Asus U6V-A1 mini-review

Special thanks to Ken at GenTechPC for once again, providing exceptional customer service and the instantaneous help I can always rely on.

For those whom have lingered around NBR for a while will probably notice how quickly I go through my notebooks. As a previous owner of the Asus C90S, W7S, M50SV, EeePC 701 and G50V, I've had my fair share experiencing with Asus systems and would like to take this opportunity to write a short review of my all-time favorite Asus notebook, *drum roll* the U6V-A1.

Specifications
Processor: Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor P8400 2.26 GHz 1066MHz FSB, 3MB L2 Cache
Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® 9300M GS 256MB DDR2
Operating system: Windows Vista® Business 32 bit
Memory: 4GB DDR2 800MHz (2GB + 2GB)
Display: 12.1" WXGA 1280X800 LED
Hard drive: Western Digital 320GB 5400rpm 2.5" SATA
Optical drive: 8X DVD/RW Double layer Super Multi Drive
Ports & slots: 3x USB 2.0, HDMI, eSATA, Express card, 8 in 1 media card reader, VGA, microphone-in, headphone-out, Ethernet
Wireless: Intel 5100 wireless 802.11a/g/n
Battery: 3 cell + 6 Cell
Other features: Built in Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, 0.3 MP webcam, fingerprint reader
Weight: 3.46 lbs (with 3 cell battery)
Warranty: Asus 2 year limited global hardware warranty + 1 year accidental damage warranty, + 30 days zero bright dot LCD warranty.
Included accessories: Targus carrying case, Targus leather suede sleeve, Logitech V470 bluetooth mouse

Price as purchased (with XP Pro): $1744 USD





Pros
+ Resplendent screen: Boasting a full 300 nits luminance makes working indoors and outdoors more pleasant than the average 200-250 nits panels seen in other notebooks. There is virtually no light leakage to distract even the most sensitive people from their movie-watching experience. Although there is a fair amount of screen flex due to the ultra-thin LED panel, the bezel and frame is amazingly robust and causes no ripples/distortions when pressure is applied from the back.
+ Superior graphics performance: With the Nvidia 9300M GS video card, the highly portable U6V-A1 can even satisfy the gamer inside the professional road warrior. Although Crysis is a far cry from being able to play smoothly, the 9300M GS can easily run less GPU intensive games such as World of Warcraft, Warhammer online and Need for Speed Carbon.
+ Excellent port/multimedia selection: For a 12" notebook, the U6V-A1 is crammed with 3 USB ports, HDMI, eSATA, VGA, expresscard, media card reader, double layer DVD burner and your basic line-in and mic jacks. The selection of ports is excellent, even when compared to 13" notebooks.
+ Gorgeous aesthetics: Though this is more of a personal opinion, I find the U6V-A1 to be an extremely sleek, contemporary notebook wrapped in a luxurious aura. The leather palm rests, leather bounded battery and the suede protective sleeve really brings out the aristocratic and tasteful glow to this notebook.
+ Admirable build quality: Having a pretty face doesn't necessary win you a spot in American Idol finals but the U6V-A1 delivers both looks and substance. The entire chassis shows no signs of flex. Having a magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis does have its advantages and provides a much stronger build over the average consumer notebook.


Cons
- Battery life: Unfortunately, the battery life on the U6V-A1 is far from spectacular.
3 cell battery (2400mAh) - 50% screen brightness, wifi + BT on. Browsing internet and word processing on 'Quite Office' mode gives just over an hour of use
6 cell battery (4800mAh) - With the same configuration and tasks, the 6 cell battery was able to last 2.5 hours.
There is the option to purchase a 9 cell battery, however I did not purchase it. My best guess for the 9 cell is about 4 hours.
- Built-in mic: The use of the built-in mic is practically impossible despite the different settings I have tried. Unless you place your mouth directly in front of the mic at point-blank, the mic won't be able to pick up any sound. This may be a driver issue and/or hardware problem, but at the meantime, the only way around this is using an external mic.

EDIT: Apparently, the built-in mic issue seems to be isolated to the sound recorder program in windows. I've used it for video conferencing without any problems.

Benchmarks All benchmarks are performed in XP Pro

3DMark06: Default resolution (1280x1024)


PCMark05


HDTune


SuperPi: 1M calculation


wPrime: 32M calculation


Temperatures: Idle


winxp Windows XP Drivers
For those whom want to install XP on their U6, I've uploaded the drivers on Megaupload.com
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=U4VPKSYL

 

Nice and congrats!! I would love to see more pics if you get the chance, 1600 3Dmark is not bad for a notebook this size it should be able to run games like TF2 fine.

