Acer TimelineX 3830/4830/5830 T/G

Looks like a GPU problem to me. It seems the CPU starts to throttle once the GPU goes above a certain temperature threshold. God, why didn't acer stick to the ATI GPUs =(

 

Bidirectional throttling is a feature in the cpu that watches the temp of the gpu and throttles itself when that one reaches a certain temp.
I just tested the throttlestop trick by the way, it does not work on my 4830tg, the cpu still throttles when the system reaches the aforementioned conditions (gpu:75°C, cpu:80°C).
Can anybody else try the throttlestop fix to see if we came to the same conclusion?

 

HP uses ATI GPUs and it has the same issues

 

So that means Intel's processors throttle too soon based on GPU temperature. Another Sandy Bridge fiasco after the SATA port issues on the chipset? Or will this be fixable with a relatively simple bios update?

 

The linked version was 2.9.9, try the 3.00.1 version Downloads | Tech|Inferno (is it the last update?).

Also, try various combinations (i.e. disable only bidirectional throttling etc.)

 

I would rather guess that it throttles when another sensor reach high temp, maybe the whole laptop is hot when gpu + cpu are loaded.
HDD do not stand long-term when over 50-55°c

 

Yeah, something like that should be the role of the bidirectional throttling feature...

 

I use the latest version, but the devil is in the details, so here are my settings:
- unlock bidirectional prochot checked
- bd prochot unchecked

Am I doing something wrong? I also tried to check bd prochot, but the results were the same.

 

Any word on whether this throttling is an Intel problem?

 

My current notebook has an old AMD Turion64 CPU so I can't try.

Maybe you can ask here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...arket-upgrades/531329-throttlestop-guide.html

 

It HAS to be. In the past few years we've seen chips handle heat very well. No reason to believe the threshold for high temps would drop 20 degrees from one generation to the next. No major changes in how laptops are assembled or heat is dissipated...

I'm going to play the paranoid consumer and say that this makes sense along with Intel trying to limit overclocking in SB. Force people to constantly upgrade their chips, thinking the older ones are weak and obsolete. Intel has a very solid technological roadmap for the next few years and we have every reason to believe they are squeezing this lemon dry before mobile platforms really cut into PC business.

But if this is the case, how could they not realize that informed users and especially enthusiasts would discover these throttling problems almost immediately?

I have followed threads on this forum but don't have a solid handle on how noticeable the throttling is in computational or gaming performance. But I still say this is an intentional design by Intel aimed at limiting users' abilities to tinker with hardware.

 

How else would they charge you $150 for a 100mhz overclock increase in their cpu?

 

I got a 4830Tg since a few days and of course the cpu throttle in less than 10 min of furmark benchmark.

A way to avoid it might be to set the maximum processor state at 99% in power options. This way the maximum CPU frequency is 2300 Mhz (turbo mode don't activate so cpu temp is not so high) and i have seen no throttle since (50 min of furmark).

 

Hey guys, i found another workaround for the throtteling thing but it's not very elegant.
In my case setting the multiplier of ThrottleStop 3.0 to 20x forces my i5 to have a clock around 2GHz and not falling down to 1,2 GHz like in those reviews. It somehow prevents throtteling, because my max temp reached 95+ degrees playing Dirt2 with merely maximum settings and 8QCAA. This cleary proves that throtteling can be prevented. BUT the cooler is not really able to chill the CPU down. This is the real problem here! 95 degrees is all but healthy.

So I had to make a decision. I cannot see any 13" laptop with these specs for such a small price. Therefore i bought a Laptop-cooler for 20 € on which i place my 3830, and it REALLY helps. Instead of 95 degrees max temp was 79 degrees after 4hours Dirt2 (still kind of hot but the SBs should handle it) and no throtteling. I hope my experience could help some of you guys to make your final decision.

I still hope, that Acer helps us with this, the new BIOS does not seem to be any better.

Cheers

______________________________
Acer Aspire 3830TG-2414G75nbb TimelineX iceblue Core i5-2410M GT540M 4GB RAM 750GB 13"

 

yan487 - What's your battery life with this method on the 4830TG? Just curious.

 

I haven't compared the battery life before and after setting the 99% max state, it must be slightly better but only in intensive cpu usage.

 

Is / when is the Acer Aspire 5830TG coming out in the US ?

