TIP and explanation for update bios in acer swift X SFX14-41G

Hi all,

i just order my brand new swift X SFX14-41G this week and i'm waiting for the delivery.

in the meanwhile i purchase a 2TB 970 plus evo and a new wifi card intel ax210 after reading a lot of people concerning about wifi performance of this laptop.

I was looking for bios update on the acer product page and i see there are 2 update for bios and NO change-log for them.

This thing makes me disappointed about my first acer experience...and i still need to recevive the item

I have couple questions about bios update :

1) as i said we have 2 update in acer support page :

- v. 1.02 Update Panel ID ---> what this updated does ? it is needeed ? to be honest, in general, i prefer to keep my machines always up to date.

- v. 1.04 Enable fTPM support for China. ---> this mean that ftpm for other countries is already enabled ? so i can skip this bios and i can install windows 11 without upgrading to this bios version ?

https://www.acer.com/ac/it/IT/content/support-product/8933?b=1&pn=NX.AU2ET.006 ---> probably you prefer to check it in en page, so just keep in mind the model code NX.AU2ET.006 (5800u, 16GB, RTX3050 --> non TI version)

2) last but not least, i have no experience with acer support and i bought this laptop directly ftom the acer shop (italy).

So as mentioned i'm going to replace wifi card and mount a new ssd in the m.2 free slot.

- should i upgrade bios before opening the case ? can acer make any problem if i will upgrade the bios and something goes wrong after opening the case and replace some laptop component ?

Thanks to everyone who take time to answer me and sorry for my english

Accepted answers

All comments

ttttt

@Pretorian91

I'll say just stay calm and wait for the laptop to arrive first.

After activating the laptop (should use Win 11) and selected the right settings, don't forget to set the Windows update on.

A few days ago I turned on my Acer laptop (with Win 11 Home upgraded from Win 10 Home) for the first time in three months, and as I checked the Windows update I saw there was the BIOS (Insyde) update included. The BIOS was updated accordingly. This is the first time ever doing BIOS update automatically included in Windows update without manual downloads and additional mouse clicking for my Acer PCs.

My point is, it is possible that your new laptop may have some simple BIOS updating procedures like mine in case needed.

If it was my PC, I'll make sure the laptop runs smoothly for a couple of weeks first before trying to upgrade the M.2 NVMe SSD and the Wi-Fi/BT card.

StevenGen

Just as an addition to the above, you don't need the v1.02 for an ID panel update and especially the v1.04 bios updates as with the v1.04 you only need that if you are going to use this laptop and its wifi on the Chinese networks so, don't complicate and/or stress yourself out unnecessarily for nothing, as you don't need a bios updates, as bios updates are not like software update as you only update a bios for what its title says and your laptop has issues with what the bios update fixes! Also Acer categorically warns all consumers about bios updates as there is a procedure to do a safe bios update (read about it) as "Upgrading your system BIOS incorrectly could harm your Acer product. Please proceed with caution"!

With the wifi/bt card you can easily take that out but and if you have to disassemble more than the back cover as most ram and ssd upgrades require consumer to do, then and if you do more then the Acer laptops warranty may be voided and Acer could refuse the warranty! So be careful with that.

Pretorian91

Thanks for your reply guys. really appreciate your support.

@ttttt for which concert the M.2 upgrade, unfortunately, I can't wait for the upgrade.... i need a dual boot ubuntu/windows for my job and I need also to run VMs on that, so 512GB of SSD will not be enough for my use.

Guys I see your point regard warranty and, as i said, i appreciate your support.... but all these concerns about replacing the wifi/BT sound weird to me.
It is much more dangerous replacing ram with laptop battery mounted on laptop instead of replacing a wifi card.
Am i missing something ? Maybe about Acer warranty policy ? it's my first ultrabook but i have experience with building desktop rig and replacing laptop component ..... you are making me worry !

Pretorian91

After and edit my comment just disappear, so i write again.

@ttttt unfortunately, I can't wait for mounting the new SSD in the laptop (there is a empty slot) cause I need a dual boot machine ubuntu/windows and also I need to run VMs on that...so 512GB is too little for fit my needs.

I really appreciate your support guys, i really didn't expect to find such a good community here..... but all these concerns about replacing wifi/BT card sound weird to me..... it is much more dangerous to upgrade ram of a laptop while the battery is connected then replacing a wifi card....

