Asus F8VA Montevina Mobile Platform review

I guess it's a trade off for performance, but the new M70VM got 3 hours and 20 minutes on battery saving.

F8VA only got 2 Hours and 12 minutes maybe because it's only a 6 cell battery.

 

Would a bluethooth mouse/headphones work in express gate?

 

Headphone and Wifi works in Express Gate but Bluetooth does not work.

 

Is it recomended to keep the have the battery removed if the laptop is going to be plugged in for a extended period of time to keep the battery from wearing out?

 

Doesn't matter because it won't over charge but just make sure don't let the battery run into deep discharge:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li-ion

 

How hot does it get? Does the fan stay on all the time?

 

1. Can you upgrade to 64 bit vista with the discs that come with the computer?

2. Does the M50VM have that Hybrid-SLI thing with the 9600M GS where you can switch between discrete and integrated graphics? Or is this not available yet (only when Centrino 2 fully comes out in august)

 

No.

No, not currently afaik. The Igpu has to be built into the motherboard, and while C2 provides support for that option to be enabled it's anybody's guess what/when Asus might incorporate that into which models (if at all, before the initial round of model's post-Montevina launch updates is over - i.e. probably 4th qtr earliest).

 

Thank you for the review, it was added to the Info Booth sticky.

 

Is there any word on if XP or vista 64 can be installed on this? I checked the Asus site and only saw Vista 32 drivers.

 

Asus drivers works on both Vista 32 and 64.

For XP, like M50VM, you just have to find the drivers for it, ATI card might be more complicated but it can be done by down load Mobility Modder from www.driverheaven.net:

http://www.driverheaven.net/modtool.php

 

What exactly is the Asus recovery DVD? Is there a way to get a real vista dvd as well? thanks Ken.

 

See Info Booth, frequently asked question #14.

 

Are there any plans for asus to release a 14 in montevina laptop with a graphics card that is about asa powerful as the one in the f8sn. I really want this laptop because of the new montevina platform, but the graphics card is not powerful enough for me. I would get the m50 but i really wasnt looking to get a 15 incher because i need it to be under 6 pounds. So, can anyone tell me what are my options. Is there any way for me to get the f8sn but with the centrino 2 platform? Any help or ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

We will only get the ATI HD3650 with Montevina platform for now.

 

does anyone know when a higher end F8VA will be released, such as a F8VA-C1.

 

Does anyone know if there exist any Win XP drivers for the F8VA???

GenTechPC posted a website where you can get the graphics driver. But what about all the other drivers?

I ordered an F8SN (in Germany), yet it is out of stock (supposedly forever; and I do not want to get it from another store). They told me that the successor, the F8VA will be released soon.

Now, I want to use Win XP, but where to get the drivers?

 

Thank you, i guess im going to be getting the m50....

 

Try the drivers I listed on the M50Vm review, everything will be the same except the video card.

 

That would be great. Thanks.


I assume you refer to this review.

Yet, aren't there more drivers needed than these (for the fingerprint sensor, camera, etc.)?

Further, Asus states that the F8VA has a "Mobile Intel® PM45 Express Chipset +ICH8M"
and the M50VM has the +ICH9M. Will that make a difference?

I am a bit confused abou the specs of the F8VA-4S004G: In some reviews I read it has a 4-in-one card reader. Others state it has a 5-in-one, and yet others again state it has an 8-in-one card reader. Which one is true?

Are there different version of the same model (4S004G) being released for different countries? The one I am referring to above is from Australia - and I am waiting for the F8VA to be released in Germany (supposedly on the 29th of July).
I am just wondering due to the spec differences.


Is the only difference between the F8VA-B1 and 4S004G the size of the Harddisk and the speed of the CPU?


Thanks.

 

the m50 is prob a better buy now
although there's only a few results to go by, the m50 seems to have a way better battery life than the f8va for some odd reason

 

This has express gate? Awesome. Does the G50 also come with it?

 

I believe all the asus montevina's do.

 

Wow.

How come the battery life is so poor? I mean if the m50vm-a1 can muster 2hrs 50min, it seems unfathomable that a 14.1'' can't even attain 2hrs 30min. That ATi video card just drained 35minutes of life away ._.

That or the battery used in the F8VA is horrible.

I was close to buying this but with battery life like this, I don't know.

