Asus N53SV & N53SN SandyBridge Owner Thread

N53SV-XV1



Technical Details

• Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
• Display: 15.6-inch LED-backlit Full HD display (1920 x 1080)
• Processor: 2nd generation Intel Core i7-2630QM processor (2.0 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.9 GHz)
• Chipset: Intel HM55
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM and NVIDIA Optimus Technology
• WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz) , Bluetooth v2.1
• LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
• Memory: 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, 4 x SODIMM socket (expandable to 16GB)
• Storage: 500GB 7200RPM hard drive
• Optical Drive: Super Multi DVD drive
• Camera: 2.0 Megapixel with security lens cover
• Speakers: Built-in speakers with SonicMaster Technology
• Microphone: Digital Array Microphone
• Card Reader: 1x 8-in- card reader (MMC/SD/Mini-SD/XD/Memory Stick/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS-Pro-Duo)
• Input / Output:1x Headphone-out jack, 1x Microphone-in jack, 1x VGA port, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 2x USB 2.0 ports, 1x USB 3.0 port, 1x E-SATA, 1x HDMI port
• Battery: 6 cell
• Dimensions: 15.6 x 10.6 x 1.2 ~ 1.6 (W x D x H)
• Weight: 6.4 lbs (with 6 cell)
• Color: Silver

Photos



ASUS N53SV Drivers: http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?model=N53SV&os=25&SLanguage=en-us
ASUS N53SN Drivers: http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?model=N53SN&os=25&SLanguage=en-us
NVIDIA GPU Drivers: v270.28 Windows 7/Vista 64bit Mobile OEM Drivers @ LaptopVideo2Go Forums
ASUS Product Registration & Member Login: http://member.asus.com/login.aspx?SLanguage=en-us
ASUS Support: http://support.asus.com/
Customer Service: http://livesupport.asus.com/nbcs.html
Technical Support: http://livesupport.asus.com/nbts.html
Email: http://vip.asus.com/eservice/techserv.aspx

ASUS Warranty Info:
ASUS Notebook Extended Warranty: http://promos.asus.com/US/ASUS_NB_Warranty/extend_warranty.html
Register for ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty: http://adw.asus.com/content/adp/default.aspx
ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program: http://promos.asus.com/US/event/ASUS360/index.html
Notebook Warranty Extension Package: http://support.asus.com/service/service.aspx?no=328&SLanguage=en-us
Notebook Warranty Policy: http://support.asus.com/repair/repair.aspx?no=395&SLanguage=en-us

Default Windows Experience Index

Base Score: 5.7
Processor: 7.4
Memory (RAM): 5.9
Graphics: 5.7
Gaming graphics: 6.7
Primary hard disk: 5.9

My Windows Experience Index

Installed Ram 16gb (4x4): Amazon.com: Corsair 4 GB DDR3 Laptop Memory CMSO4GX3M1A1333C9: Electronics
Installed SSD: Amazon.com: Intel 2.5-Inch 160 GB X25-M Mainstream SATA II MLC Solid-State Drive - Retail Package SSDSA2MH160G2R5: Electronics

Base Score: 5.8
Processor: 7.4
Memory (RAM): 7.6
Graphics: 5.8
Gaming graphics: 6.7
Primary hard disk: 7.8

Benchmarks





PCMark Vantage system performance test




Heat (Max Temps)

 

Nice laptop! Run some benchmarks!

 

nice what Resolution is your notebook? I am looking into getting a N53SV for my new notebook. I am having issues with my xps1530 faulty GPU. Please give us a update with installing the SSD? I am planning to install my intel ssd when I get the Asus

 

Now if ASUS would just hurry up and release the rest of the N43SL/SN and N53SN...

 

Anyone knows whether the 14" versions (i.e. N43) will have 4 DIMM slots or not?


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N43SN still have only 2 DIMM slots.

 

Wow! What are you going to do with 16GB of RAM?

 

What's the quality of the 1080p screen on this? I've read reviews of disappointing 720p screen used in some N53SV and that 3/4 of last 1080p screens used in the N53 series were actually quite good.
Also would be good to hear about the thermals and fans on this, heard the XPS15 gets pretty hot and fans run loud to cool it down.

 

That's pretty bad. It is practically limited to max 8GB memory then...


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I updated with some sense of thermals under max load. What test could I run for the display?

 

@nama8137

Thanks for the SuperPI 1M test +rep.

Interestingly the single thread performance did not improve that much over two generations (-- this may be not that accurate since 2630QM is not a very high end CPU).

