Interesting info for Quanta (MW1A/B) owners

On my note I noticed undocumented feature - key combination [FN]+[End] turns touchpad on/off.
As far as I know this is true for MW1A and MW1B.

Maybe it will work with KN1/HW1 as well...

 

Just tried it on a KN1; unfortunately, this doesn't work. Would be nice, since the KN1's touchpad is absolutely huge.

 

maybe there is different key combination in your laptop...

P.S. Forgot to mention: I have BIOS version Q3B61.

 

Thanks Martynas,

Whats the difference between the MW1A and the MW1B?

 

MW1A has dedicated graphics (GeForce Go 6600)
MW1B has integrated intel GM915

Sabio model SD-MW1 PM is actualy MW1A.

 

Martynas
Thank you again.

Wanted to share with,
I bought a USB powered aluminum notebook cooling pad (G3T Titan, 2 fans) and it lets you change the air to blow upward. The upper right cooler pad fan exhaust, overlaps the MW1A bottom fan intake, just enough so I get a steady stream of air going through the laptop. I find my fan in the laptop runs much less with the cooler pad on, and the cooler pad fan is very queit.
It's good to use when I'm home.

My apt is warm and my MW1A locks up after playing UT2004 for 20 - 30 mins. I'm thinking heat is the reason,
since it runs fine for everything else. I'm running Bios Q3B21 and the driver's that came with the laptop on a CD. mabe changeing them will help.


.

 

That lockup probably isn't normal. Have you tried undervolting your CPU? Also, be sure you exhaust vents are cleared of dust.

 

Update your bios. The older bios'es than Q3B61 had strange bugs - like spinning fan too fast and too often.

The BIOS update is easy, because you can use Windows based flashing program - no need to use DOS and command line. Just few clicks with mouse.

For new BIOS and BIOS update program go to sabio:
http://www.sabioproducts.com/service_system.php?id=9

EDIT: I updated my BIOS too

 

Thanks!!
Way to go, you two!
underclocking and Bios update. OK, cool. Bios first.

It took me 3 hrs today to burn 4 gigs of mp3's on a DVD-R at 8x, as a data disk, useing nero 6, on my MW1A. My tower and NEC 16x takes 10 mins.

The Gods Of Laptops are laughing at me, but I will prevail.

 

Burn DVD's at 2x speed. Then it will take ~30min to burn 4.7 DVD.

This is a problem on a bunch of notebooks and as I was asking, there may be 2 reasons for this:
1. HDD and DVD drives are connected to the same IDE channel (with SATA there is no such problem - not sure??).
2. Notebooks provide too less power for their DVD drives.

BTW. I downloaded UT2004demo and ran it for about 1 hour, everything was OK - no crashes or hang-ups.
On highest settings (1280x1024, all settings on high & highest) I've got avg 45 FPS, and GPU temp was never more than 65C.

EDIT: I'm not undervolting my CPU (I used to, but when I checked, I saw no big difference in battery life or heat, so I uninstalled CHC)...

 

wow, I get avg 45 fps in map Assault -> As-Convoy and in map DeathMAtch -> DM-Rankin I get ~100-180 avg fps!!!

EDIT: hmf, when playing that map with bots - I get 60-130 avg fps (when not looking at the floor I mean )

 

Martynas,

I flashed the bios with Q3B21 last night**, and it IS a major difference. Thanks for the encouragement to do so.

That was great you checked out the UT2004 demo, now I know. Thank you for that also!!! 45 FPS is wonderful, I don't game online with UT2004, so as long as it's playable I'm great!

The 3 hour DVD burn was a real bummer to me, one of the main reasons I needed a laptop was to back up data at other friends places. I'll try the 2x.

The 160 gig 5400 seagate is quiet, but it is a little slow compared to a 7200.
You have me thinking about the whole laptop DVD/harddrive connection. I'll keep on the lookout for info. I basicaly spent my saveings to get the laptop
this month, but was thinking about an external USB burner after the 3 hr burn, but really need to get this one working. I'll try the 2x today.

Thanks Flanken,
I just read up on the undervolting. I don't need the battery life, and the bios change seemes to be just the thing, so I'll let it go for now, but still checking it out.

**Edit: Flashed Bios Q3B61 last night, Old bios was Q3B21

 

with Q3B61 you mean
yeah, yeah, try 2x, it'll work, you'll see...

oh, there is one issue with this laptops casing, well not casing realy, but with assembly:
on left palm-rest may appear a crack if there is bad assembly (dvd-drive spring overtightened).
I had this issue, but warranty covers this and seller changed cracked plastics with no resistance.