 

XP Drivers:




For easy installtion press F2 at asus logo screen to enter BIOS, go to Advanced tab and IDE Controller, setup SATA mode from Enhance to Compatible, press F10 and exit.


Below is the drivers you can install from drivers DVD:

Always install Intel INF Update first:
D:\SOFTWARE\INFUPDATE\SETUP.EXE

D:\DRIVER\ ATK0100\VISTA32\2KSETUP.EXE
D:\DRIVER\ KB_FILTER\VISTA32\2KSETUP.EXE

D:\SOFTWARE\ ATKHOTKEY\SETUP.EXE
D:\SOFTWARE\ ATKOSD2\SETUP.EXE

D:\SOFTWARE\ RICOH\SETUP.EXE
D:\Software\ BTOOTH\AZUREWAVE\WIN32\BRCM\DPINST.EXE
D:\SOFTWARE\ MODEM\LSI\VISTA32\Setup.exe
D:\SOFTWARE\ EXPRESSGATE\SETUP.EXE
D:\SOFTWARE\ FINGERPRINT\VISTA32_64\SETUPAIM.EXE
D:\SOFTWARE\ TOUCHPAD\VISTA32\Setup.exe
D:\SOFTWARE\ WCONSOLE\SETUP.EXE


Drivers you need to download:

Video Card:
Step 1:
Download Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0

Step 2:
Download the ATI Catalyst Desktop driver:

Step 3:
Download Mobility Modder from driversheaven.net and follow the Installation guide to mod the ATI driver.




Atheros AR928X Wireless lan (use update driver from Device Manger to install):
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=14858

Realtek Lan Driver (use update driver from Device Manger to install):
ftp://61.56.86.122/cn/nic/Driver_5694_XP_0619.zip


Realtek Audio Driver:
ftp://202.65.194.212/pc/audio/WDM_R199.zip

Audio
There are 2 audio drivers you need to download:
Link 1: ftp://202.65.194.212/pc/audio/WDM_R199.exe
Link 2: ftp://202.65.194.211/pc/audio/WDM_R199.exe
Link 3: ftp://66.104.77.130/pc/audio/WDM_R199.exe

Also the HDMI Audio driver:
Link 1: ftp://202.65.194.211/pc/audio/HDMI_R197.exe
Link 2: ftp://66.104.77.130/pc/audio/HDMI_R197.exe
Link 3: ftp://61.56.69.18/pc/audio/HDMI_R197.exe

Power4Gear:
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/10891/eng/P4G_V1.16_Generic.zip


IR Driver still not work in XP.

 

whats the battery life like when using express gate?

 

I am getting BSODs whenever I try and boot Vista when not in compatible mode. Ive heard it needs to be in compatible for XP but not Vista. Whats going on?

 

I have a quick question, Does this laptop support audio through HDMI like a 3650 should? I hear it supports up to 5.1 audio correct? If so that would be a great bonus as I'm deciding between this and a f8sn-c1, sure the sn has the quicker gpu and cpu, but I cant say no to audio through HDMI for some portable home theatre goodness.

 

Battery life in ExpressGate is worst than in Vista.

The SATA mobe need to set in Enhance mode before install Vista, it's default in Enhance mode so you shouldn't have problem with SATA mode, unless it was set it compatible mode before install Vista and then change back to Enhance mode.

Yes it does support HDMI video and audio, the F8SN does not have HDMI port.

 

Thanks so much Ken. ;-)

Which Drivers DVD are you referring to?

Because where I order I can only switch Vista for XP. Is there an additional Drivers DVD?

 

Ken if i get this laptop and ask you to put windows xp on with all driversncan you keep vista on so i can dual boot. I mean might as well right its better than just throwing away vista.

 

I got my F8va-b1 a few days ago from Gentech and love it so far. I have been gaming alot and it has worked like a champ.

 

Yeah, this laptop is running COD4 flawlessly right now. Such a huge improvement over my old compaq with GMA950...
Smoooth laptop.

edit: how do i boot into express gate?

 

It is running COD4 flawlessly? That is weird seeing as in the video in this review it was slowing down to around 10fps.

 

Hit that button that looks like a circle with a thunderbolt above it.

