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General discussion

Want To Maximize Graphics

Aug 12, 2007 10:39AM PDT

bought an ACER laptop that came with Windows Vista Basic Home. whenever i use the Windows Media Player or their ACER Arcade DVD Player, not to mention playing some games that i managed to get them running, why is that the graphics seem so outdated? sometimes it even stopped working and then the screen freezes. i received some messages saying that i have to purchase other Vista programs in order to maximize the graphics. besides Basic Home version, which other Vista should i purchase to fix the graphics??

Discussion is locked

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Check your video card or onboard video
Aug 12, 2007 8:29PM PDT

and see if it meets the requirements for what you are trying to do. You can also check and see if there are new drivers.

If you post the specs of your computer, you'll get better help. I may be you don't have enough memory to perform the tasks.

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System Specs
Aug 14, 2007 4:19AM PDT

Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) M CPU 520 @ 1.60GHz 1.60GHz
Memory(RAM): 502MB
System Type: 32-Bit Operating System

ACER ASPIRE 3690-2164
-Intel Celeron M Processor 520
(1.6GHz, 533MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache)
-15.4" WXGA LCD (1280 x 800)
-Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
-80GB HDD
-512MB DDR2


"Windows Experience Index" Rating 2.0

Now I have a message saying that i have to upgrade the Windows Vista.

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I bought the next model up $479.
Aug 14, 2007 5:49AM PDT

It has 1G RAM, Core Duo and same GPU.

What did you pay for yours?

I see the problem here. With only 512MB and shared video there isn't much ram that will be shared.

My Acer Aspire AS5570-4421 with Intel

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ACER ASPIRE Laptop
Aug 14, 2007 6:30AM PDT

okay, then. i managed to download a demo game and still play it under the smallest possible screensize (640 x 480). but still, very poor graphics but i needed a new laptop when my older one stopped working. i needed one right away, considering i do work night-shifts when needed. might as well see this as a stop-gap until i am able to purchase a more powerful laptop (17" models like my old HP Pavilion). whatever was available locally, i just needed one right away. mind you, considering where i live (way up north), i had to cough up 1 grand for the laptop.

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Is It Possible To Upgrade In Other Ways???
Aug 14, 2007 9:33AM PDT

is it possible to upgrade the small RAM or just change the processor? perhaps switch the hard-drive with another one that may be compatible with the laptop? external hard-drives? what about the PC Card Slot that accepts one Type II PC Card? but i'd like to install or go back to Windows XP, too. if not, then i guess i'll have to live with the laptop for a while.

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ACER Aspire 3690 Upgrades, Which Is Useful???
Aug 15, 2007 4:30AM PDT

Flash BIOS v3.10 for Windows Vista Aspire 3690 Windows Vista

3G Driver 2.0.1.36 Aspire 3690 Windows Vista

AverMedia M103/-M115 MiniPCI Hybrid DVBT TV Tuner Card Windows Vista

Launch Manager for Aspire 3690, 5630, 5680, TravelMate 2430, 2480

nVidia VGA driver 97.55c for Windows Vista Windows Vista

Intel Chipset Driver v8.1.1.1010 Aspire 3690 Windows Vista


-Found these from the acer.ca site.

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On ours the BIOS settings are...
Aug 15, 2007 3:04PM PDT

64M, 128M and DVMT. Try one at a time to see which works for you. The machine tells you want key to press to get to the BIOS settings when it starts.

And no, there is no upgrade to this machine's video. PC-Card is too slow for video games as well as USB 2.0.

More ram would be helpful. I'm sorry you paid double for your laptop.

Bob

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Posting mulitple times and not replying?
Aug 12, 2007 11:49PM PDT
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thanks you for help
Sep 13, 2010 4:02AM PDT

thanks you for help.

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UPDATE! Did you update the video drivers?
Aug 15, 2007 3:59PM PDT

My kid is using the Acer and a game wasn't working. I tried Microsoft's update driver and as usually it claimed it was the latest driver. Off to google.com and INTEL 945GM DRIVER DOWNLOAD and I found a much newer driver.

It's installed and the game now runs fine.

HAVE YOU DONE THIS?

Bob

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INTEL 945GM DRIVER
Aug 15, 2007 11:21PM PDT

i'll give it a shot and download the 945GM driver. when i downloaded the NR2003 DEMO, i was receiving messages of having to download a driver something like that. followed the instructions but somewhere along the installations, the process somehow got screwed-up. but i still managed to download the game but with poor graphics. still playable, though, and sure beats the long nights when i have to work the night-shifts.