ASUS U Series Bamboo Collection Owners Thread (U33JC/U43JC/U53JC)

Heads up...the U43Jc deal on amazon is back up with $150 gift card...and the U33JC is still in stock, but their not applying the $150 gift card promotion. Dang it again!

 

Anyone got a link for a download of Asus Super Hybrid Engine?

 

I believe it is a part of Power4Gear when you install it.

The rest of you who own a U33, is that true?

 

Yeah, you were right, thanks.
Was downloading everything off the ASUS support page so I could install right after my clean install of windows.

Rep added.

 

I special ordered the U53JC two weeks ago today from Canada Computers and they said it would take 1 to 2 weeks... still not in. Hope it comes soon. Anyone else get their U53JC yet?

 

While I WiDi isn't working like it was for me, I thought I would share that Optimus does in fact work as usual even when connected to WiDi. The Nvidia test tool showed the 310m was on while connected to my TV. You are not limited to the integrated GPU while using Wireless Display.

 

Oh. Now that's interesting. I thought it was bound to the IGP since Intel made the tech. Good to see I was wrong.

 

Thanks for the update. I've been waiting to find out about this. Much appreciated.

 

I ordered mine from XoticPC on July 5th. Still waiting.

 

I thought it was suppose to be be too?!? Here's a thought, maybe if you disabled your gpu and tried to run widi, maybe it would be less glitchy when you stream. Maybe the new updates for the gpu drivers isn't taking taking widi into consideration.

 

Out of curiosity, do you think WiDi might work better through the Intel IGP? Have you tried it?

 

I bought the ASUS U43F notebook recently, and noticed references to this "Express Gate" instant on OS in the "eManual" and throughout this thread. However, upon pressing the instant on button while the notebook is off, nothing happens, and upon inspection of disk management, I've found that no partition even exists for it to be installed to.

Could this be Best Buy's doing? Has anyone else who bought their computer through them noticed this missing? I know they like to "optimize" their computers' experiences (ie. load it with their own bloatware and hide the existing bloatware and delete things). And more importantly, is it possible for me to install it still and have it work with the instant on button?

 

I have a feeling that IGP is going to work better with WiDi, since that was the planned design according to older reviews.

BTW, Sony cancelled my order...haha. They won't honor their price mistake. Oh well, now I can focus on which Asus laptop to buy. Between the U33JC and U35JC. Going to be jumping between this thread and the other alot. Also seeing you in both Quatro

 

Hey guys, I'm at Best Buy right now and they only have the U43F, which doesn't have the dedicated 310M graphics card the U43jc has. Do you know where I might be able to find a U43jc with the Nvidia geforce 310m?

On a related note, I'm trying to make a decision in this category of laptop. Would you owners suggest buying the U43jc, the HP Envy 14, the Acer TimelineX or the Lenovo Y460, based on your experience? My initial impression is that the u43 is the coolest, the envy 14 is the most powerful, the timelineX is the good all rounder, but has poor build quality and is built by questionable ACER, and the Lenovo is the best bang for the buck but looks horrible. Anyone around to help me out with these issues?

Thanks.

 

Check out the first page on this thread. You can get the U43JC from gentech, xoticpc and amazon. amazon doesn't have the u43jc-a1 in stock yet, which has bluetooth, 640gb hd, and 2 year warranty. Amazon does have a $150 gift card promotion going on though. Gentech and xoticpc seem to have the u43jc-a1 in stock and shipped to you by the end of the week. My two choices would be between the asus and lenovo. Envy 14 is nice, but not a fan of the quality history of hp.

If you were checking out the bestbuy version which is pretty dialed back for $849, you might want to check out amazon. If you use amazon alot...the $150 gift card sort of makes the laptop $850 for the X1 line. Use an american express credit card and you automatically add 1 year to warranty. that's my recommendation.

 

Hey,

First time poster, anyways a few days ago I just received my u33jc-a1. Noticed that there was a lot of useless utilities, I want to do a fresh install of windows, so how exactly would I do that considering that the u33 doesnt have an optical drive?

Also what exactly was that bios update you guys were talking about?

Many thanks

 

You can either load up a copy of windows 7 on a pretty big flash drive to boot from or use an external dvd drive with cd/dvds for a clean install. There is a new bios update on the asus site. Similar to a firmware update but for the Bios system. Asus says the update relates to VGA issues. No one has commented on any improvements to system performance so far. Follow Bios update directions carefully from what you can find on this site. If you do it carelessly, you can brick your notebook and make it useless. Just read up and take some precautions prior to updating your bios. Quatro uses the Winflash software without any problems, so follow his directions. Some others prefer using the EasyFlash software method, which will update without running windows 7.

