M50Sv: Review & Owners' Lounge

So you can never use Enhanced mode in XP?

 

I'd also be interested in an answer (i.e., whether it's possible to install SATA drivers after Windows was installed in Compat. mode)

Although, from what I hear the performance gain of Enhanced is minimal, at best.

 

this was covered somewhere here, but yes you can use enhance mode in xp. either install xp in compatible, and then install the intel drivers and change back into enhance or slipstream the drivers. if you slipstream you dont have to put in compatible mode. I installed both ways with no problems. use these drivers http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Fil...lang=eng&OSFullName=All Operating Systems#DRV and also update your chipset drivers.

 

My machine refused to even install the Intel software.

I just switched back to Vista, less hassle. I'll just have to do all my serious work in Linux.

 

really? that's strange... did you try slipstreaming? or last lesort maybe get a usb floppy disk drive?

 

I slipstreamed the SATA drivers using nLite, and it worked perfectly for me.

 

I've installed the SATA driver in compatible mode to take full advantage of the faster speed of the SATA drive.

BTW, I've done this many time without resorting to slipstreaming. I had a thread on this a while ago documenting my experience.

 

Hey guys, Ive been testing out a few drivers. Im currently running Vista x64 sp1 and the following is are my bench marks with 3dmark06 1280 x 800

4061 - Stock newest from Asus site
3967 - Tweakforce xtreme drivers 175.63
3958 - 174.82 Laptopvideo2go
3898 - 175.80 x
3891 - 174.88 x
3783 - 169.12 x

My question is there any drivers better than stock, that anyone is using? Like the tweakforce drivers seem great and I know I shouldnt even look at WEI scores, but it bumped my aero score from 4.8 to 5.0 and I still got lower scores on 3dmark06 than the stock drivers.

 

Scooberdoober, I had the exact problem!! What I ended up doing is a reinstall of vista and viola it was back, strange that it happened though. But this was the same notebook that gave me trouble with the web cam so I think all in all it was a dud. Ive had my replacement for about a week or so now and its working great! The store I bought it from let me test it in the store before I took it home. Which was nice of them!

 

Thanks for sharing your experience. Yeah, I reinstalled Vista a few times, and it still wouldn't show up. In retrospect I wish I would have tried XP again to see if it showed up there, and Linux too.

 

'extra HDD space, better GFX card, far better monitor '

Is HD3650 really faster than 9500M GS? I doubt. For extra HDD and better monitor you have to pay over. And may be not everyone will be satisfied with 1280x800.

 

edit'd this:
Does the M51SN and the M50SV have the same feel to the touchpad and screen?
and how bad is the backlight bleed on the M50sv and the colours.
i noticed on the M51SN that the colours were washed out when i saw one.
thanks

 

Actually can someone compare the screen and touchpad feel to the F3? Its still the only Asus Ive managed to play with

 

Hey, I'm considering buying the M50Sv-A1 but I need a laptop that will survive 4 years. Anyone want to give some insight into the survivability of the M50Sv-A1?

 

The M50 has a very good mousepad. The M51 has reports that the pad feels tacky to the touch. They are not the same.

 

The computer is too new to determine that, and we can't use older models to judge, either, because the chassis is new...

 

A couple of thoughts...I agree with EBE that the model is new so we don't know if a problem will occur that will limit the lifespan of our M50s. But, with that said, there are a few things that we can look for that will tell us if a computer is going to be usable for a few years.

The frame of my M50 seems to have solid construction. There's very little give to it, even when holding it by one corner only.

The screen opens up smoothly and doesn't seem to have any distortion when pressure is put around it.

The keyboard has a liquid resistant protective layer under it which should help the computer last longer.

The hard drives are top notch by good manufacturers.

I believe Asus makes about half of the motherboards produced today, so I think the motherboard should be fairly problem free.

Probably the main argument that the M50 will be durable is that the CPU and GPU run very cool. They are both newer, lower heat-producing technologies, which should help prolong the life expectancy of this computer. Heat is a big enemy to computer life span.

Finally, since this is a new model with newer technologies (such as the N wireless and Blue-Tooth 2), it should not become obsolete too quickly.

So, will you get 4 years out of an M50? Who knows, but I sure hope to.

 

OK, I just got my new M50Sv after having returned the last one. So far so good.

One question though. I want to reformat and do a clean install, what is the 7.81 GB primary partition for? I guess you'd say that it's hidden.

 

I agree 100% of what deadmanwins said. I couldn't have said it better

That's the recovery partition. You may want to make an image of that partition before formating your hard drive.

 

OK, thanks. So if I reformat C:, then the recovery partition will get erased as well?

How can I image the hidden partition?

What file system format is it in? And how can I image it if it's hidden?

Will it be included if I simply image C:, but I don't think so?

 

Guys, please help me out ASAP. I only have a little free time left this evening, and I really need to get going on this clean install right away.

Thanks

 

The hidden partition will remain even you format C: drive.

The hidden recovery partition is very convenience to use if you need to do system recovery so I suggest you keep it.

You can delete the hidden partition at windows vista by going to Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Computer Management>Disk Management.

Or simply boot from your XP disk to delete all partitions.

 

OK, Ken, so I can go ahead and reformat and use my recovery CD to do an install without worrying about my recovery partition being deleted?

Do the recovery partition and the recovery disk have any differences?

Thanks!

 

Yes recovery DVD wont' delete the recovery partition so don't worry.

