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

you really think 3820tg will be upgraded to 6000series card? Its still AMD/ATI right, cause i dont think any of them have been annouced. Also possible for it to have 2gb vram ? seems a bit extreeme.

 

I don't really think so. I think the bios change is related to the hyperthreading. If I were Acer, I would keep the factories pumping these units out as fast as I can before the Sandy Bridge CPU is released. Then I would add either the 6000 series card or a NVIDIA Fermi 445M or better (even the GT 445M only has 1.5GB VRAM so, if the bios change was for a Fermi, it would be the GT 460M minimum - which is doubtful ). BTW, the 6000 is scheduled for release on October 18. I think there is a press conference on the 12th.

Bronsky

 

A change from AMD to Nvidia is not simple, you have to develop a completly new motherboard.

 

I think they may have to revamp the motherboard anyway to accomodate the SandyBridge chip. I guess it will be easier to just drop a 6000 series GPU in there with out too much re-tooling. Acer will take the easier and cheaper route.

Bronsky

 

right now its at 650/950, which gets a 8500 3dmark, might try a little higher, hendricksons 670/1040 didn't work on mine.

 

Do you really think they will push SandyBridge inside the 3820?

I don't think so. They will create a 38 30 and sell this. But I think we have to wait a few month, because really fast 13" models only releases a few month after the release of the components.

 

For them to accommodate any NVidia GPU atm they'd need to rework the notebook cooling system, as the new 4xx series pump a lot of heat, especially compared to the AMD 5xxx.

I doubt you'd want one in a laptop, especially in a ultra-portable one...

 

I don't know how available arrandales are going to be after the first Q of 2011. Acer seems to keep very little inventory around. The 3820TG might be unavailable and yea ... it will probably mean a new design like a 3830TG.

Bronsky

 

Hey man ... long time. How's that 3820TG treating ya?

Bronsky

 

I can comment on the G.Skill 7-7-7-20 8GB ram kit, I tried it out and while it gives you a Windows 7 rating of 6.8 up from 5.9. It allows no overclocking. At least not on my unit. Its to do with the lower timings. I think 9-9-9-24 ram would suit more or the 1.35v DDR SODIMM that is coming...

 

you are getting quite a performance with those clocks on 1920x1050 resolution. Um i could play ac2 with 680/1080 on 1280x720 quite well - i think slow HD is limiting me and prob i5-450m. Can you play bad company 2 on native 1366x768 res everything on high on 24 player server smooth ??

 

Nice idea, but memset doesn't support Arrandale only Clarkdale/Lynnfield if i've seen this right.

After looking around i found CPU-Tweaker, there you can change the memory timings. I got back my 2.9ghz OC.

Default Everest Memory Benchmark
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7748/cachemem22def.png

OC Everest Memory Benchmark
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/7626/cachemem29.png

Thanks for this idea.

 

is there going to be a refresh with a better gpu anytime soon (as in the next month)?

Also how hard is it to upgrade CPU from i3 to i5 and from where can i get an i5-460 or i5-540?

 

there wont be a gpu upgrade anytime soon as 3820tg is a new model on the market and new Ati/AMD chips haven't been even annouced yet.

Its quite hard to replace it as you would have to take pretty much entire laptop apart (lots of screws) but nothing impossible. Look for 3820tg disasebly ebook its been posted somewhere here. You can get i5 and i7 chips of ebay.

 

and im assuming replacing cpu's voids the warranty?

 

I think the same, even the stock Samsung ram (in most of our models) is a 1333 Mhz ram, and has the same SPDs as the GSkill 1333.

BIOS starts with timings for 1066 Mhz, which is CL 7 on every ram we talk about. So it boots with 7-7-7 and then SetFSB changes only frequencies, not timings.

In my understanding it means that no matter what you do, you will always run the RAM over it's specs, as it will go on 7-7-7 at over 1333 Mhz like speeds. It seems that the stock Samsung rams can keep doing CL 7 for higher frequencies than the GSkill 8 GB kits.

