Asus N80Vn-GP011C: First Impressions/Review

Who remember when announce the n80 and when appear in the market???
Hooooly I am really anxious

 

Started playing Sacred 2 (with all the released patches) and it plays very well and looks really good. Still getting impressed with this lappy's capabilities.

 

I actually just tried this yesterday. With XP, the HDMI video signal worked, SOUND DID NOT. I booted it up in vista and the sound worked fine. I haven't had time to see what I did wrong yet.

 

I thought that the N80 was introduced in October or so of last year.

As for the Ati 4600 series cards in the N81... I don't see why it wouldn't be faster. It is newer technology after all. The HD4600 series supposedly accepts DDR2 (same as the NVIDIA card), DDR3, and GDDR3. Given that Asus probably has a choice in what kind of memory it includes I wouldn't be shocked if they used a slower but cheaper type of memory for it.

Of course we have no idea when the N81 is actually going to come out. According to http://news.softpedia.com/news/ASUS-Unveils-New-N-Series-Laptops-101611.shtml, the new notebooks are expected to come out in late Q1 of 2009. I have no clue when that is for Asus specifically, but I'd guess summer.

 

But in terms of tech support and technical issues with the GPU which is better ATI or nVi??? Do you think that upgrading to 4600 series will push some performance against 9650?? Or 9650 is good enogh???

 

I'm still wary of NVIDIA over their stupidity with the 8xxx series of cards. However, I've noticed that there's a lot more enthusiast modified drivers for NVIDIA, as well as more regular updates from NVIDIA than ATI.

You can never have enough power . That being said, there's always something new around the corner to make your tech gear obsolete. It'll still be as fast as the day you bought it though... maybe even faster with driver updates.

 

Is the performance difference between the 9650 and 4670 worth waiting for? PC games that I am interested in Dawn of War 2, SC2, D3. Is the new ati GPU really gonna make that much of a difference?

 

It wasn't stupidity, just an issue a lot of companies have run into with an older manufacturing process. It wasn't really forseeable, as I understand it.

 

@ Yudso
Men you re right, I am not going to wait... I was thinking that I could run games like Alan Wake or Prototype or Dragon Age but I realize that Im asking too much since is a lappy anyway. Would be AWESOME if this lap could manage that games fluidly

 

A brand new version of the N80 is releasing soon, which is the N80vn-1. Here's a link to the computer.

http://www.excaliberpc.com/589714/asus-n80vn-c1-14.1-notebook.html

The new N80 has the Intel T9550 processor and comes with the the 64bit version of Vista installed. Other than the processor and the 64bit windows everything else that comes with this N80 is the same with the P8600 version i.e. graphics card, harddrive and inputs. What I'm wondering now is there going to be a significant jump in performance between this new N80 and the N80 with the P8600 processor in it? Are games, particularly Crysis, going to perform better? This sucks because I was ALMOST going to purchase the P8600 version until i saw this baby popped up. Excaliburpc states that its estimated date of arrival is going to be next week, january 21. What do you guys think? Should i stay with the P8600 version and save myself a couple hundred or go with the brand new version. This computer will basically be my desktop replacement and so I will be using this computer for everything, school, browsing the internet, games etc. I'm so TORN!!!

 

Anybody else have very slow resume times from standby or hibernation?

 

you know by posting the info about the new Asus model you have also made me to change my mind, last I thought that if I really want to enjoy the new laptop then I shouuld get get the Asus N80Vn-GP011C rather then Dell low price stuff but this news of new model has NOW FORCED ME to wait for some time - hopefully there will be same MS Live cashback (20%) scheme for this laptop in next couple of weeks. Thanks.

 

Finally, 64-Bit factory installed!

That is a nice processor as well.

 

Negative. With XP x86 it takes 1.5 seconds to go into standby and 2 second to wake up from standby.

 

After owning this laptop for a bit, I'm still very happy with it. I do have two caveats that people might want to be aware of:

1) the keyboard flex on the left side is quite annoying, and may contribute to my ongoing issue of (non-appearing) text that I type. Yes, I do have the default touchpad driver installed, but only because uninstalling them prevents you from disabling the touchpad automatically when using a mouse which is a feature I need very much. (Any ideas? )

2) The VGA out does NOT have screw holes. It's pretty much impossible to keep my second LCD monitor plugged into the laptop as a result when I want it "docked", unless I am missing something about how to set it up. VERY, VERY annoying.

Averaging roughly 2-2.5 hours battery life when not plugged in, browsing the net and typing away, etc. Always plug in for gaming.

Temps are always great, never gets too hot. I do use a Lapinator when I have it on my lap.