The result of using recovery DVD and recovery partition are the same, but you can do clean installation of Windows Vista without all the drivers and softwares using recovery DVD, you just have to shutdown the computer when it's asking for the drivers CD.

 

Thanks Ken, you are the man!

 

Hey guys. M50SV-A1 and toys under way. Wanted to ask what happens to the M50's LCD when you game in resolutions under 1440*900? Say 1024*640. Will it stretch the image to fit the screen, or will the image stay at about 75% of the screen, and leave the rest black?

 

There should be a setting in the GPU driver to choose between these two behaviors.

 

Thanks Deadmanwins and E.B.E.! I think I'm going with the M50sv!

 

Just ordered

 

Congrats! Be sure and let us know how you like it.

 

Alright guys, I just got my laptop, and I think I uninstalled something I shouldn't have. Now the option for me to use fingerprint reader when I log on is unavailable. Can someone help me figure out this problem?

 

Just re-install the fingerprint driver. That should take care of it.

btw, you can delete your double post.

 

I think the driver is installed, when I look on the advanced options on the driver CD, it's listed as installed.

Thanks for pointing that out.

 

The functionality of using the fingerprint reader to log on to Windows is included in the fingerprint driver. You may need to re-install it to regain full functionality.

 

Yay, that worked! Thanks a lot!

 

Glad to help, now enjoy that new notebook!

 

I really like it. It's very very quiet. It's been a long time since my typing was louder than the computer.

1 small problem is the really bright light at the base of the laptop... but I read somewhere you could get rid of that. I'll dig up that article in the morning.

 

Good point, it's unusually quiet. One of the most silent notebooks I've ever tried, especially compared to the HP 8510p I had for awhile.

 

Here's something interesting... today I reinstalled Vista using an OEM disc and after the first update almost all of the drivers were installed. I of course had to install the wifi and Nvidia driver, but either than only two were missing: fingerprint and infrared. I never use the former two, so I just disabled them. Everything else worked, even the ACPI drivers. The only driver I will install now is the Synaptics driver, I kind of like the multimedia touchpad. Of course the Asus proprietary stuff like the four buttons at the top obviously do not work. Basically what I'm trying to say is that you can have Vista up and running in less that one hour with no bloatware to slow you down.

 

Hi guys,

I'm from Australia and looking to buy the Asus M50sv ASO82G (link = http://www.msy.com.au/notebook/notebook.pdf)

First of all, does 'ASO82G' mean anything? Is this a good version to get?

Does the laptop still suffer from LCD issues (bleeding, grain?) I just returned a Dell 1520 because it had uneven brightness (i.e. on a white page, some areas of the screen were darker than other) is the asus like this?

I also read that the laptop suffered from keyboard lag. That being that when a key was pressed it did not always come up straight away on the screen. Is this true?

Thanks in advance guys!

 

That looks like a good one to me. I've had no keyboard lag, but there is I guess some light bleed, most noticeable with a black background of course.

Asus policy on back light bleed is that as long as it doesn't go beyond the task bar it's considered within specs. If it does, I think they will offer to replace your screen for you.

 

Hi Scooberdoober - thanks for the fast reply. So do the revision numbers after 50SV mean anything?

Good about the keyboard lag - must have just been that one guys system.

As for LCD - I can deal with some minimal bleeding - its just uneven brightness that worries me. Are you happy over all with the quality of the LCD. Is text clear? Does looking at the screen give you a headache or is it pleasant to look at?

Cheers!

p.s. is you screen the AOU LCD?

 

It's not the best I've seen, and most definitely not the worst (Dell). And yes, it's an AOU screen.

 

Ok thanks very much. I will try to find one in a store so I can see for myself.

Anyone elses opinions of the screen quality would be very helpful!

Thanks again

 

I think the screen is great, the bleed is not noticable unless you're on a dark screen.

The glossy isn't great in direct light.

 

hi chipmonkey - thanks for the reply

I'm not too worried about the glossy part as I rarely use it outside of my room (good lighting with no light source behind me)

On a white background (say the google homepage) do you find the there are darker parts (i.e. a dark band on the bottom or side?)

Does the screen make your eyes tired or hurt easily?

And also is your screen the AOU LCD?

Thanks very much!!

 

I have the exact same model, purchased for the same price from Penta Computers. I really can't fault the system, and mine doesn't suffer from either of those issues you are describing. Of course, there is a little light bleeding when the screen is black, but I would rate it higher than both my old MacBook and Inspiron 6400.

I'm heading into MSY tomorrow to pick up a 2GB ram stick for mine, see how 3GB goes.

 

A fellow aussie! Hi Lysander! So do you think that model has a decent screen in it? Or it doesn't work like that?

Are you happy overall with the screen quality? It doesn't make you suffer eye strain or anything! Were Penta any good? I have been to the broadway one (not sure if there are others) and the service was a bit hey hey!

 

I have no complaints about the screen. I'm at my computer around 12 hours a day, and don't have any eye problems yet.

I ordered over the phone and picked it up the next day from the Broadway store. They let me turn on the machine and check for defects and dead pixels (there were none) before I paid for the machine, so I also have no complaints in that department.

It's a really nice laptop and nothing here beats it on price, just don't expect over two hours of battery life.

 

I think the m50 screen is one of the best I've used. have very sensitive eyes, yet the screen doesnt strain and tire my eyes like my previous laptop or my desktop pc.