Acer Ferrari 3200 review (just a few pics/couple benches)

[snorre]

Originally Posted by SockMan!

Thanks for clearing things up for me snorre. I was starting to think that there was some conspiracy going on until I noticed that the AMD datasheet I was looking at was a few months old.

Yes, the Low Power Mobile Athlon 64 was only introduced a month ago or so and the Acer Ferrari 3200 will be the first laptop available that will be using these low power processors. Laptops using these processors instead of regular Mobile Athlon 64's will in fact almost double their battery life, and even more compared to those laptops using Athlon 64 DTR

[lagger]

if i were to get the acer ferrari 3200 how hard would it be to just replace the harddrive with a 7200 rpm one.
also where should i purchase one

im a n00b at this sort of thing.

thanks

[annoyance]

it's very easy to replace the HD. i did it myself in a few minutes. you unscrew a small section of the case, pull out the bracket, swap the new HD into the bracket, and push the bracket back in. screw the cover back on and ur done. no cables or anything to fumble with, so much easier than a desktop HD swap.

[CrazyAJ]

One last look for the L2...

I went back, doubled checked AMD's site, finally noticed where the low-power architecture was hiding... For the curious, go to the following link...

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_10220_10221^10234^11031,00.html

Note: Up in the diagram it states there is an L2 Cache of 512KB, but down in the specs it says "Up to 1MB Level 2 cache"... I'll be curious if/when a change over might occur, or for which speed processors will have it, and if it would be publicized...

[Sinner6]

I would be all over this laptop if it wasn't so.......red.

[kmarshal]

If i was to swap the hard drive for a 7200 rpm 60 gig, how hard is it to reinstall the hard drive, and how do you go about doing that

[snorre]

Originally Posted by CrazyAJ

One last look for the L2...

I went back, doubled checked AMD's site, finally noticed where the low-power architecture was hiding... For the curious, go to the following link...

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_10220_10221^10234^11031,00.html

Note: Up in the diagram it states there is an L2 Cache of 512KB, but down in the specs it says "Up to 1MB Level 2 cache"... I'll be curious if/when a change over might occur, or for which speed processors will have it, and if it would be publicized...

Low Power Mobile Athlon 64 "Lancaster" with 1MB L2 cache (& 25W (!) TDP) will be introduced in Q1 2005 according to this leaked roadmap:
http://amd64notebooks.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=327

[soyboy]

kmarshal,
I swapped the Toshiba 80gb 4200rpm hard drive with a the Hitachi 7k60 and it was as easy as taking out the two screws that are directly under the mic/line in/audio ports. Once that is off the cover for those ports should come right off. Then once you slide the old hard drive (with bracket) out, take out the four screws that hold the hard drive into the bracket, and replace it with your new hd. put everything back into place. All you have to do for recovery is go into the bios and make sure the cd-rom drive is selected first in the boot order, then restart with the system cd in and follow the on screen instructions for the rest of the recovery process. very easy. the whole process took me less than half an hour.

[lagger]

thanks, when mine shows up ill do that

[pertuan]

Is there any possibility of adding a second HD to this beast?

[Rustican]

only externally.

[solidflux]

man, I just have to say thanks guys. this thread has been really informative in helping me decide to order this notebook (my first portable). Reading that it is possible to tweak and replace parts to my needs sold it for me. thanks guys, I am off to go order this puppy.

questions coming soon I am sure...

[ntrekie]

Hmm What about cpu upgrades.
Do i void the warrenty?
what is low power worth, to the guy who stuck in a amd 3400 what was batt life
Could someone detail the upgrade process?

Security, i dont trust people, doesnt seen to have a lock slot, can you still physically tie the $2000 red slab to something?
Also I would like to know more about heat.
How hot is "warm around hdd"
Thanks, really interested at this laptop

[annoyance]

ntrekie, dunno where you read that it doesn't have a lock slot, but it definitely does. its on the left back corner. haven't used it, but i can at least verify its existence heheh.

[pilot101]

hey what kind of notebook locks do u guys recommend for this laptop?