The Official Arrandale Timeline Thread

Ok, sorry, my bads...I guess I need to follow the forum more closely, lol. Although it's kinda hard with the lack of news! C'mon Acer!!

 

Intel Profits for Q1 are up 288%, mainly on the sales of the Core I processors/integrated GPUs. Source: Digitimes/Fudzilla. Sales of the Atom are falling faster than ... (put your own inapproprate metaphore here) ...

Anyway, it looks like the demand for the Core I processors is incredible. Sony USA is out of the I7-620M temporarily (you can't order it on CTO), and that's for a unit in full production and distribution for well over a month.

I have a sinking feeling that I may be waiting longer than others for an I7-620version of the 3820TG. There seems to be no shortage of I5-430M and I5-520M CPU's. They may come here first.

Bronsky

 

Bronksy, what are your thoughts on the 540M?

Between the three, which i5 do you prefer and why?

At what % price increase is the jump from 430M -> 520M -> 540M justified?

EDIT: According to Intel's site, the only difference between the three is clock speed and no virtualization on the 430M?

If that's the case.. perhaps i'll go for the 520M... sounds like the sweet spot for performance / price / etc for the Core i5s? If the upgrade to 540M was $50 more... is it worth it?

 

Whats with them all having the same resolution screen regardless of size? I'd think that 15.6" screen would have a higher resolution screen than a 13.3".

Anyone heard if there is a 1650x1080 option?

 

Sadly there is no option for a higher resolution. At least not for the Timeline X series.

 

@YESHHHHH
I think the 540m is the sweet spot. most power with no added power consumption. and at worst its only 10% slwer than the i7

 

As the Timeline X reached reached the stores in Germany (in stock = sofort lieferbar), it became available for pre-order in my country, with an ETA of 4-5 weeks.

Unfortunately, the retailer doesen't offer any ATI option for the 3820 model (the one I'd prefer), the best configuration available seems to be the the 4820TG-434G64MN (i5 430M + HD5650 , 4 Gb, 640 Gb).
The price for this baby is 246.000- HUF, which is like 899-910 EUR, depanding on the rate used, so it's pretty much the same as in Germany, guess these prices would apply for the EU.

I'll might contact the retailer (which is an official acer one BTW) and ask whether they could configure and ship me 3820 or 4820 with at least i5 520M + HD5650 (who knows, they might get me one from Singapore with i7 620M and HD5650 - it's OK to dream, right?!), though I'm a bit afraid too, that there's a genaral shortage in the 520M/540M/620M CPUs, nor german, nor italian units does seem to have any of them.

The retailer has a true beast (well, the CPU is not what I'd like, but...) an 5820TG-438G64MN with i5 430M + HD 5650 + 640Gb + 8 Gb, this one for 315.000 HUF, that's like 1150 - 1160 EUR, if someone curious.

 

Look at the Notebookjournal.de forum.....there is quite short but nice review by owner 3820...sorry, I can't post any link but the name of thread is "Acer Timeline x 3820TG Kurztest"..hope you'll find it

 

Besides the clock speed, which isn't essential for me, how do you guys evaluate the only 3 other differences between 430m - 520m/540m, namely the Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d), the Intel® Trusted Execution Technology and the AES New Instructions? Are they of any real use? And for what specific purposes?

By the way, how do you explain the better battery life on the U30JC with dedicated graphics against IGP as reported on the notebookreview official review? Should we expect the same paradox also for the timelineX?

If that's true, we'll end up having a useless integrated gpu, which is the whole concept of the new core series.

 

I think the I5-540M is a nearly perfect balance between CPU power and battery consumption. I like the 520M as well. It depends on your application. Even if steps between cores are only 10-15% increases, if you need that power, the cost is a non-issue (within reason). I run across a lot of different uses for my work laptop, some GPU intensive and Some CPU intensive. I want to maximize power in both to best deal with whatever new applications I encounter. It would make a difference if I was facing the same decision with my travel computer, where battery life is a paramount concern and, given the lack of need to do heavy graphics work, the GPU power becomes a non-issue. If I was buying a Lenovo X201 as my travel unit (I'm tempted - I'm really tempted), I would seriously consider buying it with the I5-520M, instead of the I5-540M (which is currently $200 more). Given the use and importance of battery power, the 520M is a better fit there and the $200 more doesn't make sense.

