* Official ASUS G73JH Crew Member's Lounge *

Judging by the lack of raid options on their site I do no believe it supports hardware raid.

 

My understanding, is the G73JH will be a complete refresh, in terms of thermal design...... with specific attention to the ATI HD 5870. If so, I expect it to run very cool considering. Asus did a great job in this area with the W90, and I expect a repeat performance regarding thermal management of the G73JH.

We will know soon guys...... surely reports of G73JH attributes will emerge from CES!

 

I have preordered the base model with the intentions of finalizing the options within the next week. A few considerations I am making are -

1.) Thermal Grease, YES or NO, and if YES then what type. I always applied it to desktops that I built, but never overclocked and have not intentions of overclocking this model.
*if anyone have reviews that compare the OEM stock thermal, Arctic Silver & IC Diamond thernals that would be great

2.) Blu-Ray Reader or save the $$$ and use the $80 towards an external Blu-Ray Reader. I have a stand alone player and would only use the reader to make digital video files for use on my home theater computer that I have not built yet...basically just wondering if i am better to have two drives instead of one for slight incremental cost?
*if anyone knows where I can get an external blu-ray reader from anywhere on the cheap please let me know

3.) I noticed that XOTIC has an Built-in Intel® PRO/Wireless 5300 802.11 a/g/n optional card for $33. I did not see this on Gentech's site, but it will probably become an option since their listing was more competitive reaction in response to XOTIC's premature post. Regardless, the question is...do you think that this card would perform any better than the stock card, and if so...is it worth the $33 upgrade.
*if anyone have reviews that compare the cards in question that would be great

4.) Anyone know if the backpack bag that comes with the PC is adequate for carrying this beast and any needed accessories? I just wanted to know if I should be planning on selling the included bag, and researching for a new bag to hold my new baby.
* if you do have this bag for a G72 I would be interested in your thoughts, and if you have any suggestions on replacement backpack bags. I have decided I am done with the shoulder bags other than my business supplied POS laptop

Any information, or other options I should consider would be greatly appreciated. I am super pumped, and cannot bare the fact that I have to wait one more month to hold my new child.

Sincerely

-mackloon

 

1. IC Diamond has had the best results for me, but was the hardest to apply.

2. If you're not going to use the blu-ray drive for watching movies, I'd say its pretty pointless right now. You can get an external one for 60$ on newegg.

3. The 5300 does have better wifi strength/distance and easier wireless n connectivity, but I'd not pay 33$ for it. Buy it on ebay for 20$ shipped and install it yourself, this will also help you get a look and feel for the internals of your laptop (although generally in the G series installing the wifi card has been a very easy access and transparent procedure)

 

To point #2:

Here is an external on newegg - ASUS also...haha -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135198

For $96.xx <- shipped

 

hmm..coulda sworn that was 60$ yesterday when I went looking.

 

If that was $60 I would have already bought it...haha...

Let me know if you find that model posted up anywhere.

****

Also, I should note that this badboy is a AC Adaptor powered and therefore would be less portable if you wanted to bring it along. But for $16 more dollars you can get 2 drives and opt down to the DVD Multi in the ASUS...I am going to do that I think...

May or may not get the external now...but know that is an option soon.

 

Mack, settle down! (LOL! Actually I am right there with you Bro!)

I think your logic regarding the BD-Rom is sound, so If you are considering the savings, I think it's a good idea. Besides, adding an internal BD-Rom at a later time, is a very simple option.

Regarding the IC Diamond compound, my experience is it performs as advertized. I personally am choosing this option, because I want Ken's HANDS-ON in my G73JH! I am a bit gun-shy regarding manufacturer TIM applications, and I have seen too many cases wherein a poor job was done. For me, it's a little extra spent, for comfort and assurance.

Yes, I would request the Intel® PRO/Wireless 5300.

And regarding the backpack, the one included with the W90 was pretty awesome for a freebie! I assume this one will be of equal quality. Your choice!

 

Ok, so I am good on the backpack...and the blu-ray i will just get external amd plan on swapping internal to a writer once the prices hit a low end. So...IC Diamond on both GPU and CPU....even with no overclocking?

 

Yes, this will hopefully drop temps down even a few more degrees and give you room in the future if you plan/wish to do OCin then.

 

Well, cool is good, and heat is the destroyer. Even without OC, if you game or load the CPU, chances are sure you will be ramping up the temps. If you opt another thermal compound, I would still recommend having the TIM application looked at, unless you'ld rather do this yourself.

Just for assurity......

 

Not sure if you guys saw this, but it bodes VERY well for the Mobile 5870's prospects.

http://www.notebookjournal.de/tests/notebook-review-deviltech-fire-dtx-nkmo-1073/1

I will be returning my ailing G51j-a1 to ZipZoom and will be pre-ordering a G73JH from Xotic!

 

Specifically here:

http://www.notebookjournal.de/storage/show/image/image4b2a5d3f23b62

If the mobile 5650 part is able to average 23 FPS in the new Stalker game at 1920x1080 on high details, I think we are in for a real treat with the Mobile 5870 part!

 

how is the i7 720???

 

I'm hoping to get the go-ahead from my "financial advisor" (i.e. my wife) to replace my aging Macbook Pro with X1600 Mobility Radeon graphics. It has been a long few months scouring the internet to find any laptop that met or exceeded my wish list whilst staying under or close to $1500. Sadly, I had to throw the non-glossy requirement out the window, yet I have a feeling the reflections won't stop me from enjoying the G73JH. It looks as though my love affair with ASUS is just beginning...

I've found some early indications as to how well the HD 5870 will perform at Notebookcheck: Comparison of Graphic Cards and the stub for the review by clicking the appropriate link or directly via Notebookcheck: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870. My mouth watered a little...

