Acer TimelineX 3820TG Owners Lounge. Info, benchmarks, tweaks, mods and upgrades

[SSJ]

How is your experience with the keyboard so far?

Anyone having problems with the fragile keyboard?
Specificially the tiny cursor keys looks fragile.

[Hendrickson]

Nope, 332 pages nobody has mentioned issues with fragile keys or the keyboard. They are fine. I have no issues with the keyboard apart from dust and muck can get under the keys. But its nothing a blow of compressed air or a vacuum could fix in a second.

[MarineX]

How is your experience with the keyboard so far?

Anyone having problems with the fragile keyboard?
Specificially the tiny cursor keys looks fragile.

fragile? far from it.

[zsero]

Looks like some higher capacity SSD's from intel next year or maybe late this year. Leaked Intel roadmap details Sandy Bridge CPUs, expands SSD lineup? -- Engadget I could live with the 300GB if it was priced right.

Bronsky

Ah, the mini PCIe SSD would be amazing with the 3820TG! 80 GB for OS, AND a separate 1 TB HDD for data, in such a small form factor. (Yes, it's a crazy idea as it would mean ordering one with 3G modem and taking it out, but it is a possibility).

Update: my bad, mini SSD might not mean one would fit in a mini PCIe splot... :-(

[MarineX]

um bronsky did u mean external HDD? haha...

Thanks bankergolf, and yes both stores had the same specs: i5-450m & 5650, probably its lost in my many words & excitement

@lee: I got it S$1398, Acer is running a promotion this August in Singapore, the previous promo was priced at S$1598. Good thing I waited

I'm guessing Acer is clearing stock to make way for the refresh model with i5-520m which I already see some stores carrying it but since there isn't any much performance difference and the refresh model will be priced higher anyway.

By the way, do I need to charge the battery for a certain amount of hours? what do your recommend to make sure it lasts? I recall reading somewhere in the forums that don't put it on full drain/recharge cycles but start recharging when batt is at 50% or more.

i never wait and got it at 1348 on June(i5-52oM). dots.

[Bronsky]

um bronsky did u mean external HDD? haha...

I misread your post. The only thing you probably can't put on the HD is the recovery disk that you have to make. You might be able to use a virtual DVD to do that on the HD.

Bronsky

@SSJ - I use my keyboard 4-6 hours a day on average in a professional setting and have had not the slightest problem.

[liath]

Couple of questions.

1. I did full recovery CDs before I installed my Momentus XT disk. I used Virtual CD to make the discs. They were saved on the harddrive instead of the physical CDS. I then moved the backup to a computer which had burner in it. When the burns were finished I looked at the DVDs and they were all empty. Is this how it should be? Do the only work as "boot up" disks and normally wouldnt show the data in Windows?

2. How come some not being able to install the new Intel Graphics Drivers and some can? I cannot and Ive tried several approaches.

[MarineX]

Couple of questions.

1. I did full recovery CDs before I installed my Momentus XT disk. I used Virtual CD to make the discs. They were saved on the harddrive instead of the physical CDS. I then moved the backup to a computer which had burner in it. When the burns were finished I looked at the DVDs and they were all empty. Is this how it should be? Do the only work as "boot up" disks and normally wouldnt show the data in Windows?

2. How come some not being able to install the new Intel Graphics Drivers and some can? I cannot and Ive tried several approaches.

1. you will be able to read the contents.
2. what have you tried?

[kitsune]

Well this thread has pretty much convinced me to get a 3820TG. I have a 15" gaming laptop and a 10" netbook. I find one too big and the other too small; this looks nearly perfect.

I'm going to Staples tomorrow to pick one up as they're on sale for $699Can; I can't pass that up, it seems like a steal at that price. It's the model with the i5 and (unfortunately) the 5470, but I guess that's better than nothing. As long as I can play some SC2 when I'm away from home it'll be fine.

So I understand the CPU is upgradable (great pdf guide btw!), but is it quad capable?

Also is the 5470 upgradable? From the pictures I'm guessing it's not, but some confirmation would be nice. Thanks!

Ah dont worry.... I bought the same unit for the exact same reason, and I love it. The only thing I hate is that its a finger print magnet, but oh well.

[kindan]

The remanufactured Motherboard is sold by Shark Technology LTD. For parts, however, MK Electronics in Germany seems to have the best selection and service for more general Acer parts. It just costs a fortune to ship to the states. I think eventually, you will be able to get Acer parts from Acer USA, but they don't seem to have many of the TimelineX parts in stock yet. Alibaba.com is a good place to look for parts manufactured in Asia.

Bronsky

Thanks Bronsky. I'll have to look into those places for the inevitable set of screws I will need if any of them disappear. The 3820TG is the first product that I've almost fully disassembled where I haven't lost any screws. Hooray!

On a general note my wireless antennas I purchased on eBay arrived from China so I'll be able to disassemble the laptop hopefully for the last time for a while and install one for my Intel ultimate-n 6300. I'm hoping to install the 3rd one in the display underneath the panel. I'll update with more pictures when I have had time to finish it.