Samsung Q320 : 13.4" 16:9 notebook

holy crap, I didn't knew that! Thanks mate!

edit: I dont really understand how the custom hosts thing work though? Is there a place to get a guide on it?

 

You just download the custom hots file and drop it into the right folder (backup your existing hosts file first). Windows then checks IP addresses against that list and doesn't both to access websites containing adverts or other known undesirable content.

John

 

I am getting a brand new on Friday for 800 CAD dollars, 2.53 ghz, p8700 version. can't wait, only thing im worried about is the complaints about screen/display

 

Where are you getting it for $800 CAD? I got mine for $999.97 CAD + tax.

 

hi everybody!

I subscribed to this forum board just thanks to my excellent Q320!

I want to make my own, briefly, review in one of the next days..
btw I'm writing right now just to speak about an important topic, since we are talking about Notebooks, that is, battery.

first, did you activate the option in the BIOS that cut the battery to 80% of its capacity in order to preserve its life? do you think it's worth it?

second, this is a personal advice.
Actually I'm not using the laptop very much in 'portability' mode, I use it more as a desktop pc lying on my desk.
do you think that it's better leaving the battery off for all those days that my Q320 is just plugged to the power line?
and what about the battery status, should I leave it apart at full charge (in my case 80%) or at the 30% level I read in some sites?

btw, I don't know if due to this BIOS options or if I have worn out the battery leaving it too much time plugged to the power line, but I'm not satisfied very much with operating life..

thank you for your support!
bye

 

Congrats on your notebook man, we will be looking out for that review

 

where did u get it for $999.97 and what specs?

 

A quick question regarding the HDMI port.

Can I use this to connect to an LCD monitor with a HDMI socket in order to use as an external display?

I tried last week but was un-able to obtain an image on the LCD monitor.

The external monitor in question is a Samsung SM2032MW.

 

It was at Future Shop with the 320GB hard drive (I upgraded to 500GB afterwards).

The model @ Future Shop is different now @ 1299.99 with 500GB.

 

Should be no problem, that's what the HDMI port is for right?

 

hey, I just picked mine today. i got it from someone, however it is brand new, and that person ordered it from samsung directly, it came with bunch of other things and he didnt need the laptop. i had to wait couple of weeks for that person to receive it, and he told me few days ago he got it so i picked up today. On the box it says received nov 9, 2009, so its all new for 800 total.

Only thing im confused about is he advertised it as 320 GB, but when i saw it had two separate hard disk space 200, and 250 gb, so i am little confused, cuz its neither 320 or 500 gb, even if its supposed to be 500 gb, wouldnt it be just a single hard drive space and not two labeled C and D.

 

Samsung usually partition the HDDs. Their recovery software puts the backup images on D: That is also where I recommend you keep all your files because, if you do a system restore, it will wipe C:

200 + 250 = 450 plus there is another hidden partition which contains the original installation image. 500GB is not actually 500GB but around 460GB.

John

 

ok i see now. i know it doesnt have to be exactly 500 gb but i just didnt know they partition their hdds, but it all makes sense now.

last time i had a laptop was lik 5 years ago so trying to get used to it. is it possible to install xp on it, it currently has windows 7, im just used to windows xp interface, i woud like to go bak if there are no major drawbacks. I have the XP cd, do I just put in, partition drive, and install?? or will there be a problem later with drivers etc?

 

There are XP drivers on the Samsung site, so installing XP should be no problem. Perhaps you have to set the AHCI setting in the BIOS to "legacy" or something.

 

I would try Windows 7 for a few weeks before considering installing XP. It has many useful improvements.

John

 

Had my Q320 a week now and very happy with it.

Getting used to Windows 7 too, slowly but surely. I do still miss the simplicity of XP but will stick with this.

 

If you don't like all the eye candy then My Computer > Properties > Advanced Settings > Visual Effects > Best Performance will give you the classic XP appearance (I enable smoothing of screen fonts).

John

 

Thx John, will give that a go.

 

Can anyone confirm that this model supports Intel VT. I know the processor does. But does samsung block the feature following what Sony did to their Vaios.

 

It works. I started up Windows XP virtual mode under Windows 7 a couple of times just to try it out.

 

Does anyone have an idea how to open the laptop so I can access the CPU fan?

 

What wireless card is in their?

