Acer Aspire 6930G Upgrade Help.

[EchoShade]

This is my first time posting here so I hope I don't offend anyone. I've been surfing around this forum looking for answers since I found this site to have much better information than any other site I've been to. I'm sure there are many threads that resemble mine but I still haven't found definite answers.

This is my current laptop:
Acer Aspire 6930G
T5800
4 GB RAM
500 GB 7200 RPM
9600M GS

I've upgraded my HDD recently and now have a spare. I've though about adding in a second one into the second bay but those two legs are in the way. Has anyone found a distributor for the hard drive bay door that allows a second HDD or can anyone who has shaved off the legs tell me how much would be a safe length to shave off and what tool would be best for the job.

I've also considered getting a T9900 online (after being put down that it can't support quad cores) and I'm wondering if anyone has successfully installed a T9900 into a Aspire 6930 or 6930G. It sounds fine theoretically but I'm not sure if the CPU would fry my motherboard or not without proper BIOS support. My BIOS is currently on version 3204 and for odd reason, Windows says I have no administrative privileges when I try to phlash it, so I haven't been able to phlash it to version 3236. If I can upgrade it to a T9900, I'm wondering if anyone who has done it before can make a short guide. I remember lucino mentioning that it is more difficult than most laptops.

I've also read on the forums somewhere on a post by aditya900 that the 6930G can supposedly support more than 4 GB of RAM, has anyone verified this? Since messing with video rendering programs and hosting GMod servers tend to use up a lot of RAM, I'm very interested in sticking in a 4 GB stick to get 6 GB.

I'm also interested in getting a ATI 4670 if it does come out in the MXM-II factor or the GT 130M or whatever is the most powerful at the time . I've cracked open the case and the video card is right at the top next to the removable plate.. I'm hoping that you can just slide out the card or do you have to disassemble the case and remove the motherboard in order to upgrade the video card. I'm really hoping it's not the latter. I am wondering if anyone has done this before.

I've also found a Full-HD laptop screen and I am wondering if it would be worth it.
http://www.screentekinc.com/Acer_Asp...d-screen.shtml
Does this sound weird to want to upgrade the monitor. I've called the company already and found that the price if $265 plus shipping. I've also found a guide in the forums as well with instructions to remove the bezel from the screen.
Acer Aspire 6930 screen replacement

I know this is a bit of a mouthful for a first post but I can't think of a better place to ask. Thanks for reading this and thank you for your time.

[triturbo]

HDD cover - Search for 42.AVB07.001, here: http://www.zandparts.com/acer/ and here: http://www.mk-electronic.com/default.htm I guess, this is what you are looking for, though, I don't about the shipping

lucino had upgraded his 6930G with X9100, so I guess it wont be a problem to upgrade yours with T9900. Here is the upgrade topic: 6930g upgrade to x9100- advisable?

I don't know about the RAM, but 4GB sticks are pretty expensive.

Well, As far as I know the only available MXM-II HD4670 is the one in MSI EX625. Acer 8935G is using the MXM-A one I don't think that it would have compatibility issues, even with MSI's vBIOS, but who knows.

I don't know about you, but for me Full HD on 16" is way too much, on a 17" or 18" it's OK, but for 16" I think that WSXGA+ (1680x1050) is more than enough, but it is just me

[lucino]

The graphics card is easily swapped out without taking apart the entire laptop, once you have the back cover off there's just four screws holding it in.

Even grinding the 2nd hard drive cover I couldn't get a 2nd hard drive to fit, if you get your hands on an SSD you could remove it from its casing and do what I did here- Acer 6930 2nd Hard Drive

I agree with triturbo that a T9900 should work fine, the X9100 worked on the original BIOS version the lappie shipped with (sorry I don't remember that BIOS version)

Sorry I have been meaning to write up a dissassembly guide with pics but I'm just in the middle of moving countries Here's a VERY rough guide...

