Asus ZenBook Pro UX501 Owner's Lounge

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I understand but 12 gb modules does not exist...
Ok may be somebody later install 16 gb modules at jw and say what happened...

 

Hey Guys,

I've just found Asus released a new BIOS for UX501VW. Check it out: https://www.asus.com/us/Notebooks/ASUS-ZenBook-Pro-UX501VW/HelpDesk_Download/

 

interesting. Same video bios update with the G501VW.

This might be the fix for triple display failure if you connect 2 external monitors.... one on hdmi and another on displayport, where the displayport monitor would blink or not display anything at all.

If anyone has 2 extra monitors lying around, one of which has a displayport, plug in both external monitors and see if the displayport monitor works.

Based on the g501vw bios description, it's an Intel management engine update

 

Guys, I bought a model with glare (and touch) screen, and it hurts the eyes Maybe someone had tried and can suggest some good anti-glare protector, usage experience, cons & pros, etc?

 

any matte screen film will work. Get one that sticks with static cling rather than adhesive.

it looks ugly, but even a grocery bag will work well to cut glare, and stick to the screen.

 

how come the superspeed usb ports on the right side of the laptop never connect in usb 3.0 speed?

I plug in usb thumb drive, and only the single SS port on the left runs in usb 3.0 speed automatically.

The two on the right side don't sync at usb 3.0 speed for the same thumb drive.


edit: hmm, I uninstalled the usb root hub in device manager and redetected, and the usb drive synced in usb 3.0 speed.

I hope I don't have to keep doing this every time

 

Do you guys use any laptop cooler with the zenbook pro? Or have you ever bought one? I'm thinking of buying a laptop cooler pad soon because Mediterranean weather is getting hotter and any suggestions would be welcome. Especially of they are personal experiences with this particular laptop. I'm slightly concerned because from what I saw most laptop coolers have their fans placed centrally, while the internal fans of our laptop are located in the very back...

 

laptop coolers are generally useless. It would probably be more effective to remove the hinge cover to create more space for the exhaust air, or even raising the laptop off the table to allow air to get in the vents easier (if you have the 501VW) If you have the 501JW, you'll either have to remove the hinge cover or drill slots into the bottom panel.

Mine is lifted 1 inch off the table using foam packaging materials.

 

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Easy solution: Download Sharpkeys! Works great!

@link626: Drill holes? A bit extreme, don't. you think? I looked into laptop coolers a bit more yesterday and after checking the specs of various models, particularly airflow and dimensions, I have probably decided to pay about 20 euros for the Deepcool Multicore X6 model with 4 fans placed at the corners. I think it's the best solution for cooling simultaneously the CPU, GPU and the battery of the UX501JW. Not that I have reason to complain much, highest temp reached was 83 degrees Celsius while when playing video games average is about 78 as shown by Throttlestop...

 

Well DARN! Just found this on a "Search" of missing FEET. Had mine since March 1 2016 and never left the top of my itopad and only noticed mine is MISSING the rear right pad (looking down at it as I type this). Now I wonder if it's possible it was never there and I somehow was SO stupid as to not notice it. Guess I will end up with some ugly Home Depot larger rubber "feet" all around to help air flow. This little guy get HOT playing Civilization V...
SO happy to have stumbled upon this website! Glad to meet everyone

 

Well I sort of always agreed with Link on coolers but this is just getting a bit TOO hot for me and MY lap here in the Southwest USA. I never found any not overly complicated by having five (yeah FIVE) fans but finally broke down last night and ordered https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016CL2HHY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Now I also have an itopad http://www.itopad.com/
Now this has gotten so warm as to literally bow this itopad that even my 17.5" Samsung Gamer Laptop never hurt in 3 years. MAYBE cuz I never noticed a missing rear "foot" on mine? Either way, it is always in my lap (I wear only shorts here) and always been on this nice thick pad and STILL is just so hot on my skin I am no longer comfortable. Either mentally or physically Don't want to fry my "little" baby. When I play Civilization V I feel like a peanut getting roasted. MY peanuts ARE getting roasted so I had to try something new. My plan is, my wife is out now to buy me something to glue onto the bottom of this to raise it up. Hopefully some thicker 1/4 inch high feet to raise it all around. Put this now taller UX501VW onto my itopad. Put the itopad with all this on top all on top of my new Cooler Pad.....Gonna be a pain but going to try it. Just want to be more comfortable and I can afford another twenty dollars to try anyway. I KNOW they fail constantly but plan to use it as just another platform even when the likely USELESS fans fail entirely. I am a BADLY disabled old Combat Veteran so hopefully this will make me more comfortable. My big concern is weight as well since I no longer could even stand the weight of my Samsung Gamer Laptop which is how all this even started....