 

Atheros AR5007EG.

 

Well, I have now had this machine for what seems like a month - or a month and a half.

I managed to complete Dragon Age on it, even though it was a struggle all the way through(lowest settings, FPS between 10-25), but the game was simply too awesome



Speakers on this notebook are bad. Bring your headphones. Volume rockers on the outside of the machine would have been nice. It's wireless connection seems pretty good.

But the biggest problem of the Q320 is without a doubt the screen! The viewing angles are simply beyond horrid. It's completely fine taking the price into consideration and everything, but for my next machine, this is defintely something I will make sure is better. Daylight, night light.. No matter the light, you have to angle it in a special way to be able to see anything.

 

The screen is awful I think.

 

..same here

 

does anyone know if the g105m inside this sucker is good enough to play battlefield 2?

 

I've just read your postage here, and must tell you : i have the same problem with that damned bios.
After finding the latest version of LH04 for my q320 I was going around about updating the factory bios of the notebook. Since I decided to do it finaly (I hoped that the recharchable usb function will be able to work at Windows 7 then), I got not less a serious problem with coolers noise, that was something really what I didn't expect of getting of. Then I was shivering in my tries of downgrading my bad luck bios. I realized how stupid my act was.
And I was in my real big anger with damn customers service, they didn't even try to help me to solve this problem, they didn't promt even where I could find my old one bios, as I was asking them for at least. The only thing they told me about going to any samsung repair service, which they always promt about in any case to happen. Well, I even have no such a possibility to get to them in my town, cause there's no such of them, which could be called official representers of Samsung.
So, the only thing I managed to do is what you wrote about in here, I've downgraded my bios to an older LHO1 version, but I still in my very need of finding 00LH which is nowhere to be found in internet. The coolers really work quieter but I've found another problem with this version. As you can see it also, the video procession (including games) became a little bit weaker. There're some freezes, you can find them watching video carefully.
So my advice to everyone who has the same perfect notebook, and not even only this one - DO NOT try to improve something in your notebook work updating the factory bios - it is the last option of trying to make something work better.

AND you guys, who have this notebook, and know where it is possible to get the 00LH version bios, PLEASE let me know about it. I'm saying again, I am in my very need of finding it. Does anyone know if it is possible to copy bios version???

 

Could you please identify what programs/methods you used to achieve this overclock?
Thus far I have installed Riva Tuner but can only reach

Core 750
Shaders 1500
Memory 675

Apparently Riva tuner does not support our G105m Card yet it is displayed in the driver settings.
I've order the windows 7 upgrade (will this affect the performance?)
Installed Game booster, siwtched off Vista UAC, indexing tool and have the system on high peformance mode.

I want the best performance possible from this rather crappy card and are seeking help ASAP...

 

As per my PM to you, use Nvidia System Tools which is downloadable from the nvidia site.

 

can you please say an how-to?

I'm looking around for half an hour and cannot find any spec about core or memory speed or whatever.

many thanks!

EDIT: just got it, had just to accept the license user agreement on the performance tab!

 

Has anyone tried running Mass Effect 2 on Q320?

Dragon Age was barely playable...

 

Why exactly do you need LH00? My laptop came with LH01.

Anyone have an idea how to access the fan? I managed to remove the keyboard, but I stoll don't understand how to get to the fan.

 

I figured it out myself. It's not hard, just a lot of work.

1. Remove the two screws with "KB" next to them. Grab a flat screw driver and from the top push the keyboard a little bit down. There are 3 half circles at the top of the keyboard where you can squeeze your screwdriver in between. Remove the keyboard cable, remove the keyboard. Also remove the small cable for the touchpad.

2. You now see two screws underneath the keyboard. Unscrew them.

3. Now remove ALL the screws from the bottom, including the ones behind the battery. Remove the hard drive, underneath the hard drive are 4 screws which should be removed. Also, remove the two screws near the hard drive that secure the edge of the casing.

4. Remove the PC card holder, from there click open the case. You can now remove the plastic piece which holds the keyboard. You now have a clear view of the mainboard.

5. Remove the two screws securing the screen hinges. Also, disconnect ALL the connectors (wifi, bluetooth, camera, speakers, display). Again, remove all the screws you can see. The screen is now seperated from the laptop.

6. You can now carefully slide out the optical disk drive. Just slide it outside, it's connected through a regular SATA-port.