Sadly Asus STILL hasnt done anything about there battery problem, i'll give them time Asus is always like the class worst in battery life they need better battery managment software every notebook manufacturer has one now.

 

Thank you for the review, and the continuing contributions to the forum!

I will move this to its "rightful place", the Reviews & Lounges subforum.

 

Thank you for the review. Does HDTune Pro show correctly SMART information for the disk (Info tab)? Because my HDTune did not show any valid information (as if SMART is not supported although enabled by default in BIOS).

 

Well you said elsewhere that other software detects the SMART info. Maybe the HDtune is an old version/or has an incompatibility with the HDD.

I suggest do a SMART test on the HDD with the utility provided by the HDD manufacturer, in order to get confidence that it is working properly. See my Tips and Tricks on how to do that.

 

OK I think HDtune latest free version 2.55 had incompatibility at least with Western Digital hard disk, since the problem is alive with another laptop with WD HDD.

By the way, for the built-in microphone problem, a recent pratical test with Yahoo messenger shows that it is fairly usable, but your correspondent has to put his/her speaker volume at max, in this case you can talk normally without requiring approaching your mouth to the microphone (or to yell). So it is now not in highest severity problem for me.

Edit: another thing that Asus missed: the eSATA/USB2.0 would be a combo port instead of only simple eSATA port. The technology is here with other Asus laptops, so it is a shame that the U6V does not have this.

 

Thanks for comments guys
As for the SMART feature, HDtune Pro v3.1 is incompatible as well. I used HDtune simply to benchmark the HDD performance. If you want to see your SMART info, I'd suggest using the HDD Health software.

 

not bad for a 12" laptop, with the size of this laptop, i would go for Asus N50

 

I think you're referring to the N20, which is another 12" notebook. The N50 is a 15" notebook.

 

What is that icon beside the power4gear one? The one with the lightning bolt.

It seems from the pic that your screen is a bit blue-ish (like mine)... I fixed it with changing colour temperature in splendid.... maybe it's the white balance of your camera?

I have a U6E myself (the white one w/integrated graphics), the craftsmanship of these notebooks are incredible aren't they?

 

The icon beside p4g is expressgate. It only works when the notebook is turned off. When the notebook it is on, it works normally as a p4g hotkey.
I don't think splendid works on XP, and I don't feel the screen has a blueish tint to it. The picture does make it seem like there's a bluish color to it, but it's quite different in reality.

 

Following are my pros and cons for U6V:

Pros:
- light weight
- good bundle (Bluetooth mouse, carrying case...)
- quiet
- LED screen
- excellent keyboard configuration (right place for Ctrl key, independent PgUp/PgDn/Home/End keys)
- good ports location (usability)
- boot USB 2.0 speed/eSATA
- ExpressGate
- easy to access hard disk and memory

Cons:
- no official XP drivers and applications. Erratic card reader problem under XP (edit: problem solved, refer to following posts).
- touchpad difficult to use (right/left click hard to use)
- speaker in mono version (not stereo), although not bad.
- very low recording microphone volume
- no RJ11
- 0.3 Mpix webcam (should be 1.3 or 2.0 Mpix)
- no combo eSATA/USB2.0
- no Firewire
- ASUS applications suite without real integration

Fortunately most (if not all) the cons could be bypassed or not used (since not vital).

 

Added to Info Booth and Reviews & Owners' Lounges Index. Thanks.

 

Solution for the Realtek Card reader won't read on XP




1: Download XP Driver from Realtek:
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads...=25&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

2: Unzip the driver into a folder but don't run setup.exe. The problem with the driver is setup.exe will never install the driver properly.

3: Remove memory card from card reader.
4: Uninstall Realtek Card reader driver from Add/Remove Programs.
5: Go to Device Manager and scan for hardware changes.
6: Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers and double click one of the USB Mass Storage Device:


7: Go to details and make sure the USB Mass Storage Device match this hardware ID, if not, try another USB Mass Storage Device:


8: If that's the correct device then click on Driver tab and update driver:


Driver location is : \Realtek_XP(x32x64)_M_WHQL_3.0.1.4\Realtek_XP(x32x64)_M_WHQL_3.0.1.4\3.0.1.4_XP32

9: Should work after installation is completed.

 

@ Ken
One word... GENIUS
My card reader works perfectly now! Thank you so much for posting the solution.

 

You are welcome.

I think Realtek need to rework their driver, the problem with the setup program is it won't install RTSTOR.sys, but it confuse people saying the driver installation is completed, it also confuse people that it makes everything look working properly but in fact it won't detect any memory card.

