Aspire 5738ZG CPU upgrade options?

Hi,

My laptop has an Dual core T4400 Pentium CPU and an ATI 4650 1GB GDDR3 card. Gaming is a pleasure with this model. Problem is the cpu bottleneck in latest games, also multitasking is sluggish when playing.

Is there any way to find out the supported BIOS CPU's that i can plugg in?
For example i look forward for an T9900 or X9100.

Also, there is no way of undervolting the CPU under 1.1V, I tried RMClock and CPUGenie but it couldn't go further beneath. Is there any bios mod i can try so i can get better voltages?

Also, is there any way of getting spare GPU's from other Acer models if the MXM socket is identical? Do i need to flash same BIOS with another VBIOS attached?

If some higher end CPU is not suported, is there any way to program a new CPU model into the bios?


I'm waiting an answer from an experienced BIOS modder.
Thanks

 

I believe you can upgrade the CPU to either:-
- Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T9900
- Intel® Core™2 Extreme Processor X9100

The original & candidate processor use PGA478 socket, so I think it will work. But sometime for unknown reason the new CPU might not compatible with your notebook. I think the T9900 processor is a good choice since it have the same max power consumption as the T4400 processor does, which is 35W. While the X9100 processor have max power consumption at 44W. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying X9100 will not run on your notebook. It seems both T9900 & X9100 have similar performance (CPU & FSB speed) & because of this, money wise, T9900 is better candidate than X9100.

I don't have enough knowledge to modify BIOS to allow unsupported CPU to run (taking in consideration that the processor in question is having similar socket with original one). I didn't found any successful story yet on this matter.

As for undervolting, do you have a problem with overheating or you just want it to run cooler & longer? What is the standard voltage at highest multiplier for your processor? For example, let say it is 1.300V at highest multiplier. If you can get it down to 1.100V, that is about 0.200V less than the original voltage & it is a good result. Not all processor will be able to achieve .150v to .250v less than their default voltages for the highest multiplier.

No need to flash another BIOS if the GPU is a (mini)-PCI-e card. I'll really appreciate if you can post the picture of your GPU here. I never have a notebook with detachable GPU.

Hope I answered all of your question.

 

1. Also the FSB of the motherboard is 1066 and i already use DDR3 samsung chips.
Power wise it should be the same, socket wise also both CPU's are the same. I see the T9900 the best canditate, because X9100 uses unlock multipliers and my BIOS is not that feature rich to change these. Performance wise, they should be the same at same frequencies.

Question: If some laptop has an 2008 BIOS but in 2009 for example there is a new CPU launched and compatible with the socket, what are the chances for an ACER bios to reject the new CPU? Will it know it's voltage range and to use speedstep? Will it read it's specs in the bios info sheet?


2. I use undervolting just to save battery power and make the case run much cooler when gaming. As my previous Asus notebook, i can't software undervolt the CPU beneath the lowest frequency step VID level. I believe this is an BIOS limitation. For example, i can never get BSOD even if I want to, because the BIOS is blocking undervolt beneath the predefined default voltage range.

Example:

I had an P7450 CPU with lowest VID 0.850 for first multiplier and 1.1 for the highest. Undervolting worked for 0.850 with all multipliers but not beneath 0.850 even if i try to use forced values.
Now my T4400 uses an less smaller voltage range, 1.1-1.2V. So the power savings are way smaller than the P7450. That's why I try to force this via bios mod, because i believe there is no other way.

3. Yes the GPU uses an PCI-E slot as seen on Everest software. But I won't open my notebook soon because of warranty, but that might change if i get a new CPU. I think the slot is MXM-II.
Also, I need to understand if the BIOS on the acer website also has the VBIOS for the discrete ATI card. If not, I believe swapping cards is not a problem. But the problem will still be the BIOS itself recognizing the new card. For example I seen 5850 cards running on 15.4" Ethos that is yet to be launched. Power wise it should stay the same, i believe socket is the same but software compatibility is the ecuation.

For example i saw some bios changelogs that say that they update VBIOS. Is that possible? That means some BIOS'es contain VBIOS and some don't?


My model is pretty similar to the 5740G, identical looks but chipset is different. I belive the GPU's are same size and use same video connector (4650 vs 5650).

Thanks for helping.

 

This is considered trial & error. We wouldn't know before we try it. I don't think CPU detection is controlled by BIOS. Not 100% at least.

I don't think it will work if we forced it in BIOS. It only leads to unstable system. Take T9900 as an example, it have VID Voltage range 1.050V-1.2125V. This show us, minimum requirement for the processor to working properly is 1.050V. Lower than that will make it unstable.

I will not do this kind of modification (undervolt) because I feels it is better to use software-based solution than hardcoded it in BIOS. It is much safer this way.

Even if you see the GPU is connected at PCI-E slot in Everest, it doesn't means it is "detachable". Most GPUs is integrated in motherboard & the only different is whether it have dedicated memory or not. VBIOS in BIOS is only for integrated GPU. As for newer GPU detection issue, it is not a problem for older notebook to detect it. This also considered trial & error. You wouldn't know before you try it first.

 

It seems i will only consider the CPU upgrade option. Hope i will find any cheap deal for this CPU, as it seems the prices go higher as the cpu line is out of production.

 

Take a look at the Acer MXM thread here - the 5738G's GPU is integrated into the motherboard and cannot be upgraded, one of the few modern Acer notebooks without MXM.

 

Thanks a million for the tip.

And my last question is ... All acer models have to be almost fully disassembled to get reach to the CPU slot? Mine has to take over the touchpad, some usb module, right speaker etc and flip over the board to reach the slot..
Anybody know any good CPU deal for 300 USD max budget?

