15.4" Acer Dual Core Laptop with 2GB RAM, Dual Layer DVDRW, & X1400 GPU!

[Nab]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: Nab
I reformatted the hard drive by installing windows, but i'm getting a dual boot screen on start up, how do i get rid of that? I installed win xp pro, but i'm still getting the option to go to win xp home, but errors if i pick that.

Control Panel-->System-->Advanced-->Startup & Recovery-->Settings and uncheck "Time to display Operating Systems"

thanks, got it

 

[Nab]

last question i swear!!

how do I install the LAN drivers? there's no easy double click button

edit: i'm also getting an error everytime i install the ePower :

Common Language Runtime Debugging Services


edit2: i figured out the LAN stuff, but i still can't get ePower to install without error, and everytme i reboot it errors on startup

edit3: the media buttons work for windows media player, but how do i get them to work for all programs like winamp?

 

[mendezj666]

Does anyone have any instuctions as to how to disassemble this laptop? I love it but the burning speed of the dvd burner is horribly slower and would like to install another one. I have found several slot loaders and believe a regular one would also work. These disc loading trays offer better burning speeds and believe I am going to try to install one of these. I greatly appreciate any help anyone is able to offer!

 

[middlehead]

Originally posted by: mendezj666
Does anyone have any instuctions as to how to disassemble this laptop?

I haven't bought it yet, but I'm considering nabbing it. I doubt I'll be concerned with the burner speeds, but I'd like the option to up the processor.

 

[TheSiege]

the s-video out on this has 7 pins.
anyone know why?
and know where to get the adapter?

 

[waxking1]

Originally posted by: middlehead

Originally posted by: mendezj666
Does anyone have any instuctions as to how to disassemble this laptop?

I haven't bought it yet, but I'm considering nabbing it. I doubt I'll be concerned with the burner speeds, but I'd like the option to up the processor.

Someone on the notebook review forum claims to have upgraded their processor. He explains how he did it but doesn't exactly write a "how to guide". I got the impression that it wasn't that easy. He bought the processor from zipzoomfly.

I found the link.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=41674

 

[TheSiege]

maybe its just me, but im having trouble burning dvd-r at 8x
the media is Taiyo Yuden, anyone else have this problem or know where to get software that will tell me info on my burner, maybe the driver/firmware is messed? or if i have the media in, what speed it will burn to it at? please help

 

[Falcone]

Anyone know how to install the Broadcom LAN 5789 driver? I downloaded the file, but there's no .exe file in it.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Falcone
Anyone know how to install the Broadcom LAN 5789 driver? I downloaded the file, but there's no .exe file in it.

Start-->Control Panel-->System-->Hardware-->Device Manager

Select your device from the list, and choose Update Driver. Browse to that folder and it should see the driver.

 

[ViviTheMage]

ttt

 

[Nab]

Someone was telling me that I should unplug my battery while using the adapter on my laptop. I just want to confirm that it is okay to have my battery (and charged to 100%) while using the AC adapter. Thanks.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Nab
Someone was telling me that I should unplug my battery while using the adapter on my laptop. I just want to confirm that it is okay to have my battery (and charged to 100%) while using the AC adapter. Thanks.

It is okay unless you leave the laptop plugged in 24/7. If you leave it plugged in more than like 80-90% of the time, I'd suggest removing the battery at least some of the time. Also make sure there's not a large heat buildup around the battery while it is plugged in; heat can degrade the battery over time.

 

[Nab]

also wondering if there is a way to make the launch manager or any hotkey that can instantly mute all sound? and if anyone can look at the two problems that i have above (ePower being the main problem) thanks.

 

[HighTech2005]

Has anyone run 3dmark on this yet? I'm curious how the x1400 does with gaming.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: HighTech2005
Has anyone run 3dmark on this yet? I'm curious how the x1400 does with gaming.

Lenovo Thinkpad T60 with 2.0GHz Core Duo, 1GB DDR2 667, & 128MB X1400 gets 748 3DM06. 2079 in 3DM05.

 

[HighTech2005]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: HighTech2005
Has anyone run 3dmark on this yet? I'm curious how the x1400 does with gaming.

Lenovo Thinkpad T60 with 2.0GHz Core Duo, 1GB DDR2 667, & 128MB X1400 gets 748 3DM06. 2079 in 3DM05.

I have an Inspiron e1705 1.83 GHz Core Duo, 1GB DDR2 533 MHz, 256 MB go7800; and I got 3816 in 3dMark05. Don't have 06, probably not worth the wait. Thanks for the results.

Have anyone played BF2 on the x1400? Using my go 7800 setup above, I can set it to Medium settings with 1280x1024 and get between 40 - 95 fps, usually averaging around 65 or so. I am curious if the x1400 can get close to that.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Go 7800 = 16 pipelines, probably 16 ROP's (basically pixel output pipelines I believe, but don't quote me)
MR X1400 = 12 pipelines, <12 ROP's, overall less performance esp at higher resolution.

