3820TG Owner's Lounge - Part Two

[duykhang]

Hello all,

I have been using my Acer 3820TG for over 1.5 years now and just recently I think my graphics card (ATI Radeon HD 5650) has stopped working. I did a clean install of windows a long time ago and had installed the catalyst drivers etc. Now when I try to go to the catalyst drivers to switch from power savings mode to high-performance mode, it won't give me the option. It now says "Switching the graphics processors cannot be performed at this time due to one or more running applications". I believe (I might be wrong) that my GPU has stopped working. Even when I right click the desktop and click graphics properties it gives me the Intel graphics properties. In my device manager under display drivers it only says: Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator HD with no mention of my ATI driver.

So I think my GPU went dead. Is there anyway to fix this or even make sure my GPU is dead? Maybe its the drivers? I am not sure what to do and if anyone has any advice that would be great.

Thanks!

I had a similar issue where I couldn't even open CCC. I don't think a GPU can die randomly like that...

1- Use driver sweeper and clean out the amd drivers
2- Reboot
3- Install the 4820tg amd drivers (latest from acer which works with the 5650m)

Skip this if you're don't want latest amd drivers (v12.3)
4- Reboot in discrete mode by pressing F2 at bios posting and changing the settings, install the latest amd drivers from amd website
5- Reboot in switchable mode

[Gusminator]

Hey!

Have had mine now for over a year and due to always having the laptop with me it has received some minor "hits" on the aluminum lid so the color has come off in 2 or 3 places.

I was thinking to use sandpaper or something to remove all the black coating to make it nice and shiny and was wondering if someone else have done so with good results.

[Noutch91]

Hi all!

Did anyone try the Windows 8 Consumer preview on the 3820TG?
I can't get the IGP working, only the ati is working.
What a pitty for the battery life.

[BryanL]

I had a similar issue where I couldn't even open CCC. I don't think a GPU can die randomly like that...

1- Use driver sweeper and clean out the amd drivers
2- Reboot
3- Install the 4820tg amd drivers (latest from acer which works with the 5650m)

Skip this if you're don't want latest amd drivers (v12.3)
4- Reboot in discrete mode by pressing F2 at bios posting and changing the settings, install the latest amd drivers from amd website
5- Reboot in switchable mode

You are great! It worked, awesome.

Thanks a lot!

[Bronsky]

I had a similar issue where I couldn't even open CCC. I don't think a GPU can die randomly like that...

1- Use driver sweeper and clean out the amd drivers
2- Reboot
3- Install the 4820tg amd drivers (latest from acer which works with the 5650m)

Skip this if you're don't want latest amd drivers (v12.3)
4- Reboot in discrete mode by pressing F2 at bios posting and changing the settings, install the latest amd drivers from amd website
5- Reboot in switchable mode

You are great! It worked, awesome.

Thanks a lot!

Very nicely done. Rep to you. So, the 4820TG drivers work fine on our 3820TG's and they are the latest stock Acer drivers?

[Roamer55]

Anybody know if there is a way to make the OCZ Vertex 2 ssds reliable? I have two of them in two laptops and both of them all of sudden have failed to boot. Somehow the drives get scrambled and the only thing you can do is to reset them using the linux tool from OCZ (deletes all data in the process meaning a restore or recover from a recent backup). My 3820TG is a real road warrior and I worry about it dying on me when I am on the road at the wrong time. I know no drive is 100 percent reliable but I am thinking lately of going back to the mechanical drive as although they are slower they seem more reliable than these OCZ ssds. However I really would miss the speed and the basically instant on that you get with the SSD.

[too456]

Anybody know if there is a way to make the OCZ Vertex 2 ssds reliable? I have two of them in two laptops and both of them all of sudden have failed to boot. Somehow the drives get scrambled and the only thing you can do is to reset them using the linux tool from OCZ (deletes all data in the process meaning a restore or recover from a recent backup). My 3820TG is a real road warrior and I worry about it dying on me when I am on the road at the wrong time. I know no drive is 100 percent reliable but I am thinking lately of going back to the mechanical drive as although they are slower they seem more reliable than these OCZ ssds. However I really would miss the speed and the basically instant on that you get with the SSD.

Try updating the drive firmware.

[Domo_x9]

Hi Guys, this is my first post, really enjoy this thread and find it very helpful.

I have a question about temps on 3820TG. I use this laptop for 13 months and haven't cleaned it inside from dust. Are temperatures 44-50 C idle and 80-86 C while playing are too high? (Measured by HWmonitor on Core#0).

Thanks in advance, ciao

[downloads]

These temperatures are decent but you should use gas-duster from time to time to prevent any dust build-up.

[sumdumguy]

Very nicely done. Rep to you. So, the 4820TG drivers work fine on our 3820TG's and they are the latest stock Acer drivers?

I'm afraid so. I've checked all the other Acer 5650 switchable laptops that I know of and the 8.84 seems to be the latest. Though I'm hoping (against hope) that Acer support will provide one more update before phasing out TimelineX...