 

Yeah... that was very confusing. There were no signs saying the installation wasn't complete nor did the device manager prompt any exclamation marks saying the device isn't working properly. Thank goodness you were here to help

 

Thank you Ken for the solution. It works for me now although the SD card detection/removal is a little slow (plug-and-play, drive letter assignment/removal). The important thing is to verify that rtstor.sys is the right driver for "USB mass storage device". When it did not work, it used the standard USB drivers instead of Realtek one.

 

what util application on u6v can't install on windows xp
offical site not support util and driver

what util can't find to install on windows xp and driver ?

anyone have manual pdf file please send to me please...

i have plan to buy u6v but i need for information about install windows
bcoz official site not support

 

The battery life seems very poor. But it is a beautiful notebook.

 

All the drivers are available for the U6V. I'm running XP without any issues.
Most drivers from the drivers disk will install on XP. If you buy from gentech, they can help you install all the drivers for XP when you buy the OS from them.
Some utilities will not works such as smart logon, but those are not necessary to run XP.

I agree. Battery life is the only gripe I have with the U6V. Other than that, everything is pretty much perfect.

 

i see infomation in asus official site about
expressGate function it req to install tools on os before ?
or can use expreeeGate ready ?

anyone try this function please shere thx :>

 

and thank emporiumboutique for anwser

 

Expressgate also works on XP. It's a software you have to install after you installed XP.

 

Where are Express Gate files? I believe it could run even without hard disk (OS-independent), so it would be in ROM? How is it udpated? I do not see trace of Express Gate in both Vista and XP drives.

 

i see expressgate utilty on official site

http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=U6V

now asus menu update driver support vista 64 bits

 

It's in the driver disk under the 'Software' folder

 

Also I think in this case it is stored on the HDD (since it has to be installed after the OS).

 

EBE is correct. It won't show under start->all programs, but if you go to your add/remove programs in your control panel, it's there.

 

anyone know about asus U6V support RAM DDR3 ?
i hear DDR2 and DDR3 on new chipset can use 2 type ram

 

No it won't fit, the chipset supports DDR3 but the socket doesn't:

 

oh ic thank gentechPC

 

Answer : the installer leaves traces in XP/Vista (add/remove programs), but the main files are stored not in XP/Vista partition but in the hidden FAT32X recovery partition (you can find in it the ASUS.SYS and ASUS.000 directories). The first directory is for Express Gate files, and the second (or even ASUS.001) for storing personalized data (like login, settings etc...).

 

Update: XP drivers uploaded

 

Thanks to David for the XP drivers link.

 

Added these XP drivers to the Info Booth. Thanks!

 

Hi, 1st post here..

I've got Windows XP 64bit working on my lovely U6V...
I did a bit of research and found almost every device driver working perfectly.

NOTE: Some of the U6 Driver pack previously posted at these boards won't work with Xp64, as they are only for XP32 (as far as I know, It also really contains some Vista32 drivers... <-- doh! dude ¬_¬! )

Only Bt-253 bluetooth driver and the FingerPrint's thing remain as impossible to install, at the moment.

When I try to install the BT drivers, it asks me for the Bluetooth device, then I press the sync button on the wireless mouse, but it's not recognized..

Have you guys tried this?

I always wanted to test some virtual machine user experience, so next thing I'm gonna do is to install VirtualBox and to have a 20gig virtual disk as a main daily work, keeping the "outside" Host almost clean. (yep, no soft at all, neither office )
​

Be free to ask me anything you wish or test whatever app you need.

 

Yes, that is because some Vista32 drivers work in XP32.

It would be great if you could compile a list of drivers that you used, with links. That would be a help to people installing XP64. If you wish to do the list, note you will probably not be able to post links as a newbie, contact me via PM for help you make the post.

 

mmm so.. maybe there's a possibility Vista64 drivers work in Xp64?

I think I can fit them all into a package, with the help of a program like DriversMagic. It's ok to do a link list, too.

ATM I decided to keep as much clean as possible the main system, and I've created a pair of 4gig virtual machines just to browse Internet and for Office things. Next vm will serve as a home theater...

I notice I can't turn back the SATA Enhanced mode ON in the BIOS setup, which results in a BSOD. Is there a driver for Xp64 to solve this, or will I have to live with that?

 

hi, also newbie. I decided to post after read pioj and I have 2 questions for him. I've just bought a U6Vc (2 days ago)...with Vista of course. I want to downgrade to XP64 if possible (btw it seems silly to me that ASUS don't support or give easeness to the XP drivers when 5 months ago the U6V-A1 came with XP). Have you done the all-the-drivers wrap and posted it anywhere?

thx in advance guys

 

I had so much work last week so I'll make it this weekend, don't panic..