 

[TheSiege]

maybe its just me, but im having trouble burning dvd-r at 8x
the media is Riotek, anyone else have this problem or know where to get software that will tell me info on my burner, maybe the driver/firmware is messed? or if i have the right media in, what speed it will burn to it at? please help

update:
G04 will let me burn at 4x since all i had was an 4x G04
G05 will only let me burn at 2x and it is a rated 8x DVD-R, that i tested on my friends desktop. any ideas ???

 

[imported_Shivetya]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Go 7800 = 16 pipelines, probably 16 ROP's (basically pixel output pipelines I believe, but don't quote me)
MR X1400 = 12 pipelines, <12 ROP's, overall less performance esp at higher resolution.

X1400 is 4 pixel shader pipelines, 2 vertex shaders
X1600 is 12 pipelines, 5 vertex shaders

 

[CZroe]

OK, does anyone have this problem?

Almost all videos appear garbled and green unless you disable video accelleration (Thereby disabling the full-screen option). I tried updating to the latest Catalysts but they wouldn't install ("Unsupported chip"). I installed the one on Acer's site and noticed a change in my PowerPlay options but I still have the problem. WTF?

BTW, after seeing F.E.A.R. with decent settings on this lappy I'm contemplating installing most of my games on here. Will Battlefield 2 with all the goodies work fine? I just picked it up new for $6.99 at Goodwill) All my other systems now have 2GB memory also and I know that this is what the game needs most (2GB OCZ DDR + 3GHz Northwood + 16-pipe 6800 128MB, 2GB Ultra DDR + Mobile Barton @ 2.2GHz + 6600GT or 6800 or 7800GS (I can take my pick), 2GB Corsair + A64 X2 3800+ 2GHz@2.4GHz + 256MB 7800GT SLI).

I've got a few GeForce 6800 128MB cards and a 7800GS on the way. One of my systems has a 6600GT in it just because it is connected to an HDTV but I can switch in any of the better ones. I'm hoping BF2 doesn't need better than the laptop because I'd rather not stick it on one of those "stationary" machines.

 

[fbrdphreak]

16-pipeline 6800/7800GS >>>>>>>> MR X1400

 

[CZroe]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
16-pipeline 6800/7800GS >>>>>>>> MR X1400

Well yeah but I'm only aiming for 40-60 FPS at 800x600,2xAA.1024x768,No AA. Can they all do that? If they can all do that with all the eye candy turned on then I can make the decision based on other needs. The X1400 certainly has the right feature set and this laptop has the right amount of memory (BF2 improves with over a Gig IIRC).

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: CZroe

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
16-pipeline 6800/7800GS >>>>>>>> MR X1400

Well yeah but I'm only aiming for 40-60 FPS at 800x600,2xAA.1024x768,No AA. Can they all do that? If they can all do that with all the eye candy turned on then I can make the decision based on other needs. The X1400 certainly has the right feature set and this laptop has the right amount of memory (BF2 improves with over a Gig IIRC).

You say 2xAA and then no AA? Do you mean 2xAF & no AA? Either way, I think eye candy is probably a no go even at 800x600. Here are some scores from a Thinkpad T60 2.0GHz C-D 1GB DDR2 667:

FEAR Medium Computer, High Graphics, 4xAA 800x600: 21fps
FEAR Medium Computer, Medium Graphics, 0xAA 800x600: 34fps
HL2 Lost Coast High Graphics settings, 4xAA, 8xAF 800x600: 38.83fps

At the least you can play it at 800x600 no eye candy with a smooth experience I'd imagine; but I've not played BF2.

 

[CZroe]

Yeah, I was saying either 800x600 with minimal AA or 1024x768 without AA (Which ever is better). You know, the typical AA or higher resolution trade-off.

But yeah, those numbers definitely mean something but BF2 is certainly no F.E.A.R. or Lost Coast (HDR lighting probably slows it down quite a bit). Also, I was surprised at how well I could get F.E.A.R. to run on this baby. Other than purely cinematic scenes which require more than 128MB (Like the rows and rows of high-detail clone soldiers), performance is good with most of the eye candy turned on (Some trial and error).

Performance-wise, isn't BF2 more like HL2 and less like HL2:LC except that it wants gobs of RAM (provided)?

Well, I'm just gonna attempt the install again and see if it's a waste of time (Last time I went through all three discs and canceled out of my third DX9.0c install for the day only to have the game say that nothing was installed because I canceled!)

 

[fbrdphreak]

HDR was not enabled in those LC tests, just the higher quality textures in LC vs regular HL2.

Can't speak on BF2, never played it myself.