Asus N43SL/SN Owners' Lounge

too456 · 07-21-2011, 09:08 AM

Hi everyone

Welcome to the N43SL/SN Owners' Lounge

Asus N43SL/SN specifications

Processor: Intel Core i3-2310M / Intel Core i5-2410M / Intel Core i7-2630QM / Intel Core it-2670QM
Dedicated Graphics: 2GB DDR3 Nvidia GT540m (N43SL) / 2GB DDR3 Nvidia GT550m (N43SN)
Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: AUO 14" 1366x768 LED display
Memory: 4GB (1x4GB) DDR3-1333MHz CAS 9
WLAN: Atheros AR5B195 (Wireless a/b/g/n single stream, up to 150Mbps, with Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR, Bluetooth 3.0+HS capable)
LAN: Atheros AR8151 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet
Storage: 320GB 5400rpm / 500GB 5400rpm/7200rpm / 500GB Seagate Momentus XT / 640GB WD Scorpio Blue 5400rpm / 750GB 7200rpm
ODD: DVD SuperMulti / Blu-ray Burner / Blu-ray Combo
Camera: 2 Megapixels
Speakers: Bang and Olufsen ICEPower
Card Reader: 3-in-1 card reader (SD/MS/MMC)
I/O: 3x USB2 / 1x USB3 / 1x VGA / 1x HDMI / 1x Microphone-in / 1x Headphone-out jack / 1x RJ45 / 1x Kensington slot
Battery: 6-cell 47Whr / 6-cell 56Whr
Weight: 2.4kg (5.29lb)

Benchmarks:
I got the N43SL with i7-2630QM, 4GB RAM, 640GB HDD and GT540m. I upgraded the memory to 8GB and replaced the hard drive with a 500GB WD Scorpio Black. My benchmarks below are with the upgraded specs, so your mileage may vary :P

3DMark06:

Crysis:

If you cannot see properly, the max temperature for Crysis was 78 degrees.

WPrime:

FAQ:
1. What is the difference between the N43SL and the N43SN?
A: The N43SL packs a GT540m, while the N43SN has a beefier GT550m. Nothing an overclock cannot solve

2. Does it support switchable graphics?
A: Yes. It supports Optimus.

3. What is the battery life?
A: Generally with light usage it lasts for about 5 hours with the 56Whr battery.

4. What components are user-upgradeable?
A: The RAM, HDD and ODD are user-upgradeable. Doing anything more voids the warranty.

5. How does the wireless card compare?
A: My wireless card is a low-end Atheros AR9002WB-1NG which is an AR9285 wireless card paired with a AR3011 bluetooth module. The AR9285 does not suffer from connection drops, but it is a 1x1 card, which is rather bad for a card nowadays. There are different Intel and Atheros cards that can come with your laptop, so it's really down to luck as to what you get

===Drivers===

Spoiler :

Useful links:
(Official Asus N43SL) drivers: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Notebooks- ASUS N43SL
(Official Asus N43SN) drivers: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Notebooks- ASUS N43SL
Warning: The bios for both notebooks are not compatible with each other. Download the bios for your specific system only.

Gaugamela · 08-02-2011, 07:05 PM

Cool!! I wanted to see one of this to share experiences and knowledge with other owners.
Can I ask you a couple of things:

1 - How to overclock the 540M graphics card? (You can just point me to a guide)

2- Does you laptop comes with a USB sleep and charge port? I thought the USB 3.0 port had it but at least in mine it doesn't works. Is there a way to activate this by installing software?

3 - This may be a noob question but how do I update the BIOS and are there any risks involved?

4 - Is there a specific Optimus software? I can't find it anywhere, only the normal Nvidia control panel.

I have a N43SL with a i7-2630QM, 4 Gb RAM DDR3 and a 320Gb 5400rpm HDD.

I already have a dual-boot system with Kubuntu and Win7.

