ASUS U500vz/UX51vz Owners' Lounge!

No, you can't.

 

but in models with 128GB ssd and 500GB hdd we have place for hdd. u500 with 2 x 256 ssd has different construction?

 

Yes, different motherboard.

 

What do you base that on? There should be room for one SSD stick + a 7mm HDD by just using a special cable and replacing (if needed) the metal contraption. Using a different motherboard would be an incredible waste of resources.
http://www.notebookcheck.com/typo3temp/pics/a0d0d1750f.jpg

 

Don't try to invent the wheel, it was explained in the other U500VZ thread with pictures. Different motherboard, different connectors, different SSD, different chipset etc.

 

Is this an app that comes with the standard Asus Win 8 install?

I blew the factory installed OS away a few minutes after receiving my UX51 and installed Win 8 Pro dual boot with Mint 14 Linux.

I checked the Asus website and Googled for Maxbass, but don't see where to get it.
Anyone know?


More info - this is a third party app from Waves that PC vendors like Dell and Asus include. And it also looks like Asus doesn't provide any support, nor does Waves. Maxx - Professional Sound for Consumer Electronics There does NOT seem to be a way to reinstall the app without completely reinstalling the factory OS from the recovery/system reserved portion of the disk which I blew away when I broke the RAID0 to dual boot Linux and Win 8 Pro.

If anyone can think of a way to extract it from the recovery and package it by itself, I will happily host the download on my servers, then notify both companies that I am doing so for registered Asus owners. Sadly I have been away from Windows for 8 years, so am out of mainstream app packaging.

 

MaxxAudio is available on the UX51VZ drivers website.

 

Exactly, maxxaudio can just be installed. Also, installing the Realtek drivers downloaded from Realtek themselves also gives you a comparable tool. So I wonder how you ended up without it.. Unless you didn't install any audio driver and used the windows version.

 

Different motherboard: Haven't seen that and a quick search doesn't show anything like that.
Different connectors: there are pictures that show a standard 2.5" SATA connector _footprint_ (that is: one can directly solder in a 2.5" SATA connector) on the current 2x"Asus special" SSD models.
Different SSD: yeah there are ADATA and Sandisk variants that have the same format and the same connector.
Different chipset: with the same footprint -> uses the same motherboard.

Not mentioned in your post but:
Different GPU: with the same footprint (even using the same silicon).

And furthermore what's limiting expansion is the chassis and that is the same for all models. The Asus connector is a smaller SATA variant and can therefore be adapted to a normal 2.5" disk unless the voltage levels differ. I've done a partial reverse engineering of the connector pin out and can do a full one within a day if I need to. I however don't think Asus engineers are stupid so instead I'll just wait until an Asus->SATA cable is available as a spare part and buy it instead.

 

You are trying to be smart but it doesn't work.

Motherboard is not different by shape or size so you are correct it's the same.

Type 1: HM76, 1x SATA 2.5", 24GB SSD soldered to the motherboard as on other Zenbooks

Type 2: HM76, 1x SATA 2.5", 128GB SSD also soldered to the motherboard

Type 3: HM77, 2x proprietary SATA

 

What is the difference between HM76 and HM77??
Edit: if I look at the specs it seems that the only differences are:
- HM76 supports up to 8 USB 2.0 while HM77 supports up to 10 (both supports up to 4 USB 3.0)
- HM77 supports RAID, HM76 doesn't

Do you know something else?

 

Apart from a difference in USB counts (14 vs 12) I can't see any more.

 

HM76 doesn't support Intel RST.

Inviato dal mio GT-I9100 con Tapatalk 2

 

Does it mean that the 24 and 128 GB SSD caches will be seen as indipendent drives by the OS? It would be great for the 128GB, but the 24GB one would be useless..

Sent from HTC HD2 with Tapatalk

 

Chipset doesn't support hardware RAID but the computer does support RST. Same configuration is used in UX32VD and Lenovo Y580, both have HM76 and caching SSD.

24GB SSD is soldered and we know where because it's the same as in UX32VD, but 128GB SSD is to large to be soldered in the same place so there is still a little mystery left. Other unknown is the ram configuration because I have some indication that the cheaper (HM76) version has 2GB RAM soldered instead of 4GB same as UX32VD.

 

Is there any chance for it to be a standard mSATA?

This would be a shame... To be honest I don't even need more than 8GB RAM, but many people do


Sent from HTC HD2 with Tapatalk

 

I can confirm that the model sold in Slovenia with hm76 had only 2GB of ram soldered on the motherboard. This is a retarded move by Asus. If I were them I would soldere 8GB and leave one slot free. This would cost them what 5-10 $ more.