The only help I'd need is to know how can I fit the whole driver package into a xp64 bit distro, like I've been seen lately.. Some distros are really really tiny..

Yesterday I downloaded the HP mini MIE restore image, as it's been so popular these days. I'm still trying to figure how to install in a virtual machine...

I mailed recently with Rick Sun, from DeviceVM, developers of Splashtop/ExpressGate that comes with some Asus Laptops. I hope they release SDK soon..

 

ok! Yesterday I uploaded the pack at Megaupload. You can download the file at:

http://www.megaupload.com/es/?d=9KWREXUV


NOTE: If it's not allowed to post any megaupload link at boards, please be free to delete this post and tell me, so I won't do it again. Thx

 

hi, thanks everybody for this post. It was very helpful. And thx to pioj specially. I finally got to install xp64 and drivers except BT, modem and webcam. Pioj, how did you get it?
can you contact with me?

 

Sorry to ask this noob question pioj, but how do u install the drivers from ur driver pack? just rightclick the .int files and click install?
And also, did u manage to set the SATA in Bios to enhanced? got the same problem too with mine u6v...

 

Within each folder in the drivers disk, there's usually a setup .exe file. Just double-click on it and it should install the driver automatically,

If i remember correctly, you'll need to slipstream the XP operating system with the SATA driver together if you want to use enhanced mode. If not, you'll have to use compatible mode.

 

in any folders there might not be a setup.exe.In those cases you'll have to look for and say directly the path for the .inf driver.

I installed the drivers for almost everything (XP64) and works fine except the webcam (oops, in a previous post I said something about a modem. BTW I miss this relic to send faxes). Well, it recognizes the webcam and it works but shows the image upside down. In the forum, for other models it's fixed changing the settings in some registers but unfortunately it doesn't seem to work with the chicony model (which seems to be the model that U6Vc includes). In their website I couldn't find the drivers for XP64 so the only solution I see is to flip the image by SW. Anyone knows and uses a free application that allow this flip option?

 

OK... Made the plunge! I've been going back and forth for weeks trying to decide between the F6Ve and the U6Vc. The F6Ve has quite a bit of power under the hood. It has a T9400 2.66GHz processor (vs. the P8600 in my U6V @ 2.4GHZ). I think the P8600 is a better choice as it is a 25 watt processor vs. the 35 watt one in the F6V for a fairly small difference in performance. The GPU in the F6V is also somewhat more powerful. What it really came down to for me was the build quality of the U6 (reviews of the F6 seem iffy regarding build quality). They both have the same size hard drive... same great selection of ports, etc. While their physical dimensions are similar, a 12.1" notebook seems to suit my commute much better than a 13.3"... and the display resolution is the same on both. Of course the U6 was about $400 U.S. more. It's sitting in it's box here next to me at work. I won't open it until I get home. Now I just have to fight the rush hour commute home from NYC with this thing. I was totally surprised by how big the package is and the weight of it. I guess that's due to all the extras in the box. The battery life is a little disappointing, but I tend to use my machines on A/C most of the time. My work commute is about an hour so even the base battery would be fine... although, with a cellular card in use, the extended battery is probably a better option. The F6 has pretty poor battery performance as well, so that didn't really play into my decision. I hope I made the right choice. My other half goes for walks in a near by park quite often after work... so I had to confirm that was going to be the case today. I think if I was seen to come home with another notebook, I'd be kicked out of the house. This is my first Asus notebook. I've been using Asus mobos to build machines for years though. Hopefully I made the right choice!

 

The U6 series is definitely the better built notebooks Asus has manufactured. It's a solid machine, but as you mentioned, it lacks battery life. Oh, and congrats on your new notebook

 

Sorry to dig up an old thread. Does any1 have the older firmware for this laptop? I updated to the newest firmware and the fan is always on. I just hate it.
And also, thinking of keeping this laptop a bit longer but the battery life sux. I am thinking of replacing the processor to SL9400 and switching the HDD to SDD drive, how much battery life can I squeeze out if I replace the processor and the HDD?

 

Do you mean BIOS? If that's the case, which one are you using and which version are you looking for? As far as I can see, Asus has the 209, 212 and 213 up on their website.

You probably won't see much of a battery life change when you swap your HDD with an SSD.

As for the CPU, I can't confirm if the SL9400 CPU will work. Even if it can physically fit into the socket, there's still a chance that the BIOS won't be able to recognize it.