Am i missing something ? maybe regarding acer warranty policy ? this is my first ultrabook but i have experience in bulding desktop rig and also in replacing laptop component .... you are making me worry

Commodore_1995#

I always advise using an anti-static wrist strap and disconnecting the lithium battery before performing the upgrade:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVlsjyq7png

Pretorian91

egydiocoelho said:

I always advise using an anti-static wrist strap and disconnecting the lithium battery before performing the upgrade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVlsjyq7png

Totally agree.... even if i hate to disconnect lithium battery cause the wire look always too delicate to me .... doesn't matter how good is the build quality of the laptop

ttttt

@Pretorian91

I see that you need the upgrade almost right away. Since you have some hardware knowlege, it is assumed you know how to clone the Win 11 from the original 512GB NVMe to something of higher capacity at the other slot ( doesn't matter SATA SSD or NVMe type, that 512GB can be used for Linux later if you want). I have a Manjaro Linux running from a 2.5" SATA3 SSD of my cheap Acer laptop ( A515-46-R14k) if selected to boot from there. Anyway, I still suggest changing the Wi-Fi/BT card and adding the NVMe SSD only after Windows activation and backup with a sytem image.

It is a basic assumption that people should disconnect the battery if adding drives or RAM module to the laptop. Whenever I see people showing videos how to do PC hardware while holding components bare handed with the fingers touching the chips directly without a wrist-strap that @egydiocoelho mentioned, I laugh at them. I normally will stand on tile floor bare feeted when doing PC hardware and forget about the wrist-strap, just wash the feet later.

Pretorian91

ttttt said:

@Pretorian91

I see that you need the upgrade almost right away. Since you have some hardware knowlege, it is assumed you know how to clone the Win 11 from the original 512GB NVMe to something of higher capacity at the other slot ( doesn't matter SATA SSD or NVMe type, that 512GB can be used for Linux later if you want). I have a Manjaro Linux running from a 2.5" SATA3 SSD of my cheap Acer laptop ( A515-46-R14k) if selected to boot from there. Anyway, I still suggest changing the Wi-Fi/BT card and adding the NVMe SSD only after Windows activation and backup with a sytem image.

It is a basic assumption that people should disconnect the battery if adding drives or RAM module to the laptop. Whenever I see people showing videos how to do PC hardware while holding components bare handed with the fingers touching the chips directly without a wrist-strap that @egydiocoelho mentioned, I laugh at them. I normally will stand on tile floor bare feeted when doing PC hardware and forget about the wrist-strap, just wash the feet later.

"it is a basic assumption that people should disconnect the battery if adding drives or RAM module to the laptop." I do, but I just hate it, anyway it is much more dangerous with ram instead of wifi card/M2 (at least i think)

Anyway I'm not planning to cloning the original OS, I prefer to start with a new installation anytime I buy a laptop, often there is some garbage in preinstalled OS via Scratch as any company do..... usually the activation key should be in the UEFI so there is no point to clone the old OS.

And I'll buy a key for windows 10pro cause I need some extra features that home edition doesn't carry with it.

The plan is to test that everything is working properly when i get the laptop, stress it a little bit to see termal capacity, test everything (screen, speaker ecc) and then :

1) mount new wifi card
2) move 512GB ssd in the second slot, and 970 evo plus in the first slot.... cause i think 970evo plus overheats more than the original ssd ... i don't like it stay too close to the battery.

I know i can seem a little paranoid (scrupulous let say) :DD but that's the way i think to go. Any other suggestions are welcome.

EDIT : Anyway, cloning the original partition with something like clonezilla doesn't sound too bad to me... i think I'll do it.... cheers

Thanks guys

ttttt

@Pretorian91

Seems like you know what you are doing. I was about to say you need Win 10 Pro for VMS, and you know that.
Hope your clean installation of Win 10 Pro will provide all the drivers that you need. Some Acer software may not be available like when you get the laptop new. I have a Win 10 Enterprise (by mistake of the vendor who sold me the Win 10 license) and it could not provide all the drivers that I needed like from the Win 10 Home, strange enough. Took me a while to sort out the issue.

Since you won't use the Win 10 Home as normally will be shipped with a new laptop, so cloning the M.2 NVMe is really optional except you want a workable backup system just in case the clean install of Win 10 Pro won't work.

Pretorian91

ttttt said:

@Pretorian91

Seems like you know what you are doing. I was about to say you need Win 10 Pro for VMS, and you know that.
Hope your clean installation of Win 10 Pro will provide all the drivers that you need. Some Acer software may not be available like when you get the laptop new. I have a Win 10 Enterprise (by mistake of the vendor who sold me the Win 10 license) and it could not provide all the drivers that I needed like from the Win 10 Home, strange enough. Took me a while to sort out the issue.

Since you won't use the Win 10 Home as normally will be shipped with a new laptop, so cloning the M.2 NVMe is really optional except you want a workable backup system just in case the clean install of Win 10 Pro won't work.

Yes sir, unfortunately, i work in IT :DD

anyway, making a backup copy of the original OS could be a good idea at all.
I will store the backup on my sftp server and if i need to send back the laptop for warranty, could be a good idea to restore original OS.

really appreciate your help ! Cheers