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

Dam - nice try anyway. I wonder why computeruniverse can't use UPS?

@lvivier - mine sat in Frankfurt for over a week. I think outgoing packages are held until there is a full container load.

 

I would almost assume that they will put the new arrandales in the TimelineX, then we can follow suit if we want. I would not expect to see a quad core anytime soon.

 

Hey!

New to this thread and to the whole forum, been following this thread for long tho.

Purchased my baby a few days ago and I'm extremely pleased with the machine. A couple of questions have arisen though, for Hendrickson or just anyone who happens to know:

As for the SSD: is there any difference between OCZ Vertex / Vertex 2 / Vertex Turbo for this lappy? I mean, do it really benefit that much if I get the turbo?

About overclocking the CPU, do you recommend doing that? What kind of settings have been stable?

And finally about RAM: is there any point upgrading that? After upgrading from HDD to SSD I reckon it would be the "weakest" part of the lappy.

Thanks in advance! And especially thanks to Hendrickson about everything you've contributed to this thread. Keep up the good work!

 

If you are looking for a solid state these are the three I recomend:

Intel 80GB G2
OCZ Vertex
OCZ Agility II (best bang for your buck as its sandforce based)

I scored a Agility II for 120$ after BCB and MIR.

 

Any updates on when/if this model is coming to the US yet ?

 

For those of you that overclock the 5650.

The only way I've found to do this yet is by means of AMD GPU Clock Tool version 0.9.0.26.0.

Now, this utility does not have any obvious option of saving the overclock, meaning you'll have to restart it and re-enter the desired information every time you want some extra juice out of your card. If you want to make this permanent here's how to do it.

- Make a shortcut to the AMD GPU Clock Tool executable (default location in "C:\Program Files (x86)\AMD GPU Clock Tool\" on x64 systems).
- Enter the desred clockspeeds the "Target" box of the shortcut (rightclick shortcut -> Properties). The format is: "C:\Program Files (x86)\AMD GPU Clock Tool\AMDGPUClockTool.exe" -eng=666 -mem=1050. Here I've used my own clockspeeds as example (don't copy just these values, use your own speeds that I hope you've tested properly before you set up a shortcut such as this ). It's the -eng=XXX -mem=XXX is the bit you'll have to ad.

Screenie


The shortcut can of course be placed in the "startup" folder to load automatically on startup. It's "silent", meaning it won't pop up and you won't see it. You can also have it on your desktop for a quick access when you want to clock.

Hope this comes in handy.

Note: I take no responsibility for your overclocking, or any damage that might follow from it. Do at your own risk!

Mac

 

Nice disclaimer!

Bronsky

 

@M4cr0s

Nice hint. Thank you.

 

This is good stuff. Will it apply to the 5650 in the E14 also?

 

I see no reason why not!

Mac

 

Hurrah hurrah

 

m4c0s can there be someting like that for the cpu overclocking?

 

Excerpt from SetFSB-Manual (setfsb.txt):

Code:

Command Line Switch Options
 SetFSB Version 2.3.147.112 has the following Command Line Switch Options.

   -w : Wait [00-99 sec] default=10sec
   -s : Set FSB [000-999 MHz] or [000.0-999.9 MHz]
   -i : Increment(targetFSB > currentFSB) or Decrement(targetFSB < currentFSB) [00-99 MHz] or [00.0-99.9 MHz] default=max
   -u : 0(default)=normal , 1=ultra
   -b : 0(default)=normal , 1=background
   -p : PCI-E [000-999 MHz] or [000.0-999.9 MHz] default=none
         FSB overclock[set PCI-E then increase FSB], FSB underclock[decrease FSB then set PCI-E]
   -q : Quiet [no GUI to be displayed at all]
   -cg[string] : Clock Generator default=none Maximum 15 characters

 Example: -w05 -s300.1 -p105.1 -cg[ICS9LPRS918BKL] -u1

This sets fsb to 150 without showing any window.

Code:

setfsb.exe -w0 -b1 -s150 -cg"ASUS G73JH"

Every time you execute your shortcut / batch-file, a UAC window pops up. You can bypass it by:

• scheduling it as task on startup or via shortcut to scheduled task (be sure to untick the energy options under conditions): http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11949-elevated-program-shortcut-without-uac-prompt-create.html
• [doesn't work with setfsb ] by using Application Compatibility Toolkit: How to disable the User Account Control Prompt for a certain application only - Aaron Tiensivu's Blog
• disable UAC in general

 

OK, this posts makes things more clear for me:

 

Can you please name the thread you pulled the bsoft quote from.

Found it: i5 450 VS i5 520 Page 7

 

Click on the little arrow

 

Thanks zsero .

 

haven got urs ?

 

Not yet. I can't even really track it. All the DHL tracking says is that it left the export sorting hub on June 23 and is on its way to the destination. I think there will be another notification that it has arrived and cleared customs and notification of final delivery. I am begining to think that some DHL employee is swimming across the North Atlantic with my computer on his or her back. I am getting nervous because there have been recent reports of a Great White Shark reported off the East Coast US beaches. Great white shark spotted off Mass. coast - National Wire - fresnobee.com I hope that DHL employee can swim fast.

