N61JQ-A1 Owners thread

if crysis will run decently like on the youtube video, i dont think that throttling is a real problem...

 

I did try the "identify you have a problem" thread, but stopped looking at it when the winprime would not work - perhaps I downloaded the wrong version.

Have any ideas for me? I can try some more this evening.

PS I did play off the battery and it seemed to run fine, but as I have already said..outside of WoW. I don't even have warcraft on the laptop so i cant even tell ya my experiences with the only game I know

 

actually, kud0s, WoW should do just fine. when you game, max out all settings and go somewhere with lots of players or where you usually have bad fps. leave throttle stop running in background while you game with log on and post results from the log here, we'll be able to see if cpu throttled or not. it would be great if you could run the test both on ac and battery, if i'm not mistaken, few minutes should be enough to see a problem if it exists, but the longer you run it the better

edit: right, i almost forgot, when on bettery, make sure you're not using bettrey saving or balanced profile, but maximum performance profile under power options... i cant give you exact names as i'm not running win7, but it shouldnt be hard to figure out which is which.

 

Huh? Did you not see the major slowdown when he plugged in the power supply? According to reports the Asus throttles on battery, therefore the result will be reversed ( slower on battery, full speed ac power )

Dude, please just run Crysis Demo on battery and AC power, then post a video.

 

I sorta quit warcraft, but my account is still active, I will try to get the files transferred over somehow when I get home this evening. I have been in hiding since I quit I actually think those heavy areas run slow due to network lag, but I will try.

What do I look for on throttlestop yo know there is throttling or not?

 

if you want you can try it while running crysis, you can download demo from http://www.crysisdemo.com/

about throttle stop, take a look at this picture http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv102/atlstang/tstop18-1.png
when you run the game, first column should show multiplier 12x or higher and last column should be 100%. since most of the games use only 1 or 2 cores, in such games 15x or higher multipliers are expected. wow will only use 2 cores if i'm not mistaken, and crysis will use all 4. crysis would be better for our test, but wow is fine also

 

I will try later, but I dont have fraps, and I wont be taking a video

 

no need for that, we just need throttle stop log

 

kudos, is the screen better than the G51 series??, with respect to bleed through, etc.....ghost/whitish areas on black backgrounds....have you noticed anything like that?

 

Anyone know of a website that offers this laptop with a monthly payment plan? Thanks

 

I do not notice anything about the screen I do not like. It is as dark on the edges as it is in the middle. I can not see any backlight bleeding. I have no idea how to compare it to a G51 since I have never seen one in person.

It will take me a bit to get wow going. Updates etc since I was last online, but working on it now. I did get one of my guys to a busy area (stormwind) and got about 35-40 FPS with everything completely maxed including 8x AA etc.

 

I hope I am giving the right info here. Read it as you ill. With World of Warcraft on absolute max settings running on battery power. Here is a cut and paste from my Throttlestop log. PS I did notice a FPS drop when i unplugged the lappy from the power source.