 

F8Va-C1 is out...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220338

As far as I see, there are two updates:

320GB HDD (in B1, this was 250GB)
T9400 CPU (in B1, this was P8400)

Time to replace my 3 yr old Z70V with F8Va-C1

 

Hopefully Xoticpc will have the C1 soon, I get charged tax if I order from Newegg.

 

Asus just did it again. Other than video card it's the same notebook as the F8Sn-C1. Surely there's little difference between Penyrn & Montevina. The FSB difference will only show up in synthetic test , if then.

I mean if one is looking to buy a new laptop then go with newest (best?) technology. But why does Asus continue with the new/old models ?

Btw...EXCELLENT review !

 

That's what I think too... There is no point to purchase an F8SN-C1 at the moment.

Comparing the newegg prices of FSVa-C1 and F8SN-C1, for only $100 addition, you can get :

- Montevina platform
- 1 GB additional Memory (4GB as opposed to 3GB)
- Higher FSB processor (1066 MHz as opposed to 800MHz)
- HDMI and E-SATA ports

 

The F8VA has express gate too. I think that is also another plus to getting the F8VA.

 

If you already own a F8Sn-C1, there is probably no point in buying the FSVa-C1.
However, buying a new laptop, a hundred bucks buys you a decent amount of performance.

The three things you mentioned, and also these:
* T9400 high performance processor http://www.intel.com/en_UK/Consumer/Learn/Notebook/core2duo-detail.htm
* ATI graphics with double the RAM (1024MB) http://ati.amd.com/products/mobilityradeonhd3600/specs.html

This means to me, for a hundred bucks you're getting 500 bucks of added features.

I was considering a Toshiba Tecra M9, since CPU performance is my main goal for a this laptop. http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/pdet.to?seg=HHO&poid=417537&coid=-33778
But for a lower price, the ASUS gives you a ton more.

This will fill a gap in performance that neither my HP dv6040us (2GB RAM, 1.61GHz AMD Turion) nor Asus Eee 701 (obviously, 512MB RAM, 800Mhz Intel) can fill.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00698685&lc=en&cc=us
http://eeepc.asus.com/global/700.htm

---
edit: Added links to one of the notebooks I researched today, and to the ones I already own. I missed the mention of Montevina, but I left in my comments about the differences in processor.

 

Thanks for all the great info ken and everyone else!

What do you guys think... should I wait for a F8SN refresh with the montevina plateform and hopefully a 9600GS, at the sacrifice of 5.1 surround over HDMI, or should I get the F8VA? I am torn between the 5.1 surround and the fact that the 9600GS has better gaming performance.

 

I am not sure if there will be a refresh to F8SN line. It seems like the F8Va is the refresh of F8SN at the moment...

There may be an updated model of F8Va (may be an F8Va-D1) with a better graphics card (HD3850?).

(I remember a similar scenario from 3 years ago when I purchased my Z70V with ATI x600 and later there was another model Z70Va with x700)

 

I see... I'm a student attending university this fall so when I say wait I mean within 2 months so I still have sometime to decide.
HD3850 seems too good to be true, IMO a HD3870 seems more likely.

 

The F8V is now Asus' current model in the F8 series (that is the F8sn Montevina update ) - all previous versions will remain as they were, and Asus is not about to offer any further updates of those now older model lines. Same thing with the M5x series.

It is certain that the F8V will be updated, probably in the 4th quarter sometime, but extremely unlikely to happen in the next 8 weeks as Asus has to complete the rollout on all of their Montevina models first, including at least 3 brand new models (G50, G70, F6) as well as updates of the rest of the current models to Centrino2. The Z70v was around for a couple of months (6-8 weeks, as I recall) before the x700 -va version was released, but that was back on the same chipset with no other releases occurring at the same time.... very different scenario right now.

 

The 3870 card is better than the 3850 card.

Also, Ken Newegg already has the F8SV-C1 model and I was wondering when you guys will get it because i would rather order from you.

 

F8SV-C1? we had it but it has been replaced by F8VA.

 

Is it only gentechpc's f8va's that come with the 8gb ssd and when is gentech gonna get the f8va-c1? Also will it be priced the same as neweggs?

 

Oops I stand corrected.

 

Haha im sorry i keep getting these two models confused. Im just wondering if the F8Va is going to have a refresh model with a better cpu? Thanks.