ASUS G73SW Owners' Lounge

As I said previously I was getting some very annoying screen flickering outside games with 266.58 so I downgraded to 265.96 and the flickering is gone.
Attached are the temps and a 3dm11 run (temps are considerably lower)

 

Here are some pics I just took.

 

Can you quickly check if the 265.96 driver you installed comes with CUDA 3.2?

PS: Currently, I'm creating the 5 recovery DVDs.

 

I tried to create them too (for me it asked only for 4 dvds) but I uninstalled power2go and can't burn the images anymore as the ai burner uses power2go...I'm stuck. I can still use the recovery partition (f9 at boot) to recover if I want to.
In 265.96 drivers cuda is 3.2.1 also and no flickering so I'm keeping these atm.

 

The BLU-Ray drive is it a Sony drive?

 

The Bluray player is Slimtype BD E DS4E1S - dunno what brand that is

 

It took about 90 minutes to create the images and to burn the 5 DVDs. For now I leave all the Asus software as it is. As soon as I'm home I will try Asus' 265.96 and nVidia's latest CUDA toolkit. I hope it works.

 

I don't have it here, but I'm pretty sure my blu ray player was a Matsh*ta (stupid censorware doesn't allow me to spell the name properly).

 

Anybody got any clue how I can get my hands on power2go software preinstalled on the g73sw? I kinda need it to burn the recovery dvds.

 

I just started following this post since I am interested in the G73SW and it appears to me one of the problems is video drivers, other than that what other problems have you encountered?

I know this machine hasn't been out long but for those of you who are owners could you please break down some pros and cons for me?

I have been looking at the Asus and Sager (NP8120 and NP8170-S1) I really like the 18.4" screen but I'm not prepared at this time to spend the coin to get it.

 

Most of the software is under support.asus.com: Downloads - Notebook - G73SW - Windows 7 64bit.

I had Roxio on my G73SW, so try installing the Sonic DVD suite under 'Others'.

 

The Sonic DVD Suite is just the CinePlayer unfortunatelly. Can't seem to find the power2go nowhere. I wonder if I were to restore to factory settings if the software is there.

 

I have the G73SW-91101V (LG matte 120Hz panel) and so far I had no issues. I installed Asus' latest ForceWare 265.96 and it works as it should.

Will it not work with the 30 days trial? Power2Go 7 ?the best Data & DVD burning software

 

hi,

where did you found the drivers? at the asus site i cannot find it.

 

Go to ASUSTeK Computer Inc.-Support- and select "Notebook", "Drivers" and "VGA". Search for "Windows 7 64bit" and download "Version V8.17.12.6601" nVidia Graphics Driver from 2011/01/17.

 

ok thank you and how did you installed it? just deinstall the old driver and install the new or did you used any drivecleaner or anything else?

 

Thanks ageha, I appreciate your quick response!

 

Aswer from nVidia's driver help:

Q: Do I need to uninstall my older driver first?
A: No. It used to be the case that an uninstall was first required. Today the recommended method is to overinstall the newer driver on top of your older driver. This will allow you to maintain any current NVIDIA Control Panel settings or profiles.

NVIDIA Driver Help

That's how I did it.

 

Ok guys I have configured 2 machines, I am posting the setups below.

These both cap out at $1832.53, yeah right down to the penny.

Let me know what you think, thanks.