This CPU-Tweak might be a solution, but changing the SPD in windows always made my system unstable. If someone finds a stable way to set timings to CL9, which is stable for daily use, I would try it.

 

Guys, video RAMs are expensive and they always will be. I have no idea what is that BIOS note relates to, but I am quite sure that in the under $1000, or better under $1500 range no laptop will have 2GB or 1.5GB RAM.

And in a marketing oriented world, no one is going to just "plug in" the newest gaming GPU-s while keeping the model name, etc. We live in a world where if you put an additional USB port and change the color of the lid, you can call it a new model and show it on all the shows/media/press. If Acer puts the newest ATI gpu-s in a model, everyone will hear about it, it's garanteed not to be a "BIOS update note".

 

zsero what mods have you done to your 3820tg ?

 

I still don't believe the HD 5650 has any kind of virtual "fake" memory. These "fake" memory solutions are used in the cheapest entry level cards and IGP chipsets, you cannot even run Google Earth on them, they are as slow. It's OK for Intel GFX, as 1. now with i3 i5 i7 the GPU <> CPU <> Memory transfer is very fast, 2. no one buys Intel for any 3D fun.

But for ATI, I hightly doubt. Just think about, it would mean that either:
1. The amount it needs is already missing from your memory
2. Or it "steals it" silently, in the background, when needed, what I think is not possible with any current OS.
3. How would any program or developer know that his program is using the "fake" or real VRAM?

It seems a crazy crazy idea to me...

 

100% stock, maybe the only on in the forum. I am planning on buying the 3 year accident protection warranty (Acer calls it Platinum in Europe), so I'd better not tinker with it.

But soon I have to do something, as my keyboard needs some oiling, as the keys are producing a noise as of a haunted house.

 

OK, I just checked, and no matter how big data I load in the video card memory, the system's memory stays the same, just as it should.

 

Hmm, interesting cases for the machine, handmade

View MacBook 13 Cases by cushcase on Etsy

 

As I mentioned before, there is Asus A42Ja with 2GB VRAM ATi HD5730 with i7 740QM, now selling in Malaysia for MYR 3599 or USD$1200~

 

100 % stock here too, 3 years warranty came included in the package.

Planning on upgrading to a Vertex or Vertex 2 120GB drive, though I'm not sure I'd need it, the fast load times are tempting.

 

Nice.

I have GOLLA Metro sleeve 13", I rarely use it because I carry the notebook in a case, when I returned my 9 cell unit, the retailer couldn't pay me the price gap back, so I've decided to have one of these.

Looks nice, and might be usefull when You carry Your notebook with a Notepal U2 cooler.

 

not bad for 14inch with cdrive builded in, bet its running hot like hell.

 

Hi guys!

I'm reading this topic since a week, since i decided to buy this machine (actually this thread helped me in the hard decision between this, and Lenovo TP EDGE)

I readed about 150 pages already, and going on with it, but i can't find solutions for some problems neither in this topic, neither with google, and i see that some guys here are really in it, so i tought that i will get help if i ask.

So, finally my brand new AS3820TG-5454G32MN just arrived yesterday! I'm just experiencing w7, because i never used it, and yesterday night i let it to install some (16) updates, or components by asus, dunno.. I'm completely newbie to W7, and this machine ( and newer hw, i used a HP nx6110 for 4 years, it was enough for my needs with winxp, mobileceleron 1.4, and 1gb ddr1). First of all, i'm very pleased with it, but i use it for only some hours yet.

BTW im working in IT, and got some sense to PC-s (and a half System Engineer thesis), so i will learn fast if i got the help what i need. And i will need a lot of help, i think.

