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

The display is really strange. Since half a year, I still don't understand how is it possible that it only has problems on the ATI card (=> motherboard problem), but a panel replacement solved it for someone (=> LCD problem).

Anyway, I almost always use it on external. BTW, I'm looking forward to putting in a Vertex 2 120 GB, now that prices has come down.

 

It works fine with my 3820tg.

 

I did a clean install of Windows 7 but I am having troubles installing the Latest ATI 5650 catalyst drivers. It says the driver cannot be downloaded due to incompatible hardware/software. The version of my graphics adapter is not supported.

How do I fix this?

Thanks!

 

Acer driver first ... switch to dedicated in the bios and add the catalyst.

 

What do you mean by switch to dedicated?

 

First post man... theres lots of goodies written in the 1st post of this thread

 

What problem are you having? I can't get it to install at all without an error and the one off Intel's website cancels out and tells me to get the driver from Acer. Has anyone recently successfully installed the Intel one? If so, could you provide a link where you downloaded it from?

 

I haven't seen that many successful attempts to install newer Intel drivers. So, I'm going to say "most likely" you cannot install newer Intel drivers.

You have to install the AMD (ATI + Intel bundle) drivers on Acer's website before you can update to newer ATI Catalyst drivers on a clean install of Windows 7. You'll have to follow the steps from the first post of this thread.

However, if you are on Acer's default Windows 7 Home Premium. Just follow the steps from the first post of this thread and ignore the AMD drivers install.

 

I'm not on a clean install and having problems playing certain flash videos (pixelated mess) while on integrated graphics. The first post links to Intels website, where the drivers won't install, so I guess I'm out of luck unless anyone knows a workaround.

 

Yep same here, not sure what the problem is...

 

Numerous users of the 3820TG and 4820TG have not been able to install newer Intel graphic drivers successfully. I don't think you can do anything about it if the Intel install doesn't work for you. If it does, then you are one of the lucky few. I guess there is some bug with the Intel drivers.

 

Hopefully this isn't a stupid question. I just received my 4820TG yesterday and I want to update to the latest ATI Drivers.

Upon checking the Acer support website, I noticed that they have new drivers; VGA_AMD_8.741.1.6_W7x64.zip drivers dated 12-13. Is it safe to assume that I should be able to install this new driver as long as my VGA_Intel driver is current and up to date?

 

It will install both the AMD and Intel drivers. This driver was available for the 3820TG on November 11. What took so long to make it available for the 4820TG?

 

Thanks Bronsky! Does the computer need to be running in discrete or integrated graphics when installing updated drivers? Does it matter?

Is there any reason why I would need to have the most recent BIOS version as well (I noticed a new one came out on 12-13)?

 

You should be able to install it on either. It is when someone wants to put a catalyst driver that does not support switchable graphics that you have to switch to discrete.

You have 1:19 or 1:13? Either should he okay. If not, you can update.

 

Do you think this screen is compatible ?

DALLE AU Optronics B133XW01 V.0 - 13.3" LED - 1366x768

(It's the only model I've found here, and if I buy one, I want to grab it in my country, so I have 7 days to return it if it doesn't work)

 

Turn off hardware acceleration in right click / settings during a flash video!

 

I think it would be a good idea to open a separate thread for "Installing AMD Catalyst drivers on Acer TimelineX models" as I think more than half of the good 832 pages contains a questions about it.

While I still don't understand if someone has no clue about what is he doing, then why do they start tinkering with it? The factory drivers work fine. If someone needs to use the latest and newest non-supported driver, than what's so hard about reading back 10 pages?

(sorry, no more separate quote, I try...)

 

Is there a solution already to the ATI Card HDMI output overscan issue ? It doesn't fill the entire screen, unless you go in the options and fix it, but it keeps resetting.

