Technical Specs
Dimensions: Width - 14.8", Height - 1.6", Depth - 10.4", Weight - 7.2 lbs.
Processor: P7350 Centrino 2 C2D @ 2.00ghz
Memory: 4GB DDR2 (8GB Max)
HDD: 320GB 7200rpm (optional space for a second hdd)
Cd/DVD: 8x DVD R/RW DL
Screen: 15.6" WXGA LCD 1366 x 768 max res.
Graphic Card: GTX 260M 1GB GDDR3
Keyboard:
Apple-like Backlite
OS: Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit
PORTS: 4x USB, eSATA, HDMI, VGA, Firewire, Ethernet, Card Reader, Audio, Express Card 54 Expansion Slot.
Wifi: Intel Wifi Link 5100 agn
Battery: 6 cell
Webcam: 1.3 MP
Price: $999
Unboxing
Design and Features
Love the new design. It has a white robotic style lid with light around the sides and at the logo. The lights stay on constantly when plugged in. The side lights turns off when in battery mode.
The unit has some touch sensitive buttons which changes the Power mode, color/contrast mode, and disables the touch pad. The keyboard has a back light which can be adjusted with the fn key.. It has the apple-like keyboard with the numeric pad which a smaller than the rest of the keys. The keyboard flexes just a tad bit towards the top center of the keyboard where f8 is located. The palm rest is now a rubber finish which to me feels much better and feels like a high quality laptop. The touch pad buttons are not glossy finish like the last model.. It has a brushed metallic finish. The touch pad does not light up like how the rest of the unit.
Asus eliminated the Direct Console overclocking preset features like how the G50vt had. Don't know what the reason behind this was but it maybe due to excessive heat build up? Anyway I just manually overclock the unit with no issues. They also eliminated the 9 Cell battery as how the previously model came with. So as far as gaming goes while in battery mode... forget it! You barely get about a hour and a half on regular usage...
Laptop Experience Rating and Performance
System Rating is 5.0 as the processor being the one that's holding it back. The system runs on 2.0ghz which I have successfully overclocked it to 2.25ghz without any issues and excessive heat. I could easily overclocked this to maybe 2.4ghz.
The processor is upgradable to even a quad core. For those interested, here is a
link to where you can get one. The Q9100 would be a great upgrade for this unit and making it a very powerful laptop for under $1200.
What to upgrade anything? Here are the stuff I have listed that you can consider for upgrading:
To install a second HDD you will need
this.
Upgrade to a better processor.. Check out the list of them that you could possible upgrade to
Core 2 Duo and
Core 2 Quad.
Upgrade to a better resolution screen,
here is a possible option but never tested...
Here is the link to the battery :
9 Cell Battery
Benchmark and System Temps
Here as some of the testing I have done using Crysis GPU benchmark, 3dMark 06 Pro 1.1.0, HwMonitor, CPUz, and SetFSB ( pll - ICS9LPR604AGLF ).
Crysis @ Full RES. and Very High Specs running everything stock getting avg 20 fps:
3dmark06 @ max res and no AA
3dMark06 test with 1280 x 720 res and no AA
3dMark06 test with 1024 x 768 res and no AA
3dMark06 test with 1280 x 720 res and no AA and processor overclocked to 2.25ghz
Temp of laptop sitting Idle for 30mins
Temp of laptop after running 3dmark06
Temp of laptop OVERCLOCKED to 2.25ghz after running 3dmark06
Additional Info on the GPU
Deciding to buy?
Wait until after the 26th of June because if bought before that date, the windows 7 free upgrade that comes with the laptop will be invalid.
Want to upgrade your G50vt keyboard?
Here are some pics and info that you may need to see if you can upgrade the keyboard. I do not know if this will work so don't ask me.. If someone wants to let me know who has the two models and wants to check to see if the g51 keyboard will work on the G50 then that would be great, I'll update this post..
Internals
Sunny's G51VX-RX05 Review
Still nifty, tho, I think.
