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So filler first then the problems. So, I bought this laptop around July 30th, 2016. It gets delivered by August 2nd, 2016. I quickly install Windows 10 Build 14393 which is Redstone. With the settings get rid of all apps, documents, settings. All that junk pre-installed stuff gone! Nice clean shiny laptop to claim as my own! So, now that I had this clean shiny laptop I put it to the test. Testing EVERYTHING except the USB Type-C.
-> FX-9800P, nice and fast for 15W and slightly smoother desktop usage than FX-8350 desktop.
-> Realtek ALC255 , very clean audio! (Compared to the ALC892)
-> HDMI, oh em gee HDMI 2.0a!!! 120/144 Hz, much pixel clock!!!
-> Gigabit Wired / MU-MIMO AC (DIR-885 has beta stage for this so it is very clean giving near 100 Megabit wired speeds)
-> SSD is ultra fast, HDD is fast for what it is.
Okay problem time!
BIOS functions;
-> Disabled/No dual-channel support. Probably want to add that to a BIOS fix. (8 GB usabled, 8 GB reserved)
-> Disabled/No hUMA/IOMMU mode/support. Like above probably want to add that to the BIOS. (7.5 GB usable by CPU, 512 MB reserved to GPU)
With both enabled 2x8 GB sticks will be usable, and the GPU wouldn't need to reserve RAM. As both the CPU and GPU would see the same addresses. More performance, less energy!
Display functions;
No eDP 1.4a/1.4b support even though that is what is implied with HDMI 2.0 support via the HDMI interface. So someone should probably go into panel service options and enable 1.4a/1.4b mode. So, we consumers can get some of that sweet, sweet VESA Adaptive Sync.
Windows 10/Redstone;
Warning! Dragons be here! Bristol Ridge and Meso get renamed to Carrizo and Topaz. Which in turn breaks UVD (Unified Video Decoder) and VCE (Video Coding Engine) functionality. AMD had to use the same device ids... ugh.
Other than that this thing rockz!
FAQ & Answers
Another issue I have discovered. The dGPU is flashed with the wrong BIOS.
So, M440 is deviced_id & rev_id = 6900_C3. The device in my acer is deviced_id & rev_id = 6900_83, which is the M340.
Reason for second post: The above is APU related. While, this is about the dGPU which is integrated with the system.
Just talked/chatted with Acer support. These problems can not apparently be fixed by Acer. Which is absolute garbage by the way. Another day, another bad customer support service.
Problem #1;
The Dedicated GPU is flashed the wrong VBIOS.
R7 M340 = Up to 1021 MHz, 2 GB DDR3, Device_ID = 6900 - Revision_ID = 83
R7 M440 = Up to 855 MHz, 2 GB or 4 GB DDR3, Device_ID = 6900 - Revision_ID = C3 [Rebranded R7 M340 would be 6900_C3_2 or 6900_C3_3]((The last number defines package type, vender, and DRAM amount))
Problem #2/#3;
IOMMU is disabled. Dual channel is disabled.
This means the UMA Frame Buffer option is read. With IOMMU enabled that option becomes depreciated. Dual channel isn't active thus, the system only provides me with 8 GB. Then, the depreciated setting UMA Frame Buffer takes 512 MB.
The above is function breaking. There are other issues.
#4 the GOP Driver in the main BIOS // GOP/VBIOS OROM is out of date.
1.59_____ is 2015. <== What is in the BIOS.
1.6______ is 2016. <== What isn't in the BIOS.
HP already stabbed AMD in the back by going single slot for their flagship Bristol Ridge laptops, after demoing the x360 with AMD before launch. They even left open space on the motherboard (and solder points) for soldered on memory that's unused! So Acer now has the flagship AMD laptop. If Acer is going to charge a premium for what is considered a value brand, customers should expect no less than premium firmware and optimal settings.
- Acer side;
- AMD side;
Well, I have currently the same issue, but recently acer just updated their bios version to 1.09 and didn't solve anything at all. the name at CPUZ Information is messed up, altrough AMD-V is listed, there's no virtualization enabled
I also have the same issues as you guys, altrough slightly diffrent model.
Just wanted the AMD-V and banding monitor issues fixed quickly
This is a great hardware but lack of support from acer.
I purchased an Acer E5-523, AMD A6 Gen7 with R4 graphics. Basically the best hardware at this price point. Everything else is Pentium or Celeron garbage. A couple of i3 - lame iGPU. I'm super pleased with this unit: great WiFi, quiet and powerful with but one flaw so far:
LCD color banding. I updated the BIOS to v1.09 and this drastically improved the issue, but it remains. I'm guessing it sports a low performance LCD ... is Acer trying to shoot down these nice AMD based machines or what? I haven't seen much that offers the features at this level.
