xcskiier23's G51VX-RX05 Review

[xcskiier23]

Technical Specifications:

Processor: Intel P7350 @ 2.00 Ghz
HDD: 320GB
Memory: 4gb DDR2
Screen: 15.6 LED Backlit 1366x768 res.
Graphic Card: nVidia GTX 260M 1gb GDDR3
Operating System: Vista Premium 64 Bit

Prices and Options
For the better part of a month I was looking at the Sager 8662. It has the same GTX260M but better screen and processor. I was pretty much dead set on getting it when my friend showed me BB's site and they had their new line of Asus gaming lappies on there! Could it be true?! GTX 260M and Core 2 for under 1K??? My wishes had come true.

Unboxing
Pictures of what the G51 came in, as well as the NZXT Cryo 'S' notebook cooler.The G51 was very well packaged and had no issues during shipping.


Design and Features
The first thing you see when you pull it out of the box is the white lid. It looks quite good, especially with the RoG logo front and center with its black accents. Along the bottom and trim of the screen are the lights, which light up white. One of the nicer things I like about the laptop is that the indicator lights are white, as well as the back-lit keyboard. It looks very nice when the lights go out in a room. The G51 gets rid of the OLED display at the top of the keyboard that the G50 had, but it has three touch sensitive buttons. Also at the top of the keyboard are the power and xpress gate buttons.

One of the biggest things that sold me about the laptop was the keyboard. I love the way it feels and types, as well as its back-lit feature. You can adjust the BL by use of a function key. It does flex a little bit for me at the top near the F8 button, but only when pressed firmly. The number pad on the side is also a nice touch. Above the screen there is a 1.3 megapixel webcam, and uses a smart logon application for facial recognition.

The trackpad is great, although it does not have the outlining lights like the G50. It has brushed metal accents and buttons, which are easy to push and do not give off too loud of a click. Below the keyboard is one of my favorite parts about the laptop, the wrist rest. It is made up of a rubber-esque plastic, and feels excellent. It is not the same plastic as the rest of the laptop, but the matte look is awesome. It also features a RoG label in the upper right hand corner!

Overall build quality is excellent. The laptop as a whole feels very sturdy with minimal flex. THe CD drive is not too loud, but it does produce some noticeable background noise.The fans on the laptop are also pretty quiet, especially for a performance notebook.

The LED backlit screen is awesome. The colors are excellent and contrast is superb. Viewing angles are best from straight on, but it can be viewed from the sides and up or down a bit but not to much.

Performance and Overclocking

Overclocking provided by SetFSB and Nvidia System Tools



3DMark 06

Stock drivers and stock settings - CPU @ 2.00 Ghz / GPU @ 500/800/1250
1280x720 - 8855
1280x1024 - 8527

W/ CPU @ 2.4 Ghz
1280x720 - 10022
1280x1024 - 9270

DOX Driver 185.85 / CPU @ 2.5 Ghz / GPU 575/980/1450
1280x720 - 10971
1280x1024 - 10562

DOX Driver 185.85 / CPU @ 2.6 Ghz / GPU 575/980/1450
1280x768 - 11374
1280x1024 - 10866

3DMark 06 with T9800
DOX Driver 185.85 / CPU @ 2.93 Ghz / GPU 575/980/1450
1280X768 - 12307
1280x1024 - 11521

DOX Driver 185.85 / CPU @ 3.31 Ghz / GPU 575/980/1450
1280x768 - 12920
1280x1024 - 11968

Max OC 3DMark 06
DOX Driver 185.85 / CPU @ 3.34 Ghz / GPU 600/1000/1500
1280x768 - 13197
1280x1024 - 12211

Windows 7 Mac OC 3DMark06
DOX Driver 185.85 / CPU @ 3.34 Ghz / GPU 600/1000/1500
1280x768 - 13259



3DMark Vantage
DOX Driver 185.85 / CPU @ 2.5 Ghz / GPU 575/980/1450
1280x1024 - P6365



FarCry 2 - 1366x768

Stock Drivers - CPU @ 2.40 Ghz / GPU @ 500/800/1250
High - 2AA - Avg 42.41 / min 32.91 / max 56.91

