Acer TimelineX 3820TG Owners Lounge. Info, benchmarks, tweaks, mods and upgrades

Best score I got with my 3820tg (i3-350m, ati 5650, 4gb ram, 500gb hdd).
core ~690, memory ~1100


Anyone knows if model 352G50NSS can handle more than 4gb of ram? According to CrucialScan it can, but I don't know if I should trust it.

 

of course it can. people on this forum have upgraded it to 8 regularly. just make sure to have a 64 bit OS so your computer can address more than 4.

 

End of story;
The store I bought it from refunded it completely instead of sending it to acer for repair. Not sure why, but all the easier for me, I got my money back

And I have to say I really love the Samsung SEC3030 panel, the more I use it the more satisfied I am with it, one of the best laptop panels I've had (but then again I've not had DELL etc with so called "good" displays).

 

Could you give me a link for the one you got? That site baffles me! Is that 2GB RAM? I hear it comes with 7 english? What type of power adapter would that have?

 

Just got my laptop back from Acer. Turns out it had a bad piece of RAM that caused the computer to show random colors then freeze.

Testing it out for the next couple of days to see if the problem is really gone.

Gonna be dropping in the i7-620m if everything is OK.

The Agility 2 is friggen awesome though. =D

 

Got my Seagate momentus XT 500gb today and had it installed right after.
The speed seems way of the scale compared to the old western digital HDD that caused random freeze spikes.

 

Where did your old Western Digital cause freeze spikes? How often?

 

Hi everyone,

I've been reading this thread for a while (quite a long one)
And today I finaly got my 3820TG i5-460M!

Upgrade to SSD is done, and now I'm almost nearly finished with clean Windows 7 and drivers install. But I'm confused with WiFi and Bluetooth drivers... ACER site has few versions of those (for Broadcom, Atheros, Intel, etc). Where can i find out which one I got?


-- Gray Wolf

 

Just noticed there's a intel VGA driver update for the 3820tg's:

VGA Intel VGA Driver 8.15.10.2104 37.1 MB 2010/09/16

 

Hi, please, is known why does it take so much time to switch back to Intel HD from ATi using P button? Sometimes it takes as long as 15 seconds. Thanks....

 

Windows has first to load the driver on the first switch from AMD to Intel. The second switch from AMD to Intel is often faster because the driver are loaded into the ram from the first switch.

 

As expected, the motherboard seems to have shorted and some components are kaput. The SSD is fine. The display seems to be okay. The 540M looks like it was never touched but the tech did not have an extra PGA 988 socket available to test the CPU. The mainboard will not power up. So I'll have to wait to be sure.

Sent an email to a facility I know of in Virginia that repairs motherboards to see if they think it is worth sending it down. If not, I already have the $$ in the paypal account for the new unit. Just waiting to hear from them. Guess I'll be getting a lot of work done on my sailboat this weekend.

Bronsky

 

do you plan on importing another 3820TG Bronsky or are you looking at something else. also could you save the backlit keyboard.

 

Usually when playing games, in "call of duty" the game screen would freeze for a second or two, even when there was no fluctuation in fps.

It happend every 1-3 min, sometimes more often or less in games.
When using programs it happend less occasionally, but I still noticed it.

 

I was looking around to see if there was anything on the horizon that looked interesting and concluded that the 3820TG is still the best unit of its size out there. What else would I get? I'll probably be forced to order from PCHome although I would rather get a German unit which would be the identical model as mine. I would have a complete parts computer then.

I'll probably order a 330M from PChome and swap everything in. I can swap in the USB board from this unit and not have to solder the new unit. If there is a warranty issue, I could load up the original stuff and send it to the Texas Depot.

I'm hoping that the main board can be repaired however. Once I figured out this unit, it seemed to OC very well. I would like to save it if I can. There is a slight staining on the left side of the plastic part of the lid from solvent used to preserve groundwater samples but I think I can get some of that out with real fine scotchbright pads.

BTWm the KB still lights when you hook up power.

Bronsky

 

Jeep is making a Call of Duty version. I may have to buy one.

Bronsky

 

Go for the stock look Bronsky, I mean it's as good perfect right

 

I don't really have use for such a nice GPU in one of these. I don't game, I'm keeping the Dell in my sig and I'd rather spend half the price for the dedicated GPU so I'm thinking I may just go with the normal US market 3820T version. Can the stock i3 350 CPU be replaced with a i3 370 or even an i5?

Also is the memory timing able to be upgraded to anything above the 1033mhz?

 

The T model comes with the same PGA 988 socket and can be upgraded all the way up to the I7-640M probably. Arrandale dual core only support up to 1066 mhz. If you use SetFSB, you seem to be able to use faster timing.

Bronsky

 

So it was the Sailboat who sliped that $10 Note to the excavator driver.

