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

Thats a really nice price. i didn't find the 3820tg in belgium yet, but in the Netherlands it goes for about €1020-1050 euros and only has the hd 5470 card. Considering the fact that Belgium taxes are higher, I doubt the acer with the hd5650 will go for a price less than €1200-1300, IF the version with the hd5650 will be available at all. My country, with Antwerp as the 2nd most imortant hardbor of Europe, a center of economical distribution, is ironicly always months behind our surrounding countries (Germany, Netherlands) when it comes to most products -_-'

 

I would always prefer to buy it from the factory. It is usually cheeper and you don't have the chance to mess the installation up. The problem is the availability of the higher powered processors in the TimelineXs. I would guess that it won't take long to get the I5-450M/HD5650 model here in the US. The I5-540M is still nowhere to be found and the I7-620M versions were sold only in Singapore and are sold out. If you want a more powerful CPU now, you will have to do it yourself.

@Ponjornoh23 - how do you have your 382TG set up? Which drivers? What are the GPU settings scoring 9697? The I5-450 outscores the I7-620M?

 

Re Launch Manager. I installed it and its not there. Going into the program folder on c drive I click it and it doesn't do anything.

 

Congrats Bronksy! Finally after all this time you get one and join the club Your getting the same exact spec I got, but its cheaper now too

This is the keyboard I got: Acer Aspire 3810T 3410T 4810T 4410T Keyboard US Backlit - eBay (item 390168759387 end time May-21-10 18:28:28 PDT) I don't recommend this mod if your not good with a solder iron the speaker 3.5v connector you need to solder is not easy. It almost made me abort the mission. Fitting the keyboard is tight so requires some force. But the end result I have is perfect.

Are you thinking of getting an i7 and installing that? If you do and post a how too I might consider doing the same thing. Then I know my 3820TG is good for two years at least for my needs.

Oh and by the way, an SSD will make this little notebook fly.

 

Thanks for the info. God knows how long it would have taken to find it. I will be replacing the CPU. Probably an I7-620M. I'll write that up when I'm done. I will probably do the backlit keyboard too. I'm getting a manual and seeing what i can do easily first. If I have to, I can soldier ok.

No question that I need an SSD. I will be using an external HD at work for file storage. Only active matters will be on the SSD. I already store all of my documents and still pictures on an 8GB SD disk.

I hope DHL is not as slow as it was with you. Anybody know the best place to order the plug end of the 3820TG adapter? I need a US version.

Bronsky

EDIT: bought the keyboard.

Does anyone else have a 3820TG in North America yet? Any Singapore models here?

 

any i7-5650 user out there???

 

Should be avaible in any electrical shop.

 

Bronskey, DHL delivery is more like a normal DHL mail type delivery I found. UPS would have been a faster option. It might take about 2 weeks to get to you. Is there a service manual I can download? I take it you will AS5 the CPU and GPU while your there if you replace the i5 430m?

What SSD are you looking at? If your not on a budget the newest Samsung 256GB SSD are very quick. Not as good as the Corsair 250GB but much much cheaper. I already recommend the 120GB OCZ vertex if your after a good fast SSD under 300 bucks

 

Did a few 3dmark loops... no problems at this clocks. If I increase the memory clock, I get glitches... if I increase gpu's clock, 3dmark crashes. A little bit of tweaking may be possible.

I'm using AMD GPU clock tool, but MSI Afterburner works as well. I don't have games for these emulators, but they rely mostly on your cpu and should not be very gpu intense. In general I overclock my system only if I'm unsatisfied with it's performance in a specifig case, e.g. you need more fps in a game.

In case of gaming you won't get a real big hit on performance with a more powerful i-series cpu. More interesting are the additional cpu features... if you rely on applications that can make use of them. Have a look at the 3dmark06 cpu score... my i5-450M gets ~2800 points, while the i7-620M gets ~3050 points. That's less than 10% improvement.

A SSD will be a better investment atm. You're still able to upgrade the cpu later, when they get cheaper.

Are you sure that you're using catalyst mobility and not the regular one?

I'm using the Catalyst 10.6 (driver & software) on the acer factory win7, but disabled most of that messy stuff. Clock speed for this run was 720/1120.

Yeah, more clock speed (gpu) and more recent drivers make my i5 outscore the i7

 

Ponjornoh, not to down talk your clocks. But I beat you cannot play BFBC2 or GTAIV for more than 10 minutes with those clocks before the screen freezes. And you need to reboot your PC.

As I mentioned before those clocks are only good for 3dmark06, not in the real world. The best I can do is 670 / 1070Mhz without any issues after playing BFBC2 for hours on end. 680Mhz or more it will freeze and a reboot is needed. Maybe your core is more stable, but test it in games and come back to us.....

 

Do anyone know how i get the powersmart button to work? The P button is now bound to launch manager, but I dont have any powersmart option there. Is the powersmart, part of the ePower application from Acer? Ive tried to install the ePower, but I only get force closed error. Ive done a clear install with win7 ultimate, the moment I got this lappy.

