Samsung Series 7 Chronos NP700Z3-S03US Associated Problems Questions plus GFX Upgrading Q's

I just bought this laptop and it won't come in till Wednesday. I've been reading on the forums here to know try and learn what to expect in terms of possible problems. However, some of these posts are a a tad bit old and some drivers released may have fixed some of these problems. I would like to know if that occurred and if there is any problems I don't know about that I should.

The main ones I heard about:

1) Some users report wifi speed problems. Some say it's just bad hardware, others report that by tweaking the performance settings they fixed the low speeds and haven't had a problem. I will have the Broadcom 802.11a/b/g/n in mine.

Some also mentioned that they had some disconnect/reconnect problems have been caused by the fancy bluetooth drivers and that is not advisable to install the intel proset suite.

2) OpenGL doesn't work and some games and software will not play with it. The work around is a different set of hacked drivers. Has the company listened to those complaining on the Fixed BIOS thread in any of the updated?

3) Steaming issues with flash players on internet browsers other than IE with res 1600x900. The work around for this is to allow the intel hd graphics to be used with browsers and not the ati gfx.

Would the thread on the reducing latency spikes be something I need to worry about if I'm playing an mmo?

Is there any other problems I should know about or advisable software configurations I should perform for this model?

Edit: Not really expecting this to be possible, but figured to ask anyways...Is the ati gfx card soldered onto the motherboard or can someone upgrade the ati gfx is they wanted to? The motherboard model wasn't listed where I purchased it, does anyone know what is it? Would I be able to install a nvidia gt 630, 650 or an ati 7670 (or any others in the ati 7000 series) on it? Or even something in the later 6000 series? But then I guess possible incompatibilities with the vbios could occur...

The cooling and power needed then the differences of the internal architecture of new higher gfx wouldn't make it feasible I'm thinking...My knowledge tends to be towards software than hardware,

I appreciate any and all help!

My model specs: 2.50GHz Intel Core i5-2450M processor, 750GB HDD, 8GB DDR3 RAM, 14" Display, Win7 64-bit, AMD Radeon HD 6490M Graphics

 

@Syl_M: I guess I should answer this one, as I have the exact same model: NP700Z3A-S03US. Your post doesn't say it, but I gather from the processor that it has to be a Z3A (Sandy Bridge) and not a Z3C (Ivy Bridge). As I am sure you know, this is now a somewhat older model, but still a nice laptop. I like ours a lot.

On to your questions:

1) Are you sure you will be getting Broadcom and not Intel WiFi? My S03US has Intel 6230 -- whereas the S01US model I first tried had Broadcom. I returned that first one primarily because WiFi was very weak. It's definitely better with the Intel WiFi, though still not as good as my other old laptop with Intel 5100. Consensus is antenna design in this model limits reception. You want to get the latest Intel driver and tweak the adapter setting in the Windows Power Profile to Maximum Performance. It seems to me that Wireless-N and 5.2GHz work better than Wireless-G and 2.4GHz.

2) Just update to the latest AMD driver (VGA_AMD_8.951.9.3000) and you will be fine. It's not as elegant as Nvidia Optimus on the newer models, but they solved those bugs you describe earlier, starting with the 8.940 driver. And no, you cannot replace/upgrade the GPU.

3) I haven't experienced that problem, but then, I haven't streamed much video on this.

If you are a "normal" user, you don't have to take some (or all) of the extreme steps in the latency thread. Some may be helpful, though:

4) You may want to follow the tips for installing a leaner Intel WiFi driver ( opening post)

5) You may want to check this post about bloat which can be uninstalled. Also linked the opening post of the latency thread.

6) Even if you don't completely strip down Easy Settings (again, as described in the latency thread) you probably want to tweak loading of its modules as described in this post.

Edit: I updated this post with links that should take you directly to the relevant posts.

Also, something else I forgot:

7) Do update your BIOS to the latest version. Easy Software Manager should suggest that for you.

8) I recommend you backup your System Software using Samsung Recovery Solution, preferably to a DVD, or at least to an external HDD or flash drive. It makes clean install a snap, should you ever want to do that. This post describes all the prep steps I took when I got my Sammy -- but I am deliberately paranoid

Let me know how it all goes.

 

Thanks for the reply Dannemand!

I seem to have the intell wireless card. It's a refurbed and it already had a clean install of win7 when I got it. I'm trying to track down the software for samsung that would be useful to have.

Currently, Easy Settings and its manager refuses to work. The manager gives me an unknown error and the easy settings just freezes my computer :\ Will try uninstalling and reinstalling again...

I have so far is while I have a decent about of bars (3-4), however I only receive 2mpbs max speed (tested with different speed tests). I put the battery power level to maxium performance for wireless adaptop. I have fios and using all computers in the same room my other laptop gets 23mbps (and it's 4-5 years old!) and my desktop using a wireless usb adaptor gets 20-23mbps too :\

How come samsung's support site lists the same driver at times twice, for the same os and version? How come the release dates and versions doesn't match up? (ie a newer edition is released before a lower numbered edition) x.x

 

Sounds like a "semi-official" installation you got there. See if you can boot F4 Recovery (start from power off) and restore the original Factory Installation. Then use this post to determine which bloat you can remove.