 

you can probably get feet mailed to you by contacting asus support.

 

Thanks, Yeah I just did that before finding this website. Will see? I offered to BUY them, not *****ing or anything. Wife just came home with soft girlie "junk" that if I stuck on the bottom of this would melt in 15 minutes She is such a GIRL! I'm too disabled to go to Home Depot and go all Tim Taylor but I'm over at Amazon window shoppin...just in case.

 

I'm in LA and it gets hot sometimes.

Short of removing the whole bottom panel and leaving it off, I don't think any cooler will help.
The 501 was not meant to be a heavy gaming machine.

I was monitoring my cpu and gpu, and while playing an old game, the gpu quickly throttled big time to 400/450 down from 1100/1250. And that's with vents on the bottom, raised an inch off the table, and a big 20 inch box fan blowing toward the laptop.

501JW owners must have it worse.

The only cooler for ~$15 that will help is this.... and that's with the bottom panel off...

 

I grew up in Torrance and an just at the back gate area of Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base now the past 35 or so years. Hot here too, especially NOW as you know too I'm sure. Yeah I never bought THIS for gaming, just to do video editing for simple YouTube videos of the cat and goofy stuff, a "hobby" is all. But one that didn't choke and take 45 minutes to render a 3 minute HD video. I also needed to get that 9 pound monster OFF of my legs (which is why I didn't want any cooler weight!). Bought the new Samsung Pro and it had issues. Thanks God Best Buy took it back...Bought a new Dell even after betting my very SOUL that could never happen. Don't even want to talk about it. Went into this eyes wide open knowing the sound was awful etc but got it as an "overall SUV" of a light laptop. Needed a do it all well and compromise here and there. It will be my last computer ever so I just wanted some PEACE for what time I have left.

After a bunch of surgeries and now crippled I just hope the cooler will at least give me a smooth surface to let this sit on that will (once added to the top of my itopad) will keep the heat away from me by adding yet at least another barrier between us. Also hope the ergonomics don't go all to you know where...I LIVE on this thing 12-18 hours a day some days and just try to distract myself from unbearable chronic pain now. So this or my XBOX's, PS 3's and 4's etc as well as gaming laptop are my only place to now "go". No more surfin or motorcycles for me. Now if I could take the weight of that box fan ya got I would be all OVER it!

You know I keep forgetting, but this little laptop really does do FAR better at games than I would have expected. The Dell was better. But, well, it was a Dell.......

 

I just tried the box fan cooler above, and it was able to prevent 90% of the throttling during gaming.
It needs lots of airflow, especially toward the back, and the box fan is perfect for that.

Previously the gpu would quickly throttle to the lowest 400/450. Now it stays above 900/1250.
I tested both fan on and off.

so if your laptop is throttling, prop up a box fan, then put your laptop on top of the fan.

 

Mortal Kombat X running All settings highest resolution 1920 x 1080.






Witcher 3 Most settings Medium - High. Resolution 1600 x 900




Like i said before Ive throttled the CPU in my custom power plan at 40% on battery and 60% with AC. Witcher is the most demanding game I have. Frame rates are good and is visually better than witcher 3 on a PS4.

This is without a Laptop Cooler or sitting in an air conditioned room. I have a 501JW. And the outdoor temperature is 36 c. All i did was place a small book under.

For a laptop this thin, I believe this is excellent performance. I can run GTA 5 all highest 1920 1080 at more than 40fps. What more do u want from such a thin & pretty notebook?

