Asus ZenBook Pro UX501 Owner's Lounge

Still waiting so patiently for UX501 with FHD matte screen, and 960M 4GB.... anyone know estimated time of release for US? Everything on the web right now has 4k screen....

 

Ummm that's going to be several months if even offered.

 

I ordered the cheaper version with 8 gig ram and 4k matte screen (non touch).

I havent performed any performance tests yet but i did notice a few things. Speakers are a bit worse than the ones in the nx500 modell, they arent bad for a laptop but the ones in the nx500 (tried one for 2 weeks) almost had better sound quality than the speakers i use for my desktop PC (several years old and cheap even back then, but still good). Keyboard does flex a bit when i push down in the center of the keyboard but im not noticing anything when im typing, the keyboard does feel more firm then the one on the nx500 as well.

source: https://newevolutiondesigns.com/images/freebies/yellow-wallpaper-1.jpg

I havent noticed any mustard yellow yet, when I compared the same picture of homer on the laptop and on my iphone 6 they both showed about the same color. Look at the picture i uploaded and compare with the source and decide for yourself (picture taken using iphone6).

One thing i do miss is the "exclusiveness" that was put into the nx500 modell,included laptopfolder, premium box, preinstalled asus theme which i liked quite a lot etc. This laptop is supposed to be better and yet all of the things i listed are missing.

In my opinion this modell which was sold at 1604,69 euros are worth the money since the CPU and GPU are as good as (if not better even) the ones in the current rMBP (which costs about twice as much). The 512 gig uber fast ssd, 16 gig ram and apple build quality is missing of course, but asus are not far off in build quality and i can live with 12 gig ram and an ordinary ssd (which can be upgraded as well).

sorry for bad english

Edit:

After doing som more testing i can see that the yellow colors look more like mustard, but i wouldnt have noticed it unless knowing about it before buying the laptop. I dont notice it at all in daily use and yellow is an ugly color anyway.

 

Really... several months?! I see some FHD (1080P) overseas... but not in US yet.. several months is a long time

 

do you have light bleeding ? if yes, how bad it is ?

 

do you have light bleeding ? if yes, how bad it is ?

 

I havent experienced backlight bleeding on earlier computers to be honsest so im not 100% sure of what to look for but when i put up a pitch black picture in fullscreen mode i cant see any obvious white areas on the screen.

 

Makes me mad at Europe and other countries already have the FHD matte model and US doesn't! I need this laptop lol

 

Laptop GPU is giving blue screens sometimes after i exit games.

Just updated to the latest BIOS. Hopefully its resolved

Edit: Issue Resolved. BSOD occurs when exiting games using Alt+f4.

 

If so you have a different UX501 than the one I have, as that that flexes noticeable if I press above the trackpad. Not sure if it would be a problem IRL though but compared to my MBP it's night and day.

 

The G501 is basically the same notebook (same internals and chassis) but with a different color and branding to be "for gamers". And in this video review you can see the flex there.
Frankly, it's quite disappointing for the G501, but I had a hope it would be better in the UX501.

 

I must. Unless you consider the slightest movement from pressing very hard to be "flex". I mean I don't believe there is any keyboard that does not flex at all if you push hard enough.

 

Mine definitely does not do what that one is doing in the video. I'm pressing in the exact same spots and it's nowhere near like that. Not even close.

Then again, mine is the UX501.

 

I don't think that the flex necessarily bad if you compare it with the average laptop, but compared to the MBP (at least mine) the difference is enormous. It could of course be that different units differ much in this regard, which would in itself be a cause for concern about the QA processes at Asus.

Edit:
Mine flexes as in the video. A bit strange if there should be units with considerably less flex out there.

 

Do you have the US model with the 4k glossy screen and 512GB pciex4 SSD?

 

I've tested the keyboard flex on the UX501 and G501 (non 4K model); it is exactly as the review video shows. When pressing down with some force, it flexes. When typing, it is not noticeable.