Asus G73SW-A1

17.3" FHD (1920x1080) Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Glossy Screen
Day Zero Bright Dot Guarantee
ASUS 30 Day Zero Bright Dot Guarantee
Card - GPU
nVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M 192bit w/1.5GB GDDR5
Processor
Intel® Core™ i7-2630QM (2.0~2.9GHz, 45W) w/6M L3 Cache - 4 Cores - 8 Threads Standard
Thermal Compound
ASUS Thermal Compound Standard
System Memory
8GB (4 SODIMMS) DDR3/1333 Memory Standard
Hard Drive
500GB SATA II 3GB/s 7,200 RPM Hard Drive - Seagate XT NCQ Hybrid w/4GB SSD
Second Hard Drive
500GB SATA II 3GB/s 7,200 RPM Hard Drive - Seagate XT NCQ Hybrid w/4GB SSD
Blu-Ray Reader/8x Super Multi Combo Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW CD-R/RW Drive Standard
Internal 8-in-1 Card Reader: MMC/SD/Mini-SD/XD/Memory Stick/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS Pro Duo
Wireless Networking
Built-in Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N 6200 Wireless Card$35.00
Bluetooth
Built-in Bluetooth Wireless 2.0+EDR
Operating System
Windows 7 Premium - 64-Bit Pre-installed w/Recovery Partition + Drivers & Utilities CD
ASUS Clean Windows 7 Install DVD - For a clean OS Install - No Bloatware or Scamware$15.00
ASUS Gaming Mouse e ASUS Gaming Backpack ASUS
Global Two Year Warranty + 1 Year ADP + 24/7 ASUS Support

Sager NP8170-S1

17.3” Full HD 16:9 Wide screen (1920x1080) LED-Backlit Display with Super Clear Glare Type screen
30 Day "No Dead Pixel" Guarantee$60.00
Video Card - GPU
nVIDIA GeForce GTX 470M 192bit w/1.5GB GDDR5 Standard
Video Adapter for External Monitors
Intel® Core™ i7-2630QM (2.0~2.9GHz, 45W) w/6M L3 Cache - 4 Cores - 8 Threads
IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU
System Memory
8GB (2x4GB SODIMMS) DDR3/1333 Dual Channel Memory Standard
Hard Drive
500GB SATA II 3GB/s 7,200RPM Hard Drive (16MB Cache Buffer) Standard
Second Hard Drive
500GB SATA II 3GB/s 7,200 RPM Hard Drive (16MB Cache Buffer) Standard
6x Blu-Ray Reader/8x Super Multi Combo Drive Standard
7-in-1 Memory Card Reader (All versions of MS + SD/MMC)
Wireless Networking
Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N 6230 802.11a/b/g/n wireless LAN + Bluetooth™ Combo Card Standard
Battery
8 Cell Smart Lithium-Ion Battery 76.96Wh
Windows 7 Premium - (64-Bit installed - 64 and 32-bit CD included)$90.00
More Information
3-Year Labor 1-Year Parts (Year 2 & 3 Labor by PNB)-Lifetime 24/7 DOMESTIC

 

is this normal that between the core´s there are a so big difference of temperature? look at the pic here

 

In your signature you state to have 8GB of RAM and I did not understand why in the picture we see 8 cpus with a total of 6GB of ram...
but previous photo you provided from your laptop gave me the answer:
Bild: img_0166dhti.jpg - abload.de

 

im sorry. i had before the g73sw 3d with 8gb elpida chips and i´ve forgotten to change it in my signature

 

I was wondering about that, too. I thought you updated the memory already. I will do an update next month hopefully to 12GB.

 

no but i will get tommorow a 2gb same memory. ordered from ebay and i will have 8 gb

 

Just watched Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in 3D. Works very well.

 

Somebody knows something about G73SW-3DE in US? Release date? Thanks

 

Or something about release G73SW-3DE in any UE country with non-German keyboard? :>

 

The G73SW-A1 I received came with a DVD that included all the "crapware" including the power2go software. I yanked the first drive, installed a Vertex 2 SSD and installed Windows. Never had to touch the recovery DVDs. Just popped in the Asus software DVD and installed all the software except for a couple items.

Did your G73SW not come with the add-on software DVD?

 

It did but I dont recall seeing the power2go software on it. Just saw the drivers that are on the recovery partition. Gonna check again when I get home.

 

What's everyone getting for battery life? Please describe your usage also for the appropriate time (e.g. idle, load, wlan on, brightness, etc. etc.). Thanks!!!

