[Acer Aspire 1410/1810t/1810tz] Timeline Tweaks (2)

Hello, fellow ZH7 users!

This is the follow-up thread to Phil's great Timeline Tweaks thread.
I've decided to leave out 13"+ timelines for now and focus on the 11.6" models.
3810T, 4810T, 5810T and Travelmate users are welcome to create dedicated tweaks threads.
Some tweaks in this thread work for other timelines too, though.

This is a collection of tips & tricks contributed by members of this board.
Please help me to keep this thread updated with the newest info


Software

... Drivers:
...... Chipset & SATA
......Graphics:
Update:
If you have problems installing the graphics drivers in Win7 x64 check these posts:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5466246&postcount=365
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5465939&postcount=362

Update: 1986 Drivers are buggy, better use older ones.

...... Wireless LAN(Attention: 1810TZ uses Intel Wifi Link 1000)
...... Atheros LAN

...... Realtek Audio

... Recommended Tools:

1810tray
Tray utility to control your fan, power options and screen resolution
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=421850

Recommended by Der_Mali, not by Phil:
Battery Bar
Much more accurate than Vista's battery life predictions
http://osirisdevelopment.com/BatteryBar/

Phil had issues with Battery Bar on his 1810tz and advises not to install it. For more battery information use RMClock.

... New! Linux:

Installing Ubuntu + Tips&Tricks
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=434638

Windows tax refund
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=427347

... Tweaks:

Fn shortcut for brightness not working in XP
Flash to BIOS v3120 or above
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5407896&postcount=270

Win7 30sec boot delay problem
Update: BIOS v3117 solves this problem
enable both AHCI and IDE mode in registry
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5357273&postcount=53

How can I play 720p/1080p mkv / H264 files?
With MPC HC and Cyberlink Power DVD codec: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=399952
Discussion on best software and image quality of DXVA: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=408933

How can I increase the volume of the internal speakers?
Apply the tweak described here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=171732

Custom resolution in Win7 without VGA dummy
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5335691&postcount=37

How to disable the automatic fan activation when on AC power(Win7 only):
(this does not completely shut down the fan)
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5286176&postcount=1791

Optimizing battery life and undervolting
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5312927&postcount=87
A more detailed guide from pirkolchik
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5369398&postcount=82

Win7 drivers tweaking
How to reduce CPU load and maximize battery life:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5287567&postcount=1807

How can I enable two finger scrolling and three finger gestures for the touchpad?
Solution 1:

Solution 2:

Hardware

Datasheets

How to identify your webcam model
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5539923&postcount=4

Dual core CPU features comparison
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5466542&postcount=783

Disassembly guide
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5446911&postcount=320

How to enable virtualization on 1410/1810.
Update: Acer enabled VT in BIOS v3117
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5300618#post5300618

Overlocking ZH7(1410/1810t/1810tz)
Update: Improved overclocking MOD created by inteks!
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=438415
Update: SLG8SP513V does not overclock successfully with SetFSB!
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5324728&postcount=2398
( Benchmark results)

Undervolting MOD
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5370489&postcount=88

'Upgrade' your stock 2GB 667MHz RAM module to 800MHz for free
Update: Thaiphoon Burner does not work on 64bit OS!
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5333093&postcount=14

If you need max performance in games buy 800MHz dual channel RAM!
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5268276#post5268276

Bluetooth module info:
Users have reported that third party cables don't work. Please report back when you find something!

Update:

Update:

Bluetooth retrofit assembly guide
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5446911&postcount=320

Keyboard model info:

Hardware MOD to improve fan quietness

Pix of disassembled 1410

Is webcam image quality lacking? Check this first:

General tips and tricks

Installing Win7 without needing activation
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=433602
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5478619&postcount=99

How to install Windows 7 from a flash drive
The easy way: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5329860#post5329860
Alternative: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5279482#post5279482

Creating recovery ISOs if you don't own an external DVD drive:

Vista performance tips:

How to check your RAM integrity

BIOS recovery.
If you bricked your device, this might help. Works on 8471, other timelines should be similar. Warning!This is experimental! Please report back if it works for you!