 

Got some Capcom Benchies all at 720p, high settings, no AA in all of them

==========

Street Fighter 4 Bench

GPU/Mem Clock:
550/800 = 83.24 FPS avg, 10601 pts
650/800 = 91.63 FPS avg, 11222 pts, 5.9% performance increase
650/1000 = 99.37 FPS avg, 11795 pts, 11.3% performance increase

==========

Monster Hunter Online Bench

GPU/Mem Clock:
550/800 = 5240 pts
650/800 = 5780 pts, 10.3% performance increase
650/1000 = 6350 pts, 21.2% performance increase

==========

Devil May Cry 4 Bench

GPU/Mem Clock:
550/800:
- Scene 1 = 92.95 FPS
- Scene 2 = 82.37 FPS
- Scene 3 = 118.34 FPS
- Scene 4 = 66.13 FPS

650/800:
- Scene 1 = 102.38 FPS, 10.1% performance increase
- Scene 2 = 87.55 FPS, 6.3% performance increase
- Scene 3 = 132.32 FPS, 11.8% performance increase
- Scene 4 = 72.89 FPS, 10.4% performance increase

650/1000:
- Scene 1 = 111.58 FPS, 20% performance increase
- Scene 2 = 100.49 FPS, 22% performance increase
- Scene 3 = 150.50 FPS, 27.2% performance increase
- Scene 4 = 81.83% FPS, 23.7% performance increase

==========

Resident Evil 5 Bench

GPU/Mem:

550/800
- Variable: 63.5 FPS
- Fixed: 54.3 FPS

650/800
- Variable: 69.9 FPS, 10.1% performance increase
- Fixed: 56.2 FPS, 3.5% performance increase

650/100
- Variable: 76.0 FPS, 19.7% performance increase
- Fixed: 56.2 FPS (EH!?), 3.5% performance increase <- CPU bottleneck?

 

I have been thinking the exact same thing

 

Nice, thanks for the info!

Could You share Your adjusted Color profile? It might be useful for other members.

Thanks in advance!

 

Hi all!

I am a lucky new 3820tg user... lucky for all except the brightness shifting. Reading through all the pages I could not find any other successful solutions except for changing the display to fix the problem - has there really been no other solutions that helped?

Another question is for the Catalyst drivers - why is everyone so keen on installing the new ones? Do they solve something or what?

Thank you in advance nice people

 

Hi 3820TG owners,

I posted this in the 5820TG and 4820TG threads as well just to see, it's a color gradient image. Do you guys all see ugly dithering at the bottom ends of each gradient bar with the 5650 card on? What about with the intel?

 

Is the brightness shifting happening like the one in my signature? I thought that they just had a bad run of displays in August, I would have never thought that they are still producing brand new machines with bad displays. What kind of display do you have? (device manager / monitors / properties / hardware IDs)

Its fine for me, both on LCD and external display.

Who would like to write the first post (and keep editing it afterwards)?

BTW, I really don't understand why does everyone want to use newer graphics drivers. I am still using the original 10.6 from summer, and it's proved to be a rock stable, really reliable driver with no problems. Intel <> AMD switching works, brightness keys work, it's good in overclocking and plays hardware accelerated videos well. The only thing it cannot do is OpenCL and OpenGL 4.0, but I doubt that there would be a lot of users of those technologies in here (Bronsky doesn't count, not everyone runs millitary spec programs on 3820TGs...)

 

Hi guys,

Just ordered a new 3820TG here:
Acer Aspire TimelineX 3820TG-464G75nks - Notebooks - computeruniverse.net

It's supposed to have an upgraded ATI card, the 6550. I wonder what the differences are with the 5650...

Also I was wondering if any of you know if it's possible to get an 9 cell battery somewhere for the 3820... It be nice to maybe get a couple hours extra when you know you'll have to work unplugged!

Cheers,

Martijn

 

Very interesting, what brand of screen do you have (AUO / LG / Samsung) on it?

 

I have a question about the screen as well. Is anyone bothered by it? some say the color is dull. But i'm assuming a thread 800+ pages on one laptop shouldn't be that bad..

 

AUO322C

The colors are actually really nice! The viewing angles aren't that great, and I personally hate every glossy display, but the colors are really nice (and a bit too warm on my AUO, but I like it this way).

 

I think the "washed out colors" complaint (separate from my dithering inquiry) is generally raised by peeps who own a 3820TG with an LG screen.

But yeah, I know at least myself and another individual both with 15.6'' Acers who have screen dithering problem. Perhaps it is only a larger screen issue, perhaps only isolated defective cases (more likely).

 

Yeah same. Maybe its important to mention there are different AUO models shipped with the 3820tg. Some of the earlier ones came with AOU122 or something like that, maybe they werent as good, idk?