Bronsky

 

You think you're nervous? It's iceberg season in Newfoundland http://www.icebergfinder.com/ ...I hope those DHL guys and/or aquatic mules are motivated!

 

@Bronsk

Do you really think a white shark want to eat a yellow DHL person? I don't think so.

But if you read the headline "The first yellow shark was seen at the Beach", you know where you have to search for yout 3820TG.

Have fun

 

@Bronsky

This part number *should* work for you: 50.PTC01.001 BLUETOOTH CABLE

Doesn't look like the local warehouse has the part in stock yet though... and it looks like the part number in the service guide was regional and won't be used in the PanAm region...

 

Thanks as always. I'm having a hard time finding this cable. I'll have to keep pounding the pavement.

If you live in the states, I hope you had a nice fourth holiday. Has Acer USA made you an executive VP yet? They should.

BTW, I received no response to my emails to the marketing people at Acer USA. Oh well!

Bronsky

 

Keyboard arrived from China today. Can the notebook be that far behind it?

Anyway, at least it's progress.

Bronsky

 

Hope my swimer stays away from the North Atlantic route.

Bronsky

 

bronsky can t you track your shipping? whats the eta?

malaysia launched asus u35/u45 this week with i450m and 4gb ram and stuff price is rm 2950 around usd 930 its looks very slick build is awesome is it a good deal what models are US having anything higher proc at usd 1000?

 

I don't understand why computeruniverse doesn't use ups / fedex for international shipping...

 

Because it is sent DHL/Post and not express, you can't track it in real time. All it gives you is the stage it is in. It has been in transit to the destination for the past 13 days with no update on the status.

The Asus notebooks look nice but they have 310M GPUs. Asus needs to start thinking about putting a better GPU in these units.

Bronsky

 

Glad to see your humor still sky-high .

It's really a shame that DHL works mostly by truck, it delays deliveries a lot . Assuming they're gonna put your notebook on a plane it's weird that it still hasn't left Frankfurt.

 

please can somebody give me the activation key to setfsb.
i stay in russia and do not have paypal

 

They do, just not to the US I think. I had the option of UPS for Spain. ComputerUniverse needs to clearly state DHL Logistics, not the DHL we know as the Express service. I was fooled by this when
I had the options of UPS or DHL.

@ Bronsky If its going via sea frieght and DHL logistics. It would have/ should have been consolidated and loaded into a seafreight container. Most likely DHL packs 40" High cube containers for this. The container is then loaded on a container ship and transit times from Europe to the USA I think around around 2 weeks before it will reach New York. And a few more days for container devan and unpacking, port and customs clearance. Its a slow process....

 

If you've had a chance to open it up and inspect it, can you give me your impressions on it?

Is it solid? Does it look cheap?

Does it look 100% brand new with no wear/tear?

How long did the shipping take?

 

I have opend it and inspected it. It looks good. I like the action of the keys. They feel more positive than my 1410T keys (and I like them). The extra 1" in width makes a lot more room for my hands than typing on my 11.6" model. I had it sitting on my desk typing away. I think it's going to be great.

Bronsky

 

Ship? Really? I was hoping that it would go some basic airfrieght. Would shipping be dispatched from Frankfort? That appears to be the departure hub. I'm hoping that means that it was held until a complete airfrieght container could be filled. But, it could probably just as well go via ship. I know that the EU is far more reliant on international ships than the US is (we have virtually no shipping agents and you see them in almost every EU port).

I got the keyboard today and I like it a bit more than my Acer 1410T keyboard. It seems to have a really nice action. The larger size is nice too. I still think I want a full sized KB while at my desk using it with a 1080p display.

How did you ever solder the leads on the keyboard - they are so tiny? Did you tape off one side and solder the 2 leads on the other? I guess if you tape it off, you could just drop solder to get a connection. That ribbon looks fragile. What kind of tip do you have on your iron? Do you have microleads for your multimeter? What gauge wire did you use?

I'm trying to find the BT cable but no luck so far. I can probably splice into the one they have in the acer if it has a removable cable from the module to the motherboard, like it depicts in the manual. There are none available from Acer ATM, but if I screw up, I'm, sure I can get one later. Wish I had a wire diagram of the BT module so I can tell power from ground. Any chance Acer used red for power and black for ground like the rest of the civilized world? How about the keyboard, is there a marking for + and - sides of the KB ribbon?

You still think that 5 v was too much power? I like the resistor idea from the Chineese website if I need to reduce the voltage to the KB. Ya think that a resister would build up heat?

I hope my laptop did not go by freaking boat. If I'm still a week away, I'm going to go postal on somebody. I still wonder why Computeruniverse does not quote shipping prices for UPS to the US?

Anyway ... later.

Bronsky

 

I hope it is going via air freight instead. Sea is just way to slow.

The keyboard has not + and - markings but i have marked it on the how to thread which number is positive. I used the smallest solder iron i could get for the job and the multimeter was a cheap one but it did have mircoleads.

As for the wire gauge I don't know sorry but I used a telephone cable and stripped it down to the inner thin wires. They are thin and perfect for the job to handle only a few mA's and 3.5 volts.