 

I was just curious because I thought battery life would be much lower if the CPU cannot downclock itself to lower speeds (require constant cooling? drain more power?) if it is set to 100% speed all the time. Unless, I'm missing something important here.

I already know this solves the CPU throttling when the power adapter is plugged in, but being mobile is another story. I guess you can always create a new power setting profile and change it.

 

I have only changed the CPU max frequency to 2300 MHz, the "idle" downclock works as usual...

 

Okay. I misunderstood from the photo you posted before. I saw minimum CPU state and maximum CPU state at both 100% in power settings. I probably confused it with something else.

P.S. It looks like you changed what you wrote and took off the photo. Ignore my previous comments then.

 

This is getting ridiculous. Consumers who buy theses 1000+ Euro notebooks should see it as unacceptable that hack job fixes are required to keep it from throttling. The whole situation reminds me of the Asus buyers trying all kinds of wacky configurations to eliminate the high pitched whine when the computer idles.

As others are showing, this overheating/throttling problem is seen in several laptop models by a range manufacturers which indicates to me that it very well could be an Intel problem. Now, with the previous SATA problems and AMD's Llano right around the corner, will Intel step up to the plate and take a role in solving the issue? As Downloads already said, it's unlikely laptop manufacturers forgot how to design a laptop.

And slightly OT, why in the world do we (consumers, businesses, nearly any computer buyer) need new platforms every year and die shrinks every 2 years?!? There are retail stores (nationwide US chains) still using Windows 2000 and I really don't think LHC scientists are postponing anything (It's been what..50 years? Still no Higgs particle.) for an extra few hundred mhz of turbo clockspeed.

 

Yep, and still manufacturers can't afford to NOT launch those defective stuff, well as long as the competition does its job

 

This whole throttling thing makes the 3820TG seem even more appealing. I might look into Canadian close-out deals...

BTW, anyone know if this is more a thin/light issue vs the larger quad core containing laptops?

 

You guys have been discussing mostly the 3830/4830 types. How does the 5830 stand about this throttling issue? Is it the same? And how long do you think it can take Acer to fix it? I'm just wondering, coz I read sth about last year issues - how long did it take?
And for the end maybe a little bit offtopic, but imo appropriate question: What about ACER TravelMate 5760? It seems the same speaking about HW and maybe even more travel-able with its construction - not mentioning battery endurance, which seems to be a lot smaller. Does this type have same problems or not?
Ty for answers

 

Well, I'm only following this thread, but have the feeling this defect affects all SB gadgets.

Though I'm not in the market - right - for SB notebooks, I hope it'll be fixed for good.

 

Yeah, other SB-gen notebook forums are also full of thottling reports.
I just played some portal 2 multi and the throttling made me fail at least one time. It's just starts lagging like hell for 12-24 seconds, and it happened this time on c80 g70. I dont get it, the synthetics I did before never showed any problem below c80 g75.

 

Is the throttling bad on desktop chips as well? Or maybe those chips run cooler and don't hit the threshold as frequently.

Either way, Intel knows what they're doing.

 

I've had no problems with my desktop i5 2500 throttling.

FDIV bug anyone? My poiny being that Intel is a company run by humans, and humans make mistakes. Don't assume there IS a fix until there is one.

 

Could you phone the Acer support?

"Ehy my new notebook keeps dropping CPU speed while playing... I read that everyone with the same notebook has the same issues... and NOW?"

 

Acer's repair policy is to send a replacement unit, which we all know would solve nothing.
I think we have two options for now:
- wait for a possible bios update which unlocks the bd prochot throttling limit so everbody can adjust it to his/her liking
- wait for the russian guys to crack the insyde locks again like they did for the x820s

And of course we have the harder, but more entertaining way: consider custom mods - I'm already looking for replacement fans, grils and even whole cooling modules to swap the dvd drive with.

 

Maybe after the Nth replacement unit they will take the issue seriously. People should complain, if we ignore the issue, they will ignore the fix.

 

Maybe, but how is willing to go through N replacement cycles?

 

Official USA Pricing on 3830/4830/5830

AS3830T $650
i3-2310M / 500GB HDD / 4GB RAM / UMA

AS4830T $699
i5-2410M / 640GB HDD / 4GB RAM / UMA

AS5830T $799
i5-2410M / 640GB HDD / 6GB RAM / NV GT 520M

I have no idea what is up with this GT 520M listing. And I can only guess that the 4830T version with a dedicated GFX card will be around $799 MSRP too.