 

Wow Bronsky, I just went back a couple of days and read what happened to your system. =(

Hope you can get a replacement asap. =D

 

When you say faster timing, do you mean going from a 7 7 7 20 to a 9 9 9 24, or from 1066mhz to 1333+? I've never used SetFSB before. I assume it makes a registry entry so the program starts up with Windows? Should I start to worry about heat problems with an i5 and the memory oc'd like that?

On second thought, I think if I upgrade the cpu, I'll go with the i5-520. I don't think it's worthwhile for the extra money ($45 from Newegg) for the 540. The i3-350 is remarkably similar to the 520 though.

About how long would your battery last with the 540?

 

FSB seems to be able to use the speed beyond 1066mhz up to 1333mhz.

I loved my 540M it was incredibly powerful and OC'd quite well. That is, before I submerged it in water. It pushed a lot of heat out the left vent but did not get that hot in the core. Never really got a chance to test the battery drain.

Bronsky

 

First thing in the morning, the 3820TG is on its way to Virginia via UPS to see if the motherboard is salvagable. I should know by Monday or Tuesday if I need to order another laptop.

Would sure like to see this one fixed.

Bronsky

 

from my experience on some insurance claims that people i work with have processed for cmoputers with the damage you describe, even though some things have been repaired - they will never be the same

and the failure rates are extremely high, thats why some insurance agencies rather assess the value then fix things.


- most recent a claim we processed water damage in the basement
desktop got water in it, insurance company insisted in repair,

we sent the paper work out etc. and it got fixed as we were told, and now it's goign back for repair .


If i were you i wouldn't try salvaging it!!

 

Can the 4820TG be upgrade all the way to a I7-640M?

 

The insurance company already totaled my Acer and authorized the payment. Since the SSD was working, they only paid the original purchase price. But, I have enough from the claim to order the same unit again. You might be right.

My company's tech thinks the damage is minimal. He thinks there is some component damage on the motherboard but even that, he thinks, is limited. It's probably worth a try to see what a motherboard expert says.

Bronsky

 

The 4820TG is being sold in Singapore with the I7-640Mm and there is no new Bios, meaning that the 640M is supported by the current bios.

 

Nice! Is it an easy install? any guides? never been much of a laptop modder. Any guides or tutorials?

 

There are pictures of the CPU being replaced in the 3820TG. The owner put an I7-620M in his 3820TG. The pictures are very good. There is also a disassembly procedure in the Acer Service Manual. I have the one for the 3820TG but you can probably find the 4820TG service manual on-line. I would urge you to get a copy of the service manual for the 4820TG as it is quite different from the 3820TG. It is really not a hard mod at all if you take your time and go step by step. Putting on the new thermal paste is probably the hardest part. The new CPU just snaps in the PGA 988 socket.

One suggestion. Don't buy an Engineer's Sample of the I7-640M. Wait until you can find an OEM version. I think they're better.

Bronsky

 

In regards to the WD Freeze Spikes.. just use QUIETHDD on default settings and this will clear up completely.

 

I think an engineering sample would be fine, if you don't plan to overclock it. Not that i7's would overclock much anyway if the OEM's only allow about 7-10Mhz more on the BCLK.

 

The "new" Intel drivers on Acers site is ver. 15.17.3.64.2104 from April 5, 2010. Intel newest is ver. 15.17.11.64.2202 from September 03, 2010

 

I thought you're weren't satisfied with the performance of your ES/QM 540M even when it was not OC'd. Didn't it have trouble kicking into Turbo?

You're right that the I7's have not OC'ed very well yet.

Bronsky

 

The latest:

I probably should have just sent my unit to Virginia to be looked at, but after talking to my tech again, he says the rest of the unit checks out and that the problem is isolated to the mainboard.

Shark Technologies claims that, except for the GPU, they can rebuild my board to factory specs and will do the job for what I already paid them for the refurbished mainboard. They also say they have no problem getting parts, as long as the GPU is not damaged. I can have the board to them by Wednesday. I think this is the way I am going to go.

Before the accident, my Acer was finally exactly the way I wanted it. I had also found the exact clockgen definition for OC'ing my CPU, so the odds are that I was going to be able to tweak my 540M to run a bit faster than the initial tests (which were actually on a related clockgen but not the exact one). The unit seemed to be a good OC'er. I don't want to loose that. I also don't want to loose my display, which I love.

So, I'm going to wait a week or so and see if Shark can rebuild my motherboard and, once rebuilt, if that solves my problems. I think it's worth the wait. I have my 1410T to do the more basic office functions.

I would really prefer not having to do all of this work again.

I've been planning to buy an HP Enterprise W7 slate/tablet when it is release later this year. I have enough in the account to buy it now, if the Acer can be resusitated. I haven't gotten a warm and fuzzy feeling dealing with Shark yet, but we'll see how they do with a second chance. Hopefully, they can replace my speaker jack too.