I installed the latest Elantech drivers (version 8.0.7.0) which enable a wide variety of multitouch gestures (excluding chiral motion every move is included) but have a slight problem: if the laptop hibernates the multitouch gestures are disabled when the laptop wakes up and can only be re-enabled if the computer is restarted.

too456 · 08-03-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaugamela

Cool!! I wanted to see one of this to share experiences and knowledge with other owners.
Can I ask you a couple of things:

1 - How to overclock the 540M graphics card? (You can just point me to a guide)

2- Does you laptop comes with a USB sleep and charge port? I thought the USB 3.0 port had it but at least in mine it doesn't works. Is there a way to activate this by installing software?

3 - This may be a noob question but how do I update the BIOS and are there any risks involved?

4 - Is there a specific Optimus software? I can't find it anywhere, only the normal Nvidia control panel.

I have a N43SL with a i7-2630QM, 4 Gb RAM DDR3 and a 320Gb 5400rpm HDD.

I already have a dual-boot system with Kubuntu and Win7.

I installed the latest Elantech drivers (version 8.0.7.0) which enable a wide variety of multitouch gestures (excluding chiral motion every move is included) but have a slight problem: if the laptop hibernates the multitouch gestures are disabled when the laptop wakes up and can only be re-enabled if the computer is restarted.

1. To overclock, there are two choices: MSI Afterburner or Nvidia System Tools. I would recommend the Nvidia System Tools because it integrates nicely with the Nvidia Control Panel, and because to force MSI Afterburner to overclock the GT540m, you have to modify the config files like so:

Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\MSI Afterburner and open MSIAfterburner.cfg. Look for the lines:

Quote:

UnofficialOverclockingEULA =
UnofficialOverclockingMode = 0

and replace them with:

Quote:

UnofficialOverclockingEULA = I confirm that I am aware of unofficial overclocking limitations and fully understand that MSI will not provide me any support on it
UnofficialOverclockingMode = 1

This will allow MSI Afterburner to overclock the GT540m as well.

2. No, As far as I know the N43SL/SN does not come with that function. It has to be built into the hardware, software mods won't do the trick.

3. You can update the bios by following the instructions here. I will recommend updating the bios via EasyFlash as it is the safest of the three. Do take note that you have to update with the bios file on a FAT32 formatted thumbdrive if you use EasyFlash as there are reports of corrupt bioses when flashed from a NTFS formatted drive.

4. The Optimus control software is in the Nvidia Control Panel, under "Manage 3D Settings".

5. As for this I have not experienced it before since I normally do not use the touchpad and I don't use multi-touch gestures. You might need to ask on another forum regarding this issue to see if anyone has experienced this problem.

kodiak · 08-05-2011, 03:02 PM

Hi there.

Thanks for this thread.

I believe theres a easyest way to install latest nvidia drivers.
Download latest nvidia driver (for GT540M are 275.33) and extract them to somewhere.
Go here and download nvwi.inf (INF modified) and replace by the one in the extracted location. For me worked without any problems.

Do you find any difference with power4gear? Made some tests with and without this software installed and there wasn't many time differences

Many thanks,

kodiak

too456 · 08-05-2011, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kodiak

Hi there.

Thanks for this thread.

I believe theres a easyest way to install latest nvidia drivers.
Download latest nvidia driver (for GT540M are 275.33) and extract them to somewhere.
Go here and download nvwi.inf (INF modified) and replace by the one in the extracted location. For me worked without any problems.

Do you find any difference with power4gear? Made some tests with and without this software installed and there wasn't many time differences

Many thanks,

kodiak

I did look at the inf file, I did not notice an entry for my graphics card with subsys id 15F21043, which was why I wrote the guide in case someone had the same id as me and could not use the modified inf file from laptopvideo2go. If someone could compile the list of subsys ids across all N43SL/SN laptops, I can make a modded inf that supports our graphics cards.

