Acer Aspire 5720, video, cpu and ram questions

[ferdasyn]

Hello everybody,
a friend of mine has an Acer Aspire 5720 (ZG according to the descriptive label placed near the keyboard) or 5720Z- model no. ICL50 according to a label from the bottom case.
What went wrong with this laptop? It got turned off normally from win7 and 8 hours later a problem appeared. Right after the power button is pressed the display shows an "organic" like shape in black and white. The notebook boots up in windows as the welcoming sound can be heard in the speakers.
I decided to take a look at my friend's Acer and try to figure out what went/is wrong.
I plugged a vga cable in the left side connector to check whether the display got damaged or the video adapter. With the vga cable connected to an external monitor, the image is not as "organic" and black/white as it is shown on Acer's display, actually the image is corrupted, altered,vertical "pijamas like" stripes can be seen all over image.
I decided to recover all the data from the hdd and now I am wondering if the video adapter is the only one damaged or it is damaged the notebook's display too?
So I came to ask for your expertise guys.
The video adapter is a Geforce 8400M GS. In read here on "Acer's MXM models and cards" thread that this adapter is and MXM I type, yet i noticed that MXM II adapters could be used. Shed some light onto that please as I don't understand whether the slot is an MXM I or and MXM II.
Please tell me which other adapters apart of 8400M GS should i start to look for. I noticed that for Aspire 5720G these are the compatible models:
- MXM-II, 8400M GS, 5720ZG Upgrade to HD 2600, Upgrade to 9500M GS, Upgrade to HD 3650, Upgrade to 9650M GT, Upgrade to 9600M GT

Are there any other video adapters compatible or that's all of them?
I presume that there might be others too which might require an improved cooling solution, or underclocked settings in order too keep the video adapter cool enough and not cause heat troubles for the entire notebook.

Another thing I want to ask is related to the CPU. For the moment the notebook is equipped with a Pentium T2310 cpu @1.46/fsb533/1MB l2 cache.
Knowing that the socket used is a socket P cpu, the best socket P cpu i've found (searching here is a T4500. The T4500 is running at 2.3Ghz, is using a 800Mhz FSB, was made in 45 nm litography while the T2310 is working at 1,46GHZ using a 533Mhz fsb and was made in 65 nm litography.
Is it possible to use a 800Mhz FSB processor on 5720Z?
Which one is the best CPU that can be used for this notebook.

The last question is related to the amount and the speed of the Ram that can be installed. Right now it has one 1GB PC2-5300 module, I am wondering if PC2-6400 ddr2 modules could be installed and which is the maximum amount of Ram that could be installed 2x2GB pc6400? 2x4GB? I don't know if 4GB ddr2 modules does exist.
Thanx for your time and looking forward for your replies.
ferdasyn

Later edit:
I've found that the chipset Acer used for this notebook is an Intel LE82PM965 SLA5U 965, shortly PM965.
Reading the chipset's datasheet i managed to find some answers to my questions.

Regarding memory:
-maximum memory supported 4GB ram, so 2x2GB would be the best way
-type of memory supported ddr2 533 and ddr2 667 so no ddr2 800 officially supported yet i believe that ddr2 800 modules might work if they have profiles written in thir spd for ddr2 533 and ddr2 667. Anyway, best solution here is 2x2GB ddr2 667.

Regarding cpu:
-533MHZ and 800MHZ support
-source synchronous double pumped (2x) address
-source synchronous quad pumped (4x) data
The list of the compatible products is quite various, yet i don't see the cpu that is actually used by this Acer notebook.
Now, i understand that the chipset oficially supports various types of cpu's, the point is to match with the socket form factor and of course to be supported by motherboard's bios.
So in theory the list of possible upgrades when it comes about cpu is big enough in theory but in practice it needs the support from bios.
The list:
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T9500 (6M Cache, 2.60 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T9300 (6M Cache, 2.50 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor U7500 (2M Cache, 1.06 GHz, 533 MHz FSB) Socket P
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor U7500 (2M Cache, 1.06 GHz, 533 MHz FSB) Socket M
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T8300 (3M Cache, 2.40 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T8100 (3M Cache, 2.10 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor U7600 (2M Cache, 1.20 GHz, 533 MHz FSB) Socket M
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor U7600 (2M Cache, 1.20 GHz, 533 MHz FSB) Socket P
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor U7700 (2M Cache, 1.33 GHz, 533 MHz FSB) Socket P
Intel® Core™2 Extreme Processor X7800 (4M Cache, 2.60 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Intel® Core™2 Extreme Processor X7900 (4M Cache, 2.80 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Intel® Core™2 Extreme Processor X9000 (6M Cache, 2.80 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)

[.NetRolller 3D]

The video card is dead. This failure mode is typical for 8400GS.

