TM8204 ATIx1600 Buzzing, fix using firmware update

Now im very fustrated...


***Quote from asus support
The buzzing may be fixed by upgrading the video cards firmware. Unfortunately this is not something we can advise you to do and would have to be brought into our repair centre to be performed. If you wish to have you machine brough in for repair please either fill in the information requested below or call us on 0870 853 1000.




Why dont they just post the fix? If its fixable with an actual software patch

 

Because messing with the video cards firmware can render it useless.

 

With a properly applied patch wouldn’t this be similar to doing the bios update?.

Perhaps this could be done from the command prompt?

 

To do a firmware upgrade, you need to put a special file on a disc and boot off it; it's nothing for the faint of heart and it is more complex then what i've said.

 

Hmm, well I've asked acer support if they would send me the update package. If not I guss it will have to go back...

It's annoying that these laptops costing some serious cash are being shipped with a broke ATI firmware.

 

Yes it is, but you we can't really blame Acer fully for this problem. ATI needs to be blamed as well.

At least we are not paying to ship the laptop back to Acer

 

Thanks you have answered my next question. ACER will pay to collect and ship the laptop back to me.

However my opening gambit to ACER support was to ask if they could feasibly supply me with the firmware update + instructions. Since I’ve done 2 before with ATI/NVIDIA cards.

If not then I’ve asked them to collect and return... Apart from this problem im very happy with the notebook. It looks great and is very smooth to work with. Way better than any Dell in my opinion.

 

I'd be damed if im going to send my laptop back to Acer support just for a Firmware update.

 

There are reports that it is more of a hardware fix and not just a firmware.

 

TwoJame or psneddon
Which one to belive.. I'd prefer it if it was just a Firmware update.. So im holding on hope that its that

 

I'll keep you posted... I'm hoping they just send me the firmware update. My reply asked them if it would be posted on acer support.

The firmware issue ties in with another post on one of the other forums. The tech's notes said that they had updated the firmware....

If it's hardware then im guessing its a recall?.

 

Keep us updated on how its going. If they send you the firmware and not me you know where to find me (and vice versa). If its hardware then i'll send mine back and order it from where i work. At least that way i know it will work first.

 

Sure. I'm expecting to here something monday.

I'm thinking their bound to post it on their support site... They obviously know its an issue since the support person emailed me back within the hour of me posting a problem on their website

 

They play dumb but they know its a issue.

 

How long have you had yours ColdHotCold?.

 

since the 2nd of feb i belive... or roundabout there.

 

What’s your gut instinct? Do you think this is a hardware issue or firmware fault? I’m hoping it’s the latter...

 

gut instinct seems that its a hardware fault.. mainly because some people have the fault while some don't. Don't know why.. but im hoping it can be solved by firmware.
Edit:
Still waiting to hear back from acer to see how it comes

 

I'll let you know my end... I've got an email in their system asking for the firmware file...

Perhaps its a varying of the components that one 8204 requires newer firmware?. The ACER support email appeared to be certain that it was firmware.

 

what is the typical turn around for something like this, from the day you send it out to the day it returns

 

Thats what i'm going to ask ACER in around 15 minutes . I'm considering sending it back to www.acernotebooks.co.uk for a swap, but then I could get the same issue.

 

Yup it's going back to ACER, since my laptop's only 5 days old their making it a HI Pri case. Should be sorted within 72 hrs or they will issue me with a brand new machine. Also while their at it I complained about the screen. So they will swap that.

They even wanted to collect it this afternoon!.

 

Did they mention what they are doing to fix the noise problem?

 

try and get a detailed service docket

 

They hinted at possible firmware, but they would not let on....

I only decided to send it in since in my view it’s also got a backlight leakage issue on the bottom right of the screen. Otherwise I might of waited to see re:firmware?.

It's quite poor that so many people are getting these problems. However anyone who is thinking of getting one defo do!!!. They are cool pieces of kit!


ps. dont worry about the heat vent since it feels nice on your hand

 

Get my notebook back from Acer repair Monday...( with service sheet )

In the meantime I got the following email prior to my notebook going in for service...


[
Hello, Thank you for contacting Acer.

Regarding your enquiry, you may if you wish apply firmware and BIOs flashes however please be advised that any damage or problems occurring from doing this yourself is not the responsibility of Acer to correct and is not covered by your standard warranty. You can find known compatible updates from the Acer website.



Regards

Acer Technical Support Team

 

there is no firmware on the support download site.. its not on the ftp site either...

 

twojame, are you in the US? Did you send it to the Acer repair center in Temple TX? If so, can you post your service request number so we can refer to it.

 

I'm not sure if the problem's merely firmware, for this reason: not everyone has the problem, and yet everyone has the same issue. I'm thinking it's more of a hardware fix, perhaps something's loose or some GPU's have manufacturing defects.

Just a guess, of course...

 

Im thinking its a combination of hardware + firmware...

The support person was vague . I'll find out whats been done tomorrow.

The whole process to send back to Acer uk has taken 6 working days under hi-priority .

 

I am impatiently waiting the outcome of your laptop twojame!

 

Is there any reliable test program for this? I can't say I've noticed an issue with my laptop, but it's always nice to have been able to test out problem issues and at least know if you have them or not prior to warrenty expiration periods and such (not that that's anytime soon but..)

 

The buzzing noise occurs in multiple ways. For some people it happens when ust dragging Window Explorer windows around. Also when viewing the car demo in the ATI control panel. The best way to reproduce it is by running the Tokamak demos.

