Desktops & All-In-Ones

[bjlindsey]

How?  Where??  Thanks!!!!!

[finlux]

Hi bjlindsey

All in ones are notoriously difficult to open. I'd suggest taking it to your local PC store to be upgraded or if you're happy and willing, there is a Youtube video on how to upgrade your AIO - just use caution when doing so!

[ZundapMan]

I ordered 4GB of extra RAM from a site that claimed they knew the Z3731, but I've never opened mine up.  I'm getting to the point now that the performance boost of the extra RAM, possibly coupled with a move to Win 8.x is getting attractive.  It is my understanding that these boxes were shipped with two 2GB chips and two empty slots.  Before I wrestle the box open, can anyone conform this? 

[finlux]

Hi ZundapMan

Download & run Crucial's system scanner. This will tell you all you need to know!

[ZundapMan]

I actually used that software when I purchased the memory from them.  The prolem was figuring out how to open the case and an inherent reluctance to trust their program.  It indicated that there were four slots, with two available, but I've also read online about situtations where the all in ones only have two slots and you have to get 4gb chips in order to complete the RAM upgrade, so... The Z3731 is clearly a "one of" relatively small production run which was not well documented at the time it was made by Acer.  It was clearly designed with the features of Windows 8 in broad outline, but its performance was severely limited by the 32-bit code in its support for the Intel graphics chip embedded in its design.  It was only recently that I found an updated 64bit driver for the chipset.  It improved the overall system performance score Windows reports from 3.5 to 4.4.  I suspect that the additional ram will actually have little impact unless I also migrage the software to Win 8.1x for 64bit systems.

[finlux]

I have been using Crucial for years, and it has never failed (although, there will be a first time!). They also have a policy, that if you buy the wrong RAM, they will happily exchange it for you.

[ZundapMan]

My problem really is a reluctance to attempt to work with the plastic case back without adequate diagrams providing information about how it is fastened, where the "release points" are, and frankly, what kind of tools may be appropriate in the process of popping off the covers so that I can get at the memory slots.  Someone in the middle east posted a video about this project a year or more ago, but I do not understand his Phillipino brand of Spanish well enough, and the visuals were not difinitive.  My beef is with Acer over the slow and incomplete effort they put into even acknoledgement of the Z3731 in their web based lists of items they warranted.   By the time they got the web site up to date, the one year warranty was alomost over!  I miss the days when documentation was provided freely so that technically competent lay people were not impeded and prevented from access to upgrade/maintenance of their property in favor of a "Dealer Network" which has a monopoly on technical information,.

[finlux]

I agree with your point on the technical data. Us "techies" need to know things like that, but I think the reason behind it, is that non-techies don't try to do things they don't understand, and end up damaging their system!

You could try a reputable PC store to see if they can help or advise...