 

I'm thinking it must be the foreign, non 4K models with the flex then. Mine is the 4K glossy US model and it is nowhere near like that no matter how hard I push.

 

Well, I have the European version with the same specs as you list.

 

Seriously doubt there is a a version with flex keyboard and that that doesn't flex. Please note that the surface you have underneath the laptop of course matters, if I have it in my lap, I don't get the same amount of flex as on my desk as my legs absorb most of the pressure. That said, the keyboard actually is quite good and I don't have a problem with flex as I type.

But the screen on this one is horrible. A computer that 2015 can't display yellows is just embarrassing. And the light bleed on my unit is so bad that I can even see it on normal Windows blue background. Asus motto is "In search of incredible"...I would say that they have to do some more searching

 

Where is the 'End' key on this laptop? I do coding, and I use the 'Home' and 'End' keys a lot.

 

the key next to the arrow up key, on the numpad.

Are there any macbook owners who tested this laptop? Im wondering if the sound levels of the fan noise on this laptop is alot worse or slightly worse than the MBP.

 

G501 tested by notebookcheck, relevant for ux501 as well since they share chassis and many of the specs. http://www.notebookcheck.net/Asus-G501JW-Notebook-Review.141745.0.html

Basically the CPU temp is limited to 85C by Asus, causing CPU throttling under cinebench and similar heavy load, and GPU will also throttle during heavy use to below stock speed. Very disappointing, asus should stick to intel specs and allow the CPU to run up to 100C, this would most likely prevent the CPU throttling.

And battery running time is not very impressive with the 96WHr battery, with 4 hr 45min of surfing over wifi. For example the asus G551 with 56WHr battery managed 5 hr 17 minutes in the wifi surfing test. I know the 4k display is power hungry, but still, I had expected a lot more.
Black levels and contrast for the 4k display is only average as well.

For the price tag I had expected better results. At least the noise levels seems acceptable.

 

Here is another G501 reivew, which feels relevant to the UX501 as well as they are so similar:

http://translate.google.com/transla...dbox=0&usg=ALkJrhglSXoI4jftKoGmkXihJC5mRvd8qw

Spoiler: Conclusion

Conclusion
The ASUS ROG G501J is a good gaming laptop of the middle class and not just in terms of the built-in graphics card. The rest of the hardware usually provides only average. The 15.6-inch display has 1920 x 1080 pixels on, is slightly bluish and sometimes a bit dark. The terms are just 2 to 4 hours - depending on usage. The keyboard comes up with a good tactile feedback, making it can be written on it decently. For gamers, there are additional markings on the WASD keys, and the keys are illuminated by red LEDs. Only the number pad keys are a bit too small, the touchpad is not quite as precise as with other devices. But gamers will anyway connect an external mouse and gamble it. The ASUS delivers with the same also in the form of in-house GX850.

There are the usual ASUS high quality workmanship and a high everyday performance, because on board a fleet SSD for the operating system and the most necessary programs. Games and minor software can be accommodated on a 1TB HDD, the data with an average speed of 85 MB / sec. reads. Together with the Intel Core i7-4720HQ and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M constricted ASUS priced a interesting device for gamers, because although the 3D accelerator is only middle class and roughly equivalent to half a GeForce GTX 970M, the unit in recent games is sufficiently fast and even in the native Full HD resolution. With less graphic details you are also equipped for the future.

In terms of volume, the ASUS ROG G501J must escape unscathed. Even if the unit works comparatively quietly in normal 2D mode and operate the fan at a constant speed, it is under full load with 46.6 dB (A) but a bit too loud. Quieter than the more expensive high-end cars that achieve partial 50 dB (A), but it is all. Something negative also encounters the high idle power, which is almost 50 watts.

 

By the way, all reviews I've seen confirms there is keyboard flex so I guess we can safely assume they all have it.

 

As a owner of the Touch version, would you say there is a similar model from the market? Which brands/models would that be?

