Asus N51 Owners Lounge

This thread is dedicated to those whom are interested in the Asus N51 series. Although the chassis is identical to the N50 series, please note that the N51 is to replace the N50 series.

The newest member of the N51 series is the Asus N51Vf-A1 with the following specs:

15.6" WXGA 16:9/2.66GHz T9550 processor /NV GT 130M 1GB DDR2 GPU/4GB DDR2 RAM/320G 7200rpm HDD/DVDRW

Below are a few videos from GenTechPC showing benchmarks and illustrating gaming performance. Direct link here:
http://1toppc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=N51Vf-A1&Category_Code=

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Did anyone order the n51 yet?

 

GPU is a little weak for me

 

But compared to its N50 sibling, the N51 will perform better in the gaming department.

 

Don't get me wrong the GPU will play most games but looking at some of the videos some demos look playable but forget Crysis, FPS are too low for me, but saying that Crysis is only 1 game, and a game that is poorly optimized unless you have a top of the line GPU.

 

ordered my N51 from xoticpc - can't wait! Any owners out there? what're your impressions?

 

I'll be receiving mine in the next 2 weeks..I'll let you know lol.

 

It's pretty much the exact same as the N50, but with a newer GPU.
You check check out the N50 reviews to get a better idea of what the N51 is like.

 

I also ordered an N51 yesterday from xoticpc . Hopefully we can share our experience with the new laptop.

 

Thanks for starting the owners' lounge, it's been added to the ASUS Info Booth and the ASUS Reviews &amp; Owners' Lounges Index.

 

Anyone know what's the battery life like?

 

I just received my N51 laptop from Xoticpc, ordering and delivery went well with them. I am in the process of familiarizing myself with the laptop and noticed the audio sound is very low in the high volume mode, while listening to a CD, using Windows media player. Anyone have any suggestions for increasing the volume.

 

I'm not sure if the N51 has a Realtek sound controller, but if you do, there should be a Realtek sound manger where you can play around with the audio settings to help boot the volume.

 

Hi David,
I tried the Realtek sound manager and there was only a small improvement. I am being told there isn't much more I can do and to hook up extrerior speakers, which I have done. With the exterior speakers the sound is fine.

 

Yes, unfortunately some of the Asus notebooks tend to have lower than average maximum volume. External speakers or headphones would be able to bypass the volume issue.

 

Update: Downloaded the latest Realtek drivers from ASUS web site, which increased the level of sound, however external speakers are still the way to go!

 

ACMON error occured after start up of windows: The suggestions I read elsewhere were to remove and reinstall the Splendid Video drivers I received with my laptop CD. That didn't work so I downloaded and reinstalled the lastest drivers from ASUS site. That also didn't work. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Buggy software from ASUS!

 

My recommendation would be to uninstall Splendid altogether. There are many other similar programs that works better than Splendid. Nvidia's control panel also offers contrast and gamma customizations.

 

David,
Thank you for your recommendation. I have deleted the Splendid video drivers. I have a Nvidia Ge Force GT 130M with corresponding control panel to work with.

 

I contacted ASUS direct concerning my problem with their Splendid drivers. Below is their response and my response to their suggestion.
I don't feel confortable flashng my Bios. Any thoughts!
I also not sure about their suggestion to update the VGA drivers. Any thoughts!

MY response to their suggestions:
Hello Eleven,
Please answer the following questions before proceeding :
1. After deleting my current VGA drivers and reinstalling the ones in your email, shall I then install the latest Spendid video drivers from your web site?
2. The VGA drivers in this email are they the same as those on your web site Version V7.15.11.7953?
3. When I delete the old VGA drivers will I be unable to see on the LCD screen to install the new drivers?
Please respond to these questions.
Phil


ASUS suggestion:
From: Eleven Chow [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 10:42 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re:RE: <TSD> Notebook N51Vf [ID=RTM2009060800401-046]

ASUS CASEID=RTM2009060800401-046



Thank you for contacting ASUS Customer Service.

Please uninstall the driver for VGA and then reinstall it for a try.
http://dlsvr.asus.com/pub/ASUS/nb/Drivers/VGA/VGA_NV_VT64_090513.zip

If problem can't be solved, please update BIOS to version 301 for a try.
http://dlsvr.asus.com/pub/ASUS/nb/N51VF/N51VgVf301.zip
(Please make sure that the power not cut during the operation.)
1?Please Verify the exact model and download the latest BIOS file for your PC from ASUS Download
site.

Please ensure that you have installed Winflash Utility before using update procedure. You may
install the program via Driver & Utility CD if you can't find the program from
Start->All Programs
Then execute the auto-extract file to a temporary folder.
Click Start\ALl Programs\ASUS Utility\WINFLASH\WINFLASH

2?Select and open the updated BIOS image fils.

3?Please confirm the loaded BIOS informatioin.
Check out model/version/data.

