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

hmmm...got my i5-450m that i pulled out of my 3820tg that i might be willing to sell...i was thinking of selling on ebay

 

dam ... it is fast.

 

bear island, sweet! Another member here on nbr is located in antartica at mcmurdo station. Id love to live at either one( I absolutly love the cold). How did your mobo go under bron?

 

How does the i3 cpu compare to the i5 or i7 for this specific model ?

 

i3 does everything you need if you don't game. i5 is betweenzies. i7 is for those who use this for work (multi-multi-tasking--yes I typed multi twice). Most likely you want i5 so you can utilize switchable IGP.

 

Oh okay. I removed PowerSmart. What is the point of it then I installed the factory drivers?

And what did you mean by the factory Acer + Intel driver? I installed all the drivers from the Acer page, but I updated to 10.8 Catalyst.

Also, do I get better performance out of my NVIDIA card in discrete or switchable mode? I know WEI isn't a very good indicator of performance, but I'm going to assume it's equal?

Lastly, I seem to have trouble installing the latest Intel graphics update posted on the Acer support site - Intel VGA Driver 8.15.10.2104 - 2010/09/16. When I run the setup, it says it's an Intel Turbo Boost installation, and then an error pop ups saying occurred registering one or more components.

 

Well, I DO game. However I won't be hooking it up to an external display.

Wouldn't the hd5650 bottleneck in gaming instead of the core i3 ???

Also, doesn't the i3 have graphics switching tech too ?

 

OK, I spent some time reading about it and I got puzzled. Can we actually say that all of today's cards do HyperMemory and/or TurboCache but only the cheaper ones are marketed this way? I mean this way even a HD 5870 can reserve up to 3067 (why that much?) from the system RAM, if it needs to. So it's just a marketing term, afterall?

But we can be sure that a BIOS update doesn't double the cards memory in games, that's for sure.

 

WOW, just 15 mb, no need for a 100+ mb ISO creator app. I mean, it's always nice to follow Nero's creators in application sizes...

 

Can you post a screenshot (or actually 3) from the autorun's driver page?

 

Still haven't burnt the recovery discs.

I've got another idea. I wanted to buy an external hdd anyways.

Is it possible to clone the recovery partition on the external hdd and make this even bootable, just in case the original hdd is dying?

 

Don't swap i7 dual with i7 quad. i7 dual does IGP.

 

1. You don't have an nVidia card
2. Don't install Intel VGA driver if you have a 3820 TG
3. Install the ATI driver, which includes Intel.
4. If you like tinkering and spending your nights with issues, then you can upgrade to Catalyst 10.8. If not, just use the stock one (10.6).
5. If drivers seems messed up, or getting bad battery time, just uninstall everything, safe mode, driver sweeper, Acer stock driver.

 

Sooner or later you will make an error in the cloning process, and end up with a non booting recovery partition. I would just suggest ISO files in a safe location.

 

Oh yah, it does. According to intel.com: Intel® Core? i3-330M Processor (3M Cache, 2.13 GHz) with SPEC Code(s) SLBMD, SLBNF

Oh yah, i7-620m!

Btw, what's a good price for 620m, 540m, and 520m? 450m is prolly best bang for buck, right?

 

Ok Guys, I am lost. I have looked over parts of the thread and cant find any info on where to buy this. I cannot seem to find the model with the 5650 ANYWHERE. Maybe I am just blind but I want to find a reputable dealer in the US where I can buy it.

Any help guys?

 

If you can OC, I think you can easily get stock 620m results from a OC-ed 450m.

 

Can someone verify/confirm/elaborate on this statement? VERY INTERESTED Also, what clock speeds do each of these cpus run at on dual-core mode?

 

The 450M is a great overclocker. I could run mine up to 3.3ghz OC'd and quite stable.

Bronsky

 

Excellent--so the 450M remains the best bang for buck CPU then--it's the same in the E14.

I'm looking to get this if someone can confirm that the models shipping from Canada to US are OC-able.