Here's a guide. ASUS Guide to Updating Bios

 

Bummer, DuYaKnow. Sorry that Sony didn't honor that amazing price.

Well, both the U33 & U35 seem very nice machines with different features & feel.

Be seeing you hopping about between the two threads!

BTW, I found out from GenTech that the U35 is incredibly hard to change out the qireless card but the U33, because it's thicker, is very easy to change out the card.

 

I've been thinking about ordering a U33JC and have been searching several sites. I was checking CDW for availability as well as pricing and it appears they have discontinued this laptop on Monday September 20th. see below. Does this mean that CDW is discontinuing because they can't get it or is Asus discontinuing it already?
MGC


ASUS Bamboo U33JC A1 - Core i3 370M 2.4 GHz - 13.3" TFT
Mfg. Part: U33JC-A1 | CDW Part: 2139323 | UNSPSC: 43211503
Asus

This product was discontinued as of Monday, September 20, 2010. Call for availability.
Core i3 370M / 2.4 GHz - RAM 4 GB - HDD 500 GB - GF 310M / HD Graphics - Gigabit Ethernet - WLAN : 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR - Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit - 13.3" Widescreen TFT 1366 x 768 ( WXGA ) Color Shine - camera - bamboo - Microsoft Off

 

I think it's too early to consider it being discontinued. Alot of the vendors here still have it for preorder or waitlist. As you read through here...some have already received the first shipment. The only place that has one in stock is amazon if you want to get one soon. If not, it's actually cheaper to order the U33JC through the first page links of vendors...especially with the 3% cashback incentive.

BUT...I can see asus making this a limited edition kinda thing, if they wanted to. I don't know though. But having this dark bamboo laptop is a nice change from the brushed aluminum and definitely glossy plastics.

 

I just want to point out that anyone that pays in cash to get the 3% savings is a fool.

 

Haha...depends on the person. I for one agree with you, since I'd use my american express card to get cash back and a 1 year warranty extension. I believe certain visa signature cards will add warranty too, but with headache paperwork to fill out

@bigdoof - So are you gonna keep the U43Jc? I think you had quite a few negative remarks on the build.

 

I did another clean install today and started installing only drivers and programs listed on the U33Jc download page. WiDi is definitely playing better, but it still isn't as good as it was. There is a very slight constant stutter which prevents the picture from looking perfectly smooth.

I am still working to get it back to its silky smooth playback that I first enjoyed, but I noticed something VERY odd. I ran the Windows Experience Index thing and it returned a score of only 3.5. The HP I have here with a P8400 scores a 5.9 so I know something is wrong. The i3 370m should register somewhere around 6.7 according to notebookcheck. Any ideas?

While running the same WiDi test I did the first time, CPU usage is now around 80%, before it was only 30-40%. Something isn't right.

I had thought about the idea that perhaps the Optimus isn't playing nice, but I believe it was functioning when I did my first test. Right now I think there is either a driver I haven't installed yet or.... that bios update didn't do me any favors. Hopefully it is the former.

CPU-Z shows my core speed at 1150 MHz, multiplier x 9.0, bus speed 127.8, QPI Link 2300 MHz. Also, could someone comment on their Total Physical Memory? System Information shows I only have 3.67 GB out of the 4 GB installed.

 

When you say you WiDi test the first time...are you referring to the time it use to run smoothly?

If you're cpu usage is more now, and streaming more smoothly...then it sounds like your IGC is doing most of the work now. Did you check to see if your discrete or IGC was working during the stream? It does sound like Optimus is being a little glitchy. You said you think it was functioning...so maybe figure that out first with one of the apps. Also if your optimus isn't running correctly, you might be using the IGC during your WEI test. Hence the poor score.

 

The first time I used WiDi (after my first clean install) I tested it by putting it in extended desktop mode and playing an HD .mkv. The playback was near perfect without this slight stutter I have now. I assume that Optimus was working the first time I tried WiDi as it does so now when doing the same test.

Now when I try using WiDi, I can see for sure when the Nvidia GPU is on. It really doesn't seem to be lightening the load on the CPU though.

After my second clean install I installed newer drivers that weren't on the U33Jc download page as well as updated the Bios. This is when WiDi was completely useless due to poor performance. I am now on my third clean install and things are better than they were after the second clean install, but still not as good as after the first clean install.