4?Press Flash to initialize BIOS updating procedure.

5?Press Exit when procedure completes.

6?Please reboot the system.Assuming that you have successfully flashed the BIOS file, press DEL
to enter BIOS setup page when ASUS white logo appears during system Boot-up procedure.

7?After entering BIOS setup page, please go to Exit sub-menu and choose "Load Optimal Defaults".
Then click "Save and Exit" and reboot system again. The BIOS flash procedure is no complete.

For more information feel free to refer to our self-help pages by clicking the links below:

Troubleshooting - http://support.asus.com/troubleshooting/troubleshooting.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

FAQ - http://support.asus.com/faq/faq.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

Live Support – http://livesupport.asus.com



If you continue to experience issues in the future, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best Regards,

Eleven

ASUS Customer Service

 

You can flash the BIOS it's not such a dangerous operations if done right. See my guide if you wish to get a detailed stepbystep procedure.

 

2:45 min. using high performance mode

 

Thank you for the bios information. I would like to try updating the VGA drivers and would appreciate a procedure for updating those drivers.

 

Uninstall, reboot in safe mode, run driver cleaner pro to clean-remove the drivers, reboot, install new drivers.

 

I found out the reason why the ASUS Splendid video drivers were causing error problems. My virus program was causing the errors to occur, so I modified the virus program to accept the Splendid program and no more problem.
Here is the interesting thing about reconciling the reason for the problem. If you communicate with ASUS by email the responding party is in Taiwan and it takes several days to get a response. I received several suggestions from them over the coarse of two weeks with the following suggestions:

1. Delete the drivers and reload them from the install CD.
2. Download the latest Splendid drivers on ASUS website and reinstall them.
3. Download and reintall the latest VGA drivers.
4. Flash my Bios.

Unfortunately, I can't take credit for finding my problem. I was on the phone last night with Xotic PC customer service in the USA reviewing my recent USB problem which is more interesting, and I will elaborate about it shortly. In any event, the customer service rep suggested I look into the viirus program blocking the drivers, which I later did and resolved the problem by making adjustments to the virus program. Anyway, one problem down and another one to deal with.

Back to the USB issue. I have only had the laptop about a month, and only have been using the USB port on the right side and none of them on the left side. After deciding to give my wife the laptop and moving it into her office, it became necessary, to use the USB ports on the left side. The USB ports would not accept the USB cable end into either port on the left side. It looks like they are defectively manufactured. I am currently waiting for a RMA so I can return it to ASUS for repair.

This is not a problem I would have anticipiated, and am disappointed with ASUS they did not catch the problem before shipping the laptop.
Should I have also expected Xotic PC to catch the problem? What are your thoughts?

 

ASUS should have caught it during Quality Control. Maybe the QC employee was just bored, or asleep on the job.

Not Xotic PC though, because resellers do not typically open the boxes from ASUS (unless you request customizations, or explicitly request testing by the reseller -- GenTechPC for instance offers that). But usually, you get a sealed box from ASUS.

 

E.B.E
I ordered the laptop with Vista 64bit, so it required Xotic PC to load the new OS. Should they have noticed the USB issue, I don't know. It would have been good if they did so I wouldn't have to deal with the issue now. I was told they quality check the laptop before sending it out to me. Anyway, it points out there are different levels of QC.

 

I sent my N51 in for repair, ASUS paid the shipping cost both ways. Dropped it off at Fedex on a Saturday. They called me the following Thursday and said they need to change out the motherboard, and would ship it out the same day so I received it on Friday. I was very pleased with the turn around time. They left the street address off the shipping label, so Fedex called my place of work for the street address. It was good they had the company name on the shipping label.

I take the computer home unpackage it and set it up on my Wife's desk, also noticing the paperwork on the keyboard, indicating it was checked out and repaired. I attempt to plug in the USB cable on the left side and the laptop dies. I look at the USB insert and see they same defective part. Simple Amazing, it was not repaired no matter what the paperwork or service tech told me on the phone.

I called ASUS and they had no explanation, I asked them if this was some sick joke. Their response was total silence on the phone! They gave me another RMA and I am dropping off the laptop at Fedex this Saturday again for repair. This time I included the ASUS mouse in the return which came with the laptop, so they have something to plug into the machine. Simple Amazing!

 

That really sucks pjsyoga. I've heard of Asus having crappy tech support, but that is just unacceptable.

On a side note, I've found a 9-cell battery for the Asus N51 if anyone wants it. It's about $160.
http://www.provantage.com/asus-90-nqy1b2000y~7ASUL0HU.htm

 

What does the repair manifest say? What components were changed?

It is possible that they assumed USB problem => mainboard problem, let's change the mainboard.

But instead, the problem may be caused by the casing, or the way the USB holes cover the USB port.

In any case, it's not excusable that they did not test for the problem signaled on the RMA form, before sending the notebook back.

