* Official Asus N61JV Owners Lounge *

Hello,
The current * Asus N61JQ Owners Lounge * was intended to address all N61 models. Over time the lounge has evolved into a JQ only thread. GregW suggested that setting up a JV only lounge might be worth a try. I realize there is not a huge difference between a JQ and JV but there may be specific JV issues and experiences. So, perhaps we can discuss JV owner's experiences and JV specific issues. Hope this lounge will be beneficial to JV owners. Thanks!

 

Ok, I will give it a start. After weeks of research I am sold on buying a N61JV. I am planning to order the N61JV-X4 via Amazon. But have some last minute questions:
1. Amazon also sells an N61JV-X2 for about $100 more than the -X4 but I can't discern a difference between the two. Calling Asus direct has been a fail. Anyone know the difference?

2. Positive or negative comments from JV owners?

3. Specific issues with the JV?

4. A better place to buy the JV other than Amazon?

As you probably gathered I am not a computer wiz (see Avatar). I will be using the machine mainly for internet, email, office stuff, audio and photo editing. I am not a gamer (sorry). Though I want a "stout" and "future proof" laptop. I am tired of searching for a laptop and am sold on the JV. So don't need any other manufacturer suggestions. Look forward to getting some real feedback on the JV!
Thanks!

 

Good job Dmerz and good luck on the lounge. Keep posting here now and then to keep it up high on the owners list until other JV owners see it and join the lounge.

 

Hello GregW,
Thanks for the reply and suggestion to start this thread! Hopefully it will take off and be useful for JV owners.

Well, I have one update regarding those Amazon models. I looked closer at the website. The -X4 is advertised as a new version of the -X2. And the -X4 is about $100 cheaper right now @ $829. Since it's a newer model it should have newer/better features. But I still can't figure that out yet, other than it may have Bluetooth. And I've tried to get the info by calling Asus direct but that was zero help. Gonna try calling them again, maybe I will connect to someone who knows something. Frustrating.

 

I've got the JQ, but might have gotten the JV if it had been available when I made my purchase, what kind of battery life are people getting with it?

 

Hello Atook,
Thanks for posting here! I'm sorry, I wish I could answer your question. I still haven't ordered my JV yet but will do hopefully this weekend. Plus, I am pretty much an idiot when it comes to tech knowledge on this new laptops. But I'm learning. My last laptop, which lasted me 5 yrs, was an HP with 512 MB Ram, 40 GB HD, an ancient AMD processor and who knows what GPU. LOL!
Anyways, hopefully your question and this new thread will get us some JV owner's input.
Come on JV owners, I know you are out there.

 

Goodbye PC laptop world, I'm selling my soul to Steve Jobs. I'm getting a 13" MacBook pro. The JV is cheaper but way more power than I need. Plus after reading the JQ thread I got scared. Thermal paste, bios updates, GPU/CPU problems? Intel Core 2 duo and stable OS, here I come.
Anyways it doesn't seem to be much interest in this JV thread. Obviously, from now on I will be hanging in the Mac forum.
Good luck JV/JQ owners. And don't forget to keep a lot of that thermal paste in stock. Sounds like you will need it.
Just kidding. ;-) All The Best!

 

I purchased a N61JV-X2 for my son and will post our experiences as soon as we receive it and get it up and running. Planning on bios and driver updates and uninstalling any installed bloat software that is unnecessary and will only keep what is needed for the installed hardware to function properly. If anyone on the fourm has any help/advice they would like to share, we as new Asus owners would welcome and appreciate any input we receive. Thanks.
__________________
Asus N61JV-X2: i5-430M Processor, 4GB of DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM, 500GB HDD (7200 RPM), NVidia GT325M 1GB DDR3

HP DV5 1000US: 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR2 SDRAM, 250GB HDD, Intel GMA X4500 Graphics

 

We got the N61JV today and my son is jazzed. Has anyone done the V220 bios update and if so do you think it is worthwhile ? Any must have driver updates you can clue us in on. We are doing the windows seven updates now and then will start removing bloatwear with the help of the guide on Asus the fourm........Thanks

 

This N61JV is a really nice laptop ! So far so good with nothing acting glitchy or freezing up since my son started using it. We did have a small issue with the screen flashing for a few seconds on the initial startup screen for windows 7. When I updated the Intel video driver and the Nivdia video driver to the newest versions available on the ASUS website that problem was solved. The Bios update to V220 went smooth using the suggested flash drive method.