DOX Driver 185.85 / CPU @ 2.5 Ghz / GPU 575/980/1450
High-2AA- Avg 48.29 / min 36.45 / max 68.45
Very High - 2AA - Avg 39.31 / min 30.12 / max 59.39
Ultra High - 2AA - Avg 34.22 / min 26.96 / max 53.71

The T9800 had little to no effect in Far Cry...
DOX Driver 185.85 / CPU @ 2.93 Ghz / GPU 575/980/1450
High-2AA- Avg 51.47 / min 39.51 / max 72.28
Very High - 2AA - Avg 39.79 / min 30.70 / max 59.60
Ultra High - 2AA - Avg 34.90 / min 27.63 / max 53.63


Crysis Demo Benchmark Tool - 1280x720 / DX10 / 64bit
DOX Driver 185.85 / CPU @ 2.4 Ghz / GPU 500/800/1250
High - NO AA - Avg 31.47
Very High - NO AA - 18.83

DOX Driver 185.85 / CPU @ 2.5 Ghz / GPU 575/980/1450
High - NO AA - 35.47
Very High - NO AA - 22.26

Crysis Benchmark Tool with T9800 - 1280x720 / DX10 / 64bit
DOX Driver 185.85 / CPU @ 3.34 Ghz / GPU 600/1000/1500
High - 40.06
Very High - 26.8

Noticeable increase in frame rate for Crysis, Very High settings still destroys it. I play the actual game on Very High Settings and it looks and runs great.



Fallout 3
DOX Driver 185.85 / CPU @ 2.5 Ghz / GPU 575/980/1450
1366x768 - 4xAA - 8xAF - Ultra High Settings - Vsync Enabled
Open area in Springvale, explosions and combat
(minimum are low because fraps was running)
Avg: 49.650 - Min: 9 - Max: 64
Avg: 46.867 - Min: 11 - Max: 62
Avg: 42.033 - Min: 24 - Max: 64

Fallout with T9800 OC
DOX Driver 185.85 / CPU @ 3.34 Ghz / GPU 600/1000/1500
Avg: 52.367 - Min: 10 - Max: 62
Avg: 49.700 - Min: 18 - Max: 62
Avg: 49.267 - Min: 15 - Max: 62

With the increase in CPU clock as well as GPU, a noticeable increase was experiences with Fallout 3. The game runs very well with out fraps in the background, but if you were looking for the SMOOTHEST gameplay I would probably turn it down a notch.

Other games I have played are UT3, Team Fortress 2, COD4, COD5, Mercenaries 2, ARMA II Demo and Dirt. All run with maxed out settings(or almost) at 1366x768. I will get more benching done soon!

TEMPERATURE

USING PRIME 95 and FURMARK at the same time
OC settings



The temperatures CAN get hot but only when you use FurMark.

I have ran HWMonitor during games and such, only seeing it max at 90 C. That is using all the games I have tried.

More game benchmarks to come....

I have a Intel T9800 2.8 Ghz coming in, so I will get more in then....
First ever review attempt, let me know if you want anything in particular benched or looked at!

[ChinNoobonic]

great review xcskiier23! hey cover up your vista sticker on the bottom btw.

[xcskiier23]

thanks for the heads up about the vista sticker :P

[The_Stamp]

good review! I can't wait for my a1 to come in!

[TevashSzat]

Haha.....102C, thats really kinda scary there. But yeah, I can attest to the review.

I have only ever seen my G51 go up to 91C when gaming. It usually only maxes out at 89C which is because (at least I think) the Fans go like full blast then.

[xcskiier23]

i know 102 was a bit unnerving!!! but like you said, fans kick in at full blast at 89 C. I cant wait to get that T9800 and see what this thing can do! just hope the temps are not too bad lol

[Forge]

Kewl. My computer performs about the same.

Question: When you measured your temperatures, what surface did you test on?

[xcskiier23]

i was using the NZXTCryo 'S'.

[Forge]

Active or inactive?

The 90C you have for games looks high for a (I'm guessing) high-end aluminum cooler.

Then again, I haven't stressed my G51+Targus combo in intensive games yet.

[IKAS V]

Best review yet.
Even with the cooler the GPU temps are looking scary