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

Hi, I am owner of 4280gt with i5430/5650, I read 300 pages of the thread and still trying to catch u. So far I saw that Hendricson and Bronsky did great job and helped many of us. Great job man, I am not sure if somebody had a problem like mine or has the answer at following 250 pages that I have read but I need help.
I am playing a MMORPG called Metin2, you can open many windows in that game if you like ( as number of accounts you may) but when I open 4 account with my baby (4280TG) I lost the sound in one of the windows, as also series videos in Firefox or İE, or in any video. I have to close one of the windows and refresh the explorer page or stop/star to regain the sound in any video.
I use the sound driver from the realtek home page, I dont know if I get the same problem wiht acer driver cause first thing I have done is to Bios/GPU driver/Sound Driver update. I didn't try with the Acer Home page driver, may be if solves the problem but I am open to suggestions... Meanwhile I am DL original driver...

 

I have been using English layout on Hungarian KBs in my entire life. Helps you learn blind typing...

 

I would suggest you to try all different tests in OCCT for at least 1 hour! You can also try:
- prime95
- ATITool artefact
- Furmark

I am 99% sure that hard freezing is not a software issue, as you must be using the same drivers and Win7 as everyone else. Are you using a genuine un-touched OS install? Did you check MD5 of the install media?

 

I would better write to the developer, explaining your problem. It's very specific issue after all. Or I would suggest you to try all the alternative browsers, like Chrome, Opera, Safari, etc. other tiny ones, maybe it works in one.

Or just use a different browser for a different character.

 

Right I will perform the tests and get back to u, whats MD5?

 

Problem is not loosing sound at the browser, sound disappears either in game or at a video file. I can get sound at diffrent 4 windows (3 at game 1 for the browser or video). Fifth window opened either itis browser or video is mute.

 

Where is your unit from? Do you have a PCHome unit? How about your Ram?

Bronsky

 

I am contemplating making this my underwater notebook. It obviously works well in a damp environment.

Actually, I am amazed that Shark thinks the mobo can be repaired. Hopefully, they're right.

Bronsky

 

Judging their name they should feel comfortable with under-water stuff.

 

The only problem is that I have the feeling I will not see my motherboard for another couple of weeks.

Bronsky

 

I seem to have ever so slightly scratched my 3820's screen. It's not too noticable, but I was wondering if the glossy screen would be suited to be repaired by something like displex.

If I can get the scratch sorted I'll stick a screen protector on my display to prevent any further mishaps!

 

MD5 is a way to check if your downloaded/burned files are correct or corrupted. It's a few characters and it can provide you with all information you need to know about if a big file is intact or not. If you have downloaded a ISO file from any known source, it would provide you with a MD5 hash, which you can use to compare your install medium.

 

Bronsky, did you ask for a 2nd mPCIe slot? Once in a lifetime opportunity to have it installed in a chinese factory

 

Normally I don't do thing like that, but with my 3820TG i always put the black factory cloth between the KB and the display when I transport it (2-3-4 times a day). It's annoying, but if I don't do that even it's own keyboard can leave strong marks on the display.

I hope you can have your scratch fixed, be careful with liquids.

 

Turkish Unit with 3Gb ram.
4820TG-433G32Mnks LX.PSE01.007
i5-430 (non O/C) 320GB HD, 3GB Ram, Radeon 5650,W7HomeBasic 64 bit

 

Nah ... I didn't want to complicate things. Communication is iffy at best.

Bronsky

 

I would think it is a Ram issue. I'm assuming your ram is 2x1 and 1x1. If so, I would suspect you're having issues as you get to that 5th window.

Bronsky

 

I always put the black microfiber cloth between the KB and the display when I close the unit for the same reason.

Bronsky

 

MemTest: RAM reliability tester for Windows

 

Hi all, i just got my new 3820TG last week with i7 model in Singapore, it cost me S$1798. Yesterday i found new BIOS in Acer website and I had flashed it to latest v1.17. Now my ATI graphic had 2GB (additional 1GB of VRAM) and caused my available RAM reduced to 1.2GB only. Could anyone of you know how to re-configure the VRAM?

 

Why would you thing that your available RAM is reduced to 1.2 GB? What does Control Panel / System dialog says? ATI card has it's own ram, it has nothing to do with system ram.