 

I know in MY case-if this just had the quad speakers my new Samsung Pro 15 had, this would be the absolute BEST laptop of my life. But now? Well now , oh wait, still is! Just missing the best sound part and since I am nearly deaf anyway this is why I chose it and LOVE it. I'd even sleep with it but with this heat wave and all.....

 

Wonder if anyone else here plays Civilization V and if so, what temps they average? Or, what is the "safe" temp and when to worry a bit? The cooler arrived and not doing much in measured temp "numbers". But DID take 90-95% of ALL the heat of my lap which is critical for ME. Still, I would like to know if I am really stressing this thing? Seems like 175-190 degrees F is my average here.

 

My GPU around 180 degrees F. I don't know what is really bad but it FEELS to me that this is pretty darn close to bad, if not already there?

 

I've used throttlestop to limit the cpu on my UX501JW and I'm on similar footing to khanis... I played Deus Ex HR, Crysis3, Kingdoms of Amalur, Adventures of Van Helsing Final Cut, on battery and mains power for more than 5 hours straight occasionally, and I never saw temperatures rise above 85 degrees Celsius or noticed my laptop to slow down. All I did was to prop it up with a book when I was at home and now I'm waiting for a proper cooler, not because it throttles or its unbearable (I never play games with any laptop on my lap anyway so it has never happened to me probably, but I do watch videos, edit documents and music, browse the Internet, etc) but because here it's starting to reach regularly above 40 degrees Celsius and I don't want my laptop to suffer needlessly during the day...My android smartphone is definitely feeling way hotter than the zenbook...

 

Well then that is scary for ME. Just took a 20 minute break for breakfast-turned this off. Turned it back on just to check mail only and with this "so called cooler" on already reading 55 degrees C for the GPU. So 55 C at startup within 2 minutes or so to 82 C playing Civ 5 just seems a bit scary to me. May have to fire up (oh darn-POOR choice of words?) my Samsung Gamer and see what it is doing....

 

your gpu is not going to fry. It throttles waaaay down to protect itself.

As for temperature, ~80C is about right. that's what I get when playing games.

Testing the box fan, the temps don't decrease, but the gpu/cpu remain at higher speed .


http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-960/specifications

max gpu temp is 98c. Although that's desktop, pretty sure the mobile gpus are built as robust, based on the same Maxwell architecture. We're all safe.

Asus put a very conservative throttling protocol on this laptop.

 

Well THAT's a relief! My own body temp is about 80C right now though! YOU gotta be feelin his heat wave t'day too. Thank you for this info since I was REALLY freaking out. Odd thing-have Speedfan and it is showing just crazy stuff. Going to download everything I can find and try to get a handle on all this. Being retired sucks.Finding ALL sorts of ways to scare myself silly...

 

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website works for me

 

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Hey there -- wanted to mention this for any budding digital audio engineers out there hoping to use this laptop with a firewire audio interface.

I successfully daisy changed my UX501VW to a Focusrite Saffire Pro 26, using:
- Startech TBT3TBTADAP TB3->TB2 adapter
- Apple TB2->firewire800 adapter
- Generic FW800->FW400 cable

I can't believe it all worked together, but it did! I'm starting to like this whole Thunderbolt idea...

 

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I would suggest not to install anything else that you haven't already needed. Personally, I haven't felt the need to clean install everything yet, but for me installing the Asus screen enhancement utility that dims blue light is a must-have for a more comfortable viewing experience...

 

Just got a new Asus zenbook pro ux501vw from Best Buy and it stopped working properly on the first day. Microsoft edge does not work and only says not responding. Cortana is slow and does not register keyboard typing on time. Right click menu takes 6 seconds to load.

Going to return and get a better working one hopefully.

 

I recently added a Transcend MTS800 M.2 SSD to my UX501JW. I cloned my OS partition onto my SSD using SSD scope. After cloning, I wasnt able to boot up for the first time, had to enter bios and blindly made a few changes, after which it was able to work. Afterwards, I was able to boot and the SSD works fine, except when closing the lid or when trying to put the laptop to sleep. Now, whenever I close the lid or choose to sleep, the laptop appears to shut down instead. The laptop will reboot from scratch once I hit the power button. Has anyone encountered this problem??

