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

Hmmmm, I think I messed up. I was using some too high of gpu overclock values by accident and ran Kombuster from MSI and after that I haven't been able to really overclock at all without any instability. I'm currently sticking to stock values which still work and isn't too bad from what I did. Is there any possible means of getting the gpu back in overclocking order?

 

Hey Everyone,

Very new to the forums here, but I wanted to thank the members for the many guides here on custom modifications and import options

I was hoping to add to the knowledge base here regarding processors.
For those holding out on OEM i5-580m's, I think the first batch landed in California listed by excaliburpc

Intel BX80617I5580M Core i5-580M 2.66GHz 3MB Cache Socket 988 Dual-Core Mobile Processor. Intel BX80617I5580M

Haven't worked with them before, but this is the first bulk offer I've seen, potentially as OEM. At 280 USD, it is luring me to voiding my warranty.

The i7-640m OEM's are still to be found, although provantage is waiting for a shipment last I checked, although it's at a 80-90 dollar premium vs. the 580m.

-Dan

 

Finally I will take the risk of clean windows 7 install... Now I must decide about 2 points...

Windows 7 Ultimate or Professional ?
32 bit or 64 bit ?

I won't use more than 4gb ram
I play games with the machine (all seem to install themselves to x86 folder so they are 32 bit)

So what is the most suitable option for this 3820tg

 

Anyone know where I can get a bluetooth wifi card? I just got a 3820tg i3 with 5650 but didnt have a bluetooth module in it.

 

I also installed the latest drivers, however, my graphic card is still displayed as a HD 5650. I'm still on bios v. 1.13 though, don't know if that'll make a difference.

 

Same Bios here.

To install, first changed Bios to discrete and booted into windows.

Then uninstalled old drivers using device manager, and checked the box to delete old driver files. At this point, screen went to a small size.

Instead of restarting, next installed the Acer driver VGA_AMD_8.741.1.6_W7x86x64. This seemed to then install basic VGA dispay driver. Restarted and it automatically detected new hardware and windows finished the installation of the AMD/ATi drivers. Done. Now shows as HD 6550M.

 

FYI, unless you have a license for either of these 2 versions, the only clean install that is appropriate on a 3820TG is home premium. I have pro on mine but my compnay has a license for each of our notebooks.

The moderators take a dim view of any information that would suggest anyother solution and have redacted threads discussing it. Probably a subject for another time - another place.

Bronsky

 

Has anyone installed 10.10e?

Bronsky

 

The mobility series is not supported... perhaps there's some modded driver out there

 

It's been modded. Was just wondering if anyone has tried it. I'd like to try out the AI which would be really great for me in my uses. BTW, haven't heard from you in awhile. Hi.

 

Hm... tried this one: AMD Catalyst 10.10e - Guru3D.com Forums

Catalyst A.I. seems to cause problems in SC2. Pylon power grid doesn't show up on high ground. Disabling A.I. gives a huge FPS drop (<10 fps!) if there are a lot of pylons visible. I will revert back to 10.10.

I followed the thread, but was off some time... for a lot of work and for holidays, hi again

 

Does anyone know if the discrete graphics on the 3820tg is integrated or is it upgradeable? Please don't mind my lack of knowledge. I'm still in the process of learning. =)

 

It's integrated into the mobo thus not upgradable.

 

You also can consider the option to buy BT module on eBay. Of course, It requires some disassembly to install BT in laptop, but IMO result worth it.

 

I read somewhere yesterday that Intel is releasing a 120GB SSD and it is going to cost $275.

Bronsky

 

Intel SSD 120 GB going for $240 over at newegg.

Newegg.com - Intel X25-M SSDSA2MH120G2K5 2.5" 120GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Looks like OCZ is doing small price drops along with MIR to stay ahead of the game.

Newegg.com - OCZ Vertex Series OCZSSD2-1VTX120G 2.5" 120GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Newegg.com - OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE120G 2.5" 120GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

 

Heyah. I was wondering if any of you fellow 3280tg owners use some software to control/monitor fans on 3820tg ? If so which one, or which one would you recommend thx

 

Do you get any indication on screen when you turn up or down the light with fn+left / fn+right ?

I got indications for the sound (fn+up/down) but nothing for light.

 

Same here, and anywhere else I think.

 

yes that /\/\/\/\/\

 

I want to make clean Windows 7 install... And in the menu I get 3 partititions... Basic Partition c: system reserved f: (this is hidden and 100mb) and Partition PQSERVICE 12.7 gb... What should I do with these ? Should I leave these partitions and install win just to C: ? But I dont want to keep PQSERVICE and system reserved partitions...

by the way.. 3820 tg uses only IDE hdd right ? I was going to buy sata 2 because I thought so... until I checked in device manager

 

It is sata in the 3820tg

I have a vertex 2 extended 180gb but with this drive windows 7 ultimat 64bit wont shutdown when the intel video is enabled. When the ATI/AMD is all is perfect any thoughts welcom both bios are updated vertex and the laptop.