Make sure the ATI is set to full acceleration in the powerplay settings.

 

I just spoke with ACER (USA), and they made all the arrangements to get my laptop tomorrow by FEDEX. The turn around will be 6 to 10 business days. ACER pays for everything on the shipment, and the laptop return will be shipped using FEDEX 2 days (air).

The technical support was very smoothly.

 

Okay, so I download and run the demos, making sure that it's set at full acceleration and with volume set to 0 (so that the buzzing is easily identifiable right?)

 

you can tell the diffrence in the static buzzing from speakers and from the GPU

 

Hi,

I have the same problem ... acer support went through all the usual restore the system BS! ;-p

I am looking forward to seeing how they resolve your laptop. I also purchased from the same online shop and have screen problems in the corner and the noise when i move explorer windows or play diablo2

seems to only affect 2d and not 3d applications.

please update once you get the laptop and results back from Acer, thanks

 

Ok this is what they have done...

[Acer Repair Center Report
Problem Description :
1) Graphics card is buzzing (possible firmware update needed)
2) Screen is bleeding in bottom right


Work Carried Out:
Change Parts,

Replaced mainboard, updated software, test all OK, Ran hardware diagnostics test - PASSED..
]

Right now for my side of the story!.

Point 1: The buzzing is fixed, under the various graphics demo's there is now a slight faint noise (x1600 is'm) and not the huge buzzing.

Point 2: They did not replace the screen as per my complaint. Perhaps they thought it wasnt enough of an issue?.

Point 3: The laptop was delivered back to me with muck on the LCD?!?. Did they attempt to replace the screen but bailed out?. Or was this simply that the laptop suffered from some condensation during transit. Basically it looked like someone had eaten a kebab off the screen.

Point 4: The plastic strip with the 3 led's which show if the caps is pressed was not fully clicked into place, but I sorted that out by applying some gentle force. To be fair it could have been worked loose during transit. It's not especially bothered me though.


Overall I'm happy with the repair and im now using this laptop for work.

 

Well, I am glad that ACER solved your problem. I am sending my laptop today for “repair” of the “buzz” issue. On my point of view, my screen is perfect, and I hope they do not try to eat a hamburger using it as a table.

For the point 1, I was expecting no “buzz” at all, and not a “slight faint noise”.

For the point 2 and 3, well this is “bad”, you pay almost 2,5K for a laptop, need to send to repair after a couple of weeks, and they do not properly take care during repair !!.

 

I agree it should have been taken care of alittle better.

I think I was being mega anal about the faint noise. Upon second look it seems like just the fan. Overall the buzzing is fixed.

ps... now taking this baby to work... Nothing could have prepared everyone for the look of the carbon fibre lid! :-D

 

Does anyone know if Acer has made an attempt to resolve this problem for newly purchased laptops prior to sending them out?

Just purchased mine and now I see this stuff. Its still a solid system from what I can see (and reviews are top notch), but its quite a hassle if I purchase a laptop and have to send it back. Particularly when they already knew some of 8204's were having this problem!

Any info is appreciated.

 

Do you have this problem? Would seem to be easy to tell if something has been done by checking if you have the issue.

Seems to have been a bit wierd because some people have it, but others do not (I've not got the problem as far as I can tell and have one of the first Acers 8204's in the US)

 

I sent in my laptop to Acer and they replaced the "VGA choke" which looks like a coil. It elminated the loud static noise I was having.

 

Did anyone have the same screen issue (mild backlight leakage bottom right)?. Did they replace the screen?

Ps. my buzzing is now fixed. I'm afraid its hardware...

 

twojame it depends if it can cause the hardware to fail or if its just annoying. If its a coil then it's probably just vibrating causing the static noise, which means that it probably isn't the bad, just annoying. Need a service manual to open this up and see if i can apply some kind of glue or eproxy to stop it vibrating.

 

When I recieve it I can tell you, but for now I am waiting on shipping. Hence why I asked rather then just checking for myself. I will let you know when I get mine if I have the problems though.

To me it seems like the type of thing they would want to get fixed rather then continue to pay techs to fix the same problem over and over again.

 

Absolutely, but, I guess it would depend on where your laptop is coming from and whether it was stock they had or a new one (and whether ACER has fixed whatever issue caused this for SOME laptops).

 

Just to Reassure myself and Hopefully others...

I wrote to Acer:
"Hello,
I have been doing a lot of research, and it has come to my attention that the Acer 8204WLMi was distributed with two distinct build dates, one of which has a faulty LCD with lots of light leakage and gray lines, and the other (Monitor ID QDS003D) of which does not have these problems. If I were to purchase an Acer from an authorized retailer and happened to recieve one of the faulty LCD's, will Acer replace the LCD under warranty?
Thank You"


Acer Responded:
"This is not a known issue. This notebook comes with one year warranty. If you have any problem after purchase, please contact us and we will fix it for you. "

Therefore, they should fix the screens/laptops should they have a problem

 

Apparently the technicians at Acer have been having alot of the QD screens back for unknown issues. But anyone actually know what is causing the buzzin g?

 

I'm tempted to live with this screen, even with its backlight leakage.... However I still may phone them and ask why they ignored my second complaint regarding the screen?.

We really need an Acer tech to layout exactly what is the fault... re buzzing.

ps. iamapato01... I love how Acer say 'this is not a known issue' ...