I felt that the 5v I took from the USB was just too bright and the led emitted a slight high pitch noise that I just wasn't happy with.

At 3.5v i think it was the brightness for me was perfect. Not overly bright when used in complete darkness and during the day not really visible. (Why would you need it to be?)

I agree ComuterUniverse need to include a faster form of delivery to US buyers.


@ The CPU overclockers, all quite now? I guess the overclock isn't really as good as first expected and causing more trouble than its worth?

Whats the highest and 100% stable OC you can get guys?

 

Stable over the day is a fsb of 160MHz for me with both grafikcard.

With AMD one it cold be a few MHz more, but I didn't a long run test.

 

Same here, Seems to be pretty stable around 160mhz FSB on my i5-450. Haven't gotten anywhere when it comes the the glue effect. Considering this is pushing the rather slow stock RAM quite a bit I'd say it's an acceptable clock if one can avoid meltdowns and other issues

For so long I only clock the gfx card regularly (666/1050). I'm really, really puzzled by the glue effect and have spent hours Googling and experimenting, getting nowhere closer to the answer. I cross my fingers and hope I, or someone else (probably), will figure it out one of them days

Mac

 

hendrikson offer me your price i am gonna get a good deal soon within 20 days or less that involves a 3820tg with i5 520m+5650

malaysia reduced 4820tg with 5470+i5 430m by usd 130 as asus released A i5 450m+gt 335m with a better price asus a42jv

 

I'm strongly considering purchasing this machine. A few questions for those who own it:

1. How much does it attract fingerprints? Noticeable?
2. How is the webcam quality?
3. Does it do a good job of staying relatively cool and quiet?
4. Where is the best place to purchase it?

I tried navigating through the thread a little, but at 119 pages, it was a little intimidating to make it the whole way through.

Thanks in advance.

 

i'll be honest, the display kind of stinks.. like its okay but at times i have to tilt it a lot to see what the white font on the task baar says etc but overall i really like the machine


I hate teh keyboard with a passion though, it seems very cheap and flimsy..

 

I'm no expert but here are my answers.

1. The screen and area around the screen is the place where fingerprints really are noticeable, you better not touch it. The top also attracts fingerprints, but they are less visible. A good thing is that Acer includes a piece of cloth to clean your PC.

2. I'm not very impressed with it. My previous laptop, HP dv5, had a better cam. It does the job, more or less.

3. I have used the PC now for about 3 hours straight, with the powercable connected. This means it's running on the ATI GPU, which means a bit more heat. But during normal use; web browsing, music and such, I got those temps:

ACPI - 40C
CPU - 38-50C
GPU - 45-50C
HDD - 40C

This are nice temps in my opinion. The PC is just warm, not hot

4. Don't know, where do you live?

 

Thanks for the reply. Much appreciated. I live in the USA.

 

The only place in the US to buy a TG Model TimelineX is Microcenter at the moment. They have the I3-350M/HD 5650 version for $800.

Bronsky

 

Hi all. I picked up the staples model on the weekend. It seems decent enough so far but I'll wait until I get used to it before giving my thoughts. A few n00b questions; is there any way to have bluetooth enabled at start up (lol, stupid bluetooth keyboard stopped working as I was typing this)? And how do you switch the graphics?

 

device manager or right clickig desktop.

I used a matte screen protector and the viewing angle i have got no complains.

Keyboard doesn't seems flimsy to me

camera seems average thou at 1.3mp

cool to touch yes even with gaming but the left vent can be irritating as the heat coming out from there is madness-ly irritating.

Left
mouse users my advice, stay away from this machine

 

Wow, I could not find this model at Microcenter, only the 3820T.

When did you see the TG model listed, because searching at 5:20p PST I found no model.

Thanks in advance

Hox

 

Micro Center - Acer Aspire Timeline AS4820TG-5637 - Carbon Black LX.PSE02.227

Behold!! Sorry I wasn't clear. There are no 3820TG's in the US - there are 4820TG's.

Bronsky

 

Also if you desire a Core i5 processor instead (along with a slightly larger hard drive at 500GB vs. 320GB) and don't mind paying $100 more:

Acer Aspire Timeline AS4820TG-3195 Notebook
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium ; 64-bit version; Intel® Core™ i5-450M Mobile Processor (3MB Intel® Smart Cache, 2.4GHz); 4GB (2/2) DDR3 1066 SDRAM; 500GB hard drive; integrated Super-Multi drive; 5-in-1 card reader; Acer® CineCrystal 14.0" (1366 x 768) TFT display; ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 5650 graphics; 802.11b/g/n WLAN, Bluetooth®, gigabit LAN, webcam; six-cell battery; one-year limited warranty

Source of specifications

 

I don't think these are in stock yet. Have you checked?

Bronsky

 

hey guys,

i wanted a i5-450+hd5650 one for myself but they're not out in canada yet. however the gf wants a laptop soon so i was considering buying the 3820t with i3 and intel hd graphics for $650. do you think that's a good price? dunno how much the i5-5650 would cost, probably $1000 so i'd save $350 on gfx card & processor...all she really needs is 1080p video playback which i think it could handle, right?