7. There are two connector cables located at the top right edge of the mainboard, remove those.

8. If all goes well, you should now have the mainboard in your hands, from which you can also access the fan if you'd like.

DISCLAIMER: I'm not responsible for any damage you might inflict.

A few things to keep in mind:
1. Use your eyes and mind. It's not rocket science. Don't force things, ever!
2. There is a lot of sticky tape used for fixing the cablesto the mainboard. This can be a pain to re-attach, I suggest removing any sticky tape that bugs you.
3. Carefully remember (write it down if you have to) how many screws you removed, the type of screw, and where it belongs.

 

one of the things I bought this laptop for, is that it looked like it was easily disassemleable and upgradable: direct access to hdd, pci-ex card, it was nice!
but also a lot of screws with indications (odd, kb etc.) makes it a good bet for disassembling it!!

since you opened can I ask you a couple of question?
1- hasn't your warrranty deceased now? which country do you live?
2- the CPU is on a common socket right? it is not soldered into the mainboard
3- what about the VGA? even this one is plugged into a common socket and can be changed, if the case?

it would have been nice if you made a photo-story of the disassembling!

bye

 

Mine was going with 00LH, that was my factorial... so i want to get on my own...
And besides, video performance such as games works a bit faster than with new versions of firmware, I had my chance to observe it clearly...

 

I'm not an expert in these kind of things at all. Frankly, I was happy that I was able to reassemble the laptop without breaking anything. Another time maybe .

 

agree, can you please post all the instructions (with photos) of how to disassemble the lappy ?
thanks

 

My Q320 came with 01LH BIOS (rechargeable USB not working) and am wondering if the newly released 05LH BIOS would address the problems that have been mentioned/reported in this forum/thread. Has anyone installed it?

 

hey all ,
My 'mouse' link from the control panel, under 'hardware and sound' is missing. The only way that I can access my mouse(touchpad) function is by doing a search for it.
Is there anyway to have it be seen in the control panel again?

Another thing, my computer doesn't show what type my computer is in the 'computer system'

So are these just my fault or did installing windows 7 did something that shouldn't??

 

Did you install any of the Samsung-specific software? If not, do so, starting with the Easy Display Manager.

John

 

i used the samsung disc that came with the notebook when i was installing, was that enough, should I still go onto samsung and get all of the updates?

 

Whatever came with the notebook probably did not include Windows 7 drivers. I would use whatever (software + drivers) is on the download site. One or more of these can communicate with the hardware and enable the features you want.

John

 

Similar issue here and I asked a few questions about the clean install under this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=450041
Seems like the Samsung Windows7 disk is generic (without any Samsung-specific stuff).

 

There is a lot of extra work to create a customised version of the Windows installer for each model of Samsung notebook.

However, when Samsung was providing vista upgrades the Windows disc was accompanied by a Samsung software / drivers disc that was specific to the notebook series. It seems that they have skipped the latter this time around.

John

 

Anyone knows how to change the settings to charge battery full to 100%? It used to do it but then I changed it to 80%, now don't know how to set it back. Thanks

 

Does anyone else here have poor viewing angles on the Q320? Damn.. the reflection, and when sitting in certain indoor light conditions make it very hard for me to see whats going on on the screen.

 

Run the Samsung BatteryLifeExtender utility and select 100%.

 

Hi guys, read through all 25 pages of this thread to pick up the valuable info you have provided on the q320.

Through work I managed to get a q320 from april 2009 with 2ghz cpu and 3gb ram and 320gb hdd, but it came with no box, manual or cds but the price justified it, although I suspect the charger or battery may be from another model of samsung and would like to check what I think is funny behaviour:

When plugged in to the mains, the charge LED, to the left of the power led, lights up orange for around 5 seconds, turns off for 1 second and then the cycle starts again. Is this normal? In Vista, the system tray icon showing battery/charge flips between a battery on charge (battery icon with a mains plug) and then just a normal battery showing capacity when the orange charge LED has gone off.

I've not seen this behavious before when charging and suspect I've got either faulty battery/charger or the wrong battery/charger.

Anyone able to provide a model number or pictures of their charger and battery? I have a Q320-AS02UK if that helps.

Thanks in advance!

 

Turns out I was given the wrong charger, which wasn't providing enough amps! New one on the way