 

i couple things to note.

dont believe notebook check sadly. they are not right and they dont know how to order things.
the 4870 smashes the 280m is everything. EVERYTHING cept crysis. that is the only benchmark it doesnt hurt it in. and i belive if i had the the 4870 i would out perform the 280m's...

i also went up against a desktop 5850 and lost in everything you can think of. the only thing i was close in was fc2 and if aa was on it would of been a different story.
i'm not liking the seeing the ddr3, gddr3 becuase gddr3 is at it's limit and honestly beucase it's a laptop you cant bring the clocks up that high and it's like trying to look get more mpg out of a stock car WITHOUT changing to better parts. it's just not going to happen. or trying to squeeze more performance out of a stock car WITHOUT changing the parts.

but what i am comfortable with is that we are dealing with asus and not hp, dell, where the chances of getting crap is high. (i'm talking about memory speeds.)

what i do see that is nice is the clock speeds for the gddr5 and the core. very nice indeed.

i'm looking forward in joining this group in the near future.

 

I'm in the market for a gaming laptop like this, it will be my first gaming laptop... but one question is nagging me in my mind... will either Asus or ATI take up the slack for making drivers for this mobile card, or will they just kind of leave everyone out to dry like with the 4870x2's?

 

Lol saling the M17X for this baby?...I would say it will beat the M17X with 5870 but from every other review of I7 720 ...QX9300 beats i really good (or maybe just because it's fairly new and not really optimized..)

 

I am going to venture a guess that driver support for this new 5870m chip will be fantastic. This is going to be a high-end, but mainstream part as compared to the 4870x2, which is more of a niche/novelty setup in a high-end gaming laptop that few can afford.

 

Yes, the video card is coming with the GDDR5 memory. This is the best out there for video right now so this thing will not have "throttlegate" issues.

 

so like, whos gonna post their box opening up on here for this awesome machine!!

 

Umm. ME! Can't wait for this thing!?

 

when I get mine there shall be benches, pics, and mods galore =P

 

^^ You plan on Modding yours at all EIement with Copper or anything? I still have all my copper and Thermal Tape that I was going to use on my G51J until I decided to give it back.

 

You bug on mods there EI...looking forward to seeing your out of the box benches vs the fully modded benches.

 

I will copy all your modz.

 

Any bites on you laptop yet EIment?

 

One bite but he lives in Canada and doesn't want import/duty taxes etc. :\

 

with my G51 I went from 94c clocked at 600/950/1550 in 3dmark06 to 74c @ 610/1000/1550. =] From 90c in L4D1 to 64c in L4D1.

 

yes EIement, many people will probably be watching what you do for Modding with this machine, if it even needs it at all!

 

if the internals look anything like the G72 I have something in mind =]

 

I believe IaTa said he scored tickets to CES10 so maybe we can get him to take pictures of it inside and out so we can see it and you can start schemeing

 

I like that idea! If I was anywhere close to CES I would be in there in a second. Can't wait to hear some details.

 

I just quoted a msg for him from that and asked him to score us pictures of insides and outsides if possible for you guys to scheme with!

 

Lol I will try my best lads, promise!

 

That would be the bomb!!!

 

Awesome! I love Asus. They keep bringing great value to the market.

 

wow congrats to you guys
ill follow this thread. wanna see how awesome the new ati card is.
my two fav nb brands - asus and sager, FTW

 

Woot. . The anticipation on actually receiving this thing is going to be painful.

 

Yea, you all are gonna have your bench's up before I get mine here in Iraq I bet!! I will definately want to see those and see all the enjoyment of the unboxing when it comes in finally!!

Rub, just noticed you stole my sig and changed the BD-Rom part Everything is exactly the same per batim minus that part...

 

Agreed! No doubt about it! This is a repeat of last year, when Asus debuted the W90 and it's ATI 4870 cards. This year however, I expect the G73JH to be a much greater success.

[fingers crossed]

 

So true legacy, I am lazy. Well, I just kinda corrected the BD-ROM part. Blu-Ray not blue-ray . I GUESS I WILL ALTER IT A LITTLE. Hahha. Tee hee

 

lol, such cheesballs I tell ya... lol

 

Hey all ---

I've been following this thread and wanted to chime in. I am *really* interested in this notebook, but I have a couple of questions:

- Will the ATI 5870 be better than the GeForce 260m?
- Will this rig be able to play Empire Total War on high settings?

I know this is speculation, but those of you with rigs that have the 260m, can your laptop run ETW in high/highest settings? If so, then I imagine this will too.

Do we have a tentative release date?

 

The ATI 5870 is anticipated to destroy the GeForce 260M, but until benchmarks are release by ASUS/AMD we will not know for certain. Im probably 99% sure you will be able to play ETW on high settings without issue on this rig!

 

i'm icthing for it lol.

 

DO IT DO IT!!! Can't you feel the peer pressure!!! (/jedi mind wave) YOU will get this notebook!

 

Hey l3g4cy99,

I just noticed the DDR3 in your sig..... should that be 1066, or did you opt to purchase the higher speed mem?

 

I believe he mentioned that Gentech was providing 1333 Mhz RAM for those who ordered while the specifications incorrectly stated as such. I think he was one of those.

 

Ahhhhhhhh, that's right! Thanks for the correction dtwn! For some reason I was thinking l3g4cy99 was on the 'group-buy' list. I guess it's helpful for me to pay more attention, LOL!

Isn't that GREAT what Ken is doing in this case?

I argued with him, telling him it was entirely un-necessary giving me that free mem upgrade. Ken insisted flat-out, that it was his mistake, so I would get the 1333 mem anyway!

REALLY Cool of him!