Overall I'm quiet happy with this notebook - it has all the power I currently need.

 

Yes, I meant to say I flashed my bios with QB361.

I tried the 2x and it's at 2.14 hrs at 93%.

The fan is much quieter after the bios flash, what a difference. Wow.

 

Martynas,
It WAS faster at 2x by 35 mins. So something else is going on also. At least I can burn a DVDR while I work out this speed thing. This is my first laptop and I'm just getting used to the freedom of takeing it with me. addictive!

 

Played UT2004 at higher settings twice today and the MW1A ran perfect without locking up at all. 3 hrs total. Oh yes! I like this! Never even noticed the fan while gameing, much quieter. I'm so happy with the MW1A.

The matte screen is perfect, and the 4:3 normal non-widescreen is just what I wanted. Lucky to have found out about the MW1A on this forum.
My choice for wide screen was Flanken's 15.4 Wide Screen KN1-PM.

 

Strange - for me it takes 30 min to burn DVD on 2x, maybe you selected 4x accidentally?
Even when HDD is not defragmented, 2x speed burning does not take more...
Or maybe you burned when laptop is on battery?

Try this:
Go to the "Device Manager" and under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers double-click "Primary IDE Channel". Make sure you have selected correct transfer mode - it must be "DMA if available" for both devices.
If you have Secondary IDE Channel - do the same.

Let me know if this works...

 

Just a Primary IDE Channel / already set DMA if available. Thanks for checking, I had read somewhere to check those settings and was trying to recall where they were.

Martynas?
Mine is a Philips SDVD8441 8x Burner. What brand/model burner do you have in your MW1A? I thought you had a 5400 Seagate harddirve also. I'm running win XP pro.

MW1A
2.0 P-M
2 gig ram
160 gig 5400 Seagate HD


Thanks,
At least I know your MW1A takes 30 mins to burn at 2x. It can be done.

 

I have Philips DVD too.
HDD is Samsung 80gb 8mb cache 5400rpm.
DVD-discs I burned were Verbatim (16x certified) and Memorex.
(4.7GB, tried +R,-R, +RW)

I will check exact models and settings later today (or tomorrow if you're in other time-zone).

Maybe you have very agressive anti-virus?
Or have you defragmented your hard drive? Don't know what else to offer right now...

 

Defraged and no antivirus yet(not online)

It might be the DVDR media. I'll try the Verbatim
16x.

 

Here are exact models:

Primary IDE channel
- Master
HDD Samsung MP0804H
DMA on (Ultra DMA 5 selected)
- Slave
Philips SDVD8441 (firmware version PX43, 2mb buffer)
DMA on (Ultra DMA 2 selected)

DVD drive has no region selected.

When browsing, I found this link, which contains firmware update.
But I don't recommend it 'cause there is a risk - the firmware
may be incompatible although model numbers are the same.
http://support.packardbell.com/uk/item/index.php?i=topic_02354&pi=platform_ed2n

 

I tried to get a NEC DVDRW burner in my MW1, to match my NEC Tower burners, but was told it was incompatible with the MW1A. I'm not sure that info is valid about the MW1 and NEC burner, but it's something I need to check.
I'm leary of updated the Philips firmware also, at least untill I know more about the model.
I'll also check with Rick and Gwen at ISTNC.

Edit: I found the Verbatim 4.7 1x - 16x DVD-R's that work on your Philips, and am burning now at 2x.

It's 16 mins and only 5 pecent done, so it's not the media. (edit: 2 hrs at 49%. The maxells 8x are faster)

Good to know. also good to have disks I know will work on the Philips burner at 2x (30mins).
I can test them next to the Maxell and Figj DVD-R's I use on the NEC's. They are all burning on my MW1A, they all just take's 3+ hrs.

Edit: The verbatim 16x on the NEC at 16x took 6 mins. and 3 1/2 hrs on the 8x Philips.

I see the need to track down the Philips burner's
and learn more about them, and their quirkes and firmware and my own laptop details.

Martynas, thanks for your help,
Bios/Gameing Lock Ups/Fan speed.
What a difference.

 

Feel free to PM me, if you wont find solution.
Try to contact Sabio about your DVD drive, maybe they will have some info.

EDIT: try one more thing - from device manager remove your DVD drive, then restart computer - windows will detect it again (some settings are missing maybe).

 

Thanks Martynas, tried it, still the same.

Contacted Richard from Sabio Digital, they are sending me a new bios to try, Q3B81, although he said the DVDRW problem was not listed as a fix in the new bios release notes. He is checking to see other solutions. He was quick to respond to my e-mail, nice thing in a company.

