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

How do i stop the 3820TG from beeping !?!?!?!
When i plug/unplug the charger it beeps and scares me LOL

 

I don't think they're running out of that particular model. It sounds more like they're focusing on the more popular versions of the 3820TG.

Why anyone wouldn't get the ATI 5650 version is beyond me. It's the perfect graphics card for laptops.

 

Be careful though, Staples only carries the version with the Radeon HD 5470.

 

You have to remove the motherboard to swap out the CPU. The CPU is actually on the underside of the board, so the board has to come out, you have to turn it over and then, after the chip is installed, put it back. Since it is out anyway, I will just swap in the new one with the hope that it can OC.

Bronsky

 

You bought the 520M? Very nice. If you get a chance, we would love to see some performance benchmarks.

 

I've had mine in and out so many times, I'm starting to worry about the heads stripping. I like to keep a set around for replacing the ones that are getting too much wear. I need a hobby or something so I won't take my computer apart so much.

Bronsky

BTW, just saw this post about the HP Dreamcolor2 display in another forum. http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...should-lust-after-dc2-equipped-hp-laptop.html WARNING ... DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME WITH YOUR 3820TG.

If portability wasn't a prime requirement, the Elitebook 8540w would be on my list of future considertion. Imagine something like this in a 13" I5/HD5650.

 

Hey Bronsky, if you take you computer apart so many times can you tell me about bluetooth module? Is it separate from the mainboard? Would it be possible to install manually if I'd buy 3820tg without bluetooth?

 

It's not as easy to get to as my old 1410T. It requires a substantial amount of disassembly. Bluetooth module | Flickr - Photo Sharing! But, yes, it can be done.

 

Thanks (y) It's just strange to see that so many people voids their warranties with ease

 

To manually set the discrete ATI 5650 graphics card to "ON" all of the time, you have to do this in BIOS, right?

How do you manually set the Intel Integrated GMA HD graphics to be "ON" all of the time instead?

Thanks

 

Yup. Asked a friend to get it from the PC Show in Singapore last June and bring it to London when we met up.
This is my first personal laptop and I have never done performance benchmarks before. If you could give me a guide of the things that you want me to do, I would be more than happy to help.

 

So you guys all ordered yours from overseas? Sounds scary, When are they supposed to come to the US?

 

touche.... but I wanted something with something more powerful then the IGP in the 3810T I had, but not all otherwordly. My desktop has crossfired 5850's for gaming, the 5470 will be good enough for what I need it to do.

 

Just got my 3820 and was going to change to my SSD but the 4 screws won’t come off, the screws just click a little and jump back when I try to screw them off. The 5 middle one did come very easy. Anyone have the same problem or knows how to fix it?

 

From the guide on the 1st page of this thread:
Unscrew the 5 screws half way up. Remove the middle screw.

Hope this helps.

 

Thx, i did read that but missunderstanded the part of half way

 

Once the screws start clicking a little it means you're good to go. You really gotta yank on that groove thing and try sliding another finger to the left or right of the groove. There are tabs that will pop open once you apply enough force.

 

Actually I was mistaken, AHCI is better.

Also, my firmware was one off the latest one so I had to update it... although I had to switch to IDE mode to do the installation then switch back to AHCI to start windows again.

 

I don't see how it's any scarier than placing an order on any website. Overseas websites don't have "cooties" or the like.

Placed the order on 8/12. It left taiwan on 8/13 bound for JFK International Airport as we speak!

 

Those are the types of screws that aren't meant to completely come out, but stay attached to the plate. They're designed that way so you don't lose the screws.

 

It's is not possible. It seems to be a bios feature and a the moment nobody is able to modify the new phoenix bios.

 

For anyone willing to do the 540M mod: Do you know for sure, that the 540M is supported in the laptop? All we need to do is a BIOS update?

So it seems that 430M, 450M, 520M, 540M, 620M are all supported? (I dont keep track of the 300 series)

 

Has anyone experience any random dimming of the screen? The screen will suddently dim down maybe 1 or 2 levels and go back up in a 2-3 second span. It doesn't gradually dim either; more like a slow flicker.

(System is less than 24 hours old by the way)


JL

 

According to AcerInsider, there was a 540M model released in Singapore and I think the 540M is listed in the service manual. If this is correct, the Bios should already support the I5-540M.

Bronsky

 

It could be a power feature. Does go back if you move the mouse or press a key?

 

Try turning off Adaptive Brightness. Go to the start menu and search for "Services". Click on that and disable Adaptive Brightness (should be one of the first items on the list). If that doesn't work, go to ePower settings and see if there's an option to turn off dimming. I had the exact same problem on the Y460 lol

 

It actually automatically goes back to the previous brightness without touching anything.

I'll give it a shot when I get a chance.


Thanks for the responses!


JL

 

Definitely sounds like a power saving ECO type of feature. Some of them alter the light levels without you having to touch anything.

Think of it as a brown out for laptops! Those of you living in Asian countries know what I'm talking about!