First
After unpacking it, and leting W7 set up itself, i left it to install updates. I dunno what were they, i went out to a concert. Thenafter i only installed a few programs, which i needed for yesterday night (itunes, mpc home cinema+ac3filter,msn,chrome,daemon tools) so the system is almost fresh. What drivers should i update for the first?? I tried to update the VGA stuff, what i readed in the first post of this thread, LIKE written in the first post. After installing Ati stock drivers from acers site, i downloaded fresh intel HD, but the installer doesn't run, win7 stops executing with an error, that the installer is not ok to run.
Anybody got this error? Please help me to update all of the drivers to the most up to date ones, after i success with VGA, i will continue with the others, if any of then needs some extra knowdeledge (not just download, and install if a newer if its available) please let me know.

Second
Yesterday night I wanted to watch some movies with my GF on her new Samsung HD LEDTV. bought a cool HDMI cable, installed MPC home cinema, and ac3 filter, and set it up (with the help of a hungarian forum site, because watching films in HD never was a danger my little nx6110) and finally got this machine playing Predators in 1080p (actually with DXVA, i can help if anyone needs info about getting MPC HC working). After some fight with W7, and then CCC, i finally got the desktop extended to the TV over HDMI, and film playback was ok on it too. But audio doesn't forwarded to the TV, and i tried all 8 of MPC-s audio output settings, but none of them helped. The WMP sends the sound over the HDMI cable by default, after i opened an mp3 the TV-s speakers sounded. If anybody could help me getting the sound forwarded via the HDMI, in all cases (i think i will want to use the HSMI audio out in other programs too) that would be very very cool

Third: If anybody have any tips for a completely newbie with W7, and this machine please let me know! You are awesome in this thread!

I want to set W7 up with all of the programs i need, all of the latest drivers and set up a totally fine tuned OS for my needs (and this machine. Then i will clone the hdd, and copy the system to a SSD, and put the 320g HDD in an external case for storage use, and use the SSD for OS, and programs. If i will have known difficulties with that (especially cloning a working OS from a hdd to an SSD), please let me know. I will thank every advices what will be helpful for me in the future.

Thanks, and nice Saturday afternoon for everyone!

 

I mentioned my fun with CPUTweaker some time ago (100 threads back?) and yes it can let you overclock a little more as you can see from your results. Also the increase in memory speed there is really nice. But it doesn't seem to work if you tick to apply these settings at start up.

I never benchmarked it myself. But its odd how windows index never picks up on this increase or the CPU boost.

 

Yes that's really odd. Maybe it's possible to reset WEI and run it again?

 

Oh yeah overclocking makes a huge difference here on the Everest memory benchmark.

Stock:


And overclock 3.45 ghz


That's a massive difference, over 2000 Mb/s rates more on the ram writes and reads in some cases.
Plus much lower latency and still windows index says 5.9. But really that windows index is rubbish....

 

Interesting, how does Asus have any profit on that one? Does it handle the heat production, or it's just an other hairdryer in a plastic box?

 

First the first post should be updated as there is nothing to do with drivers anyway, the ones on the factory laptops are newer then the ones on Acer website

Second, I would suggest you really really think about a clean Windows 7 install, Bronsky wrote a nice guide for it.

For audio over HDMI you have to install the special drivers, which is included in newer Catalysts, I don't know if the Acer one has it. You will have to see a new "soundcard" which you can select to playback on. MPC-HC is such an amazing player! I am really happy not to use ever PowerDVD or any other commercial player ever again.

p.s. 5454G32MN here too

 

Hendrickson, did you set it to 8-9-9-24 by hand? I so much envy your 172 FSB, it's absolutely crazy.

 

Yep forgot to mention, I used cputweaker to set 8-9-9-24 these are the rams default timings at 1333Mhz. Well 9-9-9-24, but I can't adjust the first value to 9. The boot default of 8-8-8-20 works but only up to 169blk or 170.7. This is OCZ 1333Mhz 2x2GB sticks. Since the bios update my Hynix ram now maxes out at 160blck not too sure why it changed with the bios 1.17.

This i5 450m I have is a good one, overclocks nicely. Still a i5 580m would be nice if it would overclock above 160blck. still thinking of getting one...