Your test shows that 2630QM completed SuperPI 1M in 13.463 secs. My 2,5 yr old T9900 completes at 14.990 secs (no overclocks).

I would love to see a SuperPI 1M on 2820QM.


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1080p, updated the WEI with the SSD and RAM. Great laptop!

Thanks! Any other benchmarks you would like run just let me know.

 

I'm looking at buying the N53SV for college next semester, but I've heard it's as big as 17" laptops. While I'm not expecting ultimate portability, would it be bearable to carry in a backpack on campus? Also, how's the battery life during average use?

 

Its not too heavy, 6lbs, but it is pretty wide, large bezel on the monitor and has a full keyboard. Might not be the best for a daily portable.

Battery life, if i unplug now on Entertainment: 2 hours 17 mins, Battery Saving Mode: 2 hours 36 mins.

 

I've read on its predecessor's thread that the CPU produces an annoying high pitched whine, does this model produce that whining sound too?

 

Nothing annoying at all, just fans when I was running some of the benchmarks.

 

I see... How does it size up to other 15.6" laptops? Would you be willing to take it with you to class 2-3 times a week or would it be best left as a desktop replacement?

 

Seems a bit wider than the average size for 15.6".

Asus N53SV: 39.1 x 26.6 x 3.05~4.05 cm (W x D x H) [ Source]
Dell XPS 15: 38.1 x 26.5 x 3.2~3.8 cm (W x D x H) [ Source]
HP dv6t: 37.8 x 24.5 x 3.1~3.5 cm (W x D x H) [ Source]
Lenovo T510: 37.3 x 24.5 x 3.6 cm (W x D x H) [ Source]
Sony VAIO C: 37.5 x 25.1 x 3.2~4.0 cm (W x D x H) [ Source]

I personally would rather bring a thin/light CULV like the Asus UL80VT (34.3x24.4x2.8, <5lbs, long battery) for class work and then use the N53SV at home.

 

nama how loud is the fan on idle and load ?

does the change in speed come suddenly or nice smooth changes ?

the temps look good.

how do the speakers sound ?

how do you find the display ? good colour ? viewing angles ? are the blacks black or grey ?

thanks

 

I would like to know how good it can run crysis2 demo or full game @1280x720

 

Ok, so this laptops wireless adapter is a atheros ar9002wb-1ng. 2.4GHz only. Has anyone here been able to update their ASUS to a Intel 6200?

Idle I hear no fan at all. I just turned on a couple of those benchmarks and the fan slowly ramped up to full speed. The second a stop the benchmarks the fan begins to slow down. It is fairly loud when running all the tests; probably a good thing, within 30 seconds I can not hear the fan anymore. Nice fan / cooling I would say.

Speakers are loud. On high I can hear them out in my apartment hallway and in the bedroom. They are very clear; best laptop speakers I have ever had. Nothing compared with headphones or my AVR though.

For the LCD, I ran through some of the tests here: LCD monitor test images

Viewing angle seemed fine, not exceptional though. Contrast seemed very good, from my untrained eyes. Sharpness and gamma passed. Black levels I could not distinguish 1-3, but it may be too bright in my apartment right now.

Ok, I'm downloading the demo from here: http://international.download.nvidi.../demos/crysis-2/Crysis_2_Multiplayer_Demo.exe

Will let you know.

Alright, looks like the demo is over as of yesterday.

 

Oh, damn it

 

hola hombres!

I consider buying this laptop, with i5-2410m. Can someone do me a favour and run a test for me?

Would be cool if both an i7- and i5-owner could do a test each, cause that will help me out on which CPU to go for ;-)

This is the test: YouGamers - All Points Bulletin System Requirements

Thanks alot!!


Yours sincerely,

svanebjerg.

 

How's the heat on this baby when playing games?

 

Just picked up a new N73SV. Very happy with it so far, should I start a new owners thread for it?

 

just curious if anyone read this thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus/551305-n53sv-xv1-preorder-amazon-9.html about a missing e-sata port? could another owner confirm or refute this? I was pretty close to buying it

 

Definitely missing. Just a standard USB port in it's place. I already stated that earlier in the mentioned thread. There are also pictures at the beginning of this thread that show it is missing.

 

Would you mind trying: http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri/ ?

Select "APB" as game and post the results

Thanks alot!

Btw is it possible to change the keyboard on N53sv? I dislike the inbuild numpad it has.

 

It is missing.