DATE TIME MULTI C0% CKMOD CHIPM DTS
01/31/10 18:10:47 19.10 16.8 100.0 100.0 28
01/31/10 18:10:48 19.13 17.0 100.0 100.0 28
01/31/10 18:10:49 19.19 16.6 100.0 100.0 28
01/31/10 18:10:50 18.57 18.5 100.0 100.0 29
01/31/10 18:10:51 17.52 25.1 100.0 100.0 32
01/31/10 18:10:52 18.55 18.2 100.0 100.0 31
01/31/10 18:10:53 17.55 25.5 100.0 100.0 29
01/31/10 18:10:54 18.00 13.4 100.0 100.0 31
01/31/10 18:10:55 17.63 12.5 100.0 100.0 33
01/31/10 18:10:56 18.02 13.3 100.0 100.0 31
01/31/10 18:10:57 17.64 12.1 100.0 100.0 36
01/31/10 18:10:58 17.38 15.2 100.0 100.0 30
01/31/10 18:10:59 17.92 14.8 100.0 100.0 36
01/31/10 18:11:00 17.75 13.5 100.0 100.0 35
01/31/10 18:11:01 17.42 13.1 100.0 100.0 36
01/31/10 18:11:02 17.28 13.5 100.0 100.0 36
01/31/10 18:11:03 17.27 13.3 100.0 100.0 33
01/31/10 18:11:04 16.93 12.2 100.0 100.0 31
01/31/10 18:11:05 17.05 12.3 100.0 100.0 32
01/31/10 18:11:06 17.53 12.5 100.0 100.0 33
01/31/10 18:11:07 17.71 13.7 100.0 100.0 30
01/31/10 18:11:08 17.30 13.2 100.0 100.0 35
01/31/10 18:11:09 17.86 12.8 100.0 100.0 32
01/31/10 18:11:10 17.59 12.4 100.0 100.0 34
01/31/10 18:11:11 17.91 14.5 100.0 100.0 32
01/31/10 18:11:13 16.97 12.0 100.0 100.0 31
01/31/10 18:11:14 17.85 13.0 100.0 100.0 31
01/31/10 18:11:15 17.19 12.1 100.0 100.0 37
01/31/10 18:11:16 16.98 13.5 100.0 100.0 33
01/31/10 18:11:17 16.67 12.2 100.0 100.0 38
01/31/10 18:11:18 16.56 12.4 100.0 100.0 35
01/31/10 18:11:19 16.23 12.3 100.0 100.0 36
01/31/10 18:11:20 16.37 12.1 100.0 100.0 35
01/31/10 18:11:21 16.29 12.7 100.0 100.0 36
01/31/10 18:11:22 17.02 11.2 100.0 100.0 36
01/31/10 18:11:23 17.03 12.0 100.0 100.0 36
01/31/10 18:11:24 16.84 11.8 100.0 100.0 32
01/31/10 18:11:25 16.40 12.0 100.0 100.0 38
01/31/10 18:11:26 16.97 12.9 100.0 100.0 34
01/31/10 18:11:27 15.71 11.5 100.0 100.0 36
01/31/10 18:11:28 16.26 11.9 100.0 100.0 38
01/31/10 18:11:29 16.90 11.8 100.0 100.0 36
01/31/10 18:11:30 16.48 12.4 100.0 100.0 39
01/31/10 18:11:31 16.42 11.8 100.0 100.0 33
01/31/10 18:11:32 15.73 12.1 100.0 100.0 39
01/31/10 18:11:33 16.67 12.2 100.0 100.0 35
01/31/10 18:11:34 15.92 12.1 100.0 100.0 39
01/31/10 18:11:35 16.03 12.5 100.0 100.0 34
01/31/10 18:11:36 16.39 11.9 100.0 100.0 38
01/31/10 18:11:37 17.57 12.2 100.0 100.0 33
01/31/10 18:11:39 16.70 11.0 100.0 100.0 37
01/31/10 18:11:40 16.83 11.5 100.0 100.0 38
01/31/10 18:11:41 16.92 11.4 100.0 100.0 35
01/31/10 18:11:42 16.79 11.8 100.0 100.0 38
01/31/10 18:11:43 17.65 12.3 100.0 100.0 35
01/31/10 18:11:44 17.57 13.5 100.0 100.0 33
01/31/10 18:11:45 17.55 13.5 100.0 100.0 35
01/31/10 18:11:46 17.54 14.7 100.0 100.0 35
01/31/10 18:11:47 17.03 13.1 100.0 100.0 37
01/31/10 18:11:48 17.79 13.0 100.0 100.0 34
01/31/10 18:11:49 17.75 12.9 100.0 100.0 32
01/31/10 18:11:50 17.72 12.4 100.0 100.0 33
01/31/10 18:11:51 17.80 12.6 100.0 100.0 37
01/31/10 18:11:52 16.91 12.6 100.0 100.0 38
01/31/10 18:11:53 17.51 12.6 100.0 100.0 35
01/31/10 18:11:54 17.53 13.6 100.0 100.0 32
01/31/10 18:11:55 17.53 12.3 100.0 100.0 31
01/31/10 18:11:56 17.41 13.2 100.0 100.0 33
01/31/10 18:11:57 17.65 14.5 100.0 100.0 34
01/31/10 18:11:58 17.15 12.8 100.0 100.0 34
01/31/10 18:11:59 17.01 12.9 100.0 100.0 37
01/31/10 18:12:01 16.68 12.2 100.0 100.0 34
01/31/10 18:12:02 17.64 15.4 100.0 100.0 31
01/31/10 18:12:03 18.67 18.4 100.0 100.0 30
01/31/10 18:12:04 18.80 18.0 100.0 100.0 30
01/31/10 18:12:05 18.67 18.1 100.0 100.0 30
01/31/10 18:12:06 18.40 18.9 100.0 100.0 31
01/31/10 18:12:07 18.74 17.6 100.0 100.0 30
01/31/10 18:12:08 18.97 17.2 100.0 100.0 30

 

someone please comment on this data!

