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

Tried all of this, still no joy.

Do you know if there is a specific power saving driver, the lack of which could be the cause of this problem ?

 

Backlight doesn't work during anything.

Back it goes !

Thanks for your responses guys

EDIT: I really sincerily hope that this was just a duff one, and this is not a general problem, I guess we'll know with time.

 

If you really dont want to wait, you could open it up and see if the LCD cable is loose. It might be as simple as that.

I was just on Amazon.fr and saw this:
Acer - Aspire 3820T-334G32n - Notebook 13.3 "- Intel Core i7 720QM - 320GB - RAM 4096MB - Windows 7 - Until 2:30 of Use - ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850

I got really excited at first

 

Please don't explain absolute beginners how to disassemble there notebook, handy and so on.

But if it happens, run away before the beginner ask you, how to assemble it again to get a working unit.

 

From the 3820TG service manual.



PGA988 socket.

Bronsky

 

@Bronsky

Can you please post the number on your bluetooth label on the backside?

The first Posting was the wlan card.

@Hendrickson

I know the numbers on your model, because I have also a UMTS Version.

I want the numbers form Bronsky to see, if Acer has changed the BT modul to a third generation modul.

On my package is also written BT3.0 but the assembled modul ist just an 2.1+ESR modul. It is the same as yours Hendrickson.

 

Yes its awesome i have no issues with it, ive been playing on 13.3 before (lg p310) so im used to it but as for now im plugged into 24inch monitor via hdmi and play pretty much all games on highest on 720p (well a bit more 1280x800). Thats all while overclocked, it ultra safe and cool, 5650 never went above 75 celcius when i remember my 9600m in lg p310 when to 94 C , Currently playing assasins creed 2, highest and even 2xAA. Trust me you will regret not getting 3820tg xD

Yes 3Dmark thinks it 5750, everyone has this when benchmarking, so no its not 5750.

@ Hendrikson thanks alot for the guide it really makes it more clear now, shame it doesnt work in games, well ill try anyway. Love your 10k record in 3dmark , showin off xD

 

If I can find a magnifying glass, I'll write down the numbers tonight. My device manager says I have BT 3.0.

That is why I'm concerned about the integrated BT 3.0. Did you check out my wireless module # to see if it was an integrated version?

BTW, spoke to Acer USA today about my speaker. The person on the phone was incredibly nice. I opened up a Service Request and have a case #. They have all the info from my unit and now I can see if they are able to order me a Speaker. I would guess that it is the same one as the 3820T, which is on-sale here. I hope they can help. It would be nice not to have to ship from Germany. I get the feeling that, once they have my unit registered in their database, that I can order parts without a problem. That would be nice.

I still marvel at Acer's failure to distribute the 3820TG here in the US. It is a nearly-perfect business computer. And, from the sound of it, It is a great gaming unit for its size and weight. Funny, I missed the P310 by only days before it was discontinued. I think I jumped so fast on the German 3820TG because I had missed the LG. It seems like a great move so far.

Bronsky

 

My CPU doesn't like going over 160 FSB really, that's holding my scores back.

 

Yes 13.3" is perfectly fine for gaming, especially since the screen resolution is same as the other timelinex models. If 15" had higher resolution screen I'd say the 15" would have the edge for gaming - at least for mye gaming needs (RTS/RPG/MMO)

 

For me it is not needed. The shareware version offers the comfort with this setfsb button, but you can edit the control registers in both versions. You just need to find the right settings for your overclock the trial and error way. My 430m has a stable maximum about 2900 MHz at 169 FSB, this is a 3200 Turbo Boost. Maybe i can push it further but i like safe, because it's the best notebook i've ever had.

 

OC-Freak: ka i verden du gjor her? kossen gaar d med viking? lol eg e siddis her og Kor mye koster den der 3820TG borte i stvg?

 

/Off topic.

Sløser bort tid på unyttige kommentarer. 7k for 6cell versjonen og 8k for 9 cell versjonen. Helt ok priser i forhold til spec. Fotball følger jeg ikke med på.

/Off topic end

 

Hey Bronsky,

I have only check your wireless ID number and have seen, that this one is identical with my one.

And in my case the system detect a 2.1 BT modul with an older ID, which is not on the market as an BT 3.0 and wlan n combination.

My modul is the typical cheap Broadcom BT 2.1 USB modul.

At the time as I take a fast look at the Acer Broadcom BT driver it seems, that the changed the name of the 2.1 modul to a 3.0 modul. Or with other words, they seems to give the old child just a new name. But it was only a fast view!! And I use the driver from the broadcom page.

Was you able to test your BT 3.0 modul with a BT 3.0 client? My handy is only able to use the 2.1 standard.

Edit:
@Bronsky
I know now the way how Acer implement BT 3.0. The pictures are not necessary any more. Thanks.