 

I received two days ago the same model and had a surprise: the 464g75nks should have an i5-460M, but mine has an i5-480M. Strange!
I'm happy for the extra performance, but I'm also a little disappointed because before this Acer I had an Asus UL30A that was very cold [and a little underpowered to be honest]. I'm finding the 480M a little warmer, anyway more that I expected from what I read here.
If you need some extra info, I'll be glad to share it with you.

 

I thought computeruniverse didn't ship to usa anymore?

 

The Computeruniverse "upgrade" is a common phenomenon.

They did this before - and hopefully continue their practice -when the 450M orders were upgraded to 460Ms.

Congratulations on Your notebook, it must be nice to have a 480M on board.

 

quick questions

my m11x speaker quality was miles ahead of the speakers they put in the 3820tg, does anybody know of some replacement speakers with some better quality? I really miss listening to quality music through laptop speakers

I got a backlit keyboard and a 580m processor waiting to be installed, I also want to install a bluetooth module since i got the canadian 3820tg and there is none installed. Anybody know where to get a bluetooth module that will work in the 3820tg?

Is there anything else worth doing while I got the laptop open?

Thanks!

 

I think I have a fragment of an old HP printer driver hung up on my unit. Everytime I start the unit, I am showing an unknown device.

Windows can't identify nor find a driver for this device. While the Device Manager is configured like this, I can't print on my HP 1006 at work. I can remove the device by uninstalling it. Then I can print fine. At one time, I had 2 drivers installed on my unit and I removed the first one. I think a remnant of it is still there. When I uninstall it, the relief is only temporary. Eventually, it tries to reinstall itself and it always returns on boot-up.

Hopefully, a good driver scrubber will remove it. Any good freeware or can I get a demo somewhere? And other suggestions? My normal Google research has left me nowhere.

Bronsky

@ Feiyue - I had an early production AUO and I actually liked it better than the one I have (which I still like very much). They just make a dog once in awhile and seem not to have sufficient QC to remove these units from the distribution stream. I do think that most of the complaints about washed out color are actually an initial reaction to the narrow viewing angles.

 

GO download Advanced Systemcare, great utility software to check registry and malwares and tune up your pc.

 

i got a question... are both fans supposed to be the same?

i am hearing a gratting sound to my left that increases/decreases in period with the fan speed. obviously from the fan...

my right side only seem to have the 'air' sound... (not sure about a light gratting sound cos it could have came from the left side)..

yea.. didnt notice this early cos weekday nights are not this quiet.

thinking of a 1-to-1 exchange (still within 7days) or acer service job... cos not sure if 1-to-1 exchange will they swap my HDD for me??

 

They probably want you to reformat the hard drive to factory default (wipe everything) before you return it...

 

For fun peace laughter and joy...

3dMarks06
HD Graphics -- 373/543 -- 1923
HD5650 -- 550/800 -- PCI-E 1x -- 3554
HD5650 -- 550/800 -- PCI-E 16x -- 7656

I think it came with Catalyst 10.6. Updated to 10.11
Looks like FM haven't approve 10.11?

Brightness keys work... but no indicator tho =(


--------------
the fan sound only audible in the dead of the night... so i guess i can live with it for now..

Acer has a 2-hr carry-in service here (if not done within 2 hrs, they'll deliver)
i guess i'll make use of this. (notebook withdrawal symptom come fast)
hopefully they'll break the warranty seals below the laptop for me.. lol...

 

how did u get it/ know it was on pci-e 1x?

 

Just remember that this is adjusted to my liking, not calibrated 100%!
You can pull this off from the CCC

*Red:
-Gamma = 1
-Brightness = 100
-Contrast = 106

*Green:
-Gamma = 1
-Brightness = -20
-Contrast = 112

*Blue:
-Gamma = 1
-Brightness = 10
-Contrast = 125

 

http://cgi.ebay.fr/LTN133AT18-13-3-...=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f032fe55d#rpdId


... I'm about to buy it
Anyone could confirm it is the Samsung SEC3030 screen ?

Edit:

Here is the screen on the dismounting pdf manual of 3820TG :



It's writen LTN133AT18, so I guess it's the good screen

There is no difference with the ebay one : (below)




On the ebay screen, there is a red arrow made by the seller, it's a zoom-in of the connector (all his screen's pictures have this)

So there is one last thing intriguing me:

On the manual's screen it's wroten : 5D9L22317G
On the ebay's one : 5DAC09707W

...