 

Kud0s,
Thank's for all the help. Hopefully more of us will start getting our laptops and you won't have to carry all the load. Here is my question until I get mine. On the ASUS website under manuals for the N61JQ line, page 36 of the manual talks about switchable graphics. Can you look up this page of your manual.
I know,I know no swithcable graphics on the I7! But ASUS manual, a reviewer on another site claiming switchable graphigs
I'm just sayin........

 

It is in the manual on page 36, but I do not think I can. Mind you I have not explored it at all.

 

Thank's, I just don't get why that would be in the manual. I thought the N61JQ line was only i7s. And they don't say on select models like they do on other parts of the manual. Maybee they do have i5s in this line. Or they are going to put them out later. I get my JQ-X1 tomorrow and that's one of the first things I'm checking out.
Is your battery still getting about 2 hrs?

 

I believe the manual is for all N61 models. Have you right clicked on the ATI icon in the task/notification area and see if the "Configure Switchable Graphics" is even available?

 

What do we know.
1- page 36 and 41 of the ASUS manual for N61JQ line talks about switchable graphics.
2- Here is a link with somone claiming to use it on a N61JQ-A1 and get 3.5 hrs on battery. http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1831435&page=6
I'm just sayin....

 

http://www.xoticpc.com/asus-n61jaa1-p-2759.html this is the model with the core i5. perhaps it is talking about this one?

 

My ATI icon do not have the options, I will look for some BIOS update, but I have a feeling the guy has his models confused

 

XoticPC site has wrong information about N61JA. They are even saying there is touch sensitive multimedia buttons, but the model does not have that. Seems they need to update their site with PROPER information.

Again in general, if a laptop has both on-board and discrete graphics, there MUST be a way to switch between them, either by dedicated buttons or through software.

 

i read it more and he is using the office mode for 3.5 hours. I have really only been running in performance mode. I can switch to office mode. I do not think it has to do with switching graphics. Just more power savings options opened up

 

this log is from when you were running on ac adapter, not on battery, right?
btw, this is all we needed, log you copied shows no throttling and you're cpu was running @ 2.4-2.5ghz

 

Great news. I'm assuming two minutes was all that was needed to find out? Seems like a short test, but I don't know much at all about throttling.

 

hmmm, kudos, can you comment on the build quality, I got this quote from someone who looked at the model, here is what he said

"The screen back cover was very thin, if I press on it I could see some artifacts on the display. Furthermore, the keyboard had lot of flex especially on the number pad side."

ouch, screen flex is not good at all, any comments? thanks man

 

its enough, if asus was using some kind of throttling it would be obvious from just few minutes run like it is with dell or when you switch to bettery, you see the performance drop immediately.

 

I think he said he was running off the battery if I read it correctly.

 

It was on battery, and don't forget that I also noticed about a 10 fps hit on battery vs ac. I can try again after work. I can also let it run longer, but the log is gonna be huge.

 

Definitely don't bother going longer if it means an epic log file. I was just curious about how long it needed to be. I really know nothing about throttling, and so I'd trust ogrec over me.

 

according to that, cpu was doing fine, your multiplier was between 16 and 19, 19x means your cpu is running @ ~2.5ghz. now, since this was wow, it was using 2 cores and 2.5ghz is about maximum you can get in that application. i'm guessing that multiplier was not constant and it was dropping down to 16x because you were on battery (its already known from another thread that asus locks multipliers to 7x when running application that utilizes all 4 cores, 8 threads). if you want, you can do same test while on ac power, if i'm correct, multiplier (first column) should be 19x or maybe even higher.

anyhow, i'll pm unclewebb to take a look at your results, its possible that i'm misinterpreting them

 

Hi guys. If you have a large log file just upload it to www.sendspace.com and post a link here. I always like looking at too much information rather than not enough. Some computers might take 15 minutes of gaming before they have throttling problems where they will slow down to a crawl.

Your log file shows that your CPU is not being throttled on battery power. If you are seeing a sudden FPS slow down when switching from AC to battery then my guess would be that your GPU is being throttled on battery power.