 

Have you needed anything else?

I'm about to do the same because the machine hangs up when logging on, I have to open task manager, close it and then click the start menu for stuff to boot up quicker. Also had a couple of bluescreens and complete hangups where everything froze and whatever sound was on played in a BZZZZ loop.

 

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FULL EXPLANATION OF ALL THE DRIVERS YOU REALLY NEED FOR YOUR ASUS ZENBOOK PRO UX501VW TO FUNCTION OPTIMALLY. PLEASE READ THE WHOLE POST. I'VE MADE EVERYTHING CRYSTAL CLEAR, AND, TRUST ME, YOU WILL LEARN A LOT ABOUT HOW YOUR ASUS ZENBOOK PRO UX501VW WORKS:

A number of features were missing or were not optimized after formatting the ASUS ZenBook Pro UX501VW and doing a clean installation of Windows 10. The main reason for this was due to uninstalled drivers. After the very first startup, the most basic drivers automatically started to install through Windows Update, and a few drivers had to be installed manually to optimize the computer. Here goes my full experience from when I booted the computer the first time after formatting and reinstalling Windows 10.

After the first boot, the rock bottom of the screen - about half the taskbar - was covered by a black line which probably implied that the screen resolution did not work optimally, in other words the screen image was moved slightly upwards. Windows Update was automatically starting to search for driver updates and installed Intel® -graphics driver and NVIDIA graphics driver, as well as NVIDIA Updates. This removed the black line and made the screen function perfectly like it had done before formatting. In addition, Realtek High Definition Audio Driver was installed through Windows Update so that the computer could produce sound. Windows Defender was also installed/updated through Windows Update.

Two otherwise key changes from the original system was immediately discovered: Light on keyboard did not work when pressing fn + f3/f4 and the touchpad was uncomfortable to use, plus that smart movements like scrolling and zooming with two fingers did not produce results. I examined ASUS and their websites to install the drivers I thought were needed for these things to function properly. Here arose complications when downloading (you might not face the same issue as you probably live in a different country than me). The solution was either to download a compression utility - given the drivers on the website are packed into compressed folders - or to change the IP address to another country. I then installed two new drivers. For light on keyboard, the 'ATK' (or 'ATKACPI driver and hotkey-related utilities') had to be installed so that the keyboard shortcuts for fn + f3/f4 now could turn on and change the keyboard light. The touchpad was optimized and allowed smart movement after installing 'ASUS Smart Gesture', which automatically bundled the installation of 'Windows Driver Package - ASUS (AsusSGDrv) Mouse'. This is required for 'ASUS Smart Gesture' to work, so don't uninstall it.

So, to sum up, this is how it all went:

Automatic downloads
- Intel and NVIDIA graphics drivers: Optimize display.
- Realtek High Definition Audio Driver: Produce sound.

Manual downloads
- ATK Package: Light on keyboard through fn + f3/f4.
- ASUS Smart Gesture: Optimizing touchpad and allowing smart movements.

After these things were installed, everything seems to work perfectly and I've had no problems whatsoever with anything. The computer functions just like it did after receiving it full with bloatware from the retailer I bought it from in my country, except that it's way, way cleaner and only seven - yes, SEVEN - programs are installed under "All programs" - these being Intel's graphics driver, NVIDIA's graphics driver, NVIDIA's updating program, Realtek High Definition Audio Driver, ATK Package, ASUS Smart Gesture and Windows Driver Package (which was included with the ASUS Smart Gesture installation).

Hope this helped anyone!!

 

Hello guys, I need your help very much, I want to buy Asus ZenBook Pro UX501VW with intel skylake and 4k screen, is it good and reliable?? Also sometimes I want to plat World of Tanks and GTA 5 but I am afraid that it will heat notebook very very much, but while playing I will use Super Cooling Fan for Asus Zenbook maybe it will help?? I really need your help cause I want to buy it for 4-5 years, but really afraid of its cooling, and in general worth it to buy or not?? Cause I really fall in love with it when i saw it( excuse me for my writing cause I am from Ukraine.) Thank you very much for help.