 

Unfortunately our world is driven by marketing choices

 

Well not that I usually brag but I _am_ smart
You are 100% correct though so it looks like I'll have to do a proper reverse engineering and make my own adapter to upgrade :/

 

Let us know how it works please...you may start a business

 

You could be sure that I would buy one Then we would just need some mounting options for the "normal size" SSD. Would be interresting if one of the proprietary "msatas" would still fit then.

 

Anyone able to tell me how to access the RAID configuration utility on the UX51VZ?

I have just secure erased both drives successfully with PartedMagic Boot Disc in AHCI mode and after switching back to RAID in BIOS I cant setup the new Volume anywhere. Now windows only allows me to install it to either of the two.

Ive tried CTRL + I / R / L...nothing will start the utility, but maybe there is another button configuration?

 

What do you think about the reliability of SSD drives in the Model u500 with 2 x 256 SSD. SSD drives in general are unreliable and may at any time issue a blue screen or other failure, and 2 SSD - a double unreliability. Plus, there are custom SSD and could not be replaced by the other rapidly. I can do a full backup of windows to an external drive, but in an emergency situation, the only way to quickly proceed will be purchasing a new laptop and restore windows from backup. for me, reliability is everything. Lost laptop for an hour I can lose more money than the cost of the laptop, and even get into a life-threatening situation. Can I trust this SSD or better look for another laptop? how to ensure the reliability and security of data in the model, so that in case of damage SSD to quickly continue my work?

 

I would not trust any built-in device if data loss is so critical for you. Why not work off a (cloned pair of) USB drive(s)? In a pinch, it could even be outfitted with a full OS and apps installation, as well as your data. Such an external device would let you resume work at any time, with minimal hassle, just without the stellar I/O numbers.

 

You always want data in two different locations, an in system backup is ok until you get a virus or someone steals your machine.

 

what about raid-1 in u500 with 2x256 ssd? 1 ssd is main and 2 ssd is mirror. if 1 ssd failed, i just switch to 2 ssd. ofcourse i will lose some perfomance, but it is not critical and safety of my OS and data will be better. anyway i will get some time to find new ssd or new laptop without stop my work. should i reinstall windows to work with raid-1 or there are some other ways?

 

I am trying to install Ubuntu on the U500vz / UX51 VZ, but so far no luck.

Trying the normal install from a Ubuntu 12.10 DVD, selected the option to use the full drive / wipe existing data. When the installer is nearly done, it ends with the message "Executing 'grub-install /dev/sda' failed. This is a fatal error".

Did anyone succeed in installing Ubuntu on that machine? Could you pls. post your installation steps?

 

I've had no problem installing Ubuntu on this machine. I haven't tried installing it on the BIOS raid0, instead split the into two individual disks. I guess that's what could be the problem, as joined HDD can still be presented by BIOS as SDA, but instead being the joined RAID0 device.

in any case, I would recommend against ever using BIOS pseudoRAID and install on separate disks. If you still need both disks joined, better use Linux softraid instead.

 

Raid 1 is a terrible backup plan for the reasons I listed to be honest.

You can't usually migrate to an array so you would have to create and image and then form the array to move to it.

 

I did install it using the bios fakeraid. I had to use the "use full drive" option and select the second disk (larger one). Installing manually is a mess. Maybe I'll make a backup and try Linux softraid instead.

Has anyone succeeded in reclaming the 20GB partition and making one big partition?

 

Nope, after breaking Raid0 there seems to be no way of getting into the SATA controller and recreate a new Raid0 volume. Also the Intel RAID configuration utility for DOS cant find the SSDs so there is no workaround either.

If I had known ASUS is treating us like Apple customers, limiting access to the SATA controller...I would have returned this notebook during the trial period!

EDIT: just got a written confirmation by ASUS suppoert saying that, if you break RAID0 there is no way getting it back unless you send it in to ASUS!!! You will be stuck with two separate SSDs in AHCI/IDE only...

 

How did you split the raid0 to individual disks? The only option I see in the BIOS is 'Advanced > SATA Configuration > SATA Mode Selection' where I changed [RAID] to both [AHCI] and also [IDE]. With no luck however - the Ubuntu installer still shows me the list of raid devices, and installing grub on any of these or /dev/sda fails.

 

I don't remember how the original partition table looked like, but I just erased it and split both disks to my own likings.
Here is my current setup


/dev/sda (with new windoze 8 install, with part of the drive given to use in linux.)

