Asus F8VA Montevina Mobile Platform review

[GenTechPC]

F8Va-B1



M70VM-B1 and F8VA-B1 Video:
width="480" height="295">


Introducing:
The F8Va is the refresh model for F8Sv is the new Intel Montevina Mobile Platform, the new platform fetures:
-Intel PM45 Chipset
-1066MHz CPU FSB
-DDR-2 800 MHz
-ICH9-M SATA Controller.
-E-SATA Port
-HDMI
-No more DVI Port

Everything else look exactly the same like F8SV, the only different is the inside:
-Mainboard
-CPU
-RAM
-Video Card




The new F8VA now has the HDMI and E-SATA port in the back that F8Sn does not have:





Specification:

F8VA-B1::
MSRP: $1299
14" 1440X900 WXGA+
Chipset: Intel PM45 Montevina Mobile Platform
Southbridge: ICH9-M SATA Controller
GPU: ATI HD 3650 1GB VRAM DDR2
CPU P8400 2.26 Ghz 3MB 1066 FSB
4GB DDR2 800MHz
250GB 5400RPM SATA
Intel Wireless 4965 N
DVDRW Super Multi
1.3MB Swivel webcam
Fingerprint Scanner
5X USB 2.0 Ports
1X IEEE 1394 Firewire
Microphone in
S/PDIF
E-SATA
VGA Out
HDMI
No DVI
6 Cell battery
Windows Vista Home Premium 32

Device Manager::



Battery life: 2 hours and 12 minutes with 6 cell battery.





Everest:



New features: Asus Express Gate:




The Express Gate is the instant on OS built-on on the mainboard, it turns on almost instantly. It can be useful if Windows Vista OS is not needed and can save battery life.

Splashtop Browser:


Chat


Skype



Music Player



Photo viewer


Online Game


Configuration settings


Performance::

WEI



3Dmark06:


1024X768: 4103
1280X768: 3760
1440X900: 3306



1024X768


1280X768


1440X900





Crysis Demo









Game Video:

COD4:



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XP Drivers:




For easy installtion press F2 at asus logo screen to enter BIOS, go to Advanced tab and IDE Controller, setup SATA mode from Enhance to Compatible, press F10 and exit.


Below is the drivers you can install from drivers DVD:

Always install Intel INF Update first:
D:\SOFTWARE\INFUPDATE\SETUP.EXE

D:\DRIVER\ATK0100\VISTA32\2KSETUP.EXE
D:\DRIVER\KB_FILTER\VISTA32\2KSETUP.EXE

D:\SOFTWARE\ATKHOTKEY\SETUP.EXE
D:\SOFTWARE\ATKOSD2\SETUP.EXE

D:\SOFTWARE\RICOH\SETUP.EXE
D:\Software\BTOOTH\AZUREWAVE\WIN32\BRCM\DPINST.EXE
D:\SOFTWARE\MODEM\LSI\VISTA32\Setup.exe
D:\SOFTWARE\EXPRESSGATE\SETUP.EXE
D:\SOFTWARE\FINGERPRINT\VISTA32_64\SETUPAIM.EXE
D:\SOFTWARE\TOUCHPAD\VISTA32\Setup.exe
D:\SOFTWARE\WCONSOLE\SETUP.EXE


Drivers you need to download:

Video Card:
Step 1:
Download Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0

Step 2:
Download the ATI Catalyst Desktop driver:

Step 3:
Download Mobility Modder from driversheaven.net and follow the Installation guide to mod the ATI driver.




Atheros AR928X Wireless lan (use update driver from Device Manger to install):
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/...howtopic=14858

Realtek Lan Driver (use update driver from Device Manger to install):
ftp://61.56.86.122/cn/nic/Driver_5694_XP_0619.zip


Audio
There are 2 audio drivers you need to download:

Realtek Audio Driver:
[url="http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false[/URL]


Also the HDMI Audio driver:
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...&GetDown=false


Power4Gear:
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/1089...16_Generic.zip


IR Driver still not working in XP.
Added by EBE on 2008-11-09 // User bobbdc reports the following:

Originally Posted by bobbdc

I don't know if this has ben resolved but I found a driver for WinXP that works for the infrared port. Here you go:

http://consumersupport.lenovo.com/le...2412/1568.html

Above IR Driver link no longer available, not sure if this one works:

http://dl.okglb.com/consumerdl.lenov...N1CIR12WW1.exe

[admlam]

Thanks for the details regarding the performance of the HD 3650. Any details on how the new Montevina platform improved battery life?

[silly22]

thx for the review.... but now i want to exchange my f8sn

[GenTechPC]

Originally Posted by silly22

thx for the review.... but now i want to exchange my f8sn

F8Sn still a nice notebook, new platform coming out doesn't slow down your current notebook, your GPU and CPU still running at same clock speed.

Originally Posted by silly22

thx for the review.... but now i want to exchange my f8sn

I just started the battery test right now, one thing about the new battery saving mode is it'll automatically change Windows scheme to basic mode and disable Windows sidebar.

[fabarati]

Nothing too exciting about this notebook, then.

[DaveA50]

Is it a 320gb HDD? On your site as well as some of the others I checked, it was a 250gb hdd standard.

[GenTechPC]

Sorry, typo on the review, it's 250GB hard drive.

[Will1989]

Do these refresh models have the "Express Gate" feature ASUS announced a couple months ago?

[GenTechPC]

No it does not have Express Gate, I believe the Express Gate is only available for their desktop motherboards.

[Will1989]

Hmm... It's mentioned here that ASUS would start rolling the feature out on their new laptops. They must've scrapped the idea...