 

hi bronsky, do you know a way to increase the multiplier of just the turboboost? i figured this would be a great way for the computer to automatically overclock only when necessary while preserving the batterylife during normal usage =)

 

This guy has an i3-330M + 5650: YouTube - 2RX8's Channel

Can someone verify the validity of this performance on their own machine? In particular, the TvC Dolphin video.

 

Hi,
I also bought a nice HDMI cabel, and works with video and also audio, network I did not try...
My advice is, DO NOT copy system to SSD, make a NEW install, due to partition offsets and alignment of allocation,ect...
You dont look like an IT guy with sense to PC-s , if you cant handle with W7

 

Hello!!

I hev been reading some pages (around 50 ) of posts but need some advise. Here's my situation:

I have a netbook, a tablet ( portege m200), a 15 inch notebook (now my girlfriend's notebbok) and a powerful desktop. I work as a Telecom. Engineer and have found that my netbook and my Toshiba portege are starting to feel sluggish for some tasks. Paying for a rent and for my new house construction along some wedding plans, i'm really on a low budget. I started to consider selling the tablet and netbook and buying a second hand macbook, portege m700,...

Lookin' around i found a special offer in a shop (Worten) based on paying on 30 months without any extra (no interests and so on). So i made a look around the shop to discover a 3820TG with an i3 330 and a 5470 ATI for around 800€. Being 13" and with the battery duration of 8 hours...it made a good point and so i bought it. Now my brother is thinking about buying another one and having a look at the shop we found two more acers aspire (really similar to the TimelineX stetic), bigger (15.6" and 2.6 Kg) but lot more powerfull (i7 + gt 330 and amd x4 + 5650) for around 1000€ int 30 months...and so...we are starting to think about keeping the 3820 and buying another one, or going for the other two powerfull.

I plan to use it when i'm not at the office or at home. I use it for office work, engineering calculus, some cad, router programming, network auditing, ... I'm looking to use it also when i am travelling for games or photo and video editing.

Considering that they do not have another variation of the 3820, what would you do? small size, eficiency and portability vs power. Well...those notebooks are not "that bigger or heavier" but...ther are in fact bigger and heavier...

By now, the i3 + 5470 seems ok for now, but i fear that it will get kind of old in a few months. The processor is really speedy and video card seems ok but now games are starting to require a lot more. Do you know if the CPU and/or the GPU is upgradeable?? Considering it a possibility, i would keep this wonderfull litlle gem ...

If i keep it i will need to buy the keyboard protector, the anti-glare screen protector, a blue ray player/ DVD recorder external combo unit and a small battery (mine comes with the 9 cell one, sometimes a big one to carry).

Something I have noticed is that the screen ocasionally flickers (like changing among three steps in bright) sometimes...is this normal? Seems to happen when trying to keep down power. Maybe some internal auto adjusment?

I have around 48 hours to keep it or exchange it for one of the bigger ones.
Any little advise would be great!!
Thanks to all for the time taken to read this little book XDDD

 

Thanks. So far everything seems good. No issues with Catalyst 10.8 either

The only thing that bugs me is how I can't seem to update my Intel GMA drivers, but then again, I have no problems with it right now.

 

while i love this little notebook, i don't think it is possible to get anywhere near 8 hours real-world use. probably 5-6 with internet on and medium brightness from reading your post, it seems like the i3/i5 with 5650 really is what you are looking for as you want for portability + power. the CPU is certainly upgradeable, but not the GPU. Considering you're in the EU, you have the advantage of being able to buy the i5/5650, unlike us sad Americans, so if I were you, definitely buy that one! the 5650 upgrade is much more significant than the i3 to i5.

 

I had a simple tryout with this 3820TG (i3 + 5470) and it lasted more than 5 hours trying games (around one hour, half with ATI powerplay, half with ATI full power) and surfing the web and watching videos (using intel HD) with around a 25% battery left. IF my readings on the battery were right...it would get more than 6 hours easily...maybe that cpu/gpu combo eats a litle less power...

The problem i have now is that the only way to buy the computer seems to be with the offer i told you about ( paying in 30 months) and there, in the shop, they don't have that cpu/gpu combo for the 3820TG, only the one i bought so,...options are keeping it or going for the bigger 15.6" ones...