As for the WEI, the Optimus tool shows the Nvidia GPU is turning on. My gaming graphics score is 5.6 which seems appropriate. My 3.5 processor score most certainly isn't normal though. It should be almost double that.

Could someone tell me what driver they have installed for their processor? I am showing my driver is provided by Microsoft (version 6.1.7600.16385) that dates back to 6/21/2006. I am going to take a wild guess and assume this has something to do with my low WEI processor score. I can't think what driver I didn't install from the download page though. That is the problem.

 

hope the problem is the chip driver then. on asus's website, the driver version for the chipset is Version V9.1.1.1023 and was updated on 2009/12/30. Wish I had the notebook in hand, so I can fiddle around with it. But hopefully someone can tell you what there version is. If increasing version number is an indicator of being more up to date... you might be way behind.

 

Thanks for checking that, but yea, I installed that chipset driver and it doesn't update the CPU driver or several other things that I would think it would update. Things like Intel(R) 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port, Intel (R) HM55 Express Chipset LPC Interface Controller, Intel(R) 82801 PCI Bridge, and Intel(R) 82802 Hub Device all show the same Microsoft Driver.

Anyone with a U33Jc or even a similar model care to chime in with some driver versions for me?

update:
Just checked the HP I have sitting here and it has the same Microsoft driver for its processor. I am going to assume this is normal. Guess that makes diagnosing my problem even harder now. Damn.

update:
Well, I am seriously considering restoring the old bios. That is about the only thing that is different now. I don't know what else could be responsible for such a huge CPU performance hit while using WiDi, not to mention the low WEI score.

 

thanks guys,

I read all threads... and im lucky to buy ASUS bamboo U43JC for my daughter

My question is: does U43JC's screen come with AUO or Hannstar?

thank you in advance

 

@case1: I got the same driver, did a clean reinstall of win7 home premium yesterday. My CPU (i5 M450) scored 6,8.

Edit: I did the bios update as well so that should not be the reason for your low scoring.



@JoshTexax: The display supplier is Chunghwa Picture Tubes (CPT), the model is CPT17D5 as shown in the hardware properties.

Regards,
harhar

 

Thanks for info about the bios update.

But how would I get a copy of window 7? Im not sure if its just me, but asus never gave me a copy windows 7?

 

Has anybody tried to boot from a flash drive? I can't seem to get it working. I used Win2flash and created a bootable flash drive that all of my other computers happily boot, but the u33 just gives me a blinking cursor.

any ideas?

 

@junglizste: I installed Win 7 using a usb flash drive. I prepared the flash drive using the microsoft tool "windows 7 usb dvd download tool" ( http://wudt.codeplex.com/).
After selecting the flash drive to boot from (press "esc") the installation procedure started.
I had a strange problem though: I had plugged in the flash drive on the right side of the notebook. After the first few steps the installation procedure demanded DVD/CD drivers to continue the installation, obviously there was some problem in recognizing the flash drive. After reading about that issue I tried another flash drive and there I got exactly the same problem as you described, only a blinking cursor appeared. So maybe you should check out another flash drive and / or use the microsoft tool for preparation.

Well, then I tried the first flash drive again but I put it in on the left side and then it worked just perfectly.

 

your overall experience index is 3.5? That's definitely too low. Mine is 4.5.

cpu is 6.8., Intel graphics 4.5, Gaming graphics 5.6.

I haven't updated the bios. I have no VGA problems and I learned: never change a running sysytem;-)

I use only drivers from Asus site.

I hope you can fix the problem. Have you tried to use the recovery image from the harddrive? That way you know if it is one of the drivers or the bios...

 

I tried the microsoft tool but it seemed it would only take an ISO, not a DVD in the drive. I tried making an image but I guess it would only take an office microsoft image download.

I tried several SD card readers and the SD slot, they wouldn't work. the flash drive I used is the only one I own big enough.

 

I made the image myself using imgburn so that shouldn't be a problem. Just to eliminate possible sources of your problem you could try.
But I think it's more likely the kind of flash drive you're using that causes the problem, I remember having read about some compatibilty issues regarding certain pc/flashdrive combinations (not asus related).
I also had tried to directly use an SD card, but that would not be even recognized as bootable. When I put the SD card into a SD/USB adapter I got the same error you described.

 

my sony vaio has no problems booting on any of the methods I tried on the asus. I guess I'll trouble shoot it some more... maybe just borrow a USB DVD drive.

