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

i got an external Acer DVD drive with my system...

plugging both to the Left USB ports doesn't work for me.

try plugging the 2 USB plugs one to the Left USB and the other to the Right and start up the system... and it works for me..

Ugly and obstructing as hell... but it works. *shrugs*
not sure about hot-plugging to both sides, i haven't tried yet. was busy with other stuff

 

My dual connection Panisonic DVD works fine on the 2 left ports. Theoretically, there should be no difference between any of the 3 as the controller should deliver a steady 5ma. I have actually had a multimeter on my USB power leads and I can confirm that my controllers keep the power at that level. What bios are you running? Do you both have new units?

BTW, you are not alone in seeing the PCIe x1 issue. To be sure, most owners mistake an idling PCIe (x1) for a problem but there have been instances where some experienced users have had their units hang at X1. It was almost randome and was corrected by a driver reinstall. I suspect a corrupted installation or corrupted original driver. Once you updated your drivers did the problem go away?

Bronsky

 

Anybody else have any thoughts on this problem? Just_a_Nick? Zsero? Where are all you software mavens?

 

Dual plug Samsung external ODD works great here as long as both of the USBs are pluged, the way is irrelevant.

It sounds like a hardware issue.

 

yups, brand new, just gave it a 1 week birthday bash.

yea, it went away after the install... lol...
i'm wondering if the temporary stuck @x1 yesterday was because i was doing trail and error with the free SetFSB.
Can't remember which came before the other.

Bios 1.13... any idea what is changed in 1.17?

oh ... fyi, the PowerSaver (P button thingy) for my system doesn't touch the WiFi settings.
------------------------

 

Check the device id then go search in Registry Local Machine Services, it should be under 1 of the driver services.

 

For those who are interested to see what is in the current batch of 3820TG... from AIDA64 (successor of Everest?)

Stock with no OC at all.
Only driver update is Catalyst 10.11.
CPU's 10% OC should be some Turbo Boost working its magic
---------Acer TimelineX 3820TG-5484G75nss------------
Motherboard:
CPU Type ------------ Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU M 460 @ 2.53GHz
CPU Clock ----------- 2793.0 MHz (original: 2533 MHz, overclock: 10%)
CPU Multiplier ------ 21x
CPU FSB ------------- 133.0 MHz (original: 133 MHz)
QPI Clock ----------- 2394.0 MHz
Memory Bus ---------- 532.0 MHz
DRAM:FSB Ratio ------ 16:4

Motherboard Name ------ Acer Aspire 3820
Motherboard Chipset --- Intel Ibex Peak-M HM55, Intel Ironlake-M
DMI BIOS Vendor ------- Phoenix Technologies LTD
DMI BIOS Version ------ V1.13

System Memory ------ 3764 MB (DDR3-1333 DDR3 SDRAM)
Memory Timings ----- 7-7-7-20 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
Command Rate (CR) -- 1T
DIMM1: ------------- Kingston ACR256X64D3S1333C9 (2 GB DDR3-1333 DDR3 SDRAM)
DIMM3: ------------- Kingston ACR256X64D3S1333C9 (2 GB DDR3-1333 DDR3 SDRAM)

Video Adapter ------ ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 (Madison)
GPU Code Name ------ Madison Pro/LP (PCI Express 2.0 x16 1002 / 68C1, Rev 00)
GPU Clock ---------- 550 MHz
Memory Clock ------- 1600 MHz

Video Adapter ------ Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator HD (1796314 KB)
Audio Adapter ------ ATI Radeon HDMI @ ATI Redwood/Madison - High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Adapter ------ Realtek ALC269 @ Intel Ibex Peak PCH - High Definition Audio Controller [B-2]
Disk Drive --------- WDC WD7500BPVT-22HXZT1 (698 GB, IDE)
Network Adapter ---- Atheros AR5B97 Wireless Network Adapter (192.168.1.64)
Network Adapter ---- Atheros AR8151 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller
USB Device --------- 1.3M WebCam

Battery Properties:
Device Name -------------- AS10B5E
Manufacturer ------------- Panasonic
Battery Type ------------- Rechargeable Li-Ion
Designed Capacity -------- 64800 mWh
Fully Charged Capacity --- 63720 mWh
Voltage ------------------ 12546 mV
Wear Level --------------- 1 %

Temperatures:
CPU ---------------------- 62 °C (144 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #1 --------- 56 °C (133 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #2 --------- 60 °C (140 °F)
PCH ---------------------- 60 °C (140 °F)
IMC ---------------------- 61 °C (142 °F)
GMCH --------------------- 26 °C (79 °F)
GPU Diode ---------------- 53 °C (127 °F)
WDC WD7500BPVT-22HXZT1 --- 33 °C (91 °F)

Monitor ID ------- LGD023F: Generic PnP Monitor [NoDB]
Monitor Model ---- LP133WH2-TLA4
Monitor Vendor --- ___LGDisplay
-------------------------------------------------
DDR3-1333! (2x 2GB instead of 1x 4GB... oh well)
an LG display!
model code is right there for all of you looking for replacement screens

clockgen search still pending...