If I was buying a 13" notebook primarily for the road, where one of my prime concerns was operational time I would forsake the I7-620M for the I5-540M. In reality, I use my 11.6" as a travel computer. It goes to most meetings and trips, while the 13" stays home and is likely to spend most of its adult life on my desk, plugged into AC power. That's why the higher consuming I7 is for me. The cost in power consumption is meaningless when you're drawing power out of the wall. At that point, the extra power is free.

I do a lot of work with very large graphics (GIS) files and, from time to time, I do make presentations involving those files in remote locations. On those occasions, I will take the 3920TG along (and smile as I hear the ooohs and ahhhs) Even then, the power use between the 540M and 620M is not significant enough to induce me to move to the lower powered CPU. The longevity of the Timeline with the 620M is sufficient for my needs.

Bronsky

 

No. I'd rather have an LM series Core i.

 

Link: http://translate.google.com/transla...earch?q=Acer+Timeline+x+3820TG+Kurztest&hl=en

 

Another review on a German website showing the 3820TG shipping now.

http://translate.google.com/transla...arch?q=acer+3820tg&hl=en&sa=X&tbo=1&tbs=qdr:d

The reviews are at the bottom.

 

In terms of a portable machine I would prefer a the lower lower voltage series if it is overclocked and has switchable graphics.

Without the overclocking (even with turbo boost) and with only the underclocked intel HD graphics I feel the low volt arrendales will be unnecessarily weak.

 

If I was buying a Lenov x201, it would probably have the LM in it. I guess perfect balance depends on your perpsective.

@a2bucks thanks for the translation. The reviewers comments are encouraging.

Bronsky

 

To be more specific...

Per the notebookcheck mobile processor rankings the new low voltage i-7 620 UM chip is expected to be about as weak as the current su9400 c2d 1.4mhz chip. Ranking 159th overall and maybe 10% faster than a stock su7300. That is pretty weak IMO. But it should be able to be overclocked easily into a reasonably powered chip. While the standard i5 -540m ranks 16th and is about 250% faster than a su7300 (per benchmarks.)

Similarly, the low volt chips will have low vo0ltage graphics, making them only about 30% better than the old 4500MHD. While the intel HD in the i-5 normal voltage processors is about 75% faster. So switchable graphics in these low voltage machines will be key in terms of both performance and lack of obsolescence.

 

wait.. .but earlier weren't you comparing the LM and the M series? Its not the same as UM vs M for Core i7.. The LM series should be FAR faster than the UM.

 

Nobody has even tested the UM Core i5/i7's yet so forget Notebookcheck's "rankings" until machines with the actual processors are out (besides the Fujitsu nobody is buying).

Also that star next to the number means it could move once actually tested because that is notebookcheck's "approximate" ranking.

 

Yes, you are right. The 25W LM chips might be a nice compromise. I was referring to the 18W UM chips because that is what will be the "new CULV" in machines like the UL30JT.

 

I just saw Apples updated 13'' Macbook Pro's update feature Core 2 Duo still.

Very surprised by this. They usually adopt the latest hardware(only the 15/17 models got Core).

 

This just means that their 13" models start out behind and then stay there through their entire life cycle. MBP users must not be as power hungry or specification discriminating as many of us on here are. They must be seeking to sell them on design and OSX alone. But other companies are catching up in design and Win7 is a very good operating system that is arguably as good as OSX Snow Leopard.

 

The 13" MBP would be the perfect place for the 640LM processor, Optimus and the 310M. The lower power CPU would be a big asset to the MBP which has limited cooling ability. I would assume that the CPUs were not available for the refresh, the MBP can't accomodate the chip or the designers at Apple never gave it a thought because they are selling the crap out of the IPAD, and they'll sell a certain number of 13" MBP no matter what. It could be a hardware incompatibility. Dell had to discontinue its XPS Studio 13 and completely redesign it to take accomodate the Core I architecture.

Bronsky

 

I think it is a hardware compatibility. I noticed alot of smaller size notebooks have a complete redesign with the inclusion of the new iCore series. XPS 13, Sony Vaio Z, Lenovo's, etc.

 

@ L3vi and Bronksy

Thanks for the replies!

 

How easy is it to clean out the fan/radiator on these models?

 

Anyway the new Acer Aspire 4745G will feature Gamut display finally.

 

care to explain what is Gamut please?