Going to install Windows 7 on it and see if performance improves at all from Vista, which I haven't had any issues with.

 

How is the performance of the games you play? I'm fully aware that it's not a high end gaming laptop like an Alienware but to my knowledge this particular lappy is considered a low/midrange gaming laptop. Any thoughts? I'm leaning more towards purchasing this lappy due to the fact that it's cheaper and readily available.

 

I like this think that this lappy is midrange/high. I'm playing all my games flawlessly.

@SMSabir, I was told that $200 live.com cash back has ended. So basically you are paying more for a faster CPU and the 64bit OS. Might be worth it, but I'm def satisfied with what I got.

 

I think you're really just paying for the processor. You can easily get the 64bit OS online and install it. I've decided i'd rather save my money and get the P8600 version instead. Besides with the extra $200 saved i'll be buying myself an external HD...

 

Fn + F9 will disable the touchpad. I don' t know if the Synaptics software is required for this.

 

I really don't think factory installed Vista 64 should be considered a "feature" of the new model - everyone who has tried upgrading to the 64-bit version on the N80Vn-GP011C has reported issues and/or little/no improvement in performance. The upgraded processor, while nice, is something that can always be done later on down the road by the user or a competent technician. I really don't think it's worth the extra money new out of the box. Frankly, I haven't found anything that I use this laptop for which the processor is underpowered for.

 

Yeah I think people seriously over-estimate the effect of the CPU in computer performance. 2.4 vs. 2.53 is not going to result in any significant performance difference running almost any program out there. This is especially true when playing games. Any modern game will be GPU-limited. The max usage I have seen my p8600 hit during gaming is ~70% and that was with a torrent running in the background. I'm ecstatic that I could get this kind of performance on the cheap, having just moved over from my desktop system.

If you do serious video editing, then you should be using a quad-core system anyway.

 

To Zmatin and Squads:

Thank you very much for your guys' information. I've been researching for about a month now on various laptops from different companies and to this point have FINALLY decided to purchase this model. From the looks of it I'll be extremely satisfied with this computer. Here's my last question, where should i buy it from now? ExcaliburPc has it for $1099 but i've never purchased anything from there before. Newegg has it right now for $1149. I'm leaning more towards paying the extra $50 just because I know how great Newegg's service is. What do you guys think?

 

Also, the excaliberpc model says "Maximum Memory 4GB". The Newegg model doesn't specify this. The maximum memory this laptop supports is 4GB?

 

I thought the 6MB L2 Cache will help in running games on slightly higher FPS smoothly as compare to 3MB L2 Cache, is it right?

Slightly powerful processor is eye catchy, though it would had been really nice if they had also went for slightly powerful graphic chip like 9700M GT.

Q - Can anybody do the comparison between both processors (T9550 (2.66GHz) vs P8600 (2.4GHz)?

Secondly I never used Vista so I dont know if it is any good for hardcore gaming what ever I have heard that the MASTERS and GURUS are using the XP for this.

By the way few days back saw a report of XP vs Vista vs Window 7 http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=3236&page=1 (((do check the page 2 for the test results))) and I think its the time that Microsoft should offer the new Window 7 "FREE" to their existing Vista victims.

 

I got mine through ExcaliberPC and they were great. You can scan through my posts in this thread for my report on their service. Aside from the actual purchasing process, I think the ASUS warranty takes care of everything else (dead pixels, etc). I bought my previous laptop through Newegg, and they were great too. I do remember getting them to do some price matching, so if you can, call them up and see if they can match ExcaliberPC's price, if that's more pleasing to you.

PS: I don't think ANYONE should waste their time putzing around with Vista64. Windows 7 is kicking in beta, and will be out sooner than most people will resolve their 64-bit driver issues. Also, Vista x86 (32 bit) FLIES on this machine, at least for me, so not even worried that I'm not utilizing all 4gb of ram.

 

The first thing I did when I got the laptop was upgrade it to 64-bit. It's free and costs nothing at all as your license code is valid for both 32 and 64-bit editions. I've had absolutely no problems with it, aside from needing to search for a few drivers directly from manufacturers since they aren't on Asus' website.

 

JUST ORDERED MY LAPTOP! Purchased it from ExcaliburPc. I hope it comes here safe and on time...Again thanks for all the help that everyone here has given me. Will give my own personal review once I get it.

 

Good luck and I hope soon you will enjoy the sexually sductive moments with your laptop

 

Wow nearly 80 pages? Z is a rockstar

 

@Gaming Nurse
When you order it??? Could you tell when it arrives??? I am planning to order it monday next week from EXPC because is cheaper than newegg. But I have to wait more time because I live in Panama so I have to pay a bit more for a company to bring it here. It freaks me out that Asus doesnt have support here so the warranty is nearly useless

 

What kind of Global warranty is that...