 

The repair order says USB fixed and then a list of several items with check marks and at the bottom in red it says pass.
I don't know if it was tested without the case assembled. The USB plug goes in the machine 3/8" and then dies.
There is no indication on the repair order the motherboard was changed out.
Extremely poor tech work!

 

damn... is this typical of their laptops/support? I just bought one of these, now I'm concerned.

 

Hi everybody, I am going to buy a N51 and was wondering if anybody has experience installing Ubuntu on it?

Thanks for the help

 

So what are you planning to do? Did you send the computer back to ASUS?

 

The Asus N51 is going to see a refresh/new model. Pricing is around $1200.

- 15.6" HD (1366 x768)
- T9600 (2.80GHz)
- 4GB RAM
- NV GT 240M 1GB DDR3 VRAM
- 320G 7200RPM
- Super Multi
- Vista Home Premium
- 802.11 bgn
- BT
- 1.3M
- 6 Cell
- Carry Bag & Optical Mouse

 

I sent the Latop in on a Saturday and ASUS returned it the following Wednesday. Fast service! They told me they replaced the motherboard and the bottom and upper case. I called them just after they received it for repair and asked why it wasn't fixed correctly the first time. They gave me the excuse, the laptop USB ports checked out before they had reassembled the laptop, and did not check it afterward. Later this week, after returning home I plan on calling them again, once I can verify the repairs were completed correctly.

 

Has anyone else heard anything about this? This is definitely new to me

 

up on gentech's site, available for preorder
http://1toppc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=N51Vn-A1

 

Looked over the laptop today. The usb ports work like they should. I was unable to download any Microsoft updates and received an error code 80072F8F. The code was due to an incorrect clock setting which I corrected. I guess the change occurred when ASUS changed out the motherboard, and did not QC this item. That's all for now!

 

Mistakenly started a new thread for N51 so I am reposting this here.

I just received my N51Vn-A1 yesterday from GenTech. Great machine but shipped with Vista Home Premium 32-bit. I immediately loaded Win7 Ultimate 64-bit. All devices were found with no problem (after a couple Windows Updates). However, the video was "Standard VGA Adapter" and no matter how many different NVidia drivers I tried to load (manually, setup.exe, etc.) using drivers from Nvidia's site as well as laptopvideo2go.com I could get it to accept nothing. I am thinking to drop back to Vista 64-bit, however after a quick call to Asus support, I was told this notebook does not have any 64-bit drivers available therefore that was unsupported at this time. I really couldn't believe what I was hearing.

So, I still think it's a great laptop so I will be loading Win7 Ultimate 32-bit this afternoon I suppose.

I have found that driver support for the GT 240M is somewhat lacking but I know it's a new part and it's early yet.

Anyone else have this machine and any issues like that? I see that people are clearly putting 64-bit OS's on the N50...

 

And what about in the other modes?

Thanks.

Is anybody going to post a full review with images etc?

 

I have not checked other modes since the laptop is plugged most of the time.

 

Hey does anyone have battery life benchmarks for the new Asus N51? thanks

 

i just got mine as well and had the same problem with the video drivers. Also, is anyone else's webcam upside down? I checked out the smart log in because i got bored and noticed that my picture was upside down...

 

webcam works fine for me. I spent 2 hours messing around in 64 bit but met the same driver incompatibility issues as above. Sticking with 32 bit for now seems to be the best step. As with other asus laptops, the built in microphone is ridiculously bad. audio output is alright for a laptop though. For images/benchmarks, go check out gentech's videos on youtube.

 

I fixed the flipped webcam by downloading the Chicony CNF7129 Vistas 32bit Camera Driver drivers from Asus support. I am running Win7 32 bit right now and all is well so far. I did update the video drivers to 190.40 from laptopvideo2go.com.

 

For the first time today, I connected an 22" external LCD display to my N51 using the VGA port on the left side. Immediately I noticed that is was somewhat dark and exhibited a strange sort of horizontal rolling pattern throughout the screen. I have manipulated every setting I can find yet this behavior persists. I am using the Vista 32-bit drivers from Asus' site but have tried newer drivers from laptopvideo2go.com with the same result.

I am going to try using the HDMI output tonight when I get home to see if I see similar results with that.

Anyone ever experience issues such as these?

Thanks.

 

Hello!

Early today I ordered an N51Vn-A1. I've already seen some information on this site that will be useful once it arrives and wanted to join and say hello.

I'm not new to forums, but this seems like an interesting setup (with the reviews mixed in). I hope this is an okay place to post this.

I'm coming from an old IBM T42 (which will be kept) that is still chugging along after 5 years of constant abuse. I hope this computer holds up just as well.

 

dmhopkins: I use a 19'' external lcd monitor with no troubles, vista 32 bit and latest nvidia drivers.

 

We would like to hear about your experience with the new laptop