Once you have it running, Easy Software Manager (NOT the same as Easy Settings) should be the way to update all drivers to latest versions. BUT just this week I've seen reports that ESWM is confused and downloads Win8 stuff onto Win7 machine, causing them to be messed them up. So you want to be very selective about which updates you let it download.

If you cannot boot F4 Recovery, then whoever sold you this must have wiped the entire HDD, which is unfortunate. Means a lot more work (for both of us).

Regarding your Intel WiFi, updating the drivers is important too (in addition to the Power tweak). Try and follow the steps in this post about installing a new and leaner driver. Most of that post (and entire thread) is about extreme software trimming. For now, just focus on that WiFi driver, until you have everything working right.

Let me know how it goes.

 

It seems to be a official windows install (clean install from normal disc), it just a generic fresh install compared to a special samsung install.

I can boot in other modes and access the bios setup. I don't see a restore factory settings option available and I'd rather not restore factory settings as I spent some time installing programs/games I wanted on here, so I'd prefer them not to be wiped.

The function keys seem to work like it should when ES is installed. They both installed properly, they just don't work after the fact properly =x

As for the wifi drivers, I did uninstall the proset that seemed to be on the machine and just installed the driver only version that you linked to in your first post before I posted my reply. I should have mentioned it. I have these slow speeds even with the performance tweak in battery AND newest drivers only no proset bloat installed :\

I'm going to manually update drivers (if needed) to the rest of drivers in the 'proper' order mentioned in one of the posts

Edit Update:

ESM now called SW Update now works! I think either one of the updated drivers/various intel components fixed it or possibly when I installed Directx or the netframe did it. Didn't realize the software required whatever it was to run.

Now, hoping the net speed gets better. It's a really lovely machine and I enjoy the crisp resolution (1600x1200), display screen, keyboard, entire aluminium finish on the case and even the majority hated trackpad!

 

Great, I'm glad it all worked out for you and you like the pc. Like you, I like that screen res, and I really like the touchpad - despite what others are saying.

I'm falling behind. Have to catch up with the Samsung updates this weekend

 

So, I may have failed at life. Forgot to disable window's secret update installing in background while I updated the bios (which I now know why some advocating never updating). It appears the bios update went okay, but with normal logging onto freezes 45secs after logging on [ie I can stare at background, launch process explorer and have it load, but freeze before I can scroll down to see process are starting before it freezes).

Disabled user start up programs (ie anti v etc) didn't seem to help. Can't access the task scheduler as it doesn't work in safe mode. Able to get into bios menu and all safe modes. Looks like windows is being pissy as the event viewer gives me some dependency service or group failed to start errors. The updates were just .net frameworks ones it seems...

Going to try boot into Linux off of usb and see if there's anything I can do from there. Tried a restore point, might try an earlier one, but so far it didn't help. Might have to do reinstall of win7 -.-" Any suggestions?

Learned a lesson about leaving certain things alone though -.-"

 

Considering that Life doesn't come with a manual, it is remarkable how most people manage to live it after all. Truly "failing at life" takes a lot more! I've made some serious computer screw-ups in my life. One almost cost me my business and the livelihood of my family and employees. You had a little PC accident; trust me, it could have happened to anyone.

I think it was the right decision to update the BIOS. NP700Z3A comes from factory with a year old BIOS, and I believe some of the first updates were quite important. I updated mine to BIOS 14FD (with the exact same Samsung model as yours).

I guess it could have been the BIOS update failing, but let's hope it's just the Windows Update that corrupted the Windows installation.

I seem to recall you didn't have working Recovery (ie you cannot boot F4). If you can boot Linux, check with GpartEd and see if there is a Recovery Partition. Its content should look like this:

View attachment 86725

1) If you have that Recovery Partition, try to F4 boot it: Power-off (fully), power-on, then start hitting F4 after about 1sec. It may take a few tries. If you manage to boot Recovery, do a FULL restore of the factory image (re-partition and all).

I know you have installed games you wanted to save: Maybe you can copy some save files to an external drive while booted in Linux. But I do recommend you do a full restore.

Use the post linked in step (5) of my earlier post to determine what you can uninstall from that factory installation.

2) If you can see the Recovery Partition in Linux, but are unable to F4 boot it, the previous owner may have restored a partition image and never checked that it would boot. There are ways around that (Grub boot it), but doing a clean Win7 install may be your best bet.

If you have the Recovery Partition, DO NOT DELETE IT, even if you cannot F4 boot it. It will make clean install much easier.

3) While in Linux (or on another PC) Download Easy Software Manager from this page on samsung.com and save it to a flash drive. Also save that Intel WiFi driver to the flash drive, just in case.

4) Clean install from the DVD that comes with the PC. Format the Windows partition during setup. Leave the 100MB SYSTEM alone (if there is one). If that succeeds, you're in good shape.