Time to take the Acer apart one more time and pack up the motherboard for shipping on Monday.

Bronsky

 

@ Bronsky

If you are able to get a new one from the insurance just take it. You can change the chassis back to the black one and replace the display panel in the new one with the "wet one".

I don't know your technician and I don't want to judge about him.
But in most cases are more than only on part is defect and a lot of other parts are damaged but you / the technician are /is not able to see it. These means, that a lot of electronical refurbished devices will die really fast again.

Best regards

 

Hey guys, I have recently bought 3820TG (i5-430m one).

I didn't use it much, but I tried some games (starcraft2, mafia2, wow, modern warfare2) and everything went smooth as butter. Had some 7500ish points in 3D mark.

After few days I noticed big drop in performance and fps. So I ran 3Dmark again and had only 3500 points.

And no, before you ask. I used the "high performance"ATI g. card, not the Intel one.

I have stock drivers and didn't changed them yet, but thats not probably issue 'cause that don't explains the sudden drop in performance. I fear that gpu may be damaged...

So any sugestions? I can't aford reclamation now because I need NTB for work right now.

 

That I agree with, refurbs usualy have a tendency of higher failure - stats usually say the same thing?

the black casing is hot though, and some if not majority are still coming with the auo322c screen no?

 

Bronsky I think if you take either the fixed laptop or the new laptop on the job again we will all have to pitch in for a custom zip lock bag case for you. so next time it will just float.

 

@Bronksy, yes my i5 540m wasn't so good. But here I'm talking about an i7 which can't hardly overclock at all. So ES would be fine.

Yes my i5 540 had trouble turboing with the OC. Stock = just fine.

 

I look at it like this ... since I've already paid for the refurb'ed board, I won't miss the cash. I will still have the full price of a new 3820TG in the bank in case the refurbished unit does not work right.

If it doesn't work out, I can just get a I3-330M/HD5650 version from PCHome for $835 + $65 shipping and have it in a few days. I don't think there is any harm in seeing if the motherboard refurbishing does the trick. But, fundamentally, I don't disagree with you, it is a risky proposition dealing with a unit that has had moisture inside it.

Bronsky

 

Ah I get it now. You are using the money for the wrong replacement mainboard. (clockgen change)

You can try it.


Nothing to say

 

Was this with power connected?

With power disconnected the ATI card doesn't run at full power even when enabled, you have to set it to run at full power on the battery if you want full power.

 

When I was taking the I5-540M out of the motherboard for shipping (I sent the board to China with the 450M), I had the chance to set the two CPU's side by side and you can see the better contact that results from a good thermal paste job. On the factory paste (right), it looks like there is only a small area of actual contact on the CPU and the IGPU. The contact on the I5-540M was complete. The IC Diamond looks like it really does its job well. It looks like the both the CPU and IGPU had all of their cooling surface in contact with the heat sink/fan units. That's why there is such a dramatic effect on temperatures.



Here is the small amount of damage to the cover.



Here is the motherboard ready for packing.




All of the rest of the parts are in their protective bags waiting for mother to return.



Bronsky

BTW, anybody know of a point and shoot camera that can shoot decent macro shots?

 

There is hope...

CoreSolid Storage Corporation

Solid State Storage - Disk on Module DOM - Flash Disk Drive - 40 44 pin IDE & SATA - Solid Flash Storage Solution

http://www.alcom.be/binarydata.aspx?type=doc/CSS_280610.PDF

 

I think that most would agree that the only small and light laptop with a feature set almost desirable as the 3820tg is the Sony Z, albeit at a price that simply takes it off the table.

Besides an optional backlit keyboard, which as we know the 3820tg can be modified to accept, one of the most attractive features on the Sony is the optional and gorgeous 13.1 inch Full HD WXGA 1920x1080 screen.

Could that Toshiba sourced screen be grafted onto the 3820tg?

NEW and original SONY laptop srceen LT131EE11000 A-1769-473-A VAIO-VPCZ11 series Made in Japan can warranty 6 month - Shopping cart

 

hi guys, i want to ask if 84°C ( the maximum i get) is ok for my 3820tg with 5650 and i5 540 , i hit 84 in Prime95, during cinebench 11.5 and batterfield bad company 2 ONLINE ( 1 hour playng ) , i hit 78 maximum for gpu..are those temps ok ?

 

What does the F12 boot menu do? By default it's not enabled in the bios. Does it gives you any more options?

 

Allows you to choose an alternate boot device i.e. CD drive, USB stick, etc.

 

The I5-560M CPU has just shown up in the Acer 4820TG on the PCHome site.



I wonder if the 3820TG will be sold in Taiwan with this CPU soon. It would be nice to buy a 3820TG with a more powerful factory processor.

Bronsky