 

Don't have any numbers for you, but the battery life was very good from my perspective (coming from a Sony 720QM machine that never lasts more than 2hrs). With the screen at full brightness and PowerGear set to High Performance, got 3+ hours with a mix of use including web browsing, and periodic problem solving that would peg a core for a couple minutes.

I think that Sandy Bridge and this laptop is very aggressive in CPU clocking. Overclocks to 2.8GHz when needing the speed and underclocking to 800MHz most of the rest of the time.

 

EXCELLENT. All I need is at least 3 hours! Guess I'll wait for G53SW or anything else that's 15in or smaller with tier 1 gpu then. WOOHOO

 

Wow, that's incredible battery life. SB makes such a difference!

 

+1.

Also, in the m17x r3 owner's thread, user HSN21 notes that the r3 is smaller than his G53.

So far, it looks like I'll be taking an r3 to grad school

 

I got my G73SW today. There are 2 battery locks on laptop one has a spring. The other is loose there is no spring to push it against the batttery. Is my brooken?

 

The battery is meant to have a spring on only one of the locks. Your quick start documentation sheet that should have come with the laptop explains why.

Another matter:
Do NOT try to use Nvidia driver 266.35 or 266.58. At least on my G73SW they cause the screen to start flickering. I have also tried the beta driver 265.96 and it seems to work ok - 3DMark06 score 14009: Result

This isn't that much better than the stock driver 261.14, so probably not worth changing. Let's hope Nvidia fixes the flickering in the next version.

 

I was talking about the screen flickering like 6 pages back. Using 266.01 atm and it's all ok, should you want to try it.

 

My keyboard light and the onscreen display are gone. Someone know how to fix it?

 

Reinstall the atk package. The one on the recovery partition (via e-driver) is fine as it is the latest version also on the website.

 

hello guys,

could it be that at the sw models there is no blue light under the display?

and can someone of you post your core temps because i want to see if anyone has also so big core temp differences.

Thank you

 

Did anyone order their G73SW from Amazon? Did you have any issues?

 

no issues only the cpu core temp difference that´s all.

ok and the blue light under the display?

 

I have no blue light under the display.

 

so this should be normal at the sw models. because at the jh and jw models there was a blue led bar light.

Ok there are another think. I´m running now prime for about 45 minutes and at the pic you can see that my CPU ist throtteling at 2,3 GHz. It started at 2,9 GHz and now it is running with a multiplicator of
x23. is it normal? any of you tried it?

 

I did that and it fixed it. It's quite odd but when I started the machine today afternoon it lost about 10 of the Asus tools, the iTunes installation from yesterday and it reverted the wallpaper. Everything else was still there. Not sure what happened because the tools were installed but not working anymore and the the Asus eDriver application reported about 10 tools were not installed. So I uninstalled them and installed them again. Everything seems so work fine again now.

I have no blue light either.

What tool are you using to measure the temperature?

 

lol, I had the same issues as in the homepage fom IE kept reverting back to bing and some asus software showed up as uninstalled even though they were installed. A couple of reinstals fixed them and havent run into the "reverting" issue in almost 2 days

 

I installed nVidia's CUDA toolkit today and the examples compile and run fine with Asus' latest driver. It works better than expected after I read all the horror stories from G73JW users.
EDIT: Also the i7 2630QM compiles much faster than my older i5 750 quad core desktop I had before.

 

@ageha

I use coretemp and realtemp.

 

My G73SW will be arriving on Tuesday.

 

yes it is. the 2630 has a maximum quad turbo of 2.6ghz but that only last for a specific amount of time since it requires the chip to go over the TDP. 2.3ghz should be the maximum sustainable clock for 100% core utilisation.

Anyone have done the same test with a 2720? that chip has a max quad turbo of 3.0 but i have a feeling the max sustainble is not much higher than the 2630.