5) In Windows, Run the Easy Software Manager you downloaded. It will find the driver files on your Recovery Partition (if you have that partition) and install them in the right order. Click Essential to install basic drivers (not bloat). You'll get a list first and can uncheck ones you don't want. Use my previous posts as a guide.

6) If you don't have a Recovery Partition, Easy Software Manager won't have local access to drivers, and you're better of doing a manual download and installation of drivers. I and others have made posts around here with recommended driver sequence, look for those. I'll try and locate them tomorrow and update this post (running late today).

If you get this far, your BIOS is probably OK. Do run the BIOS updater again to check it (but disable Windows update first )

7) If indeed the BIOS update failed, you'll have to get warranty service from 1-800-SAMSUNG. I am sure they'll help you when you tell them the BIOS update failed.

Let me know how it goes!

 

The fact that the computer boots would suggest that the BIOS update is OK. Sometimes a big update in the BIOS can affect how Windows sees some hardware and could be getting confused. Some thoughts:

- Try Safe Mode (keep pressing F8 just as Windows is starting)
- Make sure that Fast Boot is disabled in the BIOS
- Try repairing Windows

John

 

Thanks Dannemand and John for your replies. I don't need the order of install, seen it from another thread on here I ended up doing a clean install of windows and things are up and working again. My game (guild wars 2) is a mmo and the 16GB dat file was in the windows.old folder good as before! I have the discs, but the 3gigs of updates at 100-700kbs sucks.

My only current issues remaining are:

How to properly use the switchable graphics. I right click on desktop, go to configure switchable and tell it to run my game in high performance mode, but it doesn't seem to switch over to the amd gfx judging by the low fps rate and the gpu monitor gadget reflecting no activity. :\ I have installed the chipset driver, vga amd driver, 3.0 bluetooth, sound, intel rapid storage, touchpad, usb 3.0, and my bios is updated to the lastest as well. I'm not sure what I'm missing. How do you get it to run the way you want?

Easy Setting is still not working, I'm assuming it needs some other program installed that it doesn't inform the user about. Eventually it'll start working, one day. I think.

Abysmal dl speeds still. I get around 2mbps but upload 10-12mbps >_>+ -.-" My usb adapter for my desktop gets better speeds than this. I put the 5.2ghz on auto as well as the 2.4ghz.

Anyone have any ideas? The maximum performance tweak is on btw.

Side question: What's your battery charger brand? Before this I had an hp and my charger was an hp as well. This one is just a regular ac adapter it seems...no brand anywhere. Wondering if that's how it is for everyone.

ps. Dannemand are you like trying to become a saint or what? You're so awesome to help people like me out like this. <3 I hope you accrue so much good karma that not even your tires ever have a flat. I'm so very grateful for all your help!!!

 

Regarding WiFi performance work through this thread, perhaps backwards from the end.

John

 

@Syl_M: Thanks for the update. Great to hear you got it back up again. Hopefully your BIOS is fine, as John says!

All I can say is, make sure you're using AMD driver 8.940 or later. I have VGA_AMD_8.951.9.3000, and it's switching alright. Make sure the file you're marking for High Performance is the game itself, not just some shell loader. Admittedly, I am not the expert here, as I don't game. Check around or ask in some of the AMD/gaming related threads, you'll have a better chance of getting an informed response.

No, Easy Settings doesn't require anything else. It's the only Samsung software I have installed (beyond drivers).

If you're like me, it's in your nature to install things manually. But Easy Software Manager really does a great job of adding drivers and essential software (like Easy Settings) to a clean installation. It's fast, requires no reboots, installs everything in the right order, and lets you chose exactly what to install. And you can remove it when you're done.

As for tweaking Easy Settings to load faster once you have it working, check this post.

If you've tried John's suggestions and mine, I guess it's possible you just have a really bad unit or flawed antenna. Again, these laptops do have weak WiFi, but not as bad as you describe.

Update: I forget if I mentioned this to you earlier: I see better performance with Wireless-N and on the 5.2GHz band. Of course you need a dual-band router for that.

Mine doesn't say Samsung either. Works great, though, charges fast

LOL

Thanks a lot!

I can't help myself, that's all. I did a lot of installing and testing on different Series 5 and 7 models earlier this summer. You'll notice my knowledge is limited to certain areas; but within those, I learned a lot from my testing.

Hope it all works out for you.

Update: I'd be remiss if I didn't add this: I've only been posting here a couple months, and on a narrow range of subjects. You already met another member who is far more active, answers questions on a far broader range of subjects, and has been doing it consistently for many years. Check it out, I think you'll be impressed!

 

HELP!!! Can anyone help me with this??? I'm having trouble installing some programs on windows 8 that i know work on other win8 computers. the message i am getting is "This installation package could not be opened. Verify that the package exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer package." I have contacted Microsoft multiple times with no luck, have I missed some kind of new permission setting somewhere? driving me crazy, i cant even load up java... please help... thank you

 

I don't think this is a Samsung-specific problem. You might get a better response if you ask this question in the Windows forum.

John