 

Not all models - I think what happened is that Acer realized that they made CPU upgrades too easy with their xx20/xx30 designs, so they redesigned the chassis and made it more difficult with later revisions.

 

I am sorry to found this thread so late, but I have upgraded the CPU from T4400 to P9700. However it required disassembling the whole laptop (which required the service manual found from the Internet).

Anyways, what comes to upgrade options, I'd say that the cooling system in this laptop is so small that X9100 (43W) or P9900 (35W) is just impossible for it to handle.

I was able to have P9700 (28W) and even undervolted to 1.05V it goes quite hot on full stress (aprox. 70-72 degrees on maximum stress on GTA4).

The default CPU T4400 (2.0Ghz, 1M cache, 800Mhz fsb) produces something like 1850 score in 3dMark06 CPU score where P9700 (2.8Ghz, 6 M cache, 1066 Mhz fsb) produces ca. 2600 score.

But I would say that it's just not worth of upgrading the CPU if you are not getting the new CPU very cheap and are not willing to disassemble the whole laptop. Buy a new laptop that already has sufficient CPU (like Acer 5740 that has Core i5 430M & HD5650 GPU).

 

That temperature not too hot. You can put custom copper shims to lower the CPU & GPU temperature. Use better thermal glue too.
Sample Copper Sheet Pack
Thermal glue
Discussions:-
Copper Shims
Studio 1557 Copper Shim

 

70-72 degrees on full stress is actually rather good!
You shouldn't worry about CPU temps until you're in the mid-80s or higher.

 

Thanks for helping out.

 

Hi, I might a little to late in to this thread

I also got hands on a P9700 cpu to my 5738zg, but havnt installed it yet.
Did you do any update/unlock your bios to enable 1066Mhz bus speed?
Did you keep the original cpu-fan (from the T4500) to the new cpu?

I would be very happy to get some answers asap!
//Niclas

 

Welcome to the forums, jacobsson!
Feel free to start a new thread if the related one is too old; this thing's been dormant since August last year.

You won't need a BIOS update - the FSB speed selection is handled by the CPU and chipset, so it'll automatically go from 800 to 1066 MHz with the P9700.
It sounds like our previous poster did keep the original fan - remember, the Aspire 5738/z/g/zg models were sold with P- and T-series CPUs, so having one fan design capable of handling all of them makes manufacturing easier.

(I myself upgraded from a T5550 on a 667 MHz FSB to my T8300 which uses 800 MHz; no fan upgrade here, either)

 

Thanks for the reply!!
I did my upgrade today (one hour ago) and it went very smooth, accept that Im holding three screws in my hand after assembly =)
It's also true that you really have do pick the computer apart but the service manual was easy to follow. ( service-manual-Acer-Aspire-5738G-5738ZG-5738Z-5738-5338-5536-5536G-5236)

Results:
* As you said: automaticly 800-Mhz -> 1066Mhz FSB without BIOS update.
* Much more silent fan, as the original "thermal paste" done by manufacturer was very sloppely applied (and ALOT of it).

Was it worth it?
I really think it was! If you enjoy disassembling stuff and didn't pay a fortune for the new cpu. (Mine costed ~$170 including shipping to Sweden)

Because I only had the new CPU installed for one hour I guess everything can happend, but for now it runs great, jinx jinx.

 

Hi,

can you please tell me the reference number of your motherboard?
I have a 5738zg with a dead motherboard and i want to buy a new one but i would like it to have the ati radeon hd 4650 with 1gb, but i cant find the motherboard reference anywhere!!

Please help me!!

Thanks

 

HI, I have 5738ZG with socket 479. Is there a problem to upgrade with t9600 or p9700? I ask, because sockets to this CPU`s are 478.
I have read this: Socket 478 & Socket 479 Differences | eHow.com

Compatibility

According to CPU world, socket 478 works with desktop processors and laptop, or "mobile," processors. Compatible models include Willamette Celerons between 1.5 and 2GHz, Celeron Ds between 2.13 and 3.2GHz, and Mobile Pentium 4s between 2.4 and 3.46GHz. Socket 479 supports only mobile processors. Its compatible processors include Core Solos between 1.5 and 2GHz, Core Duos between 1.6 and 2.33GHz, and Core 2 Duo Mobiles between 1.6 and 2.33GHz.

 

Hi guys
First of all sorry for the bad english
I have upgraded my acer 5738zg from intel t4500 to Intel Mobile Core2 DUO E8345 3.06G 6M(is like t9900) wich I bought from e-bay with 100usd
It works like a charm no overheating the max temp i have reached is 77.
I user thermal paste arctic mx3.
Here are some photos.

 

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HO CERCATO PER TUTTO IL WEB E NON AVEVO TROVATO NULLA

BEL LAVORO LA TUA SEGNALAZIONE IN QUESTO POST !!!

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IL MIO COMPUTER LOL :hi2:

COME POSSO AGGIORNARE LA MIA SCHEDA VIDEO ATI RADEON 4570 512 MB ??

MAGARI CON ATI RADEON HD 4650 ?

PUO AIUTARMI QUALCUNO ?

GRAZIE PER IL SUPPORTO

HOW CAN I UPDATE MY VIDEO CARD ATI RADEON 4570 512 MB​​?

MAYBE WITH ATI RADEON HD 4650?

CAN SOMEONE HELP ME?

THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT

SCUSATE SE SCRIVO ANCHE IN ITALIANO MA NEI FORUM IN ITALIA C'E' POCO SUL DESKTOP ACER 5738ZG

SORRY IF I WRITE IN ITALIAN BUT ALSO IN THE FORUM IN ITALY'S 'LITTLE DESKTOP ACER 5738ZG

 

Hi NIKITALIA. There's no problem in writing in Italian as long as you provide an English translation for the rest of us (which you do).