For Power4Gear, I distrust these power applications because in my experience they don't do anything, or they negatively affect battery life.

simplenotebook · 08-09-2011, 01:42 AM

Hello,

After reading this thread I want an N43 so bad. Where can I buy this in the U.S.?

My question is how light does it feel? It looks a bit thick, is it? Will it make me look like I'm carrying an outdated Dinosaur around?

Mrspethial · 08-09-2011, 05:07 AM

Thanks too456 that graphics driver information is really helpful I'll have to try it when I get mine back from asus : s I fell victim to asus not highlighting updating the bios with a ntfs drive...

anyway otherwise I love my n43sl.

Simplenotebook:
Its not being released in the us I had to get mine from malaysia.I think the n45 will be released there sometime soon though. And no its not thick its just right. looks awesome way better than u41 n45 and don't get me started.on u46 s.

too456 · 08-09-2011, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplenotebook

Hello,

After reading this thread I want an N43 so bad. Where can I buy this in the U.S.?

My question is how light does it feel? It looks a bit thick, is it? Will it make me look like I'm carrying an outdated Dinosaur around?

The laptop is 2.4kg (5.3lb). I used this laptop after using a Timeline for a while, and transitioning from 1.8kg to 2.4kg isnt exactly the best experience, especially for the first week or so as I had to get used to the extra weight. When bringing it around, it's actually rather stylish and does not make you look outdated, but rather it makes you look cool

Gaugamela · 08-09-2011, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplenotebook

Hello,

After reading this thread I want an N43 so bad. Where can I buy this in the U.S.?

My question is how light does it feel? It looks a bit thick, is it? Will it make me look like I'm carrying an outdated Dinosaur around?

The laptop is a bit thick and bulky compared with other 14'' laptops. For example the Samsung QX412 is very thin and light compared with this Asus or even the C Series from Sony.
However it packs a lot more power than most 14'' laptops as well. With an SSD and expanded RAM this laptop is a monster.

As for the looks, it is rather stylish with most of its surfaces being brushed aluminum and it has a nice design.

It also feels solid since the hinges of the screen are very thick.

It also has great sound for a laptop.

The smartpad from Elan works ok bt you need to install the drivers that I mentioned before if you want full multitouch on the touchpad such as pinch-to-zoom and 3-finger gestures.
The keyboard isn't one of the best though. It has a bit of flex and the keys are too large and close to each other which facilitates mistype mistakes.
As for the screen I would recommend getting a matte display cover. It makes wonders.

If you don't have it in the US I would recommend to look for alternatives though.

Gaugamela · 08-09-2011, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by too456

1. To overclock, there are two choices: MSI Afterburner or Nvidia System Tools. I would recommend the Nvidia System Tools because it integrates nicely with the Nvidia Control Panel, and because to force MSI Afterburner to overclock the GT540m, you have to modify the config files like so:

Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\MSI Afterburner and open MSIAfterburner.cfg. Look for the lines:

and replace them with:

This will allow MSI Afterburner to overclock the GT540m as well.

2. No, As far as I know the N43SL/SN does not come with that function. It has to be built into the hardware, software mods won't do the trick.

3. You can update the bios by following the instructions here. I will recommend updating the bios via EasyFlash as it is the safest of the three. Do take note that you have to update with the bios file on a FAT32 formatted thumbdrive if you use EasyFlash as there are reports of corrupt bioses when flashed from a NTFS formatted drive.

4. The Optimus control software is in the Nvidia Control Panel, under "Manage 3D Settings".

5. As for this I have not experienced it before since I normally do not use the touchpad and I don't use multi-touch gestures. You might need to ask on another forum regarding this issue to see if anyone has experienced this problem.

Thanks for the answers! I'll try the overclocking with the Tools from Nvidia and the BIOS update.
The touchpad point wasn't an issue though. I was just informing other users what to do if they want to enable multitouch on their touchpads.