My son has been playing some PC games and says they are playing smooth and lag free with settings on high although they are not the newest games around. When I was researching this laptop here on the Asus forums it was said that the Nvidia GT 325M only supported direct X 10 but the control panel on my sons GT 325M is showing direct X 11 support so that information was incorrect. We have not checked out battery life yet so when we do I will post our findings.

Is there anyone else out there who has a N61JV ? If so please post your user experience with it to keep this N61JV owners lounge going as I am the only one posting. Thanks.

 

Today I updated my sons N61JV to latest (8.15.10.2246) Intel display driver off their website and updated the Nvidia GT325M to the latest (260.99) driver and software from their website. No issues with the driver installs on either device and all is good. Used the clean install option on the Nvidia driver which is a nice option the Nvidia installer offers. Both updates made quite a few changes in the device control panels that allow more user control. I will update the thread on any performance improvements my son experiences from these updates.

Still have not used the N61JV on battery power only so I can't report on the battery life we are getting for this model yet.

 

260.99 gives Starcraft 2 some slight performance improvements over the older Nvidia driver version according to my son.

One thing I have recently noticed is the Atheros AR9285 WLAN card in this computer does not deliver on the mbps that are displayed in network status window, 150 mbps is shown but actual mbps shown by wireless router device info page is between 58-65 mbps at best. My older HP laptop with a Intel 5100 WLAN card connects to our 2.4 GHz 802.11 N wireless network at between 117-130 mbps and those speeds are also shown in the router device info page and network status window.

Updated to the newest ASUS driver for the AR9285 WLAN card with no performance gains to be seen. A little disappointing but not a big deal as the overall computer performance is outstanding.

 

Has anyone overclocked the Nvidia GT325m?

Nvidia system tools is now supported by the latest driver upgrade, is this a good software to use for overclocking?

Could not find info on overclocking the 325m by searching this forum or by searching the internet.

Any info out there? Thanks.

 

There is a new BIOS version 222 for the N61JV that was released on 1/7/11.

The description, "Fix there are noises under AC mode".

Going to stay with BIOS version 220 for now as we have no noise issues in AC mode and the laptop is working as it should.

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Notebooks - ASUS N61Jv

 

I have still issue with Optimus, have the latest drivers from Asus or from NVidia, but when I start game (Farmin simulator 2011, Cities in Motion or even 3DMark06), the NVIDIa card only flashed for 1 second and still is used Intel HD graphics. Any ideas please?

 

Oof... the poor N61Jv lounge seems like a ghost town. Personally, I was diverted to the main "N61" thread when I first picked up my JV little over a year ago, so most of my conversation went on in there.

Of note... Optimus is awesome, an unusual "rendering-only chip" setup that is sure to confuse many people (it never takes over the display - the driver merely renders it on the nVidia chip and displays it using the Intel GPU). The touchpad (Elantech) is a total sham, makes me wish they just used Synaptics like everyone else. Poor design with the flashing "eyes" on the side of the PC, unnecessary and distracting at night. Webcam quality is mediocre, average. Build quality is poor, multiple warranty claims with unusually fast wear and tear in "road warrior" role. My inner LCD bezel is cracked at the lower-right edge due to seemingly all-plastic case construction. Performance with a solid state drive is off the chart, no delays in loading at all, just click and done. Needs a Blu-Ray drive as an option. Bluetooth would be nice too. I added both (internal Asus BT module under front-left edge of palmrest), and they work great.

Biggest concern with this thing right now is heat. It gets stupid-hot, internally. CPU temps of the mobile i5 430 get up to 80-85 C under load almost immediately after beginning load, like the heat pipe can't keep up with the thermal demand. And with absolutely zero shops online that sell replacement heat pipes/heat sinks for this model (literally... zero. unless they're hidden in all the irrelevant Google result noise), I'm stuck with a "hot laptop". It almost never even touches "turbo boost" anymore because it can't keep its temps down. That's even after I replaced the grease with Arctic Silver - and though I'm a repair expert, having performed hundreds of reliable laptop repairs... I can't help but wonder why the grease appears to be dry and separated when I replace it.

So if anyone knows any sources for a replacement heat pipe, I'm all ears!