Acer implements the BT 3.0 function as a software implementation.

Let us say they are using a Broadcom BT 3.0 driver which is able to talk to the Broadcom BT 2.1 module and to the Broadcom Wlan module.
If the user uses only BT 2.1 all the data are transferred trough the BT 2.1 module.

If the user uses BT 3.0 the driver will open a new g channel on the wlan card and uses these for the fast data transfer and the BT 2.1 module only for the handshake and control session of the wlan stream.
These means, you must have a wlan card at your Acer, which is able to open a g channel for the BT communications and a driver which publicate these service to the Broadcom BT 2.1 modul.

A hardware solution is a BT 3.0 chip which includes the necessary hardware for the BT 2,1 communication and a wlan chip which is able to open the g channel for BT. But these solution is expensive and not as cheap as the Acer solution.

 

Hey guys, i have a little problem with video playback.

When i have the Intel graphics on, my screen/video got some strange pixels as you can see..

Its only @ Gametrailers with the HD settings on. Youtube for example is clear with settings on HD.
Seems kinda weird

 

OOOHHH are those what artifacts are? I've always called it "when the picture lags and has all these pixels, like when you're watching satellite tv or digital bunnyears tv, when reception is bad."

@d.key: Are you streaming or loading up a video? That happens when I watch streams. For example, if I'm watching a streaming nba game on veetle or justin tv, sometimes that happens. Usually cuz your internet is laggin or the streamer has bad upload.

 

Has anyone installed the 10.7 graphics drivers? Whereabouts did you get them from?

On the ATI website the mobility radeon 5XXX windows 7 series drivers seem to only either allow you to get:

1. Catalyst Software Suite (0.9MB)
2. Catalyst Control Center (69MB)

Neither of these sounds as if they have the actual driver packaged in them?

 

@dookie: Hm, i think its a normal stream, like youtube or sth.
Funny thing is, it only appears with the intel integrated and with the player on HD settings.

When the ati card is activated, the artefacts wont appear.
its only with the gametrailers stream @ HD setting and intel integrated, so i dont know what to do :-(

 

Maybe the Intel HD isn't so good? I'm unsure, cuz all of my hardware on my dinodesktop and dinolaptop are from 2005 and 2007 respectively.

 

Strange strange, cause all other streaming sites like youtube hulu etc work perfectly with hd streams...

I just dont know... and btw. Wutang clan aint nuthin to wit

 

Word to yo motha.


















For raising such a bright young man.

 

Hi, it has been done elsewhere in the world:

http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=232&t=1504719&last=18724662

 

Born and raised in the slums of shaolin

 

Download the 0.9 MB one. After running it, it will download about 70 MB of actual installation files

But make sure it's the 10.7 Mobility one. To be safe, get it from here:

ATI Catalyst? Mobility Display Driver

 

Indeed ya are. Say, has anyone else in the US (more specifically in California) bought a 3820TG yet?

 

I assume you have Flash 10.1...the issue is likely one between the Intel drivers and the implementation of H.264 hardware acceleration in Flash. I've seen similar issues when dealing with DXVA decoding of out-of-spec HD videos (although in that case it was the reverse - I got artifacts with an ATI card and normal playback with an Intel card). In this case, the HD streams that are causing problems may be similarly "out-of-spec". There's not really much you can do about it (at least, not that I know of).

 

And it only took you 2 computers to do it. Still, congratulations.

Bronsky

 

So how do those numbers that Hendrickson posted in his 3DMarks translate to SC2 performance? As you may have noticed, I'm starting to get sick of the E14's problems.

 

The OC'd CPU doesn't seem to help in gaming. There is some problem that prevents the full performance. Still, the 3820TG is scoring 9600+ without an OC'd CPU. It is clearly the best all-around 13" machine for gaming and holds its own with most 14". When you get to 15.6" there is just too much competition from notebooks that have far superior GPU's like the HD 5850 GDDR5 and the HD 5870. Those machines can also use dual drives and have 1080p display options. But, they weigh a lot more than 3.9lbs.

The 10,000 benchmark was more like Mt. Everest. Hendrickson was the first to the top.

Bronsky

 

Someone with 3820TG test SC2 already!! And Acer dammit, release this thing already!

 

@bronsky chk pm

another question removing the "void wrty if seal is removed" sticker voids the wrty? because its covering 2 screws to the access panel which houses the ram hdd and wifi card i put the stickers back in but they are half sticking so should i totally remove them or glue them back on??

 

Ok my box does say BT 3.0 HS also, but my install driver is 2.1 +EDR So how do I get BT 3.0 rates and do you have a BT 3.0 driver?

Or is it nothing but a fake BT 3 ?

