Advice requested to boost an Acer Aspire 5720G

Hi guys! What's up?

I've recently come across this thread and I'd like to know how I could enhance my laptop's performance, which is about to be five years old.

First of all, my laptop is an Acer Aspire 5720G whose current features are as follows:

- Motherboard: MB.AHE02.001 (chipset Intel PM965).
- VGA graphic: Nvidia GF 8400m GS, DDR2/GDDR2 memory (Honestly, I don't know what's the difference between them both), 256MB with TurboCache which goes up to 1024MB (I know, that last one is a lie, like 'cakes'), bus memory width of 64 bit and MXM-II type (I'm dead sure about it, I've checked it).
- RAM memory: 2x 1024MB DDR2-SDRAM (so-DIMM), only two slots available and currently in use.
- CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T7100, 64bits architecture, 32KB cache level 1, 2MB cache level 2, socket P (Santa Rosa) and bus speed supported up to 800MHz.

Now, here are some questions I'd like to submit:

A) What would be the best upgrades it could be carried out onto my laptop without having to do anything which requires a high level of expertise? (Something like unplug the old one and plug the new one, so to speak)

B) Regardless on the upgrades, would I have to replace other devices from the laptop, such as the display screen (for a higher screen resolution), heatsinks or the fan, to get the improvements work properly?

C) Would it be worth acquiring those pieces separately and assembling them later or should I wait and save a bit more money to buy a better one? (I've some savings I can fall back on, but I don't know what to do, as this laptop works perfectly up to now and I think to buy a new one it would be a real foolishness)

I'm looking forward to your replies. Thank you so much in advance.

Kind regards.

 

Getting a ssd will be the best upgrade, their prices have come down recently, it will improve the performance, upgrading the RAM to 4GB also will be useful, if you like you could upgrade the CPU as well to something like another socket P cpu ( may be a T9300).

 

See my signature for what can be achieved.

(And yes, an SSD might give even more speedup.)

Note that if you want a video card upgrade, don't go for the Toshiba card I have, as it needs soldering skills. Get the Asus GT 240M instead, which should be plug-and-play.

Also, the 1920x1200 display upgrade requires replacing the display cable with one from a 7720G (part no. DC02000E100).

 

Hi there!.

Thank you both so much for your prompt replies. I have been working out how much each device would cost and I'm afraid the total amount will far exceed the budget so I can't seem to do a full upgrade.

Therefore, I guess I could put off the issue of the HDD replacing till later and try to look for an affordable VGA instead of the GT 240M since I've realized its price is even far too steep at the moment, moreover it's a MXM-A 3.0 standard and the 5720G isn't supposed to support it according to this thread. However, I'm really grateful you both have brought it up, I'll keep it in mind for the future.

Regarding the CPU, the T9300 looks awesome and has a good price-quality ratio but even so it's still a bit expensive. Honestly, I don't know if it would be worth replacing with the T7100, I can't make my mind up, what would you do?

As for the VGA, I really feel like enhancing it due to sluggish, faulty and appalling performance of the 8400m GS and its the extreme overheat with its "blinkings and black-screen problems" while playing, so to speak. So I wondered if you could tell me which MXM-II VGA listed on the above-mentioned thread should I buy such as the 9650M GT, the 9600M GT or the Radeon HD 4650? ('unplug & plug' style of course, no ' pro-skills' needed)

As to the RAM, I know it must be soDIMM nevertheless, must it be also DDR2? or might it be DDR3? (I haven't found out whether 5720G supports it or not)

Finally, with regard to screen resolution, I get I don't need to change the LCD display, just replace the display cable, right?. Well, I have already locate a DC02000E100 on Ebay, by the way, it's rather cheaper than I expected but, could you please show me a tutorial about how I must switch to the cable? Everything I have found isn't seem to be reliable.

Thanks once again.

Regards.

 

you may be in luck soon cause im waiting for my vga heatsink and will have a ddr2 9600m gt available afterwards for cheap.

thats if you can put up with ddr2 also seems to overclock about 20% without heat issues or performance issues etc

 

Hi Squee666

Thank you a lot but I guess I'll try to get a 128-bit & DDR3 one since it's really worth paying for its performance.

 

The RAM modules must be DDR2 - nothing else will fit, physically.

As for the VGA, the best one is the 9600M GT, since it is the only one with DDR3 memory. (GT 240M is also DDR3, but the MXM-II version is quite expensive, as it's only available as a certified Asus spare part.)
Note that it's possible that OS-Store now has Acer-compatible HD 4650 cards with DDR3 memory - these are pre-modded Toshiba cards that fit plug-and-play. Such cards should be even better than the 9600M GT.

 

Thank you ' .3DNetRolller' for further assisting me. So, to briefly summarise the upgrade I ought to do:

1) CPU: pick the Intel T9300.
2) RAM: Two DDR2 soDIMM modules of 2GB each one.
3) VGA: acquire the Geforce 9600M GT, as it's the most suitable graphic card that I could find out under the features I look for ( MXM-II, DDR3, 128-bit and matching to the connector pins from the 5720G). Unfortunately, the GT 240M is far too expensive up to now and the HD4650 (from toshiba) isn't compatible at all.

4) miscellaneous: please, I beg you pay attention on these following questions as they talk me out of carrying out the upgrade. Furthermore I would appreciate so much if you could ( I'm awfully sorry for being so picky, so please bear with me ):
- If I perform the replace, how much would the thermal design power be affected? Should I replace the heatsinks? Should I get another laptop fan?
- Would the LCD screen really be involved on the upgrade or not? Do I only need to change the display cable to get a higher resolution or there's anything else to do ( Just I need a simply 'yes or 'no')?