 

You can buy a cooling pad if you really want to, can't hurt. Mine runs several games just fine. War Thunder which is a more intensive game than world of tanks runs great on mine, so WOT should do even better.

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EduardoDaVinci good writeup!

 

Found one for the UX305, did you find one for the UX501?
https://www.amazon.com/LB1-High-Performance-Cooling-Notebook/dp/B00GUV6NBS

 

gpu throttles. but GTA5 plays fine

There are a few hardware bugs that still needed to be sorted out with the thunderbolt port

 

Hello, guys!
I have the UX501VW-FI058T, the one that comes with 1TB HDD, 12GB RAM, 4K screen and a 4GB GTX960M/HD530.

I bought the laptop like 2 weeks ago, when I first got it it was a bit slow but I didn't mind it because I thought it was installing updates and drivers in the background, its boot time was hilariously long (check this: s) and applications would take a long time to load, I tested my unit and made sure no hardware is defected and it passed, so I decided to do a clean installation of Windows 10 Pro and I did, installed all updates and drivers and it was the same so I sent it to my retailer to figure out what's wrong with it and fix it, he "felt free" to install Windows 8.1 on it and when I tested it though it was loaded with Asus bloatware, I was surprised it's working like it's supposed to be and everything was fast and snappy, boot time was really short, even battery life was better.

Another problem that I encounter is the UI lag, when maximizing, minimizing, scrolling, opening start menu/(or full-screen start menu) the FPS are noticeably laggy and no way near 60FPS, when I dropped the resolution from 4K to 1080p that lag was gone and everything was smooth again, the lag could also be seen when playing videos in MPC-HC in full-screen if you try to reduce or increase volume using the arrows while it's playing the video would lag which didn't happen when I reduced the resolution to 1080p though HD530 should be able to handle 4K very well when it comes to "windows UI", even scrolling through facebook on chrome is laggy (which isn't at 1080p), that problem was not present in Windows 8.1 at all, everything was smooth, now since I am on Windows 10 now and I have all the latest drivers, why am I encountering such annoying problems.

I assume that you guys are familiar with this device and I know for sure that some of you went through one of these problems, I am seeking help from anyone who knows how to solve that problem, I would really appreciate some info.

 

That's strange, given the UX501VW's natural system is Windows 10. Are you absolutely certain you don't have the UX501JW, which natural system is Windows 8? The JW is proven to have some troubles and lags when running Windows 10, as it's not built to run it the same, native way as the VW.

I have the UX501VW myself with Windows 10 installed, and everything from the UI to installed software runs ridiculously smooth. The boot time is faster than anything I've ever seen. I've only noticed a single 'lag' thus far, which is when I maximize Google Chrome after having it minimized. However, I wouldn't call it a lag as every time I maximize it, it looks exactly the same - which is a common thing when a program just generally runs poorly instead of lagging on a specific system. In addition, maximing Explorer, Edge, Firefox and all other software I have installed looks silky-smooth, so I consider this a tiny, tiny 'issue' Google will have to take on their mantle.

 

Yes I am sure it's the UX501VW and not the UX501JW
6700HQ, 12GB 2133MHz DDR4, 1TB HDD, Intel HD530, 4GB GTX960M and a 4K panel.

I even updated the bios, IDK what's the exact problem, am I missing something?

 

From your video, your computer looks awfully slow compared to what it should - taking my own UX501VW into account. Among other things, Google Chrome is taking a laughably long time to start. I also notice your disk usage is abnormally high (topping 100%) in your task manager. Could you share a list of your self-installed drivers and software?

 

It's funny because even with more programs on Windows 8.1 it managed to boot in like 8 seconds (was fully shut down, not hibernated or put to sleep), and chrome would launch so fast (That was what made me sure it's not a hardware problem), I've done few tests on HDD and it's performing as expected so I don't think that explains the problem I mean IK HDDs are generally slow but not that slow.

Here's a list of drivers installed: http://pastebin.com/BrNDG07Q
As for the applications it goes as follows:
Bitdefender total security 2016
Pushbullet
Cleaner
Chrome (obviously)
Internet download manager
Asus smart gesture & ATK drivers
Nvidia and Intel HD Graphics control panels