 

Hello all. I am new to this forum and so far its been great! I purchased my ASUS N61Jv x-2 last July and I have had some issues with it. First of my my screen became messed up. (Screen would turn all white and my mouse icon would lag big time). I believe the connection between the keyboard part and the screen part became loose and I had to send it in. This was maybe in March or April.
My second issue with this laptop has been more recent. About a month ago my computer started shutting down without warning at ~40% battery level. Pretty soon my laptop would only last roughly 10-15 minutes and shut down. I knew it wasnt a heat issue so after some googling, I found out that battery issues are quite common with windows 7.
The main reason why I am posting on this site is to warn you guys of buying any sort of extended life 9-cell battery. Your laptop will not be able to open! I read about this on another thread on this site but they had stated that

9-Cell Asus N61JV-X2 Compatible Extended Life Battery 11.1V 6600mAh Black - Asus N61JV-X2 Replacement Parts

This is a bunch of crock!! I purchased this battery and of course my laptop would only open 40 degrees or so. I am so angry with batt pros. First I order my battery and they email me a couple days later saying that it was out of stock and that they had to wait for a new shipment. and now this.... I have emailed them with pictures so hopefully I can get a refund or at least get a regular 6 cell battery.

 

*they had stated that the n61jv wasnt stated as a compatible model.

 

Quick update from me then; I have the core i3 version for over a year now (with an upgrade to SSD) and I am still happy with it.

++ Stays quiet when browsing/office
+ the palmrests stay cool and have a nice textured coating (almost rubbery feeling)
++ can kick it into overdrive, fan noise and heat output go up of course, but I can play games like starcraft 2 on medium pretty smooth.


- size, 16 inch is not too portable and that combined with the plastic build quality (I admit only the high end laptops use brushed aluminium) means you have to pack it in good for traveling.

 

I just wanted to chime in to help keep this thread alive. I have had my N61jv since last summer and I still love it for the most part. I upgraded to the backlit keyboard with a switch so now it is much closer to my perfect laptop. At first I remember being very disappointed with the speakers, but it seems they just needed to wear in or something because now there are significantly better.

Just a few problems that have come up for me, when ever the screen comes back on from being off(such as when its asleep or the lid is closed), there are artifacts all over the screen temporarily. This has been noticed by others as well, as documented in this thread, http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus/598618-screen-gitch-after-being-turned-back-asus-u36jc.html. So I was just wondering if anyone else here has had this problem?

My biggest problem right now is that my battery has died. Overnight it went from being fine(2.5 or so hours on a full charge) to barely lasting 15min and windows telling me I should replace my battery. I can only imagine it is defective, as this should not happen with a healthy li-ion battery, so I am hoping to get it rma-d.

So far I am pretty darn happy with this notebook, but in the future I may look at other brands because of customer support, build quality and such

 

FalconFour I have seen your post on the other thread about adding Bluetooth and it interest me alot, but even more is adding a BluRay drive, what drive did you get, I am looking at an LG CT21N. Was it difficult to add the BR drive? I have also been having hear issues, and now the fan doesn't seem to be coming on at all, which is annoying as the system will overheat and shutdown.

 

jrod220 can you give us details of the backlit keyboard, as that is one thing I was upset that this system didn't have..

 

Hey guys, so after a year of using my Asus happily I got my first problem regarding the battery:

Regarding my usage, usually on desk with power cord attached but occasionally I used it on the road with no outlet available. Now the battery (without outlet connection) goes down to 30-40% and then completely shuts down the pc without warning. I am unsure about the warranty given by asus regarding batteries (I have the notebook just over a year now) but I'm guessing I'll have to buy a new batterypack.

 

Whoops. sorry wolfs, I haven't been checking the forums lately because I've been so busy. I'll post whatever info on my keyboard mod I can remember, unfortunately I don't think I took many pictures, but I'll do my best. I'll post it relatively soon hopefully, depending on my schedule...

Jarrod

 

I'm not sure if you already bought a new battery, there's certainly a ton on ebay for decent prices, but try contacting Asus. My N61 is definitely out of warranty, but they still replaced my battery. I had to jump through all the hoops of course, and it took about 2 months, but I'm completely satisfied with their customer support. Still have to get around to sending them a thank-you email

Jarrod

 

I got N61jv, and i got famous problems with nvidia gpu.
I tried to install drivers from asus website, but for nvidia driver i got error message "There is not compatible device". I do not see nvidia gpu at sistem device manager.
I am using windows 7.
Is there physical switch for nvidia or it should be on by itself?
I went to the edge of internet, found allot of solutions, but none effective for me.
I don't have battery for notebook, but i don't think that is important. :S

 

Hi, sorry to revive this old post, but can you remember where did you buy the back-lit keyboard for Asus N61jv laptop? thank you