Asus K61IC-X4 Review

Let me start by saying I am downgrading from a HP HDX18 to this smaller screen. I bought it from Buy.com via Ebay and used the bing cash back.

SPECS
* Intel Core2 Duo Processor P7450
* 16-inch HD Color Shine LED-backlit widescreen (16:9)
* NVidia GeForce GT220M
* 4GB of DDR2 system memory
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit installed
* 320GB, 5,400rpm hard drive
* Built-in 802.11n wireless
* Integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam
* Numeric Keyboard for easy number input of numbers
* ASUS IceCool Technology provides a cool-to-the-touch palm rest
* ASUS 360: 1 year global warranty and ASUS ADW: 1 year accidental damage warranty*

I changed to a 7200RPM HDD and PC6400 OCZ memory once I received it.

PRO's
The "cool" feature does work and the palm rest does not get hot
boots extremely fast compared to the HP
Like the LED back light
quiet

Cons
resolution.. I guess I am used to a 1080 display.
wireless is only 2.4ghz
fingerprint magnet

I will upgrade the CPU to one that supports virtualization technology and I also have the upgraded atheros wireless card on the way (ordered a half hight card so hope it works) that supports the 5ghz band. I have included a gpuz screen shot and pic of the inside. The score with this same memory in my HDX and a P8400 scored 5.9 for memory whereas on this cpu it scores 5.7. The memory that was in here 5.7 before replacing and 5.9 with the HDX. Guess the CPU has an affect on the memory score. My graphics score is 4.9 compared to 4.8 with the 9600m on the HDX.

 

Thanks for the review orion7144. Do you mind resizing some of the images to a lower resolution in order to avoid horizontal scrolling for others with smaller laptops?

 

Thanks for the resize

From your pictures, I see that the K61 uses 2 fans (most Asus notebooks uses only 1 fan). How are your idle and load temps with the unit?

 

This is weird. Using speedfan the idle temps are ~33c (few browser windows open) and a max of 52c with the fan speed changing. Temps fluctuate between 45-50c with everest runing the stress test. Everest says max of 72c for each core but only 64c for the cpu after 30min of running the stress test. The good part is I barely hear any fan noise like on my HDX. Now to figure out how to overclock cpu and gpu. I figured buying an Asus laptop it would be in the bios like their desktop boards but guess not.

 

Those temps aren't bad at all.

If you want to overclock the CPU, the best software to use is probably SetFSB. Unlike desktops, there isn't an Ai/OCing feature in the BIOS
For the GPU, it will depend on the driver and whether the GPU has OCing locked or not.

 

I am intrigued and confused. You say you bought the K61IC (like it) then you swapped out the HDD and the memory. You are going to swap the wireless aerial and the cpu.

I understand the reasoning behind all these changes, especially the cpu for virtualization, I too have fallen unknowingly into that trap, now I cannot run XP Mode after purposely upgrading to Win 7 Pro 64 bit.

But if you knew you needed to do all this why did you buy it in the first place?

By the way, I am seeking knowledge, not trying to make a smart arse comment.

 

Sir, just want to ask, hows the speakers on this model?