 

Cool, I never knew about it. Do you think it's better than the one in Win 7 Rescue ISO?

 

Hey guys,

I've got a question. How much does screen brightness impact the battery life on this machine?

I read that having the laptop set to high performance (and high brightness) didn't impact the battery life too much on the 1810T when wifi was turned off as seen here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ace...on-various-activites-acer-timeline-1810t.html

What would it be like for the 3820TG? Would screen brightness and high performance significantly decrease the battery life on this machine since it's a bigger laptop, not a netbook?

 

Yes it will decrease more then the 1810T. Also, the 1810T is not a netbook.

 

My 3820TG come with 4GB ram, i found 1GB of ram was shared to ATI 5650 and make it showed 2GB of RAM in system display properties; this also make my 4GB RAM become 3GB now. After minus all windows service/application the balance RAM available only left 1.2GB.

 

Yes ram is 2x1 and 1x1. U may be right, I will buy another 2Gb stick and see what happens. Thx Bronsky.

 

Make sure you match the 2gb in there as perfectly as you can. I even like to use the same brand if possible. Small differences can show up in the oddest places.

Bronsky

 

LOL...

Cendirect Canada - Top Dix

 

VRAM is assigned automatically by the system. If it's not in use, it shouldn't reserve anything. Max VRAM is shown in display properties, this value depends on your RAM. Just google a bit about it.

 

Hmmm...I carry mine every day to work, didn't notice any scratches or marks on the display, the KB dosen't seem to touch the screen, however, I tend to keep Your advice, it'll be annoying for sure, but if this is what's best for Your notebook, well...

 

You are correct in video memory used will be more than 1 gig.

CCC shows
Memory Type HyperMemory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HyperMemory

That means that in addition to any physical memory the GPU has added, it will also reserve some of the PC's system memory, and could indeed end up with around 2 gig of memory for video. If done properly, that extra memory should still be available for other purposes, unless an app requires it for video.

You can also see this in apps that might use the additional video memory, such as 3dm2k6. Viewing details, and in the second part for video memory it shows:

Gaming Graphics 2042 MB Total available graphics memory

If you choose switchable video in Bios, then you will lose even more system memory, since the Intel part does use system memory, not dedicated, but it starts off very low and takes memory only as needed.

EDIT: The above was with original Bios set to dedicated video, not updated, so don't know personally what affect new Bios has on video memory.

 

Our cards doesn't have HyperMemory. It has it's own memory chips, totally separate from the system. A simple BIOS update will not "steal" 2 GB RAM from you. Also under Windows 7 it doesn't matter what it says for available memory, it tries to cache as much as it can.

 

Sorry but that is wrong..

Even Acer UK website specs for the 3820TG shows:

ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 5650 with Switchable™ Graphics technology, up to 40915 MB of HyperMemory™ (1024 MB of dedicated DDR3 VRAM, up to 30676 MB of shared system memory)

 

My sticker states 2650MB HyperMemory

 

I was reading on hypermemory here AnandTech.com - Budget Battle: HyperMemory vs. TurboCache and I think Robs TV is right (that's a first ). It looks like the GPU can access the system RAM. I think it has been doing that in a very limited capacity and that seems to be what the new bios corrects. If that is true, the new bios sould significantly improve the performance of the GPU under load - no? If that is true, it makes sense to upgrade Ram to at least 6GB and probably 8GB. Somebody needs to run old bios 3Dmark06 and new. With 4GB Ram and more. All with monitors on so we can see what is going on. Interesting stuff.

Bronsky

 

So looking for a bit of advice.

When I bought the 3820tg from Taiwan the first thing that I did was purchase 8gb of Gskill 1066 ram from newegg. Part of this is that I run a game in a virtual machine and one in the native windows. The other part was that I was looking to OC. So the question I have is for the almost the same price they have the 1333 version of the Gskill ram, there would be a charge of like 25 dollars for restocking. Do you all think that I will see considerable, even nominal performance increases by changing the ram to the 1333. Here are the two links:

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Laptop Memory Model F3-8500CL7D-8GBSQ


and


Newegg.com - G.SKILL 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Laptop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBSQ


Thank you for any help you can offer.