I have to say, heat (lack of) is one of the strongest qualities of this laptop (probably a consistent quality of most Sandy Bridge models)

 

Hi
This is my first post in this form
I was googling for answers about this laptop since the ASUS form for laptops is closed

I got an Asus N53SV-SZ095V , the Swedish version and it is no different from yours.

I have couple of issues with this machine.

First is the Camera, it is awful! You can not get a decent flowing video with it at any resolution! The image is choppy like a cheap mobile phone camera. I wonder is it a driver issue or is it a hardware one?

The second issue is the USB 3. When connection a USB 3 HDD and start the laptop, it wont start! it get stuck at the boot logo and thats it. Only if i remove the USB3 drive it starts. But under Windows it connects normally. If i do a restart of Windows while the HDD is connected it restarts normal!!! But not a cold start(complete power off and the on) .

Can you please confirm my findings with you laptop. Do you have same problems?

 

Has anyone tried putting Ubuntu on it? Looking at this but not sure about Linux support. And is the graphics card really optimus, given the short battery life people are getting?

 

I have this drive hooked up to my USB3 and i can restart fine

Amazon.com: Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1 TB USB 3.0/2.0 Ultra Portable External Hard Drive (Black): Electronics

I have not tried Ubuntu, but it is Optimus. Here is a screenshot of my NVIDIA Control Panel.

 

Can you start the laptop with the USB3 drive connected? not restart but start after complete shut down?. And does it show in your BIOS?

 

Can you post a GPU-Z screenie? Thanks.

Edit: Also what is the keyboard like?

 

The keyboard needs some getting used to. It is sometimes frustrating. The numpad is a waste of space.

The hardest is the del / pause / ins key that are small and not easily accessible, and I use them a lot On top of that I am switching to a US keyboard, which I never used before.

Don't get me wrong, it is correct, just as not as good as Sony's.

As for Linux, you will have to use the latest distro. Ubuntu Alpha would not start and the latest daily would freeze at boot. I will install Arch next week when I have more free time. The graphics seems to be the issue here as I suspect the code for Sandy Bridge GPU to be buggy. It should get better once 2.6.38 and improvement make their way in Ubuntu. 2.6.39 should be OK after. There is no option to force the nvidia GPU in the bios, shame on Asus!!!

Edit:

 

For those of your debating between the N53SV and N53SN GPU:


According to my tests of the N53SV,

3DMark Vantage: CPU 16,345 GPU 3614 OVERALL 4488


According to TechTree's tests of the N53SN

3DMark Vantage: CPU 17,153 GPU 3857 OVERALL 4784

I don't think the results are that substantial to make a difference, right?

By the way, the full HD screen is amazing

 

Is Asus N53SN better than Sager NP5160?

 

Good point, I would really be happy with either; especially at that difference.

 

I only had N53SV (Asus N53SV-SX018V) for 3 days, in January.
And yes, the camera was awful.
I didn't have the laptop long enough to check if it was a driver or hardware problem.
But, as far as i can remember, during daylight it was slightly better.

 

Right now, I am running Ubuntu through VMWare and it seems to be running very smoothly. Virtualization is turned on by default.

 

I can run it on my N53 SV according to that test. I am not sure why it didn't show up for him.

 

My Intel 6200 wifi adapter came in the mail today. Still not sure how to access the wifi adapter location to swap it out. Any of the other owners have an idea?

 

Would you mind posting the results?

And whats the specs of your N53SV?

 

Just got my N35SV today from Amazon, and I must say, so far I am impressed. But I have a weird question, I would like to know if there is anyway to get a backlit keyboard on this thing? I'm very diy handy and don't mind some hard work, but my google-fu wasn't strong enough to find out anything. Is it even possible?

 

I'm not sure but based on the UL30 backlit keyboard mod thread I found the Asus estore. Maybe this one would work? Replacement Keyboard

Hard part seems to be connecting the power for the light; oh and doing it without a guide.

 

Well, found this one:
NEW ASUS N53 N53J N73 N73J Series US KEYBOARD Backlit - eBay (item 250790168957 end time Apr-16-11 23:26:07 PDT)

not much info on that though...

I'm thinking of buying N53SV-X1 too, would u guys recommend it?
Is the keyboard flexing real bad?

 

I was able to figure out how where the WIFI adapter is and installed my Intel 6200 and its working fine! Now I have dual band going and transfers from my WHS to the laptop are now around 13.5 MB/s. Here are some pictures:

 

Something weird for his test. Mine can run too.




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These new drivers fixed my problem and now that test passes:

NVIDIA driver v270.28 for Windows 7/Vista 64bit