 

Not really, besides the G501 version with touch (at least I think the 4K version of that is Touch but I'm not sure). The closes ones that comes to mind are MSI GS60 with 3K och 4K screen.

 

Even then the GS60 is quite different in purpose, it goes right up to the 970M and so has cooling designed for that which ups the weight.

 

HP Omen. Much cheaper and higher quality than what I've seen from reviews on the UX501/G501.

It doesn't have a 4K screen though, just a Full HD IPS Touch screen panel (that looks extremely good, no weird yellows or anything).

 

got my UX501 for one afternoon... and sent it back straight away !
Top of the line version (16G RAM, 512G PCIE SSD, 4K screen).
Summary of this bad experience:
- HiDPI is horrible. Many of my pro softwares show huge problems like tiny icons in menus, so I had to use a FHD resolution most of the time. very frustrating.
- Like many have said, the mustard yellows are difficult to pass.
- Another thing that irritate me a lot is the glossy screen. God, never seen something like that, really like a mirror. You can't have a light behind you and work on dark tones, you only see your face !
- Battery life is ridiculous for such big 96Wh capacity. It arrived 80% charged, and around 2 hours 30 later, I was under 10% (I know that I was installing stuff all the time and it was not representative of a standard usage, but I don't think this laptop can run longer than 4 hours on my typical load)
- Keyboard flex is noticeable and grey print on white keys, seriously Asus ?
On the positive side, the design is OK, the SSD is fast like hell and... and... and that's all...
For 2 grants, a very disappointing experience. It may fit the bill for some people but not for me. Too many drawbacks.
Finally, I have ordered an Acer TravelMate P645 (14" IPS FHD, i7-5600U, 12G, 256G SSD + 1T HD) because nobody seems to make a proper professional thin and light 15" laptop with bright, mat, non touch, wide angles FHD screen and above 6 hours battery life (Mac is not an option because of my pro software environment). They all go the stupid 4K route with power hungry CPUs nd abysmal battery life...

 

This was my fear. It is good that you returned it.

 

I own the msi gs60, and let me tell you with what I have seen so far, the msi is on par or better if you weighed the pros and cons. But to be honest, the only con with the msi gs60 is battery, and it so happens that the g501 dosent fair that much better. Dimensions both are very similar, but of course the ux/g-501 is thinner. And when something is so thin, then heat is a problem, and when heat is a problem etc.
As for the Omen I picked it up at best buy, though cute, that thing is freaking heavy.
Just ma 2cents

 

and I really wanted to like it. The design is nice, thin and light. But basically the 4K screen ruins everything (gloss, wrong yellows, bad scaling, hurting badly the autonomy) . These product marketing guys are stupid beyond reason. Give me the same laptop with i7-5600U, 96Wh battery and nice mat IPS FHD screen for real world usage above 6 hours, and I will buy it in a breeze, even at $3k...

 

What stopped me from wanting the GS60 is because apparently it has really loud fans and runs really hot because it's thin. I really wanted the UX501 because it looks so nice, but maybe not now because of all the negative feedback. I'm currently looking at the UX501, Omen (kinda), and GS60/GS70. It's either I wait for the ux501 FHD matte model to come and hope that the color/screen problems aren't there, or get one of the other two. Since you have had experiences with most of them, what do you think would be the best bet for me? I would strongly prefer the laptop to run pretty cool overall, I had an AW15 and that thing is impossible to use on my laptop, even on smallest tasks.

 

Is it the 4K screen that is the source of all the negativity about the UX501? Like if they release a matte FHD version... will it be the perfect laptop?

