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

Thanks for the find!

 

You have had some great suggestions.

Please keep in mind though, that I still would have to navigate the Win7 OS startup installation process in Chinese. Not very easy to do when you can't read or write in Chinese.

 

Anyone know of a keyboard protector that fits an EU keyboard (with the large Return key)?

 

Thanks!

Bronsky also had a really nice screen too. I'm sure a few others have as well, but just never posted pics of their screens.

 

I don't know what it could be. Have you spoken to Acer service center yet?

 

That's what I'd heard as well when I used to own a HP Envy 15 2nd Gen and was on the HP forums. People there were pulling their HDD/SSD before sending their laptops in for service repair.

Maybe it was just HP repair center, but I heard they pull out your drive and temporarily use one of their own to run diagnostics on the laptop.

 

I purchased a Yadi protector for my 3820TG (sold by PCHome in Taiwan). It fits perfectly (see my review on it in this forum thread).

Don't know if Yadi makes one for EU keyboards.

One thing to keep in mind: someone mentioned that there is a chance the floating keyboard design served as an air intake. If so, then using a keyboard protector would inhibit that function to a degree. I need to run some tests to confirm this.

 

Just use the keyboard and replace it in one/two/three years wit a new one.

 

The floating keyboard has an aluminum backer and is not vented to induct cooling air. I think the unit pulls its cooling air from inlet vents in the front and bottom. Your cover should not cause any problem with that.

I am a fairly fast typest and very fussy about excessive flex in the KB. I can't imagine putting a plastic layer between the action of the keys and my fingers. But, the backlit keyboard took quite a bit of fitting and adjustment to make it work in the 3820TG (it's a hair thicker than the stock KB) so it would not be as easy to replace. It looks like quite a few new owners have ordered the protector so it will be interesting to hear the comments.

Bronsky

@hendrickson - dam it ... I'm impatient to hear about my motherboard. I just missed a bid on an I5-540M at $125 last night. Was beat out by an autobid put in at the last second. There is a seller in China selling the engineering sample for $170. I'm waiting to hear about the Mobo before I order. In the meantime I might try to cherry pick one by low bidding. It looks like the prices are coming down a bit in anticipation of the new arrandales being released.

 

hey bankergolfer what make is ur display? auo as well?

 

@zsero, does the screen act like that as well if you stay in BIOS page?

 

This might be a dumb question but how did you guys get your clocks running on every startup?

 

I found a case that I really like... its a targus messenger for 14 inch or smaller. Only problem is, you can only get it in Oceania (specifally NZ or Aussie land). Anyone know of a site that does international shipping?

 

As I remember, it was normal in BIOS, and it was normal with Intel IGP. That's why I returned it, because it could be a panel issue, or a motherboard issue, or the inverter or anything. I hope I get my replacement tomorrow.

 

Dell has a nice selection of Targus messenger bags on its webiste. Messenger : Carrying Cases : Laptop Accessories | Dell

Hope it's here.

Bronsky

 

Actually I have written an email to Acer support in the USA, but:
1. Their system did not even know the model number 3820TG.
2. They replied that my S/N is wrong.
3. When I sent them a PDF printed from Acer Identity Card stating the same S/N, they said that for Worldwide support I should ask someone else. I don't know if Acer UK would be a good idea, I thought that their biggest service center must be in the USA.
4. Just to be nice, after the conversation I sent them the youtube video, suggesting to forward it to their engineers.

So I ended up returning my machine and waiting for diagnosis, because where I live, it's such a stupid system that you only have 3 days before you can actually return your unit, after that you can only go to warranty centers. I really did not want to start exchanging parts in my brand new laptop, I think if it has big problems it's better to change it altogether.

 

Ah, I did not say air intake, I said heat dissipation.
The reason i thought it was worth mentioning was because during my excessive use of my 4820TG. Sometimes I can feel the heat rising up from underneath the keyboard. Its really subtle though but you can feel it under heavy loads.

 

Here is a post from a way back. That's why I thought mine is not a unique issue. Not so many laptops in this thread, and two of us have experienced the same thing. (I don't know what happened to the guy, he disappeared.) No way to write PM to him, as he only has 4 posts...