Oh and I've got to second the craptastic support. Well, I could if I'd actually had any. In queue for 2:24 (estimated) real time 20 minutes, then, nothing. It goes dead and offers me an email link that redirects to a discontinued service - that is, no email.
I'm ready to put up with the banding because I can't find anything else that will do what this one does without spending a couple hundred more dollars. No thanks! I used an external LCD via HDMI and that's a thing of beauty thanks to the R4 coupled with DDR4 RAM.
I could easily swap the HD for an SSD and upgrade the single slot RAM, which is surprisingly cheap, even with so few options right now (less than 60 at NCIX), so ... I'm annoyed but really pleased with this laptop. Acer's really burning their bridges here.
So, more interesting thing i discover when upgrading the Radeon Software & Driver
Right now, i'm using the graphic driver provided by acer (16.101.1201.1007-160601a-303462C-Acer) and it listed my graphic card as R8 M445DX, also the dual graphic setting in the additional setting is present
When i update the driver to the latest one, the detected graphic card is diffrent and there is no dual graphic setting.
Really hope someone from acer see this thread as the problem isn't fixed yet.
This is a great laptop and i hope it gets better when updated
-CPU1:
I would like to run VirtualBox/VM Ware with 64bit guest OS.
Is that possible with the locked AMD-V option?
- CPU2
from internet, I don't see much difference between A12-9700 and FX-9800p.
in Malaysia, I cannot find the FX version. Should I just go for A12?
- SSD:
The A12 version has no SSD installed.
Is the additional slot physically available, so I just buy my own SSD, install then move the OS to it?
- RAM:
Specs says DDR4 1866. Can I upgrade with Crucial RAM 2133, DDR4 - 16GBX2 ?
I really need these info, as it will definitely a decision point if I should buy this laptop.
Thanks.
1. Nope, my FX-9800P can't run 64bit virutalization
2. well, what's the point if you can't find one
3. from what i know, the A12 Version has a M.2 SSD slot available, so yeah i guess you can just buy one
4. don't know about this one
thanks for the response, X4K7 ...
What about Hyper-V?
Can Hyper-V be used to install a VM with 64-bit OS?
well, as far as i know, hyper-V is working, but i don't think it can be used to emulate a 64bit OS because the virtualization is not working
sorry to ask
would you be so kind to try, as you already have the unit?
ehm, sorry that i don't provide more information.
Yes i do already try enabling Hyper-V
i use virtualbox to emulate a 64bit OS but it didn't work.
i try to find a workaround for it but the problem is in the bios acer put on this laptop that makes the AMD-V doesn't work
So, no 64bit virtualization i guess until acer decided to fix this thing.
I may not fully understand.
I meant, have you tried creating Virtual Machine (64bit) with Hyper-V (NOT with Virtual Box or VM Ware)?
my laptop acer e5-553g-f79r. i buy it 2 days ago. i install windows 10. install every drivers from CD except VGA driver. im download latest driver from amd.
i have a problem with the VGA. coz its like not stable. since i install driver for the first time and i test playing a little job like watching movies and playing game for 2-3 hours. and then the display flash for a couple times then the driver cant open anymore. display driver change to Windows basic adapter. i must clean unninstall the driver, and re-install again. after im re-install the VGA driver and the problem appears again. im already re-install the driver for 3 times till now. and i trying use driver from CD Manual and it can't to be installed. so i just install the latest driver from website AMD.
can anyone give me solution?
or maybe my laptop have a hardware issue?
thanks.. srry for bad english
There's a new BIOS update: Version 1.13; released barely a week ago
the release note description is cute:
Fix display not smooth issue on Windows paint
Yeah, uh... it's not just windows paint.
Ignore smartscreen filter; it's only popping up because it's a very uncommon executable download. Again, this thing is brand new.
It's strange that's the only release note, given it's an update from 1.9 to 1.13
Maybe other things are hidden/in the works in there. Like an option for proper AMD-V and IOMMU support in the BIOS. I know my HP had AMD-V disabled by default, but that's the thing: it's a default, meaning there was an option to enable it. I'll reboot real quick and see if Acer finally made it an option instead of a lock down.
Edit: Bad news: BIOS options are no less locked down than before.
C'mon Acer, it's a piece of hardware that customers physically purchase. Stop acting like it's licensed, not sold;
Or at least give options comparable to your competitors. Again, this is (still) the flagship AMD laptop, and may well remain so until Zen comes out for mobile.
I just bought E5-553G - A12 version - Malaysia.
Very dissapointed that M.2 SSD port is not available!!!
The space is there, but the port is not there!!
Got misled by a comment.