Number Start (sector) End (sector) Size Code Name
1 2048 616447 300.0 MiB 2700 Basic data partition
2 616448 819199 99.0 MiB EF00 EFI system partition
3 819200 1081343 128.0 MiB 0C01 Microsoft reserved part
4 1081344 128038911 60.5 GiB 0700 Basic data partition
5 128038912 250069646 58.2 GiB 8300 Linux filesystem


/dev/sdb (linux drive)

Number Start (sector) End (sector) Size Code Name
1 2048 4095 1024.0 KiB 8300 Linux filesystem
2 4096 226068479 107.8 GiB 8300 Linux filesystem
3 226068480 250067789 11.4 GiB 8200 Linux swap

 

Hm, my problem is that I don't even get there.
- Any try from the Ubuntu 12.10 setup (option erase disk, option manual setup then trying to change the partition table) fails with some error messages
- Launching GParted shows me: "Liparted Bug Found" / "Invalid argument during seek for read on /dev/sda" right on startup, and if I ignore that, a bunch of other obscure error msgs.

How did you manage to erase those darn drives in the first place?

[Update] Using a GParted Live CD with the newest gparted version worked fine - correctly detected the drives and let me erase them. Ubuntu works quite fine now.

 

Hey Guys!

I have a problem and hope one of you can help me! All of a sudden the 3 fingers gesture to go back in the Internet Explorer does not work anymore. FIrst I thought I messed around with some addons; however, a friend has the UX31 and I compared the respective addons on both devices and could no make out any differences.

Someone of you has an idea what to do? I already de- and then activated the IE, but also without success.

It`s really annoying to use the IE without this feature.


One more thing: Does any of you use Bluetooth devices with the laptop? Is there any application recommended or are you using the native one?

Thanks!

 

I have BT Speakers and I don't use anything except the preinstalled stuff, which works great so far!

 

I guess the powersupply is meat flavored - mine got chomped down too!
Any luck finding a replacement yet?

 

Has anyone bought this laptop from Amazon?

I'm from the UK and considering buying it from there, opening it and seeing just how loud the whole 'fan-gate' issue is. If it's too loud, send it back and get my money back - thats if Amazon don't charge a restocking fee, free returns policy - thats the information I'm really seeking.

Any help?

 

Theory: The soft high-frequency whine that this adapter emits (sigh) acts like a dog-whistle.

 

Ouch! I feel you bro.

I can only find third party adapters (not the nice looking one in the picture, but more rectangular/oblong regular adapters). I had a conversation with a guy at Laptop Battery and Laptop AC Adapter asking for the original adapter, but it was hard to understand him fully and I do not believe they have the original one.

Use this product number to search for it: EXA1202YH

Third party adapter for 32$: Search Results

I will wait until I can find a original adapter because it looks so nice

 

I do not believe this, as my dog was chewing on the connector part and the adapter was at least a meter away from it. He never chews on cords otherwise, but this time the connector part was lying right next to where he usually is sleeping so I guess that triggered it.

 

Bought U500VZ on monday, and I love it =) The screen is awesome althought there is some lightleaking, but not visible in normal use. Sound is great but Im only hoping to get the new bios soon as possible. Fan noise is terrible. Disabled gpu to reduce it, but still the fan noise is like a wind motor. Got a mail today from Asus and they don't know when they update the bios :/ Current bios in a laptop is even newer that they offer on suppor site!! I have a bios-version A (UX51VZA.203 - from 13.9.2012)

 

The BIOS has been updated to 204 which cuts the noise fan slightly. It doesn't eliminate it but it does the trick! Here's a quicklink if you can't be bothered to find it yourself:

 

So far only for VZ, not VZA. At least thats what my Winflash says. Not compatible!

 

Thank you - i have seen it already - but im waiting to get it from Asus. It's not listed on their support site and their tech-support says, that they don't know when it's comming.

Hopefully soon!

 

The file linked originally by Quindor is known to be good, though. Several users, including me, have applied it with good results.

 

I've got the VZA (thought I only had the VZ, but went to BIOS and pushed F12 and found out otherwise). I've applied the BIOS update I linked and it works perfectly and reduces fan noise appreciably. If you're absolutely certain you have the VZ and not the VZA, then the update is already available on the Asus Global Support website, as that's what I downloaded first by mistake!

 

Wow this laptop looks really impressive, but just a couple of questions.
1. Has anyone tried overclocking cpu/gpu on this? What kind of benchmark scores were you getting?
2. What was the battery life like with low brightness, just browsing the web not doing anything power hungry?
3. Would you recommend this laptop for heavy video editing, or do you think an ultrabook and a desktop would be better to suit my needs?

 

My new best on 3dmark11 is P2754 with a basic overclock of +135 proc +499 mem.

 

I did finally test my own SD card reader - thankfully it didn't corrupt my pictures, but the card does indeed stay a bit awkwardly inside. Seems to be a common trend - my girlfriend's samsung - not an ultrabook - takes the cards the same way (except they dont stick out that much)