Accessories

Cases/Sleeves

Two pockets case:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5401420&postcount=249

Power adapters

Changelog:
Nov 28. - inteks' overclocking MOD added
Nov 25. - daigual's bluetooth retrofit guide added
Nov 21. - Kermee's webcam identification method added
Nov 15. - Linux section added
Nov 15. - New Win7/Vista graphics drivers added
Nov 10. - prikolchik's Win7 install guide(passes OEM activation) added
Nov 9. - RAM flashing update: Thaiphoon Burner does not work on 64bit OS
Oct 31st - "Acer Aspire 3935" removed from compatible keyboards list
Oct 31st - Dual core CPU features comparison added
Oct 26. - Chilko's bluetooth retrofit and general disassembly guide added
Oct 18. - XP Fn-brightness fix added
Oct 14. - Case added
Oct 12. - Sleeve added
Oct 10. - New XP graphics drivers added
Oct 10. - Atheros LAN driver link fixed
Oct 8. - ICS9LPRS365 datasheet link fixed
Oct 6. - Netbook sleeve added
Oct 6. - Netbook sleeve removed from accessories list
Oct 4. - New XP graphics drivers added
Oct 4. - Compatible keyboards info added
Oct 4. - prikolchik's undervolting guide added
Oct 3rd - Undervolting MOD added
Oct 3rd - ISL6261 datasheet added
Oct 2nd - BIOS v3117 VT info added
Oct 1st - Smartfan removed, 1810tray added
Oct 1st - 'Recommended Tools' category added
Sept 29. - Boot delay, AHCI/IDE mode in Win7
Sept 24. - 'Accessories' category added
Sept 23rd - New graphics drivers added
Sept 23rd - Bluetooth module info updated

Please help to expand by adding your own tips and tweaks

 

I figured out that the correct Atheros LAN driver is the "AR8131_AR8132" one.

 

Thanks, I've fixed it

 

@der_mali, when you are using SetFSB with the OC mod, is the processor still able to scale back automatically for power savings or does it stay at full power the whole time?

 

yes.
because setfsb overclocks the FSB.
while when you have intel speedstep to save power, it lowers the multi.

Overclocking the FSB will slightly raise your minimum frequency, but not by much since the multi goes way down.

 

There's a better way of installing windows 7 on a flash drive.
Using winrar,image mounter or anything that can open the disk image file, copy the contents to a flashdrive. Then boot from a flash drive to install windows 7. It's really that simple.

 

SetFSB changes the FSB, that makes sense, haha. That program has been around for awhile. I remember it from a few years back.

So does the OC mod unlock more multipliers?

It's been a few years since I've messed with hardware mods, and my brain is hurting.

 

@jackluo923
If you provide a link or post a step by step guide, I'll include it in the list

@zrbarnes
This OC doesn't unlock multipliers. Like moral hazard says, it just overclocks the FSB from 200 to 250(or any other value the RAM can handle) so the CPU speed rises from 7x200=1400 to 7x250=1750.

 

Ah, Thank you! I didn't realize FSB was hard-locked on these (I hadn't tried setFSB).

 

typo, you mean setfsb not softfsb.

Softfsb is really old software that I used like 6 years ago to overclock my 166mhz cpu to 220mhz.

 

Here's the link to my step by step guide
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5329860#post5329860

Also to enable 2,3 finger gestures in synaptics mouse driver, here's another way
1) Download the newest driver from laptopvideo2go
http://forums.laptopvideo2go.com/topic/15103-synaptics-driverver-v13-2-6-1/
2)Download, right click the file, install
http://drop.io/syntp_sgs

 

@jackluo923
Thanks, added

 

Yep, that's a typo, but they've both been around for longer than that. SetFSB just is still being developed.

 

'Upgrade' your stock 2GB 667MHz RAM module to 800MHz for free

Warning! If something goes wrong, your RAM will be useless. This tutorial applies to the 2GB module the 1810t is delivered with. If you got a 3GB version, you have to find a proper flash-dump for the second 1GB module yourself.

How to recover if something goes wrong and the notebook doesn't boot with the flashed module any more: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5335326&postcount=31

My 1810t was delivered with a M4 70T5663EH3-CE6 PC2-5300 RAM stick for which this tutorial is written. If your's is different, stop reading!

1. Download Thaiphoon Burner
http://cbid.at.tut.by/html/download.html

2. Extract and run Thaiphoon Burner
3. Select 'EEPROM'->'Read SPD at 52h'(if the RAM module is in slot2, else select 'Read SPD at 50h') Check if the info on the right is correct.
4. Click 'Save'. This will save a dump of the RAM that you can reflash if something goes wrong.
5. Click 'Browser'
6. Click 'Download'. This will download a list of SPD dumps.
7. In 'Search String' write 'ddr2-800', in 'Capacity' select '2048', in 'Architecture' select 'DDR2 SDRAM', click 'Search'
8. Select 'Samsung M4 70T5663QZ3-CF7'
9. Click 'Open Dump'
10. Click 'Write', select 'Full Rewrite'
11. Select the right SPD Device Address (see step 3.)
12. Select 'Use the current SPD dump from Hex Editor', click 'Write'
13. After completion reboot and enjoy PC2-6400 speed.

I don't take responsibility for eventual damage. This is an advanced modding technique and should be fully understood before trying.

 

@der_mali

Another excellent find. Smooth as butter.

Just a small typo, '2024' should be '2048', but I knew what you meant.