Thanks for your time!!

 

I see, The whole IT = MS crapware. Probably, i will quit my job immediately.

 

Finally i've got myself an 3820TG, could not resist it anymore. I was in the thinking of waiting until november to buy one as i'm off to hongkong on vacation. But as i were unsure if the ATI 6-series will actually hit the timeline series i pulled off an i5-450/5650.
I will probably buy an SSD disk in HK and eventually an i5-560 or i5-580.
I saw some price listings at idealo.de, the 560 was listed around €200 and the 580 about €50-80. Which do you think is the best processor to buy as the 580 only clocks 133mhz more than the 560.

Will do a clean W7 install and try out some O/C I already feel this is a really durable laptop, no kb flex, decent stiff screen (AUO). So far very happy owner. I recall a discussion about installing 3G modem (a few hundred pages back), is it possible to install?

 

Yes, i3 has graphics switching too.

(The i3 gaming thing keeps popping up every few pages. I3 is fine for gaming.)

You are 100% correct.
For gaming, it's all about the videocard.

For example, an i3-350m that runs a game at 40fps might run that same game at 45fps with an i7-640m.

Comparing video, and a 5470 with an i3 that runs a game 40fps might run that same game at 80fps with a 5650 and same i3.

With any of the newer Intel CPU's, gaming is not going to care much which dual core CPU is in use. It is non-gaming apps that might require a more powerful i5 or i7. For games, the i3/i5/i7 differences are minimal. Heck, people are still grabbing up Alienware m11x r2's with i7-640um CPU's that run slower than i3-350's, and seem to have no problems gaming.

(scroll to bottom, and note the m11x r2's i7-640um, not to be confused with the i7-640m) )
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-i7-640UM-Notebook-Processor.25705.0.html

See these benchmarks that I ran on my i3-350m for comparison to benchmarks ran with the i5 CPU's. (such as the i5-430m in first post). They are close. even though my HD 5650 core does not overclock as much as most HD 5650's (video card not CPU).

stock clocked CPU/GPU
wei = 5.7, cpu=6.3, mem=5.9, graphic=6.7, game=6.7, hd=5.7

Gaming benchmarks
stock clocked CPU/GPU 2.27ghz, 133fsb, ati 550/880, followed by overclocked

3dm2k6 7407, sm2-2750, sm3-3438, cpu-2389
3dm2k6 (2.8ghz, 650/1100) 9237, sm2-3431, sm3-4283, cpu-2985 (max 71c)

RE5 = 49.5
RE5 = 54.7

Stalker (stock clocked CPU/GPU)
High, Enhan. full dyn. lighting (dx11) 1366x768
Day 35.2 Avg FPS
Night 35.9 Avg FPS
Rain 39.2 Avg FPS
SunShafts 19.4 Avg FPS

Heat is the only thing that affects a very small minority of i3 laptops for gaming. A couple 4820TG's with their single HSF cooling system have reported the CPU throttling, but most 4820TG i3 users do not have that issue. In the 3830TG, with it's dual HSF cooling system, that appears to be a non-issue. It cools fine. Of course there will always be the rare system that has very badly factory applied heatsink compound, which will overheat and should not be confused with the general population of laptops. I don't think any 4820TG's with i3's should be used as comparison examples to the 3820TG's i3's discussed in this thread, due to their vastly different cooling system.

Another problem with reports of throttling in some games might be attributed to the SC2 overheating bug, since like these laptops, is also brand new and fresh out for users to play.

http://kokugamer.com/2010/07/29/blizzard-confirms-starcraft-ii-overheating-bug/

I'll be changing the CPU to the i5-460m within the next day or two, and will again post comparison gaming benchmarks

 

Hi where did you find the service manual for the 3820TG?

Cheers
Wes

 

SO this was a while back, but really has anyone bought one of these yet? I have to agree that the stock brick is just a little bigger than necessary, and I am really hoping this thing would work.

 

Hey,

kizwan was able to unlock the bios optionen for the intel grafik card, that means we are able to reduce the memory footprint of the card.