 

Thanks! I'm a staunch defender of my good decisions, both in purchases and IRL

 

I've read all the posts on this forum and have found no responses regarding the performance for Fallout 3. I'm wondering will it be able to run close to High settings?

 

It may sound silly but I think by the end of this year Asus probably will release the same laptop with core2quad processor

 

Mine runs Fallout 3 on the High preset poorly, indoors 30fps max, much less with people onscreen.

 

^ that guy's lappy is broke though I'll install it on mine and try it out, probably only going to play well on medium settings, Fallout is a demanding game.

 

Yeah Fallout 3 is playable on medium, but the game looks kind of bad on medium imo.

 

Can any of you please check (by running the Nvidia software for hardware compatibility) if the Nvidia GeForce 3D Visionkit is compatible with Asus N80Vn-GP011C - weblink is given below.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_GeForce_3D_VisionKit_us.html

If it works then I think its a perfect toy for many of us ($199 isnt that bad)

 

It fails the test, in the only part I expected it to fail; the monitor. I remember reading that you need a 120 Hz monitor for 3D Vision to be supported, and the monitor on this laptop isn't 120 Hz.

 

It is great for me. Maybe because haven't tried it high.

 

Cool. thanks for links.

 

hmmm ok now this is dissapointing, the LCD screen of Asus N80Vn-GP011C looks and feels solid enough to handle the Nvidia GeForce 3D VisionKit but I may be wrong.

Second test - I am sure there are quite a few guys who are using bigger LCD moniters for gaming with this laptop, are they getting the positive results from this hardware checking utility?

http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_GeForce_3D_VisionKit_us.html

I think I really want to use the 3D with this laptop

 

Hi every one,

First I wish to thanks everybody for this very complete thread about this computer. Really want to get one of these.

But I have a question that, I think, was not treated, what about the built-in analog/dvb-t tuner?
On the asus site they say that is not optional with n80vn, but no body talk about it.

Thanks for your answers.

 

The LED-Backlit LCD is really great, but even if it's the best LCD ever, it's still not 120 Hz and I am about 90% sure that you absolutely need a 120 Hz refresh rate to use 3D Vision from what I have read during CES 2009.

I am sure that if you bought a 120 Hz monitor that it would work, but are you willing to do it ? Some new 120 Hz monitors come with ATi's version of 3D Vision right out of the box, glasses and all.

 

There is no TVtuner on this model of the N80Vn - there is a port on the back that is plugged up where I imagine it would be if it were built in, but I don't even know what kind of plug/connector it would fit if it were there. It looks the size of a headphone/mic jack, but definitely not there. Hope this helps.

 

I haven't seen any laptop with refresh rate higher than 60Hz

sure you will need to buy a monitor.

 

Agreed. Neither have I, but even a newer 19" external LCD that I purchased is only 75hz. I don't know if LCD refresh rates go that high? What were they using it on at CES?

 

Thanks for this,

But that is really strange then because on the user manual that I download, the explain how to plug the antena for the tuner. In the manual they say it is optional, but this is the manual for all n80.
But in the website, (this page: http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=2576&l1=5&l2=26&l3=791&l4=0) the n80-vn come with a tuner.

Also on you tube a guy made a test of the computer, and I thing he was talking about live tv, and I thing I was watching it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh59cax2JGY&feature=related

Also in the driver section of the computer on the asus website, there is driver for the tuner.


Anyway thank you for your fast answer, I hope somebody knows more about this issue. I'll try to write to asus, but I don't at witch adress is the best...

 

I will say that there are different versions of the N80Vn other than the GP011c, and that the specs listed on the global site might just indicate overall specs available across many versions. There are differently spec'd versions available in different countries. I called ExcaliberPC when I first ordered this notebook and double checked on the TV tuner capabilities, and the person I spoke to (who was very knowledgeable and helpful, and not your average ignorant sales tech) said that Asus generally doesn't offer TV options on notebooks smaller than 15", and that it was not an option on the current N80Vn-GP011c. That's all my info FWIW.

Also, the wifi card listed on the global Asus site is an "Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 5100 ABGN" but mine (and others have confirmed) that this version has an Atheros wifi card. There are versions with and without Bluetooth as well. Additionally, there is a rubber-plugged modem jack in the back, with leads and everything, though no versions of the laptop have been listed as having a 56k modem, and my system does not report having it in the device manager. I'd chalk it up to Asus's enormous product lineup and their website specs/drivers overlapping inconsistently. I bet the future version(s) such as the model with the ATI GPU, etc will maybe have the TV tuner capability.