 

lol
Sorry, I've corrected it

 

Currently getting 6:20 on my Acer 1410 with a stock 4400 mAh battery.

My current set up:
-Windows 7, 32-bit, many unneeded services disabled (including aero and fancy graphics)
-undervolted to .875v with rmclock
-stock memory stick "upgraded" to ddr2-800mhz by flashing the spd values
-vt enabled should help power consumption when I'm using a virtual machine
-wireless card set to lowest transmit power (unless having difficulties connecting, then I increase it)
-using the newest (1883) video drivers, set to max power savings
-currently using stock windows 7 audio drivers since the realtek ones were using a lot of cpu
-screen brightness set to the lowest, unless I'm having difficulty reading
-windows 7 power saver mode
-hibernate when I shut the lid
-using foobar instead of windows media player
-using google chrome instead of firefox/ie8

So basically, I'm running everything as lite as possible, except I've still got all the performance at my fingertips when I need it. I love the whole line of thinking for these new cpu's "let's hurry up and get this done, so that I can go back to sleep (save power)".

 

@zrbarnes
Your 1410 and TrueEco's 1810t prove that Win7 will yield the same battery life as Vista after proper tweaking
I'm looking forward to the Win7 upgrade now.

 

You could try to save it by putting the bad ram in with some slower ram.
both sticks should run at the slower sticks speed,

then you could reflash it.

But this doesn't always work so dont count on it.

Also maybe you should also show how to slow your ram down to 533mhz so that you can overclock the fsb further?

 

I don't know if the 1410/1810t would boot with 533MHz RAM. It needs at least 667MHz afaik. I've experimented a bit with changing timings but the problem is that you can't change the first CL value, which is the most important. If you manipulate the first value the tables just get shifted. Ive found out that the RAM in this example is easier to overclock at 800MHz 6-6-6-18 than 667MHz 5-5-5-15.

 

ok. I wasn't sure if your chipset supported 533mhz or not.

I'm not sure, but maybe SPDtool is better?

 

Actually I've used SPDtool first. Thaiphoon Burner has the advantage that it has got an excellent timing editor and an online SPD-dump database.

My current plan is to buy 800MHz 5-5-5-15 RAM and try to overclock this. If it doesn't work that good, I will search for a proper SPD dump from a DIMM with 6-6-6-18 timings @800MHz and try that.

 

you know I have 800mhz ram in my notebook right now.
It's samsung 2gb 800mhz DDR2 ram. 6-6-6-18 timmings.

I have two of the sticks.
Bad thing about them is that WP (write protection) is enabled and so I cant flash them (even after a HW mod I tried).

But what I can do is give you an SDP dump.

 

Thanks What is the manufacturers part number of your RAM?

I've just killed my 1GB module
I've programmed a (much)slower tRAS value and now it wont boot. Do you know which pins are the SPD pins on the module? Have you got a pinout at hand?

 

Earlier today, I allllmoost started messing around with the timings, then stopped because I have no backup ram.

I used to use a program called a64tweaker that could change (non-permanently) memory timings on the fly. It would be great if something like that existed for these newer intel platforms. Heck, it might and I just don't know about it.

 

Give me two seconds and I'll find out.

here is my thread where you will find a pinout:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=408349


the pinout is in post #4:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5275126&postcount=4

 

@moral hazard
Thanks for that, but what I'm searching for is the pinout of the DIMM. I want to tape all pins except SPD and put it in the slot. I want to see if I can reflash the SPD then.

 

sorry my mistake.
I think I remember seeing a pinout, just can't remember where.

If I find it I'll let you know.
Right now I will quickly check my ram for you so I'll be offine for a sec.

 

I've found something! I'll report back if it works.
http://www.shag101.de/speicher/DDR2-pin-kleb.jpg

 

my ram is M470T5663QZ3-CF7

 

That's exactly the one I've flashed my module with

Edit:
Now that was easy! My 1GB module is working again
So basically you can do what you want with the SPD, there is always a way back. You just need a second module in the notebook to start the PC. All pins of the broken module have to be covered with thin tape except the SPD pins(see picture, green is free, red is covered with tape. Actually this picture describes a different DIMM but on standard 200pin notebook DDR2 it's the same. The last 4 pins on both sides are SPD pins). The notebook is turned on with only a working module installed and when Windows boots, "hot-plug" the taped module. Now Thaiphoon Burner sees the SPD of the broken module and you can flash a working SPD-dump After flashing shut down the PC, remove the tape from the module, clean it and put it back in.

 

@moral hazard

Can you please post a dump of your RAM with 5-6-6-18 settings?
My RAM produces errors after 15min Orthos @255MHz FSB.
I would like to avoid the hassle with a dead RAM like I had after I changed tRAS timings.