Just for the overclockers, there are no RAM timmings option.

Link: 380TG Bios Unlock

 

Can't really see why this wouldn't work. it's 90w so it should work. Acer won't probably ever support third-party adapters but it may still work.

 

I own one of these ac adapters. It works fine. Looks like the price has dropped a little too.

 

Thanks for confirmation, will look for resellers shipping to sweden as i'm keen to have a slim adapter that fit into a sleeve, probably won't fit in the Zeroshock IV 12.1" but maybe in the 13.3"

 

In a word, no. Look up what is FSB or BCLK and what is multiplier. Even if you are lucky, you can only set FSB/BCLK on today's processors (except from some expensive desktop ones).

 

Google it, it's on the first page.

 

No I think he means my service manual. I bought one on the web for $12. It is the factory manual for the 3820T & TG.

Bronsky

 

Oh good news. Which BIOS did you try it on? As 18 gave some overclockers bad results, I don't think I am upgrading soon. BTW, is there any special method needed for downgrading?

 

A New Jersey Appellate Court has just approved the use of Global Mapping Services like the ones we Environmental Lawyers use every day in our practice to demonstrate to a Jury in a criminal case, the defendant's proximity to a crime scene using Google Earth maps and cell tower routing records. The concept of a business notebook has just radically changed for criminal defense trial attorneys and their experts.

Bronsky

 

That's what I mean, but now I couldn't find it now on Google. I think Just a Nick upped it sometime in the last 100 pages... OK, i can upload it sometime later.

 

The full service manual is 150 pages. I bought it for $9.99 from Tradebit Inc.

 

Im having problem with switchable graphics. Well i formated my HD and installed everything and when i go into battery mode graphics doesnt switch by itself and i have to do it manually. Any1 knows how to fix that?

 

I asked if we can alter the voltage of our ATI HD5650 GPU. That would give us a lot more OC'ing headroom.

Bronsky

 

Any other thought would be really wellcome..I only have one day more to decide whether to keep it or to change it for one of the 15" ones...

Thanks in advance for your help and advices.

 

What about this slim 95w for $34.99?

AcBel AD7048 95W Universal Notebook Adapter AcBel Slim Laptop Power Adapter 95W AC Power USB Charger-Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com

 

Can you see if they can special order the i3 370m / 5650 version that a lot of countries are starting to get now? That one is basically as good as the i5 530m (if not slightly better) and has a really strong video card.

Yes, the CPU is upgradable to i5/i7 in the future.

The screen flicker usually only happens at 10-30% brightness. My works perfect at 40%, sometimes flickers at 30%.

 

Maybe the display flickering has something to do with the Intel battery saver technology the LED screen has (read about it in a german review). Anyway, it's not that bad IMHO although i'll try to check it tomorrow morning.

I'm afraid that this shop only has this 3820 (and the two big 15" i7+gt330 and 15" x4+5650). Problem is that i can only buy it there (because I can pay it in 30 months without paying extra...perfect credit!)...you know...a machine as this for only 26€ a month is worth it! Apart from that, the two big 15" ones are bigger and 200€ more expensive (25% more).

Arrrgggg if only the GPU were upgradeable in the future...

I'm starting to love it...it feels powerfull (even the 5470...), efficient (low heat and low battery eating), well built (i'm starting to love the strange keyboard somehow..). I just feel worried about the vga card not keeping up and getting underpowered versus minimum game reqs in a few months..(it's only for occasional playing time on holidays or some works when i'll need to travel, BUT, i'd love to play, even on low settings...).

Boys, i can't make a decision...
Anyone?

 

If these guys are correct, it looks like it is possible to flash a higher voltage for the GPU, making it possible to OC it to HD5730 settings. That is the main difference I can see between the 5650 and 5730 (both are the same GPU). Nice. As soon as I get my motherboard back, I can try this and Brick my entire machine ... Wait! I had better stop making such predictions. I remember what happened last time I did that.

Somebody please let me know how well the 3820TG handles the Medal of Honor Beta?

Bronsky