 

Complete, superior color saturation across the entire display (simplified explaination )

Bronsky

 

So what else is different with the 4745G compared to TimelineX? all the pictures look the same :O
glossy lid!

 

http://www.notebookcheck.com/NBC-vor-Ort-Das-Acer-Notebook-LineUp-2010.28856.0.html

The Travelmates are too tempting with a matt display!...i wonder when they will hit the market here in Germany.

 

Gamut just means a certain piece of a colorspace. It doesn't mean it's better at anything.

You need a little more details to actually determine if it's better

 

whoops double post

 

Thought I'd give you the heads up, they have hit the stores today. Search for the geizhals website and then type the model you want... I wanted to give you the link but I need 15 posts to do that

I am also thinking of buying one!

 

Also it seems there are two kind of Travelmates!

- 8x72 series ( timeline X chassis, comes with Nvidia videocards GT310M and GT330M, matt display)

- Travelmate x740 series (biggest difference is the chassis, comes with ATI 5650 ....don't know about the rest like possible UMTS, other kind of W-lan module etc.)

 

For those of you who were still looking/waiting/interested/etc. in the UL30JT, look at this www .notebookjournal.de/tests/ laptop-review-asus-ul30jt-nkrt-1129/1 [there are two spaces]

If I still had any doubt whether to go for that or the acer, now it's gone..

 

the is probably the first time ill be saying this.

the new acer laptops look damn good

 

Very nice to see an 11.6" Travelmate now.

 

I thought somewhere back in the many pages of this thread someone said that the old timelines were well built and didn't have problems unlike the travelmates..... Anyone recall anything about this?

 

Man I wish I lived in Germany...anyone have any idea how long it usually takes for an Acer product to hit the United States once released in Germany, or is there really no way to predict it?

 

Hi

I'm considering buying the 14-inch version. Which model/configuration would you suggest for playing a few RTS-games? I'm looking much forward to Starcraft 2 so I need a notebook that will run it with at least medium graphics settings. Besides playing a few games, I need it for studying and some photo editing.

Benjamin

 

in an italian site the acer 3820TG-434G50N is in pre-order for 763€

 

I haven't been able to find any 13 or 14" Travelmates on the website with the arrandale chips... only 15" models with integrated graphics.

Here is their entire list of Arrandale Acer models available. You can narrow the search down by pressing the various screen sizes. I'm seeing a trend of putting powerful chips in notebooks with integrated graphics, and lower end 430m chips on those with discrete. But more to the point - I see no arrandale 13-14" travelmates!

http://geizhals.at/?cat=nb15w&xf=29_Core+i5~525_Acer~29_Core+i7

 

Hi, here's the link
geizhals.at/deutschland/?fs=Acer+Aspire+TimelineX&in=
geizhals.at/deutschland/a520581.html

 

I know, you see both those models in the link I posted above... but they are TimelineX, not Travelmates with matte screen options. That was my point.

 

Oh, I'm sorry nemein! Thought they were the same! What's the difference between travelmates and timelinex?

 

Travelmates are the business versions of the TimelineX, with some different graphic configurations and offering matte screens on some models. I haven't found much info about them, so I have been jumping at any mention of them (matte models with decent specs are so rare now...).

 

Hi Benjamin,

If you're planning on doing any gaming, especially new games like Starcraft 2, I'd go with a model that has the ATI 5650 graphics card as opposed to the 5470. You'll see a significant performance increase when it comes to games. I personally wouldn't go below a core i5-520m for the CPU, though posts in this thread would indicate you might be fine with an i5-430m. I'm holding out for the 13 inch 3820TG with 5650 and either i5-540m or i7-620m.

 

I read that as saying that the GT310M will be available in the 13-15", not the 11.6" 8172. You read it the same?

Bronsky

 

This waiting is already costing me a fortune. First I ordered and customized a 1410T. Then, while waiting I tore apart my desktop at home and built a completely new tower (I7-930/ATI 5870) and Asus P6TD Mobo. If Acer takes much longer, I may start working on my sailboat. There may be no money by the time these things hit the USA.

Bronsky

 

%*^(ing Acer!! Release the 3820tg now ffs!!

My life is incomplete, I need the 3820tg, i5-540 with ati 5650 NOW!!!!!!!!!!

Don't need no woman, don't need no Mercedes benz, all I need is the 3820tg NOW!!!