 

first post:

i check with GPU-Z.. it will say "PCI-E 2.0x16 @ x16" or "PCI-E 2.0x16 @ x1"

Reminder to self... turn OFF PowerSaver first if on battery before swiching on ATi.... if not will lock up CCC... =.=

interestingly... i managed to get my graphics card stuck back on 1x earlier today.
its obvious enough.. the 3Dmarks gets stuck at 3.5k.... compared to norm of 7.6k for this 5650

i think it has to do with some boot conditions that gets it stuck.
it is happily back to 16x now...
i wonder if it can be replicated again... hmm...

 

Thanks! Will give it a try!

 

I think you have other issues, or misunderstood the GPU-Z Bus Interface x16 x1 "Version 1.1 or 2.0" mouse over reporting issue.

All owners are able to get 7300-7600+ 3dm2k6 scores with these laptops stock, and with GPU-Z showing "PCI-E 2.0x16 @ v1.1" (mouse over). Many are able to get more than 10,000 3dmarks after overclocking, even though GPU-Z still shows "PCI-E 2.0x16 @ v1.1". This is normal, and the stock or later Acer drivers do run at x16 even though GPU-Z reports bus version as v1.1 instead of v2.0. The important thing to note is that both are still running at x16 and never at x1.

It is common for PCI-E v2.0 x16 to run at PCI-E v1.1 x16 while at idle. During loads, this will change to PCI-E v2.0 x16.

http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=142607.0

Perhaps there are some later drivers that you are using that do actually slow down the card to "PCI-E 2.0x16 @ x1".

Exactly!
Stick with Acer drivers for now and there will be no performance issues.

 

Look in device manager under USB Controllers, at the built in hubs properties for info on how power is used.

USB ports obtain power from built in USB hubs.
These USB hubs can supply only a small amount of power, up to 500 mA per port.

Many devices that draw more power than a port can provide require an external power supply for the device, or a powered USB hub to plug into, or in some cases a special USB cable that plugs into 2 USB ports to obtain additional power needed for the device. Once a port has exceeded its power limit, it shuts down that port and any others on the same powered branch.

 

Hello,

Today i have finished my next mod on the Acer 3820tg. I have the Acer 3820tg-5454G64nks with no 3G module, the miniPCI-E connector missing me. So i have soldered a miniPCI-E connector to the solder pad's. And now it work's. I have plug'd in a MC770 DVB-T Hybrid card from a old ASUS Laptop. And it works great.

 

It is probably a problem in the power demands of the DVD unit you purchased. I have a panisonic that uses 2 USB connnections to spread out the demand. A USB port maxes at 5ma. I would look at the rating on the unit you bought. You should be able to plug in the external DVD and a mouse with no problem.

Bronsky

 

well, I am not looking at mouseovers.
PCI-E version 1.1 and 2.0 compared to x1 or x16 for a PCI-E link is a pretty obvious difference. (theres no such thing as a x1.1 speed link anyway...)
i may be new to Win7... but not new to computer hardware (home PCs are all custom jobs)

Computer was on AC.
Computer was set to Max Performance (for both AC and Battery)
PowerPlay is set to OFF

at stock, it showed constant @ x1,
3Dmark06 was a constant 3.5k @ Max performance with PowerPlay off.
no amount of rebooting, switching or setting change will get it out of the 3.5k rut.

obviously something is wrong when 3dMarks show 90% of the people ~7.6k and i'm only getting 3.5k

so i did the driver update...
(with my fingers crossed... always a bit wary about custom drivers like those for switchable graphics)

only after a driver update, did the link show up as a constant @ x16
3Dmark06 7.6k constant after that.
7.6k running Battery or AC even.

well.. there was one instance yesterday that it got stuck @ x1 but rebooted and it went back fine (?_?)
Never able to replicate it no matter what I tried so far
I suspect it is due to the Switchable Graphics glitching the hardware a little.
Custom drivers are always a little finicky

i agree, if it works and is sufficient, there is no reason to change for changing sake.
but i obviously had a problem.

sometimes its not a version of driver.
sometimes it is just the reinstalling process that fixes something that was glitched
computers (or Windows) are funny things in this regard