I am considering this or the Lenovo Y570, but the Y570 is just a better machine if you do not need the battery life. I still prefer the Acer though.

 

Where are getting the information? I don't see these on the US site yet.

Bronsky

 

In Taiwan the base 3830tg model is sold for a little less then $800US (around 23500NT) , if you ask for the price in person at a store. I don't see the price be that different in US or Europe. It's customary here to actually ask the person for the 'real' price and not settle for the sticker price, and you get discounts for paying in cash too. You can usually get it for much cheaper than what they charge you at online store, like PChome.

 

Some inside sources.

The 15.6 Ethos also just popped up for USA

i7-2630QM / 750GB HDD / 6GB RAM / Blu Ray / GT 555M $1399 MSRP

the 18.4 is $100 more. Like someone said earlier in the thread, and alternative to the 4830/5830 is the 5750

i7-2630QM / 640GB HDD / 4GB RAM / GT 540M $899 MSRP

these should be officially up this week coming.

 

In Italy the 3830TG model (Core i3-2310M, 120 GB SSD instead of the HDD) is sold for €899 (about $1275), the 4830TG model with Core i5 is €999 ($1420).

 

My guess is that we won't get the 3830TG here in the US. Canada will get the I3/I5 GT 540M version. We will likely get the 4830TG. My guess on price for the I5/GT 540M is $849 release price.

If Acer does that again like is has with the 3810TG and 3820TG, the 3830TG is even a less desirable option for the US due to the unavailability of US keyboards since the redesign. We were lucky enough to buy 3810T KBs when the 3820TG was introduced. I would rather pay a few bucks more for the Sony SB to avoid using the crappy bi-lingual keyboard.

If I was considering replacing my 3820TG, I would probably not be thinking about an Acer. That is even before you factor in the Sandybridge issues.

Bronsky

 

Hi! I've a little question about 4830 and I'll be happy if some 4830 owner reply to my question. I want to buy this laptop because is the best buy, Theorically speaking, but on the paper there is some problem about trhottling that scary me to death...

I use the pc almost always at max performance, so throttling is a big trouble for me.
So, who think that I should buy this pc? There is some alternative with same characteristic?

Another question, it's possible eventually to put an hd at the place of cd/dvd?

Thanks & sorry for my english.

 

Well, what kind of "max performance" usage are we talking about?
If you're a gamer then throttling will definitely be an issue, otherwise it won't really bother you (except if you're rendering in maya or using GPGPU apps, stuffs when the gpu is maxed out).
As for the optical drive I understand it's doable on most other notebooks but I have no specific info or how-tos for the x830s.

 

If you don't need a very long battery life, maybe the Lenovo Y470

 

Are they talking about fixing the throttling?

 

Notebookjournal wrote an article that Acer acknowledged the problem and said a bios update with a fix is in the works, but until I have it in my hands it's just and empty promise.

 

I check this thread a few times everyday and it's very frustrating when you are in US. I might jump to the xps 15z boat if nothing shows up at the end of the tunnel. Acer suks these days...ye hear tat aser?

 

If they fix the throttling, will the 3830 be a godly machine? I can't remember - how does its gpu do against the new sony sb 13.3 inch's?

 

Godly? I prefer my 3820TG. Oc'ability is better on the CPU and dual fan system is still the best in a 13".

The HD 6630 is a bit more powerful than the 540M..

Bronsky

 

No the 540M ist a little better, tested on every single 3D Mark edition.
(e.g. 3475 to 3084 points in 3DMark Vantage)

 

Funny thing is that 6630M is actually slightly slower than HD5650 if you compare gaming benchmarks.
While it has 480 unified pipelines it has a core frequency of only 485MHz as opposed to 400 pipelines and 550MHz on HD5650.
It may OC better (or not) but it's not an upgrade from HD5650 nor is it faster than 540M

 

Unfortunately not!

Acer just underrated the cooling issues. You won't get rid of these problems.
Just check the update on the new TimelineX News from Notebookjournal:

TimelineX update does not fix CPU throttling

They tried to fix it, but failed!

 

New 1.04 BIOS, no changelog

It has been reported that it DOESN'T fix the throttling issue, however... could anybody try this new version?