 

Thanks for that great info, I have a stick of ram that I bricked and I would like to fix
Thanks again +rep.

My ram downclocks to 667mhz in my system, I don't know if that matters?

So should I use memset to increase the timmings from 5-5-5-15 to 5-6-6-18 and then use thaiphoon burner to make the dump?

Or should I make the SPD dump with spdtool?
or both?

 

The changed 667MHz timings affect all other timings too. So 800MHz values should be around 6-7-7-20 I suppose.

It doesn't matter, I've both programs installed.

 

ok, I have attached a zip file with my stock timming dump and the 5-6-6-18 timming dump.

 

Thanks a lot!
I'll try it soon

Edit:
There seems to be something wrong, both checksums are identical to my current checksum (56h). So the files are both original timing dumps.

Edit2:
Now I understand! I've downloaded Memset. It makes non-permanent changes to the RAM timings so they don't change the SPD content. Great little program.

 

hi,

i like to have the resolution 1024x576p for gameplay because 1366x768 is to slow and 848x480 is to blurry

windows 7 is able to use a second monitor without a real monitor is connected and then intel custom resolution via DTD hack are aviable.

1. import dtds.reg or use DTD Calculator to tweak your resolutions than reboot
2. in destopcontextmenu select "Screen Resolution"
3. click "Detect"
4. in Combobox select "Connect Anyway"
5. Select "Apply"
6. in Combobox select "Duplicate these Displays"
7. click "Apply"

screenshots are attached

have fun
inteks



update:
1. with "windowsKey + P" you can easy switch between clonemode & single mode
2. i found out that there is a problem with customresolution trick and "poweroptions->TurnOffDisplay" !!!
when i use a custom res my 1810t reboots after its turned the display off !!!!
for me the solution is simple i use only "dim the display" and "standby"

 

@inteks
Great tweak! I've added it

 

New graphics drivers:

 

hiho,

i tested the latest everest beta and it shows 333mhz for the gpu core !!!
i thought its clocked @ 533Mhz .....

is it possible to overclock the gpu (like gma booster it does) ??

/inteks

 

@inteks
It should run at 320Mhz, that's normal for gs45. Overclocking the FSB will overclock the graphics chip too. At 1.75GHz it runs at around 400MHz.

The chipset is said to have a "HD Turbo" function to clock it to 533MHz for Blue Ray decoding, but I don't know how to activate it. Your best bet will be to find an Intel chipset expert to find that turbo function. I hacked around a little bit with RW-Everything, but now that I found a way to overclock the FSB I don't care anymore.

 

If i use the windows sound driver. instead of realtek

is it possible to still get sound trough hdmi and spdif?

What does the realtek do what windows can´t?

 

I can verify that audio over hdmi still works, haven't tried spdif yet, but the option is there.

TBH, who knows what all the differences are. Could be sound quality (or maybe not, it sounds fine with stock windows drivers).

The most obvious difference is the eq, and certain modifications you can make to the sound via the realtek control panel.

Edit:

If anyone wants to use this http://jkkmobile.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-3g-hsdpa-to-acer-aspire-one.html as a launching pad to see if that mini pci-e connector works, that would be great

 

I've tried undervolting with only half success. RMClock works, I see the multiplayer changing on demand, but the VID seems to be locked to 0.8750. No matter what I set in the profiles it doesn't change. Even if I set all voltages to 0.71250 my 1810 runs just fine, and RMclock displays 0.8750V. I was expecting lots of BSODs during tweaking, but got none either.
Has anyone run into this problem?

 

It's simple, 0.8750V is the lowest possible voltage the CPU will accept, so everything is working fine on your 1810t Even at 1750MHz/0.8750V my su3500 won't produce BSODs.

 

Someone here verified a BT module that DOES work in the 1410. Might want to add to the main post under the BT section.

 

I have a question about CPU-Z. It indicates a multiplier of 8x and with my DDR2 800 RAM it shows 8x200MHz = 1.6GHz not 1.4GHz. Is this an issue with CPU-Z, Windows, or is this just a free speed boost?



Also, with RMClock, I can't get it below ~1.01xxx Volts, and it only shows x6 and x7 multipliers. I'm a bit confused.

 

This is because of SuperLFM mode in the CPU. It effectively halves the FSB while idling, in order to reduce power consumption. So the actual performance might be comparable to 800mhz instead, but as soon as you start to use the computer, it switches into the 1.2ghz or 1.4ghz mode.

 

Is there a bios update?

 

In 'Advanced CPU Settings' you have to switch to 'Mobile' and you have to apply the registry hack to get all VIDs. RMC doesn't support the gs45 chipset yet. 6x and 7x are correct. su3500 knows 8x/2(SuperLFM) 6x and 7x.

Thanks, I'll add it

Have you seen one? If so on which local Acer site? The latest I know is v3113