 

sorry for not looking thru 840 pages, but has anyone upgraded/modded their internal speakers yet?

 

Thanks.

Bronsky

Freeride600 - nobody has done an internal swap that I know of. I've replaced a speaker and there's almost no room in there. I think somebody used an external bar.

 

To Zsero:

My display is the same as yours - AUO322C. What can you recommend? Sending it to service for warranty repairs is the only solution?

 

And another problem recently encountered - when playing different games system just freezes for some 5-20 seconds and then simply comes back. I remember reading something about hard disk freeze. Is this the case and what was the solution?

I would say that there are too many problems for a new computer

Thanks again!

 

Thanks Bronsky. Thought I would check, since the stock ones... suck. I guess i'll stick with my earphones. Thanks again though.

 

I received my bluetooth module, but when I install it it won't get recognized. -_-

 

Buy some high-end SQ earphones (I'd recommend Yuin PK2 right off top of my head, for expert advice go to head-fi), and don't worry about horrible laptop loudspeakers anymore.

Nothing beats the sound quality of a good pair of headphones.

 

Did you turn it on with FN-F3?

 

It's not in the device manager and it wont show up in applications live Everest. But no, I did not try since I had the keyboard removed from the chassis and was temporarely using a USB keyboard.

 

If the BT module is not turned on using Fn+F3 it wont show up in device manager or anywhere else.

 

Oh geez. lol. I'll try again then. I need to disassemble it again.

 

Bought Acer 3820Tg-3022 (i5-430M) from Staples Canada yesterday. Everything is great with the laptop, except for the Speakers which aren't very loud even with volume set to maximum. Sound quality isn't great either. Can this be fixed? Would prefer not to use headphones.

 

The irony is in that these are probably better loudspeakers than 90% of other laptops at the same price.

 

try disabling the dolby "audio enhancer" and "surround sound" enhancements in the speaker properties > dolby tab. you can access by clicking the speaker icon to bring up the volume mixer and then clicking the speaker icon to bring up "speakers properties" dialog.

also, depending on the application, you can use software to boost volume. for example if you use ffdshow audio (installed with cccp) for playback of videos you can boost volume much higher (4-5 times the default).

 

If not already, you could try to enable Loudness Equalization under the Enhancements tab on speaker properties chosen in playback devices. While it might help with the volume I doubt the speakers will benefit quality-wise.

You could try fiddle with the different enhancements but I doubt you'll get much more out of these speakers than you already get, both in terms of volume and quality.

 

free Acer external DVD promo eh...

there is nothing on Acer website for this accessory =.= ... >_< ...

Sound quality and volume is very dependent on the size of the speakers. yea... so... it is small... ...

actually it does sound pretty decent for its size~
the volume isn't much to cry about...

its power... is only just so much~~

 

Does anyone know how to install ati mobility drivers (10.12).

When i try update it installs (rather quickly) then my drver version is still 10.08.

Does the driver have to be "signed" for Acer products and needs hacking?

Cheers

 

I recall a discussion in this thread about this ... I think one of the suggestions was to DL the new Realtec Audio Drivers. But, even if you can get volume up, the speakers are not that great.

 

I deleted the entire HP folder in the registry as well as the remaining HP 1006 driver on my system and I still have the unknown device issue. When I try to ID it, all I get is "unknown device".

I'm wondering if it might not be easier to restore my unit to its clean install state (I backed it up immediately after a clean install and all my software was loaded - there were no conflicts).

Bronsky

 

So, some informations that could be useful...

I received my 3820, ordered with a i5 460m, and I confirm that I received a 480m. This one is currently not even referenced on Intel web database. Anyway its reference clock is 2.66Ghz (compared to 2.53Ghz of 460m). Turbo is unknown (2.8Ghz for 460m) but probably 2.93Ghz.
Laptop was also delivered with a 6550m, which is a 5650m (recognised as in CCC), with a small bump of 50mhz on GPU (respectively 600 and 550Nhz). Bios 1.19 was released by Acer to recognise it, so maybe older user can get this 'upgrade' by flashing (just idea, no guarantee).
Catalyst 10.12 were installed after Acer drivers without any particular problem (following page1 procedure). However Intel drivers were not able to be installed.
With such configuration, all stock, a 3Dmark 2011 was run at ~P1100.

I also installed a sandforce based SSD (and changed thermal paste under heatsinks) and I recommend such upgrade to anybody, not even comparable with the HDD. It just make this laptop reactive as my desktop (i7 920 OC/ SSD).