The CPU goes up to T9500.
The Socket M CPUs won't work under any circumstances.

[ferdasyn]

thank you very much .NetRoller 3D for infos
So the video adapter is dead, perhaps the display is still ok, I'll find out after I'll find a compatible adapter for this model of notebook. So, I thought that if another video adapter is needed I should suggest my friend to place the best possible components that could be used in this notebook. A failed video adapter is a good reason to perform a complete upgrade.
Reading your signature I assume you already managed to upgrade your 5720ZG to its highest limit possible. Am I right?
So I should specifically look for socket P cpu's to avoid any possible headaches, yet I'm curious if you could describe a little(just for curiosity's sake) which are the circumstances to make a socket M processor work on a socket P .
So up to T9500, I see you use an T9300. Did you performed any improvements regarding the cooling system or you're using the genuine one provided by the notebook?
Hmmm is it possible to go up with VGA adapter till GT230M ? It sounds like a great improvement from that M8400GS. No headaches so far with the cooling?

And yessss, I see you changed your display too, I guess the one put inside by Acer is using some 1280x800 junk, so nice improvement for your display too , congrats!
Only 2GB in your machine? I already tried earlier today, but after my first post to add a 2GB ddr667 module beside the 1GB and i saw that in bios the module is recognized properly.
About the bios version you use...any link ? In fact do you have a link, or do you have a thread in which you describe all your upgrades? I believe it might prove to be useful and a nice reading.
With best regards from your east neighbor country,
ferdasyn

[.NetRolller 3D]

Basically all MXM-II cards with an onboard VBIOS EEPROM are compatible with the 5720. Upgrade is possible up to GT 330M or Radeon HD4670 - however, the best "easy" upgrade is the GT 240M, from Asus. (The GT 230M, GT 330M and HD4650 require SMD soldering skills, while the HD4670 is made of 99.8% unobtanium.)

There is absolutely no way to make a Socket M CPU work in a Socket P machine. The pinouts are completely different. (Also, Socket M CPUs are much weaker than Socket P ones.)

No need to mod the cooler for the T9500 - being 45nm, it generates less heat than the T7500 which is the highest CPU this machine officially came with.

The display mod is a bit more complex - the display cable used in the 5720G is only usable up to 1440x900 (if you can find a single-link 1440x900 display - they are rare), to go higher, you need a 7720G display cable. Also, the Intel GMA version of the 5720 likely can't go beyond 1680x1050.

"Black Edition V4.0" is available in the Acer MXM modding thread.

[ferdasyn]

Thanx a lot for all infos
So to sum it up all of them, I already found the bios in the section indicated by you, congratulations for all the work you did and the time you've spent in modifying all kind of bioses.
Regarding the cpu a T9500 or T9300, socket m processors are for socket m mobos it was a silly question which bears no relevance in this case after all.
The cooling is good enough so no need to look for something else.
Regarding the display I think it is a tricky upgrade, if requires a specific cable which might be easy to find or not, not to mention the display itself and its price which I believe is quite high. Anyway i'm curious what notebook model is hosting such a panel part number as you have in your signature: LP154WU1-TLC1. From its style I believe it is a LG panel.
The last thing, the video adapter, in fact the only thing that is not functional, up till GT 240M (taken from an Asus) no rework skills required.
As a matter of fact i do have pretty good rework skills the only problem is that i do not own the tools anymore ) I used to work as a rework operator on a gsm assembly line(off line job bga removals/resolderings, shileds r/r) and qfp, bqfp or soic components is just something ordinary. But no tools
So, in case of finding some/one in my area with rework equipment a GT230M, GT330M on nvidia behalf and HD4650 and HD4670 on Ati's one. What do you mean by HD4670 unobtainum, it is a hard to find piece or hard to rework on it ?
the fianl idea is regarding the Sata. It is using Sata II or perhaps SATA(1)? I was wondering if a larger HDD won't make a big difference in this case, as the notebook comes with a just a tiny 160GB Toshiba drive. Or maybe a SSD? I guess a SATA3 SSD is not worth as it is more expensive with no visible performance increase in case the notebook provides only SATA2 or even worse, SATA(1) interface.
Fianlly the best idea might be a 7200rot/min hard drive? Or a combination consisting in a 60-120GB Sata2 SSD (maybe Sandforce2 [something]) and a 7200 rot/min hard drive installed in the optical drive bay with the inconvenient of sacrificing the optical unit.