FYI my keyboard issue was a bad keyboard issue, the second one they sent me worked great.

AND!

I ended up buying the 9 cell battery from temple warehouse. Perfect fit still has not settled in yet but looks to be about 10 hours battery life.

 

Hey Bronsky,

the access to the system ram is very slow and should not be used for high performance games.

See it more as a feature to sell the units, 3GBs on an advertisement seems to be better than only 1GB Vram.

You will never use the ram for games

The Intel one uses the system ram as video ram to save the extra component on the motherboard. It is fast enough for the daily work but not for rocking the show.

I think the 2GB Vram in the Bios log is something for an new card or just a new version to replace the old one.

 

In the theoretical life the 1333 should be better, but no one knows the real life.

 

I would go with the 1333 becasue SetFSB seems to be able to use that extra speed. Glad to hear about the KB and the 9 cell. Any problem getting the 9 cell from Texas? I found the people there to be great.

Bronsky

 

It may not help with games but I'm thinking that it might add a boost to other Graphic work like Video editing and 3D rendering. What do you think it will do for parallel computing?

Hopefully you're right about the 2GB, would love to see a new 6000 series card after the 18th.

Bronsky

 

I had a horrible time with them in the sense that I explained to them that I was willing to pay the restocking fee and that I wanted the product regardless of the fact that they do not and will not support an international product. I explained to them 100 times that I understand the compatibility issues and would except responsibility for the purchase/restock fee/scorn from wife etc etc. Then they started telling me about how every component on my 3820tg was not a match for the North American machines, and that they could never support it for those reasons. So I couldn't help to ask if Intel was making a special Taiwanese version of the core i5 460m that differs from the version that is being sold in the states, and was promptly told, "That is correct sir." I understand that they are required to learn scripts to some degree, but if you are going to actively deny support on a product that you manufacture and sell all over the world, at least just say, "because we don't want to!" versus talking nonsense and teaching your employees that same nonsense.

 

Today i got some 8GB OCZ Memory Kit OCZ3MV13338GK .. but it really sucks when OC. With these i can only clock the 430m to 2,7 thats a 200 MHz loss. Now i need some way to change the voltage or another memory. :/

 

No. Why should you firts load the data to the VRam and let the GK drivers cache them back to the system ram and load them back for the calculation.

The pcie slot is the bottleneck for the GPGPU.

To speed up the GPGPU calculation you need more real Vram and "Shaders".

Yes, this would be a nice show. But was is than with your "old" 3820? Ebay?

 

Bronksy,

I'm having trouble seeing how the 1333 9-9-9-24 would be any better then the 1066 7-7-7-20, considering they are the exact same memory chips! Once SIC plugs the 1333 9-9-9-24 into his 3820TG, won't the memory show up as 1066 7-7-7-20 based on the SPD?

This is the reason that the GSKILL 1066 and 1333 unit prices are almost identical! Because they really are basically the same memory.

Since our BIOS doesn't let us change timings, I fail to see how either memory would assist SetFSB in overclocking. Both RAM sets are going to show up as 1066 7-7-7-20 and then the freq on the RAM will increase the same and the timings will stay at 7-7-7-20.

What I do find interesting is the new 1.35v DDR SODIMM's that are coming out soon. PQI, Micron, etc. have 1.35v units that support 1066-1600 FSB. I believe this would allow for a ton of overclocking headroom, considering that our 3820TG would juice the RAM at 1.5v!

 

So you are saying you could hit 2.9ghz OC on the stock RAM, and only 2.7ghz OC on the 1333 OCZ?

 

Yes, i need to look further into it this weekend.

 

Read my previous response to Bronksy and see if that makes sense.

I just had a thought. What if we used MemSet 4 to slow our timings down at 1066 and then used SetFSB to pump the FSB up? Would that allow for additional overclocking headroom?

 

enjoying the hell out of this thing

Playing just cause 2 and assasins creed 2 at 1920x1080 at mostly high settings with no lag whatsoever.

What program is recommended for logging of fps and temps?

 

Fraps for Frames and CPUID Hardware Monitor for Temps.

 

what clocks on GPU do u use to get such performance ? Also u have i5 or i7?