 

Your doing better than me, my powersmart button doesn't launch the LM. I cant get Lauch Manager to work. What is it exactly? Is it like the Asus quick boot?

Can you boot to chrome in a few seconds. Without loading the OS?

 

Launch Manager is the software to control shortcut keys and also handling the OSD...

 

Pretty fantastic GPU clock speeds there. But if you don't use Acer's driver, you lose the switchable graphics, right?

 

Indeed... 720/1120 is too fast. At least for the memory. Played about half an hour with memory at 1100 and got no problems.

But I'll lower my clocks now and keep on gaming with the defaults, since I don't need this amazing overclocking boost at the moment

Nice to know that there are lots of resources dozing

If you install Acer's driver first and then the latest official catalyst, you won't loose the switching ability.

 

meh im so jealous mine can only handle 645/1045 anything higher then that it shows funny pictures in 3dmark06 and crashes in the games

 

The only delivery option it would let me select for USA delivery was DHL. I guessed that it was normal ground. As long as it is on the way, I'm satisfied. I don't have to wake up every morning and wonder when or if I will be this notebook. I'm not tempted now to buy the Envy or the Sony.

I can get the Intel 160 for $385 ATM. I would like a 256GB unit if I did't have to spend 2x as much to get 100gb more. The Intel alone is half of the price I paid for the computer.

Service manuals cost $20. When I get one, I'll let you know. I would like to map out my options before I start soldering.

If I knew I could have ordered this from Germany, I would have had one around the time you got yours. I kept hitting dead ends trying to configure this unit online.

If this works and it actually ships, I will be so happy to have this acquisition process over. My company will be happy that they can send the workstation back in July. I've grown to like it. Can you use the Acer in closed position with keyboard and monitor attached? Is there anything else I need to do to this unit while I have it open?

Will I have the first HD5650 3820TG in the US? Or is there somebody who has imported one of the Singapore units here?

Bronsky

 

@chong4oo
do you have the i5 or i7? Seems like we have the same problem. Where did you buy your 3820?

 

Seeing how Bronsky is successful in ordering his 3820TG, I think I might follow because I do "need" a laptop soon, of course I would do this after he receives his .

Anyway, my main concern is the German keyboard any different than the US keyboard? If yes, may I ask what is the procedure needed to change it and make it work?

Another one of my question is does this laptop comes with any sort of turbo memory installed? If not, by installing one, will it benefit from it? And, by installing one, what does it inhibit me from installing?

Also, by opening up the laptop by replacing the keyboard, changing the cpu, and installing etc, will it void warranty? By ordering from computeruniverse, which is located in Germany, will I get warranty in the states?

 

The German keyboard is different from the US. If you don't want to open the computer to change the keyboard, you can just buy stickers for the keys that need to be changed.

There is no question that what I am about to do VOIDS THE WARRANTY. It is not for everybody. I am going to put a different model keyboard on the 3820TG, hot wire backlighting or solder leads right to a component of the machine and swap in a more powerful CPU and new thermal paste.

Acer.3820TG and I discussed the warranty last night. We both think you have to send the unit back to Germany for warranty service. That could get expensive.

I took the risk on this unit becasue there are so few problems being reported. The 3820TG seems to be fairly trouble free. If it does have a problem, hopefully I will catch it when I initially inpsect and test it. As soon as I am convinced that the notebook is in good condition, I will at least swap the keyboard in.

I'm not ordering the CPU yet. I'm waiting to see if the unit actually finds its way onto a DHL truck.

The Core I dual processors are limited to 1066 in memory speed.

 

To replace the keyboard, buy just an american version for the 3810 or wait for 3820 version. The replacement is very easy. Read the first page of this posting.

Turbo memory is dead. Just think about a SSD.

The waranty is a risky point ... also in germany with replacement of lots of components. After 6 month you have to explain, that the error has exit at the moment you bought the unit.

 

I saw on youtube one guy got a free DVD drive and mouse with his 3820. I need both, is it likely that they will continue to do this, specifically for the versions that will be sold in the US?

 

i bought from sweden 3820tg with i5 450m 302gb hdd 6cell LX.PXZ02.003

 

i think it was only for the singapore student price that came with those plus 3 year warranty and few more stuffs

 

@Bronksy, With the lid close I can do everything just the same. The only thing is with the lid closed I go from full wifi signal to 3 bars. Hence why I'm thinking of getting a new Intel 6200 card. My N router is on the other side of the apartment. I can't move it closer either due to the phone jack being there.

Oh and basically Acers signal up is just running the wifi areial around the whole case too instead of just around the LCD. Quite smart.

 

Hi guys.

Over the weekend, I received my new 4820TG with the i5-430, 4GB RAM and the HD5650. After verifying that all was good, I did a few benchmarks under 3DMark06. Stock clocks being 550/800, I got 7442 marks this morning with the bone stock drivers. Updated the drivers and then re-did the tests. Stock clocks are on the left, while 680/1065 is on the right:



Even with the stock drivers, at stock clock speeds with the original Win 7 install, I got 7442 on the 3DMark06.