 

You are most welcome although I can't quite remember how I helped you lol..I think I was asking you guys plenty of questions too! haha time to give you all +rep too! thanks again for your great help.

oh ya Bankergolf: congrats on your new toy
zsero, Sorry to hear about your screen, hopefully your replacement one will have a brilliant one

 

Can you uninstall ePower and tell us if you still have the issue?

 

I don't know. I need to learn how to check what make my display is.

 

Bronsky mentioned that Hendrickson tried to uninstall ePower and found it more trouble than it was worth. The recommendation is to just disable it, but don't uninstall it.

As I'm going to do a fresh re-install, I'll probably see if I can avoid installing ePower in the first place!

 

It's even like this while the windows is booting. It's like this without _anything_ installed at all (clean Windows first start). It's like this when in discrete mode. I think BIOS is different because it uses DOS screen mode. Many GPU fried videocards could for example work fine in DOS mode while freezing and producing artifacts under Windows.

 

control panel > device manager > monitors > (you will see generic PNP monitor) click on it > you will see 3 tabs - click on "details" > the top drop down menu, change to "hardware ID" and the make and model of your display will be listed in the lower box.

Bronsky

 

Thanks for confirming this. I'll run a test anyway just to confirm what we already know, thanks to your knowledge gleaned from taking your 3820TG apart.

I don't believe it's in the link that Bronsky provided. I narrowed down the selection to all Targus laptop carrying bags that were 14" or smaller. There were just 2 and they didn't look that impressive to me (1 was on close out).

I'm the one who mentioned air intake in my speculation.

I'm sorry to hear that you've experienced these problems and the resulting hassles to get it resolved. I think you did the right thing to return the laptop for a new one.

 

You can, just try not to click on the 15 MB Setup.exe in the ePower folder.

I did not have any problem uninstalling it, but actually both Launcher and ePower was newer on my install then the one on Acer's site. They are a bit lazy updating their page. If someone would like, I can upload the new ePower and Launcher apps later.

 

If heat dissipates through the keyboard, I don't think it's intended.

Bronsky

 

That would be great if you could upload:

1. ePower app
2. Laucnher app
3. the Acer registration app (if there is one)

I already downloaded the drivers that Bronsky uploaded. I don't think he uploaded any of the apps, though.

Thanks!

 

My 3820TG will be visiting the acer doctor. Since it was new there has been an slight "flickering" in the led backlight at 70%+ brightness, lately it has got more noticeable.
So sending it hoping for an warranty repair, most likely it's the monitor power supply/converter that is causing it, could also be the monitor itself. In best case they replace the monitor (and hopefully an better than my current )

 

ePower app and Launcher app are on the Acer homepage. Just download it there.

 

Thank you.

Your rep is on the way for other stuff, but I'm hampered by the 24-hr rep limit.

 

Thanks. Someone had mentioned that those apps were not updated and as new as the ones that were on the laptop itself.

 

10 letters

 

Finally muddled my way through the Win7 OS initialization setup in CHINESE. Hopefully, I didn't sign up for a lifetime subscription to PlayGirl as I was clicking along....

Got to the monitor information and will update my review accordingly. My 3820TG has a AUO 322C panel.

 

It was me.
For drivers, download the ones on Acer's site, they are newer than Bronsky's. They are the latest ones.

For apps, you could download the ones on the web, but I will upload my versions from the 3 you mentioned, they are slightly newer then the ones on the web.

 

notice any improvement in ePower? Guess I should go see what has been updated.

Bronsky

 

Ok, I've been away from this forum and playing with my 3820TG for a while because of numerous things to take care of. So, I was wondering, what is epower and it's current issue now?

 

Well,

from the two 3820's i had from staples here in canada
and the one from pc home...

anything below 70% brightness flickers on certain webpages , things etc , more noticeable on solid backgrounds.

i had that at times on my asus as well.

I think it's the LED calling a blooming effect where they turn off and turn on depending on the colours or whites around it

annoying as crap.

now you reminded me why i returned the staples version dam it lol

 

can you post bigger pictures uncompressed.

i already see the grids on your pictures looking at them from my hp envy screen.

up by the arrow in the picture you can see aroudn it the pixrels just fine even at that distance. you got a gridded screen as well.

