ASUS N53JQ-XV1 Review

First, I needed a laptop immediately because my Dell XPS M1530 bit the dust in a freak accident. I use it primarily for PC gaming. Second, I chose Amazon b/c there's no tax and there's a 12-month no interest financing option. I also wanted to keep it under $1000.

Here's the link: Amazon.com: ASUS N53JQ-XV1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum): Computer & Accessories

The specs are:
* Intel Core i7-740QM Quad-Core Processor 1.73GHz with turbo boost up to 2.93GHz
* 4GB of DDR3 1333 MHz SDRAM, 4 slots, 16GB Max; Nvidia GT425M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM
* 500GB Hard Drive (7200 RPM); Super-Multi Optical Disk Drive; Wi-Fi 802.11 bgn
* HDMI Port; USB 3.0 port; Bluetooth; 2.0MP Webcam; eSATA; 5-in-1 card reader
* 15.6-Inch HD (1366x768) LED Display; Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit) Operating System

Burning Question #1 - Difference b/w this model and new Sandy Bridges
- Processor difference has negligible impact on gaming. It improves battery life but I think it's a 10% gaming increase.
- Graphics card difference also has a negligence impact on gaming. According to notebookcheck.net, the performance comparison b/w 425m, 540m, and 555m shows that there's almost no difference. Except for 555m, neither of the two cards can run Mafia II or StarCraft 2 at ultra settings. My current card runs Oblivion at almost max settings. I don't mind playing med setting for the next few years. ATI 6---- series struggles until you get to 6900s but they are waaaay more expensive.

Burning Question #2 - Battery life, speaker sound, screen res, and other potential negatives
- No doubt, the battery life sucks. It's a desktop replacement so it'll last max 1.5 hours. But I use it mostly at home, so I take the battery out and run it on AC adapter alone. To me, battery life is irrelevant.
- Speakers are a little overrated. Loud and bit tinny but then again, one shouldn't rely on laptop speakers for primary sound. I have two great pairs of sub-$100 Sennheisers and they sound amazing.
- Screen Res is on the low side. But from what I read, higher res screens require a stronger graphics card. Mid-range graphics card will still struggle with higher resolution gaming.
- The worst thing about this laptop is the keyboard design. It feels cramped and the "del" key is awkwardly placed.

Conclusion
I simply love this laptop. For a good price, I got a fast HDD speed (7400 RPM), i7-quad core and a good mid-range graphics card. It's a solid B+ laptop. The newer graphics cards don't really improve the gaming unless you take the high-end leap and spend more than $1000. Plus, a USB 3.0 port is a definite plus!

I don't care about battery life because most of the time I take the battery out. I also invested in a SquareTrade warranty that covers accidental protection for 3 years for about $170. NOTE: Same warranty for a $1000+ laptop costs around $250.