Booting from the SD card is quite useful, I've done it on my Sony many times.

sounds like an asus BIOS issue to me.

hopefully I can get it working.

 

Are you using BIOS 208? My machine is supposed to arrive tomorrow and I'm wondering if I should update seeing as your laptop is running fine but Case1 is having some problems.

Anybody else update their BIOS and is experiencing problems now?

 

I think that's called "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

3.6 means his CPU is running slow (SHE still on) or he's only running on one core.

 

The latest BIOS update for the U33Jc on the ASUS site is now 209 dated 2010/09/17. It reads "Firmware change for VGA" so it is a video fix, most likely to do with nVidia drivers.

Everyone come and get your BIOS video fix while they're hot . . .

 

As stated above I updated to the newer bios and the score stayed the same (6.8 for the i5 m450) so I guess case1's problems are related to other issues.

Regards,
harhar

 

Still trying to figure out how to do a fresh install of windows when I dont even have a cd drive and dont even know where the window 7 os setup files are located?

Anways while trying to figure this out, I realised that in the bios asus has an option call Easy Overclock Mode, default was on super turbo something like that. Would this make a difference if I switched it back to standard?

btw: using an i3 processor

heard someone say that this is applicable only to the u33jc with i5?

 

@ djcheeze: The image files that came with your notebook are located on a hidden partition, you can burn them by using the asus "AI recovery" tool. If you install an image burner like phantom drive you can create image files instead of having to use an external burner. But if you intend to reinstall windows to avoid all that bloatware etc... well using this windows 7 image will rebiuld the system as it came including all the unnecessary tools, games and so on.

So you could download a clean windows 7 version from somewhere else (I think someone already described it in this thread earlier) and use your serial that is printed on the bottom on the notebook. You bought one license for e.g. windows home premium so that should be legal. Be aware you should get exactly the version your product code is valid for, otherwise it may not work.

 

This probably won't work. OEM licenses rarely work on retail copies even if they are the same exact version.

Tried to do this with my vaio laptop... came with home premium, used home premium retail disk... got "you stole this copy of windows" warnings... installed loader in frustration.

there are utilities that allow you to "inject" your license information into the currently installed version of windows that will create a "more legit" install of windows than using activation bypassing loaders.

 

Dammit I want my U53

 

Well it worked for me I used a regular Windows 7 DVD and up to now no messages appeared.

 

harhar

you think you can post the link where you dled the windows 7 =D

 

I think this is the wrong board for those things...sorry dude. And who said I downloaded it? I borrowed a friend's DVD and created an image from that. But it is a regular version, no OEM. So if you find such a version it should do it.

 

By the way just want to let you know guys that if you don't want to keep the Windows 7 Home premium license, you can ask Asus for a refund. You need to ask for it within the first 14 days after the purchase.

I sent an email to Asus and got a quick reply which let me know about the requirements and what I should do to get it.

I already have a license so it's perfect for me

 

Having already done 3 clean installs on my U33, I can confirm that the license on the bottom will work with a retail disc. I had a flash drive with a copy of Win7 Home Premium and had no problems. I will admit that my flash drive wasn't working at first so I had to download a (not so legitimate) copy to re-create my flash drive. There is an official Microsoft tool for taking a disc image of Win7 and creating a bootable flash drive. How you get your ISO is your own business. I own a license of Win7 so I should be able to procure it however I wish. If you want some more help/advice, PM me.

The first time I tried my flash drive I got the blinking cursor. The flash drive would work fine on my HP machine but not on the Asus. I downloaded a new ISO and used the Microsoft tool and sure enough it worked. Occasionally I will get brought to a page asking for drivers or something that it can't find, if that happens I would just restart and for some reason it would work.

 

When he says "download a legal copy of Win 7", I think he means an ISO or other image file (referenced on a thread here on this forum), and that WOULD be an OEM version, not a retail version. The notebook's key would then work. I know this is true because I did it.

Guys, no, no, no. Microsoft makes available LEGAL ISO and BOX files of their OEM versions of Windows 7. They are utterly legit and accessible files. He doesn't need to go to some dark torrent location or sneak it from a friend. HERE is the thread on this forum that openly talks about it.

And HERE is the direct link to the Microsoft ISO file to burn a bootable image of Windows 7 Home Premium x64. You'll note that the link is to Digital River, Microsoft's official distribution arm.

If you need to boot and install from a flash drive then there are other threads that tell you what files you need to do this.

I hope that helps a bit.