 

OC FREAK - this is the issue i had with the canadian model

and now still with the pc home model (2) ( my friends and i ) auo screen

<embed src="http://img46.imageshack.us/flvplayer.swf?f=P00004" width='480' height="380" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"/>


I had posted this video pages back and just searched for it. it's like having an ambient sensor and brightness goes up and down flickers etc with low brightness

drives me - i am hoping pchome reply quick so i dont' pass my 7 days or return !!

 

The uncompressed pic is larger than the 500 kb upload limit, so the system won't let me upload it.

When I expand the pic image to fullscreen on my 26" ASUS monitor, I can see the grid of pixels you're talking about. They are faint, but they are there.

My eyes must not be as sensitive as my digital camera's lens (I can't see the red of people's irises either the way my digital camera can). From that distance of 3-4 inches away from the screen, I can't see the grid of pixels. Only when I my nose is touching the screen can I see them.

From a normal viewing distance, I definitely can't see any grid of pixels, not that I could see them at 3 inches away.

Look at the bright side - you've got the eyes of an eagle!

 

Bad inverter? Do Acer's have any history with bad inverters? The deterioration of the condition over time sounds like a mechanical failure of some kind.

Bronsky

 

Every display will show pixels if you get close enough to the display or enlarge the picture enough. How many times is the 3820TG display section enlarged by the time it is on full screan of your 26" Asus monitor? If you didn't see pixels from a 720p 13" display something would be wrong. If you get within 6" or so from my LG 24" 1080p display you can see pixels. If I look hard enough at a foot distance, I can see them. Probably even from 2 feet. I don't really know what that proves. I don't think anyone is going to say that my desktop LG has is a bad display because you see pixels if you look hard enough. The question is "how does the display perform at a proper focal length?" Does it produce sharp images with decent contrast from the perspective of the operator's point-of-view?

The way to test the quality of a display is to compare it to a similar display at the same resolution and brightness. You do that photographically, by putting identical magnifications taken by the same lens (wide angle lens with a good depth of field on macro setting would probably work best) at the same location and compare the two. When you do that, you can compare the quallity of the substrate, the clarity of the pixels and background contrast.

Bronsky

 

I think it is not the inverter, because they are only used by the old displays and not by new LED display.

But the control electronic for the led current could have a damage or it comes to a resonance reaction of the electronic and .... and ...

Just replace it.

 

I'm used to old dells.

Bronsky

 

Yes Bronsky,

you hit the problem. I was just thinking to write a posting like yours.

Nice posting.

 

the point is, that the Pixels or grid system is way to noticeable on the acer 3820tg than any other budget laptop thus far ( at least thati have owned in the budget field )

they have used a really crappy panel.

i have seen 1366x768 panels on 13inchs are at work , and 15 inch ones, and you can not see the grid system

at the hospital i work at they have a few toshibas for the data entry team, (13 inch ones ) budget , and five sony sr 13 inch ( budget series ), as well as three hps 15 inch

and you can not see any grid system or pixels visial from 20 inchs away

you can see the pixels very well or know something is up with the acer monitor at such a distance and that is the end of the story.

the monitor they select is crap.

 

Oh, 4 of us returning laptops because of flickering issues. Let's say here we got about 16 laptops, so 25% is not a very good ratio. Acer must know about this issue. Have you seen my video on youtube? It's not really flickering, for me it was brightness changing at random times, at all display levels.

YouTube - Acer TimelineX 3820TG display problems

 

Lastdon, can you check my video? Is it like that? I just returned my laptop because of that. Hmm, 5 of us having flickering problems.
YouTube - 3820TG display problems

 

For me, it's clear: Acer uses the fastest processors and fastest graphic cards you can find in this price range, and puts it in a decent case with a very good thermal design. To stay cheap, it uses the cheapest B quality displays on the market, and buys clock generators, wlan cards, bluetooth modules etc, from what's a good deal every week, and sells the preinstalled windows as a nice advertising place for every company it can make contract with.