 

a matte FHD version will be much better, but still, Asus is so stupid that all FHD versions are associated with small 60Wh battery for same crappy 4h autonomy, like the 4k.
So instead of using the same 96Wh battery everywhere to have a great FHD model with long battery life for some users and a 4k model with reduced autonomy for HiDPI fans, they finally only have mediocre stuff... so smart

 

Yes!!!!!!!!!
I would have also bought it if it had fhd

 

Have anyone noticed any defects in the aluminum case? When I put a ruler anywhere on the case I notice that there is always a ~1 mm gap somewhere under the ruler, is this the cause of the keyboard flex? My 3 year-old asus u36sd is flat everywhere so why isnt this super expensive laptop just as flat?

Im concidering returning it for a new one without the uneven case if possible.

 

With regard to the yellows, isn't it related to the ASUS splendid utility? See for example:
https://www.systemshock.org/index.php?topic=4075.0

A lot of users of other ASUS computers had the same issue and uninstalling this "utility" fixed their color issue.

 

I totally agree! When will we buy a laptop like that? Maybe 2050 when Apple start Making Windows PCs lol, kidding but I am giving up on ultraboks. I have been looking since long ago.

 

No, the speakers will still suck and the keyboard will still flex. And AFAIK the NX500 was a 4K display without the problems with mustard yellows. It would probably be a good laptop without the screen problems though, but perfect, no.

 

The Asus UX501 is one of my top 3 picks for a new laptop (updated HP Omen and MSI GS60 Ghost Pro being the other 2). Has anyone tried the solution in quotes for the yellows?

Also, does the model with the larger battery still have a SATA connector inside for a hard drive, even though there isn't room for the actual drive?

 

"Asus splendid utility" was set to normal on my machine and it still has the yellow color issue, I havent tried uninstalling the utility but I doubt it will make any difference since its set on normal already.

 

Could you try anyway to be sure?

See for example this post where uninstalling fixed the yellows while switching to normal didn't work
https://www.systemshock.org/index.php?topic=4075.msg83366#msg83366

(although I'm afraid this won't fix it but you never know...)

 

For me, pretty much. Even if it were the same price of $1799, I would buy a matte FHD model

 

It doesnt, already tried that. Or at least, disabled it bit should be same effect. This is just embarrassing, going to return the UX501. Already ordered a MSI GS70 instead which might not be ideal but my 4 year old MBP has seen its best days performance wise. In most other regards it still kicks the UX501 butt 4 Yeats later

 

Note that there is a matte 4K non touch version as well. At least it is non touch, could be wrong about the matte part.

 

yup its both 4k and matte. Its being sold in Sweden and Norway with 8 gig ram and 256 gig ssd (rest of the specs is the same) but im not sure if its being sold in other countries too.

I tried uninstalling the ultility and compared the colors on 4 diffrent screens of diffrent brands but the ux501 still shows yellow in a more dark way. Its hardly noticable unless you think about it though since other colors are normal.

When i plugged in an external monitor to the laptop the yellow was "normal" on the external screen so the hdmi port still outputs the correct color (dunno if this helps).

 

When I plugged in to external monitors it had the same problems there, which is in line with what I've read on forums. Ie that it isn't the problem with the panel in the laptop, rather the color handling overall. Of course different settings on different displays may make it look better/worse.

 

Just bought this laptop from Germany 16gb ram 4k matte display, the colours are absolutely terrible the yellow being the worst culprit. I am a graphic designer so I've had to go back to my old machine for the meantime if its not resolved I'll have to return it.

Quite annoyed considering their marketing is aimed at professionals and sold as a wide gamut screen. Everything else great its snappy the build quality is very good i don't mind the slight keyboard flex

The other option would be to upgrade the panel, I heard the nx500 panel is good does anyone know which panel it uses? and would it be compatible with the ux501?

 

I just bought this laptop in The Netherlands: 16gb ram 4k glossy touchscreen. Again, yellow is the worst culprit. I uninstalled Splendid utility and played around with it but nothing helps the yellow color looking like mustard green.

I also connected to my television through HDMI and to Dell LED monitors through DisplayPort and in both cases yellows are NORMAL on the external displays. In my case only the internal panel is affected.

Does anyone have a solution?