 

I was just coming here to ask this, but I guess you beat me to it! If anyone knows, it'd be great.

Also, where can I find the Acer registration program? I don't see it at Acer Europe - Service & Support, Drivers & Utilities, Downloads and I'm not sure where else to find it.

 

if it is sata why does bios and windows manager show western digital scorpio blue ide hdd ?

 

What catalyst and driver are you using? Cause if it's from the acer's website, those functions are working but if you use the ones from amd.com that problem might exists. Although i remember the 10.8 release of amd.com worked fine with the brightness and sound shortcuts, but many reported it to be buggy especially with games.

 

I dont get any indications, however if i remember correctly i used to get the on screen signals for the brightness....

 

Yeah the amd releases are faulty as they do not integrate well with the intel gpu, hence losing some of those shortcut functionalities.

 

The fn-brightness keys don't work with ATI's official 10.10. Nevertheless adjusting the brightness via power plan settings in windows works.

 

Too damn busy to upgrade my 3820TG this weekend. Maybe next week.

Bronsky

 

You can disable the Catalyst A.I. right? Is it really even needed. Also do the FN + brightness shortcuts work now?

I have a i5 580m QS sample installed and I´m loving it. Overclocks to a nice 3.8Ghz at turbo and has allowed me to pretty much post the best wprime and superpi scores yet on a 3820tg. (Many pages back) Great CPU, and the i7 640m´s don´t overclock as well.

Oh it would be great if we had a fan control program for our 3820TG´s. The latest bios is odd at times. Sometimes in 1.19 the GPU just roars into action then 10 seconds later is quite. Then other 10mins another cooling burst?

Its as if Acer changed the lower fan temp limits Vs RPM..

 

So any information about my problem ?

I want to replace the WD scorpio blue 5400rpm but bios and device manager says it is IDE hdd

Should I buy IDE or SATA 2.0 will suit too ?

 

I dont go with what the bios or windows say I go with what I see and it's a sata connoctor and I don't know of any laptop's of the past 4 to 5 years that had a ide drive in them.

Just get a SATA and you will be golden not to sure about the vertex 2 extended I have that one and my system won't shut down with the intel videocard enabled it's the only thing I could find not right with my setup.

 

I didn't test the brightness stuff, since I was on my external screen... at least that works Perhaps I'll do another test tonight...

 

The whole reason I loaded 10.10 is for the AI.

Bronsky

 

I posted a week about about a broken/half come off key... have pics:




fixable, or new keyboard needed?

 

I would like some fn-brightness keys

Whats so good about AI btw? @Bronsky
I'm sure the 10.10 drivers give a decent performance increase in all games... it's just a shame it has to effect the brightness. I think I'll take performance over the brightness keys but I wish I didn't have to.

 

has anyone been able to install intel hd graphics drivers newer than the ones provided by acer? Only asking because in chrome all the videos on ign are green and pixelated. The problem disappears when I switch to the ati graphics.

 

For gamers probably nothing. But for those of us who have a use for parallel computing, the AI is really AMD's first attempt to catch up to NVIDIA in this area.

Bronsky

 

I'm assuming you're tried to press the key back in-place. That looks broken. Normally, when a key comes off, there is a small clip left inplace on the switch. Your's is still attached to the top it appears. Trp pressing it back into place. What happens?

At least someone has found 3820 keyboards instead of the 3810 units we have been using lately.

Bronsky

 

Did another test... brightness keys are still not functional with 10.10e

 

How do everybody install Catalyst 10.10 on their 3820TG? I´ve tried to do this for a few days now without luck. I got the latest driver from acer and I think it is 10.6, but I need 10.10. Do you download modded drivers or how do you make it work?

 

Remove all current drivers. DL and install the latest Acer AMD VGA driver. Then switch to discrete in bios and install 10.10. Switch back to switchable.

 

Thats what I have done now. Removed att current drivers and installed the latest Acer AMD VGA driver.
So now I just switch to discrete and install 10.10?
I´ve tried that before with no luck, but not with the LATEST Acer VGA driver installed.

 

So, should I upgrade to 10.10 or there are issues with those drivers?

 

I made a clean win 7 install finally

2 questions:

1) Should I install AMT and AHCI drivers ? are they neccessary ? What are they at all ? listed in product s drivers


2) I think I did something wrong while installing ati drivers.. I must have installed a wrong driver... Perhaps a desktop driver and it has installed a sound driver.. Ati High def sound device.... should I remove this extra sound driver ?

Sorry for being this newbie... I am new to all computer stuff

 

It is not recommended.

 

why not ? Im running 10.10 and everything has been fine so far, cant complain. Brightenss/volume buttons work. What sort of issues ppl have with it ?

 

You know what you're doing. BTW, my brightness keys don't work.

 

Other than the brightness that seems to be working/not working for some people, what are the other known issues?

What would be the recommended version then?

 

Brightness works for you? Thats odd. Most people don't have them working.