 

lol, yeah in that case you'd just go to Power Options and change the time you want the screen to dim. Control Panel --> Power Options. This is perfectly normal. Nevermind what I said about the adaptive brightness...

EDIT: I read that as "when I touch anything". It is definitely strange to have the brightness fluctuate by itself, and sounds like something to do with the light sensor (adaptive brightness). So ignore what I just said.

 

Actually all 3? Lol...I am intending to get this for my trip to New Zealand but of course I won't be using it in the middle of LOTR territory (maybe just the music!). It will be in a sleeve within my 40L backpack or in a separate smaller backpack. Will b using it only in the hostels. So are you saying it won't stand up to the rigors? I probably wont bring it along for trekking, unless it's a multi-day trek from place to place.

 

That's what I exactly thought as well. It's kind of inspiring too!

 

Sorry 3rd 'quote' in a minute, can't exactly do multiple quoting on an iPhone

So you can't output the 3820tg to display on a higher resolution monitor? Hmm anyone facing similar problems? I have a Dell 24" 1920x1080 monitor that I would like to use when the laptop is on my desk..though that won't probably wont be the resolution I'll use, more like 1680x1028.

By the way, can you output to a ext monitor with the laptop lid closed?

 

People have been outputting to a higher res monitor. In fact I think Hendrickson plays Battlefield Bad Company 2 outputted to 1920x1080 external LCD.

You can probably do this with lid closed, just set power options to not do put computer to sleep when you close the lid. However if you are gaming I wouldn't recommend this because the keyboard might get hot and damage your LCD.

 

Yes, if you change it in power settings. Make sure you choose "do nothing" under "lid close action".

 

Considering getting me one of these bad boys.

Anyone know the difference between:

LX.PV102.172

and

LX.PV102.243

They seem identical hardware-wise (and I have trawled through 300+ pages seen it mentioned but no conclusive answer )

10 euros is 10 euros after all (a discount on an external slim optical )

All I can see is the latter comes with Office 2010 Starter Edition instead of Office 2007 60 day trial, and I wouldn't want to waste 10 euros just for the pleasure of M$ ad-ware.

I mean it seems a little odd that for a reasonable new product they would already have mobo revisions. Presumably its not a different bluetooth spec?

 

According to skinflint.com. The first one has WLAN 802.11bgn while the other has WLAN 802.11abgn. That's the only difference I see.

LX.PV102.172

LX.PV102.243

 

Hmm yeah good point about the screen. Thanks. Guess it shall be halfway down then

Still wondering If I can bring this baby on my trip! I don't want to get a toughbook or a thinkpad..

 

What are you guys getting for battery life, im very dissapointed in mine atm, I can't seem to even get 5hrs with just web surfing. Everything at minimal settings, fresh windows 7 professional, bluetooth off, I do have 8gb of ram and a momentus xt but that shouldnt drop the battery life from almost 6 hours to 4:30. I am using the acer power thing not sure if that helps or makes it worse, but 4:30 with just web surfings seems really low. Anyone else getting similiar results.

 

If you see any Elvish maidens like Liv Tyler, remember to bring and use protection. Their warriors can get pretty testy and are really accurate with the longbow.

 

I read that SSDs actually use more power while reading/writing/seeking, but use less while in idle mode.

 

Good point missed that wasn't listed on chip.de Although you still don't see many people use the 5GHz band - Is it worth having just to know you have it for the extra 10 euros?

 

It will probably keep you awake at night if you don't.

Bronsky

 

Your right I think, still I would take my SSD's speed even if its got higher power consumption

I get about 5 hours on 3G and a bit over on Wifi

 

I definitely agree. I'd take the speed vs. battery life tradeoff of SSD's anyday.

The cost-benefit analysis just isn't there yet. Maybe in a year or so.

 

Whoa that seems pretty low. You should look into that, I get 6hrs easily. Maybe charge-discharge a couple of times?

 

Just a question: how do I disassemble the door to the RAM, etc? I removed the four (wanted to confirm) screws but it doesn't come off...

 

Hey min, glad to see your 3820TG worked out.

I had trouble too with the RAM door:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ace...rks-tweaks-mods-upgrades-322.html#post6589707

 

1) remove the center screw
2) loosen the 4 surrounding screws until u hear a click (they don't come out)
3) then starting from the middle of the top edge, run a credit card or something plastic or your finger along the edge
there are clips holding the cover on the laptop 4 in total I believe
1clip on each side of the top length, and 1 on each width of the cover

Just slide the plastic between the cover and your laptop until u get stuck and then pry it a little bit to get it free.

 

How do you know if you have the 10.7 catalyst drivers successfully installed? Is the driver version still supposed to be listed as 8.753.2.0 on dxdiag?

 

I'm wondering about that myself. First I couldn't install the new Intel HD drivers and dxdiag shows 8.753.0.0 after I tried updating to the Cata 10.7 drivers.
I did follow the guide on the first page.