On dark side, build quality is quite poor, especially chassis that bend, but also keyboard while typing. It is a very disappointing point especially compared to my older LG P300 (which has a rock solid Alu chassis).
Display has also excessive latency, and behaviour of switchable graphic is un-understandable; it switch 'randomly' and we can not program any graphic for a particular application.

 

interestingly notebookcheck.net lists your 480M as being officially announced just this month.

Intel Core i5 480M Notebook Processor - Notebookcheck.net Tech

same specs as the 460M with a small speed bump to 2666 - 2933 MHz

Congrats on you free 'upgrades'

 

Oh wow grats, can you do some benchmarks and post results here with that new CPU and GPU pair? Really interested in seeing how well especially 6550 does against older 5650 that everyone else has.

 

Could you give us a 3DM06 score since that is the benchmark we have been using for the past 7 months.

 

I dont really like 3dmark11 because I can't get it to fill the screen. Anyone else have that problem?

 

Dies may be identical, intel just unlocked one coefficient higher... I do not complain, 'just say that it is not a SJ-revolution...

 

which one? 3Dmark11 -> P1100

Do not expect big change exact same, GRAM remains @ 800Mhz, GPU just +50mhz, so ~+10% max.

 

downloading it. Free license like 2011 one?

bug. try today patch, otherwise, switch panel to 1280*720

 

Yep.

Bronsky

 

3Dmark06 -> 7917

compared to ChasePack -> 7656 with HD5650 550/800

 

Ok i tried to install the bluetooth module again. I press FN+F3 to activate it but it only activates/disables the 802.11 Wi-Fi, no bluetooth.

 

Just installed the core i7 cpu to my 3820TG

god. love it..
but i wonder if the temp is ok..

cpu idle at 46

when run win7 's assessment cpu at around 73 in one core 71 on the other one..

is this a normal temperature ????
( never checked when it has core i3)

 

going to run some 3dmark 06 later.

 

Idle temperature is okay, very nice. However, for pushing limits, try intelburn + furmark running simultaneously for 5~10 minutes, with hwmonitor in background.

See how hot that baby gets.

 

Intelburn description sounds pretty scary
IntelBurnTest v2.3 download from Guru3D.com

 

hey guys I've been reading through this thread and other threads trying to figure out the right laptop to get for my needs and it seems to me that the 3820tg is the perfect laptop.
How long will it be until acer puts in the new sandy bridge processors? I need a new laptop around mid jan.. do you think it'll be out by then?
thanks!

 

It's a stress-testing program that actually stress-tests. The results will usually be ~3 to 10 degrees higher than an hour in an intense game, and will really show how well your CPU gets cooled under stress. Of course intel arrandale chips throttle at 100 C so no worries.

Run it and see for yourself what your CPU gets pushed to. Even better would be to run it with Furmark since GPU and CPU share same cooling and realistically both are stressed in games.

E.g. the (sig) laptop (which I returned but that's another story) got up to 82 C with intelburn (all threads running) + furmark (xtreme burning mode), and even after running several BIG games in a row the CPU only got to 76 C.

 

erm would those who have hd6550 @ 600mhz core mind checking out its stock core voltage? issit still at 1.000V or bumped up to 1.1V?

 

putting is one thing... having it out on the sales channel is another...

i dun think any sandy bridge laptops are truly out in the market right? (correct me if i'm wrong!)

so... probably... 3 months later? 1 month seems a tad too fast for such a major update to reach lower priced products.

uh.. guys... just a question about SetFSB...
as long as i can Get FSB, it means clockable?
what i should see for under Current "FSB/... ... .." and also the 1st & 2nd bar values?

Sorry.. totally unfamiliar with this program...

 

As I already mentioned before - cable probably has wrong pins mapping (from 4810 model).

 

I have a weird problem with the media keys. When I use them in windows media player they do what I expect of them, but in Spotify they perform other actions than they should.

Pause/play pauses, but it is quite random if it starts the song again if I just paused it before.
Stop pauses instead of stops.
Forward shuffles instead of jumping one track. (shuffle is disabled in spotify)
Backward also shuffles.

Another weird thing is that sometimes when I manage to resume a song using play/pause, the song resumes (I can see the progress bar moving and the track clock running) but there is no sound! I only get sound if I move the volume bar in spotify.

Of course this could be a problem with spotify, but I have used spotify on alot of other machines and never had these problems.

Any clues?

 

Following of my "change the screen" adventures :

I wanted a LTN133AT18 Samsung screen,
I contacted as many sellers as I could (4 or 5)

They listed LTN133AT18 as available, and, sending them an email, specifying I would not accept another model of screen, they all confessed that they will send a compatible model ...

So LTN133AT18 seems to be no more available

Now I'm inquiring about AUO B133XW01 V2 or AUO B133XW03 V2, wich seems to be more available.

 

I've had the exact same problem since installing Dritek LaunchManager. But I need LaunchManager to easier enable/disable bluetooth.