Biggyrock also tried to overclock his i7 640m QS he recently installed, not good he said as he can't go past 3.1Ghz. Its pretty safe to say that the i7's aren't good overclockers due to the extra 1mb cache.

The i5 560/580m's could be the new king of overclocking in our 3820TG's....

 

Do you know what clockgen his system has?

 

The latest BIOS also updates the Nuvoton EC to ver. 1.14 from ver. 1.10. Maybe downgrading it would work?

 

He used he g73jh clockgen to oc, so I assume its the common overclockable motherboard. Same as mine.

I would try, but all I have is version 1.13 and 1.17. Does anyone have an early bio's or a link ? 1.09 or 1.10 etc

I remember the first bios I had on my system was more stable in OC'ing....

 

Suddenly, the sound over the hdmi cable started working. I hope it stays good.
Why would a clean windows install suite better for my needs, could you explain it? You said that my drivers maybe newer also.

 

Hi there!

I set my i5 450m at an fsb of 190 in SetFSB, and ran SuperPi. Got a result of 13.494 secs at 1M.

What im wondering about is that CPU-Z says that my bus and core speed are 167 and 3340,5 mhz. Which one is right, SetFSB or CPU-Z? Does my cpu run at 20x167=3340 mhz, or 20x190=3800 mhz?

 

Send me a PN with your mail adress.

*1.03
*1.08
*1.13
*1.17

Are available.

 

190/760 on the setfesb slider is 167 BCLK. Your superpi time reflects this too.

PM sent with details thanks, I will try some older bios as I could OC higher I think or more stable at least on 173.3 BLCK. I will silly enough to update.

 

The BIOS zip-files also includes fw and flasher for only the Nuvoton EC.

 

bios 1.08 (Thanks Just a nick) has a small error code, seems the i5 450m isn't in the bios mircocpu code. Thats the error it gives.

Oddly i seem to be able to push a few Mhz more on the overclock, but with the f1 error on boot its not worth it.

 

Been a really long time, you already forgot I own a 4810TG instead of 3820TG .

I've been silently following this thread, don't usually have much to say since I can't share a TimelineX experience unlike you guys

This 4810TG is a treat though, it helps a lot @ university, it's light for easy carrying all day and it's fast enough. Gotta try running Linux on it someday and see how does it manage the 2 GPUs though...

Hope your 3820TG comes back just fine, it sucks plenty to "lose" it just after you tweak it to your liking

 

You can use your drivers after the clean install. OK, just use your computer as it is now for some time, then try a clean install some weeks later. You will feel that your computer is 2x-3x times more responsive.

The factory install is more of an advert magazine than a fast operation system.

 

I am quite sure your FSB is 166 Mhz, not 190. The gray slider in SetFSB is not important, I don't know what does it actually mean.

 

No offense, Bro, but I tought they give me a clean, responsive system. It looked like that for me, after a 1.4ghz mobile celeron
Then i will use this system for experiencing with this stuff, and my SSD will arrive on wednesday-thursday, then i will put a clean w7 on the little beast, and tweak the system optimal for my use.

So first, can you help me saving the drivers? I would share them with You of course, and everybody who needs them.

 

If you really install an SSD and a clean windows 7, you will be amazed by it's speed, I promise. Just don't use any partitioning tool on the SSD, only use the builtin windows one.

For backing up things, all you need is VirtualCD trial edition. Save 4 DVD .ISO files on an external harddrive. The 4th will be the one with the drivers.

Also before purging your hard drive, save the windows activation data with ABR backup and keep it in a safe place (ok, it doesn't have to be that safe, all our machines have the same activation).

 

I tried CPU-Tweaker and the moment I click apply, i have an instant shutdown. The fastest shutdown in my life, really. Just a blink.

 

Is it just mine or does your hdd behave in such a manner?

There are sudden freezes (up to about 2 seconds) in all games i have played so far!
It sounds like the hdd is "reactivating" or is working quite heavily during the freeze.

Can't be other components.

Is the hdd dying soon?