Alienware M15x owners get both the CPU and GPU throttled. They use the Nvidia GTX 260 and are able to use RivaTuner to control that from dropping down to 2D clocks when gaming on battery power.

Joker has done a great job on the M15x thread with more information about setting up RivaTuner:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=439546

The multiplier constantly varies on these CPUs based on load. Your short log file looks OK so post a bigger one and just keep track of what you're up to. If you start playing a game at 10:45 and you play for 15 minutes then just let me know that so it's easier to interpret your log file.

Also run a GPU-Z log at the same time which will show GPU throttling if that's what is going on. Upload both of them so they can be compared.

Edit: I just ran the specs. Is this laptop using the ATI 5730? Does MSI Afterburner support it? That program works great on my desktop 5770 GPU. You might be able to run Afterburner to lock the GPU when gaming on battery power. Time to go read the first 8 pages so I can get up to speed on this one.

 

FYI ASUS updated us today that the N61JA-A1 status has recently changed and appears it is not coming to the U.S. at this time.

 

What?? Dang, that was looking like the one I would have preferred!

 

Hey guys I just ordered my N61JQ-A1 after days of researching. I think it is the best deal around. I ordered it from powernotebooks.com and will have him add IC Diamond thermal paste 2 it. I am excited and I cant wait to get it all up and running!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The guy I bought it from also said the same about it not coming to N.A. on Friday. I was also interested in it because of the Blu-Ray. So I guess he was not kidding

 

Okay I will give it a try tonight. I am at work and unable to do it while tethered to my cell phone

I am pretty sure the GPU is being throttled. When the Video card is being used a bunch the exhaust gets quite warm. Warm = energy and I would not be surprised that it just doesn't have the juice (same goes for any mid to high end video card) to power it.

99% of the time mine will be plugged in anyhow. Trying battery saving mode, while unplugged right now @ work

 

if n61ja comes to the UK they are no resellers to upgrade it .

 

What? Why? Is it being replaced with something else?

 

^Not that we know of. ASUS stated this morning that their plans for it changed and it is not coming to the U.S.

 

You can always order at GenTechPC
But the processor upgrade costs huge, even more than the actual price of the processor

http://1toppc.com/Merchant2/merchan...=N61JA-A1&Category_Code=AS15&Product_Count=15

 

I don't get it. Why can GenTech still sell it if Xotic can't?

 

Xotic did just find out today. Maybe GenTech haven't gotten the information from Asus yet or gotten a chance to update their site.

I have a question as well. Would upgrading to 1333MHz memory make a noticeable difference on an everyday basis. For example, would it mostly improve multitasking performance, or could it improve gaming performance as well?

 

Read the post here http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=456186
The temperature reaching 80 degree Celsius !!!

 

Nope. It would not make a noticeable difference.

 

There really isn't much info on that thread. We don't know if it's a hardware problem, what the room temp is or even if the vent is being blocked.

 

No throttling, NICE. Just noticed, you need to test it plugged in. The Dells would throttle because the 90watt PSU was not enough, at least that's the theory. So please, run the test again on AC.

There are 2 things that should be known, ATI's Power Play will lower the GPU's performance on battery, you can turn that off in the CCC. You have 2 settings, one option for when its on battery and one for when its on AC ( which ironically the 2 settings are, optimize for performance or optimize for battery life even on AC power)

The Dell's laptops would not throttle much with Power Play set to optimize for battery life while on AC. So if you do log it again make sure you have it set to optimized for max performance and plugged in. To me that's the most important time to have performance. Battery's take a lot of strain running at max off the battery, and will lower their life spans.

Also, I'd try the Crysis Demo and log that. Even though the game can run 4 threads, the other 2 are pretty low useage and you'll still probably hit 17+ multi if its not throttling.

 

kud0s, can you check temperatures after gaming? seems another owner has serious problem with cpu temperature, it goes up to 80... imo even 70 is a lot and i wouldnt consider running that kind of laptop without a cooler, but 80 under load and 55-60 idle? -___-

 

80 is not considered hot for a mobile core i7 under stress. Temperatures of around 100 can cause damage, 80 under load is a good 20 degrees below that.

If you wanted to be on the safe side, though, you could get some sort of cooler since the heat seems to mostly be on the bottom of the notebook.

 

There are a lot of laptop people are using with the i7....I have not heard any overheating issues with them. I agree with you cookie.

 

From everything I read 80 is an abnormal temp. I would expect something around 70 or less.