Thanks a lot, you provided me a handful of informations all i need to do is to find the right spares/upgrades.

[.NetRolller 3D]

The LP154WU1-TLC1 is sold on eBay by this name. Yes, it is LG. (If you prefer glossy panels, get the LP154WU1-TLA2.)

The HD4670 needs no rework, but it is impossible get, unless you are disassembling a broken MSI EX625 or GX623. MSI, clinging to its monopoly, refuses to ship spare HD4670s to their customers, requiring users with failed MXM cards to send in their complete laptop to get the card replaced - they are that worried about the HD4670 "leaking" to the free market.
The GT 230M, GT 330M and HD4650 are much easier to find (they are sold on most Toshiba spare sites), but they require modding.

The SATA interface is Gen2 (300MB/s).

[ferdasyn]

Thanx once again for all the details you shared.
I checked on the local version of ebay for a display cable. If the part number is right DC02000E100 I could get it for something like 50 RON (43,5 ROn=10 euro)
Here is the cable with some pictures.
If you have a minute please take a look at that cable and tell me if all the required connectors are present. I am not aware how it should look like such a cable, how many connectors it has and if there is anything that is missing or not. Thanks
I hope this cable is the right one to attain 1920x1200 resolution.
One question about the cable: the connector that is getting plugged into the mainboard has the same shape/size/number of pins with the connector at the end of 5720G display cable that 'gets plugged into the mainboard of a 5720G ? I assume the connector from the other end of the cable is different somehow, otherwise it would be pretty much the same cable.
Or... a 7720G display cable will work but with some mods.


If the sata intreface is Sata2, then a Sanforce2 ssd would be a great idea.

Never knew that ati 4670 is a monopoly exclusively for MSI.. that's really odd and unexpected to hear of.

Thanx for all the knowledge shared .NetRolller 3D!

[.NetRolller 3D]

DC02000E100 is exactly what I used.

The 5720G and 7720G have exactly the same motherboard, so the connector also matches.

[ferdasyn]

I talked with the owner of this notebook and the first step for the upgrade was done yesterday. He bought that adapter cable for a future 1920x1200 15.4 inches display. I reckon that it is a small step though, but it is a start.
I kept in searching for a new (or used) video adapter compatible with his notebook, yet no luck so far in the local area/ local sites for used notebook components.
The most important is that video adapter, the notebook is not functional without it.
That would be the second step done when such an adapter will be available somewhere nearby.
The third planned step is to upgrade the ram and to add another 2GB ddr2 667 module. I think it will be the easyest step from all points of view.
The fourth step is the upgrade for a SSD or a higher capacity HDD (not decided yet).
The fifth step is about the upgrade of the CPU.
The last step/sixth is the display, and i have a noob question about that:
I guess the display requires an adequate inverter, I guess it is not going to work with the inverter used by the actual display, so when the time for this upgrade/final step will come, shall I try to find a proper display which has to be already equipped with an adequate inverter?
I think that is the last question I have but I am sure that other questions will arise when the upgrades will start to become parts in this notebook.
thanx in advance .NetRolller 3D

[.NetRolller 3D]

The inverter doesn't need to be upgraded, as long as you use a display with single-CCFL backlight. (Dual-CCFL needs a new inverter; upgrades to LED are not currently possible.) The LP154WU1-TLC1 and -TLA2 are both signle-CCFL.