 

as the game was optimised to run on last centurys computers you can be sure that it will run at native with highest settings, 2x AA or even 4. Thats my assumption as i run assasins creed 2 on highest and its basically another terrible 360 port so starcraft 2 will run ultra F awesome xD

 

Sc2 recommended a mixture of mediums and just a few lows in the graphics settings department.

I've also noticed fps fluctuates quite a lot especially when the level first loads. Scrolling, seeing the AI for the first time and having a lot on screen all contribute to that.

I'm currently running everything on a mixture of mostly mediums and some high, but no Ultras. Getting an average of about 30-35 fps, I was hoping for more but...meh..wish I could overclock the CPU...

Bronsky, is there no chance of people like us overclocking the stubborn-arse CPU?

 

wrong assumption

even the asus g73s with their core i7s and monster ati cards will have minor hiccups.

get a desktop gaming rig if you want to run sc2 at ultra settings in high res

 

The FSB inventor says it will take a pin-mod which seems to be the soldering of a small jumper wire on pin 4 of the clock gen to disable the trusted mode enabled. http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...pll-pinmod-overclocking-methods-examples.html Rather than do that, I would prefer to replace the CPU. At this point, my 3820TG is working perfectly and handling everything I ask it to do at work so I can't see the need to try out such a radical procedure.

Bronsky

 

Hi! How can i know if my cpu is overclockable?
Everest says: DualCore Intel Core i5 430M, 2533 MHz (19 x 133) CPU Alias: Arrandale-3M Stepping: C2

 

And again, it is NOT the cpu. The important component is the pll/clockgen on the motherboard.

 

You have to run setfsb and see if you get a pll error.

Bronsky

 

Only way to find out is to download set fsb shareware version then, select g73jh clockgen and if it doesn't give an error you can overclock!

So nobody can comment on how to get BT3.0? As my box says BT 3.0 HS but installed i have only 2.1 EDR in my device manager. Did Acer lie saying bt 3.0? Or are we missing a driver or something?

 

I have only the freeware setfsb and with ics9lprs365bglf, i have PLL ID error. With the first ICS9148BF-26, i have no error and I can set something.
Edit: With the shareware, i have PLL ID Error with G73JH

 

Deleted. 2 times the same posting.

 

You should have BT 3.0 through the combination of the 2.1 BT Modul and the Broadcom wlan card. But I can't test because I have not a BT 3.0 device.


The Broadcom driver wrote BT 2.1 because the device ID is for a 2.1 device and only the combination of Broadcom wireless card and BT modul are together BT 3.0.

I don't know if Intel and Atheros support the BT interface on their wlan devices.

 

I put the broadcom card back in it. But does it only display as bt 2.1 in the device manager? Not BT 3, Is that right?

 

First try the shareware one. If you are able to read the right fsb 133MHz you can try the "freeware mod".

 

Yes. Only the Acer driver is writting BT 3.0 because Acer changed the name in the driver.

 

I have downloaded the bluetooth broadcom driver from acers site and my mobile phone has bluetooth 3. The device still says 2.1 and i did a test transfer and its very slow so still bt 2.1...So how do we get this working?

Edit: Bluetooth collaboration is enbaled too in the wireless adaptor

 

Mine shows 3.0. I'm still wondering if it is integrated or separate units. I'm begining to suspect that they are separate. BT is listed as BCM92046 and Wireless is BCM943225HM. In fact, the BT is a 2.1 card but is reported at 3.0. I wonder why yours doesn't do that Hendrickson. Something missing? A driver? (NVM-just saw your post) Luckily, the wireless card is replacable. They have it figured out on the 1830T thread. http://forum.notebookreview.com/acer/468120-acer-aspire-timelinex-1830t-thread-133.html Mine is driving me nuts with its incredibly short range. Now that I know I can replace it, it is out of here as soon as possible.

Switch is on the way. Speaker is in the works. Intel 6200 should be ordered soon. One last opening and I'm done working on my machine for awhile. Maybe somebody will figure out a software work around the SLM TMU codes and the I5-450M will be OC'able like the rest. Hey, I can dream.

I can't wait to tape the KB down to take-out this last bit of flex. It's not much, but the center of the KB still moves under normal typing pressure. I like a solid KB for speed typing. This thing is such a pleasure to work on.

BTW, everybody in my office thought I was crazy for ordering a computer all the way from Germany. Now that they see my computer and how well it performs, everybody wants one.

Bronsky

 

Hi Just_a_Nick,

So if I wanted to overclock, what would I need to change? The motherboard?
Sorry if this is a noob question :S

 

@ Bronsky, Maybe its a driver issue? I download the one from Acer support. I should have BT3 as its marked on the specs..

Ordered my push button switch too and my second backlit keyboard is on its way soon. My first 3820TG has sold, i will double side tape the keyboard to remove that little bit of flex before i send it for the next owner since im such a nice guy


edit: Bronsky do you have a copy of the driver you used? Maybe you could upload it for us?