Thank you so much once again!.

 

proberly gt240 generates least heat

 

@squee666: Yes, one of the big advantages of the GeForce GT 230M/240M/330M cards is that they run very cool - cooler than a HD4570.

@Sorrow932: There should be no thermal issues.
The display upgrade is not necessary for the rest to work. If you do decide to upgrade your display, then yes, only the cable needs to be changed to accept the new LCD panel.

Also, T9300 is not the absolute best - T9500 is also supported (but not T9400).

 

Hi sorrow932,
I did some shopping for you,
CPU-T9300= £56
RAM 2x2GB SODIMM= £34
9600m GT= £30
Display 1920x1200=£64
cable= £11
Total= £195

Samsung SSD 128Gb =£78
If I were you, definitely go for the ssd because the performance will be amazing and you won't go back to a spinner drive again.
Or you could do the upgrades in stages to suit your budget, my order of preference will be:
1.RAM upgrade
2.CPU
3.GPU
4.Display

 

Now I see, the GT 240M would be a great purchase if it weren't for its steep price. Too bad the HD4650 wasn't compatible.

Regarding the CPU issue, I guess I'll keep on with the T9300 option due to there's a huge price-features differential between them.

As for the 'display matter', I know what you mean, everything will work fine once the VGA is replaced but its maximun resolution will remain at 1280x800, right?

However what I wondered was if I wish to reach for a higher one (i.e. 1920x1200), I must just get the DC02000E100 cable and I don't need to buy a new LCD screen/panel (i.e. buy a LP154WU1-TLC1). right or not? (I haven't figured it out yet, sorry).

So I should obtain:
- T9300
- 9600M GT
- 2x2GB RAM
- DC02000E100

Thanks so much.

 

If you want 1920x1200 you need the new cable and a new lcd display.

Btw the gt240m 1gb ddr3 is available for 83

 

T8100-2.1, T8300-2.4, T9300-2.5 and T9500-2.6 are all good upgrade options. Cheaper still would be a T6600-2.2 or T4500-2.3 CPU upgrades. They can be had for very low $$ on ebay but those T4xxx/T6xxx CPUs do not always work on 965PM systems.

The T8xxx/T9xxx cpus can gain a further 200Mhz by running a dual-IDA bios + Throttlestop. See http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...ida-both-cores-core-2-duo-15.html#post6646598 . In the case of a T8300-2.4 it would run 13x200=2.6Ghz.

If wanting to get more CPU performance then consider a TME-unlock or FSLx PLL pinmod shown at http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...verclocking-methods-examples.html#post4998927 . It could potentially result in a T8300-2.4 running at 13x266, or up to 3.46Ghz. A T6600-2.2/T4500-2.3 could run at 2.93Ghz/3.06Ghz with such an overclock

 

#ellalan. Thank you very much! You've come up with a proper budget. Would you mind telling me where you came them across? I was looking for on Ebay but there's seem to be nothing at these prices.

Well, now you've brought the subject of the SSD up again that I'm certainly keen on it (that looks pretty interesting), but I have to find out how switch HDDs to SSDs on a laptop (something like a tutorial, because it won't be a simple replacement, will it?) and how much a SSD would cost.

Lastly, I'll bear in mind your upgrading scheme as I can't afford spend a lot at a time and I'm recently out of work. Maybe I could begin with the RAM+GPU (due to its before-mentioned problems), afterward with the CPU, then with the display matter (cable & LCD Panel) and finally with the SSD.

By the way, ¿what kind of LCD panel/screen should I try to get? ( It must fit inside the 5720G with a 16:10 ratio as far as I know, right? maybe a LP154WU1-TLC1, I'm lost here)

#Bo0bz. Thanks, now I get it, I was confused since I'd understood I only had to change the cable and not the LCD panel/screen.

And, wow. Where could I come by the '83 pounds' GT 240m? Which are its features?

#nando4. Sorry, but I don't trust overclocking issues but I like you've told me other alternatives such as the T8300, nevertheless T9300 remain affordable for me. Thank you so much anyway!.

 

sorrow932, before you fork out the $$ for all those upgrades, I'd advise do the sums to find the changeover costs for a low cost but capable Sandy Bridge system like a 15.6" HP Probook 4530s would be.

A 4530s is three-gens newer technology than your 5920s so there you'd get a much faster CPU, new battery and far better battery life and an expresscard slot so could add a eGPU for gaming. The iGPU can even game on low too plus they can also be upgraded to a 1080P LCD panel. See http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...-probook-4530s-screen-upgrade-900p-1080p.html .

 

Hi Sorrow932,
All the prices I found were from ebay:
Intel Core 2 Duo CPU Processor T9300 SLAQG 2.50GHz 6M 800 (75) | eBay
HYNIX HYMP125S64CP8 S6 4GB 2x 2GB SODIMM DDR 2 PC2 6400 DUAL LAPTOP DDR2 RAM | eBay

 

Thanks #nando4. Actually, one of my first questions was whether it'd be worth carrying out all the improvements or I ought to keep saving a bit more to purchase a new notebook when the 5720G finally ends up breaking down, as It works well so far even though GPU begins to fail.

In addition, that reminds me that I'm also missing a separate numeric keypad due to I'm used to using it a lot at work and I guess that's a solid reason for acquiring a latest one.

The only certainty is that I can't possibly spend a lot right now. I must think it over.

#ellalan. I really appreciate your assistance . Thanks indeed.