Remove the card from the cardreader (theres normally a blank dummy card in there) and also the dummy expresscard
After you remove the bottom ram/HD cover, unscrew the 2 screws holding the wifi card (or disconnect the antennae) as you need this free when removing the motherboard later

The only thing I got stuck on, was after you remove all the screws from the bottom, your next step would be to run a credit card or similar along the seam/join of theTUBA bass thing at the back of the laptop to pop the clips holding the two bits together. The seam is the one just below the molded 'TUBA' letters.

Then flip the laptop back upright, open up the screen and gently pull the same piece of plastic up and out (it has 'dolby home cinema' and the touchpad buttons on it)- there are two (maybe three?) ribbon cables attached- flip up the black tabs and the cables should slide out.
Then gently prise the keyboard out and again there are ribbon cables you have to disconnect.

You will need to pull the optical drive completely out (easiest way is before you pull the laptop apart make sure the drive is ejected so you have something to pull )
With the laptop upside down find the two screws which were hidden by the optical drive (they hold the trim surrounding the keyboard on on the right hand side) and remove them

Remove the screws from the area left under the keyboard (all screws on the metal area) this should release the keyboard surround and touchpad panel- again check for ribbon cables and dissconnect

Now from memory I can't remember the exact procedure so you'll have to go by feel unless you can wait a week or so until I get time to do a write up..but..

There should be 4 (?) screws marked by arrows on the motherboard, remove these.
Disconnect any wires with plugs that connect to the motherboard, there are 2-3 near where the power button was, one small one near where the touchpad was and 1-2 over to the right of the touchpad (from memory, I may have forgotten some- maybe check there are no screws I've missed either)

Then with everything disconnected gentle try and prise the motherboard out. It will catch near the fan vents and the left side. Takes a bit of wiggling and I slightly pulled the plastic on that left side to give a bit more room, but it will eventually come out.

Once it's out (congratulations!) remove the four screws holding in the graphics card, slide out the card and that will reveal two more screws. Now all you have to do is remove those two and the four around the cpu and your ready to go

I have to stress I'm only going from memory with the above so check and recheck that all screws and cables are disconnected before trying to remove anything, especially the motherboard.

If you get stuck by all means post back and hopefully someone here will help you- I will if I can but may not have internet for a while

Have a look at the pics on this thread to give you an idea of what you'll be looking at - Acer 6930G Vent/Fan Clarification

[EchoShade]

......WOW. I'm thoroughly discouraged now on changing the CPU. But I still want the upgrade so I guess I'll have to do this, and you've done this twice? As for the HDD cover, I'll wait a bit longer on that since I'm still making sure that this new drive doesn't break. Right now, my priorities are the CPU so the the RAM is only a nice upgrade and the screen as well.

Hope your move goes smoothly lucino. I never liked moving between states in the US let alone countries. Thanks for all your feedback. Now to go buy that T9900.

[triturbo]

BTW If you think that replacing your display would be easier than replacing your CPU, better think twice

Good luck with the moving lucino, I know that you'll need some

[lucino]

lol, sorry I didn't mean to discourage you, it's really quite painless if you take your time, and the above even sounds harder than it actually is too me also when I read it!

Ya I've done it a few times now

Let us know how you get on, I'd be interested to see what temps the T9900 runs at in the acer


Thanks triturbo, yes I'll need all the luck I can get..23 hour flight and all

[EchoShade]

Well I got the processor and am currently taking apart my laptop but now I'm stuck on the stupid tuba thing. I can't get the piece of plastic out.

[nklive]

Well I got the processor and am currently taking apart my laptop but now I'm stuck on the stupid tuba thing. I can't get the piece of plastic out.

Why don't you have a look at what I did for the CPU upgrade. Might be easier..
ACER 6930G CPU and GPU upgrade

[EchoShade]

Thanks but I prefer lucino's method. The holding it over the edge sounds like a deathtrap for someone like me. It's just the piece of plastic with the Dolby Home Theater won't release on the right side of the laptop flipped up. It think it's the e button.

[nklive]

Yeah, you are absolutely right. I just didn't have the patience to follow lucino directions and usually when I disassemle so many parts and screws I loose some of them or forget the way back