 

wow - a new bios? Maybe they said what this version of bios fixes?

 

It's not up on Sabio's site yet, and I don't know anything else yet about the release note's.

I have been very impressed by Richard Nelson's response at Sabio Digital. . Thanks to you Martynas, I had answer's to most of the ?'s they asked me about settings and the Burn Media, so things are moveing right along!

Another reseller said to test it with another burning program, useing it on the Philips DVDRW, before Returning it for another.
They Said the problem could be the Nero 6.6Software and the Philips. I'm looking for a copy now.
What are you useing?

 

nero version 6.6.0.13
do you considered, that problem may be your hdd?

 

Thanks,
Thats Good.
Mine is Nero 6.6 something, I uninstalled it to run a copy of Roxio Easy
Medis Creator, so I'm not sure of the exact ver number. No real difference in burning time on Nero and Roxio, 3 hrs+

What speed do you burn on your Philips?
Is 2x your fastest burn speed on your MW1?

I'd be happy with a 30 min DVD-R burn.

edit:

Martynas,

I called Gwen at ISTNC.com, to let her know what we have checked out so far. She sent out a replacement drive that I should get in 2-3 days. I'll do the swap and we can see if it's just the DVDRW drive.

You are right about the hard drive. I think it's the next move if the DVDRW replacement is not the solution.

Feels good to have the new drive comeing, and to be able check the drive.
We are makeing good progress on this beautiful MW1A, Martynas, Thank you.

 

Yeah, I burn on 2x (~30min) - all other speeds are burning actualy slower - first time tried 8x and got 3h .

 

Ouch!
Which leads me into 2 ?'s. Will the MW1 work with another brand of burner.
and are there MW1 owners out there that do get higher burn rate's with the Philips? I'm researching, I'll let you know what I find.

 

Yes, on MW1 compatible drive list there are listed 5 dvd/rw drives:

NEC ND-6500A
Philips Dual SDVD8441 8X+/-RW (F/W X43) GBAS, L-F
PCC UJ-840BQB2-A (DVD+/- RAM RW) F/W 1:00 GBAS, L-F
Lite-On SOSW-833S GBAS
PIONEER DVR-K15RA FW:1.04 GBAS, L-F

 

Martynas,

I got my replacement DVDRW from Gwen at ISTNC and have burned 10 DVD-R's at 8x (16mins). I have had 4 disk fail at the 8x (all Maxell 8x), No brand disks failed at the 2x (26 -30 mins). The Verbatim 16x DVD-R's, at 8x, have all been succesful burns. (Nero 6.6)

DVDRW - SDVD8441KE PX43-C GBAS PX1DA38

 

great! congrats'

 

Thanks Martynas!

We did very well this week!!

Notes:

The Philips burner does not do well with the Maxell 4.7 8x. At 8x or 4x burning I get a 50% disk failure. Verbatim 16x 4.7 DVD-R's are the way to go.

The MW1A onboard flash card reader reads my 1 gig Corsair SD and 1 gig Kingston SD cards, but not any of my 2 gig SD cards. Office Depot is selling a $9 MediaGear USB Card reader that looks like a USB thumb drive. the top comes off , I insert the 2 gig SD card into it, put the top back on, and now it is a USB thumb drive that I can use on the laptop. Easy way to use my 2 gig SD cards with the MW1A till they update the card reader drivers.. also come's in handy to transfer files to another laptop when I'm on the road.

I have been useing a USB Silver Zippy EL-610 blue LED lighted keyboard, a small Microsoft USB compact optical mouse (black) and a Thermaltake Blue LED USB cable light (black and silver) with the MW1A. (newegg.com)

The keyboard, mouse, and blue LED light, are so small I just take it all with me when I'm traveling. They also match the silver and black MW1A colors, looking like they came with the MW1A as a set.

The Thermatake and Zippy both have on/off switches for the lighting, I can see the Zippy keys in the dark to hunt and peck. The blue LED cable light takes care of the MW1A keyboard.

I work alot on the MW1A at night, around other people in low light. I find the USB blue LED cable light and USB blue lit keyboard to be far less intruesive, to the other people in the room, than a white light solution. The MW1A 's own LED's are also blue.

The Zippy keyboard is quiet, as is the MW1A keyboard. The Zippy is very, very quiet. Even the Microsoft compact mouse clicks are quiet, compared to the larger
desktop models.

The MW1A fan is now comfortably quiet with the Q3B61 Bios flash.

YES!

2.0 P-M
2 gig ram
160 gig 5400 Seagate HD
Philips 8x DVDRW
15.0 " matte screen
go6600 dedicated 128mb video card