

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    it seem in hidden in bios if you open bios phoneix editor it show they but have no clue how to enable it
     
    andyasselin, Dec 24, 2006
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  7. andyasselin

    andyasselin Notebook Deity

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    Acer say this

    The bios is provide as is ?

    Dear

    Thank you for contacting Acer America. I apologize for the delay in responding to your email. The BIOS is provided as is; that I know of Acer does not plan to implement a BIOS update to offer this feature. I'm sorry I am unable to assist with this issue.


    Regards,
    Acer Online Support Team
     
    andyasselin, Dec 29, 2006
    #7
  8. test123

    test123 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Here is an interesting Ad:
    http://shopping.msn.com/Specs/shp/?itemId=593910193

    from product details:

    Execute Disable Bit capability, Intel Virtualization Technology, Enhanced Intel Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing, Intel 64 Technology, Intel Advanced Digital Media Boost, Intel Advanced Smart Cache, Intel Dynamic Bus Parking, Intel Dynamic Power Coordination, Intel Intelligent Power Capability, Intel Smart Memory Access, Intel Wide Dynamic Execution

    Any idea is VT there, if it is there wht is the difference comparingto 8210 (bios, motherboard/chipset...)?

    Thank You
     
    test123, Jan 27, 2007
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  9. andyasselin

    andyasselin Notebook Deity

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    andyasselin, Jan 27, 2007
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  10. andyasselin

    andyasselin Notebook Deity

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    Yes i think we shound all ***** but how shound we go about make acer change they mind on give us option turn it on or off?

    shound we start a site for request for it?
     
    andyasselin, Jan 28, 2007
    #10
  11. whit3h4t

    whit3h4t Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have the same problem...
    I bought on last December an Acer 5720-6124 and have the same problems you.
    This is post I opened:

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3250936#post3250936

    I think that Acer should give us option to enable VT or not, We paied for it!!!
    I need virtual machines to work, but a **** (and expensive) notebook don´t have this features.
    Only thing I can say: "ACER NEVER MORE"...
    Good Luck for us.
    [ ]'s

    whit3h4t
     
    whit3h4t, May 23, 2008
    #11