I've got the 4820, not the 3820. I wanted the 3820, but the only units of interest were available in Germany, and I'm not as brave as you guys when it comes to warranties...

 

Where are you located Sam? This is not a US unit is it?

Bronsky

 

Nope, in France. Near Paris to be precise. I got this unit for just under 800 Euros. I ordered a gaming mouse (Logitech MX 518), a 500GB 2.5" external drive and GTA IV with it, and the total came to 955.08 with shipping. I ordered from materiel.net, here's the link:

Acer Aspire TimelineX 4820TG-434G50Mn :: Materiel.net

I tested CPU and GPU temperatures as well playing the FPS "Nexuiz", and the temperatures stayed pretty good. Under 80 for the CPU and around the same for the GPU (closer to 70 I think). It's only 15°C to 20°C in the room, so that might change if it were hotter like where Hendrickson lives.

 

Guys, I'm off to Hong Kong & Taiwan next week, while I'm there I can get the 3820TG for 820€. I'd be talking about theCi5-430M(2.26GHz / Turbo 2.53GHz)/13.3WS (LED)/1*2G D3 1066/500GB5.4K SATA/Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit/ATI 5650 version.

However, I've read multiple reviews stating that the display is supposedly quite bad, as in, unusable outdoors & not so great indoors.

Now I really like the display of my mates 13" MBP, but it's not packing an i5[nor the HD5650].

Dide anybody compare the screen to a ''latest'' generation MPB? If so, does the MBP really pack a considerably better screen? The display is pretty important for me, because I'm using it 99% of the time, unlike the GPU.

 

I'll let you know in a week or so. My wife wants a MBP 13".

 

Ah that's great news . Btw, how much did you pay for your 3820?[It's not available in the Netherlands]

 

i dont own a mbp but i own 3820tg and its really reflective so i wouldnt recommend if you want to use it outside. but bad display you can have external monitor but bad gpu you cant do much about it so unless you are using it outside frequently 3820tg is a great deal

 

Germany is quite close..-

...and they have 450M

 

$955USD total which included $73.00 shipping from Germany. US (backlit) keybaord is $23. I did not have to pay 14% VAT because I was exporting it to the US. I could not pass up the price. Esp. considering that the HD5650 may be awhile yet in the US.

 

I5-540M or I7-620M (CPU price is the same). I am really on the fence on this one. Probably leaning I7-620M.

Bronsky

 

That's quite cheap. If prices are the same, definately take the i7. Anandtech had a comparison of the various MBPs, the i7 could get up to 16% faster with CPU intensive tasks.

 

Yes, but the i7 eats the battery faster.

This is a typical win/lose version.

 

Say, what's the price and where are you purchasing the CPU from?

 

Its got an extra 1mb cache per core so its worth it. At least in my books.

 

From one of the retailers on ebay. Like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Intel-Core-...6797?cmd=ViewItem&pt=CPUs&hash=item3a5b712c8d

 

In that particular listing, did you notice that in the picture, on the top left of the chip, it says "INTEL (R) (C) '88" ?? Does that mean its a 1988 chip = wrong picture?? Also, in CPU-Z, is it to supposed to say "620M", or "M 620" like in the picture? Seems kinda fishy, IMO. Please advise.

What do other CPU-Z screenshots say for other CPU's? "XXXM" or "M XXX" ?

 

Thats so weird, how come this model costs 250€ less than the one in the netherlands with the hd 5470.
If they will sell these in retail stores I might pick one up in france then, we use azerty keyboards in belgium aswell anyway. I already planned a 'wine-tasting'-trip to france, might aswell pick up a laptop there during our hangover when we're too sick to do anything else.

 

Picture looks like it says Intel '08. You want to not buy a 620um. That's the dual core i7 that comes in the m11x.

 

Does anyone know if those screenshots for CPU-Z are correct though? "M 620" rather than "620M" ? I havent seen any CPU-Z screenshots in a while for any of the I5/I7 cpus.

 

Its correct, CPU-Z display it like that..
Here's some example..

 

I haven't seen this model in stores. It seems to be a bit rare. The only ones I've found were in online stores. Being a satisfied customer of this online store for over 4 years, I ordered this from them.

Materiel.net have a shop in Lille (Lomme) as well. You might order and pick it up from there if you're coming down to France anyway. It will save you the transportation charges.

 

would you recommend using an anti-glare filter to minimize the reflections when using it outdoors?

 

i am using 1.. and it works real good. Zero glare + zero reflections

 

what brand are you using and where did you buy it? i've read good reviews about the viewguard anti-glare screen protector. but i think it is only available in the US. i hope i can find one here in Europe.

 

I'm not sure if someone else already mentioned: the 3820 with i5 450 and UMTS is now available in Germany. You can buy it for 899€. Without UMTS its 849€.