Official S96S Owners Lounge

the few and the proud =]

 

you know the S96S sounds like a really really fast Car

 

anyone know the best driver for this notebook? For some reason in source the graphics stutter a tiny with each step i take and i'm sure not sure why. My FPS is high too..

 

what is your Video stress test benchmark? i got 64fps on it w/ 2xanti in vista. ru u using xp md?

my final exam will end wednesday and i will have time to go and do a xp install. oh btw how do i go back to xp(i do have the cd)?

 

i don't have much experience from switching from Vista to XP, but I know there are tutorials on it. I'm using Windows XP Professional SP2. I can post results on the stress later, but I got a 2400~ on 3dMark06 (eww) and I think that's because the card is underclocked. I just need to know if there are any other drivers for this card and the best program for overclocking it. So far it has frozen with nTune and RivaTuner when I've tired OCing it.

 

hey be carefull man, i have experience in overclockin w/ desktop cards. You don't wanna f*** it up. You might increase the synthetic benchmark(which id on't care!) but in real world gaming only few fps. not worth it

 

did you check out Here?

 

so far I've been loving this laptop. It really does look better in person. After reinstalling the drivers (this time I got the one from the samsung site, which should be the exact same as the asus one) my performance in games has increased. It's very fast with the t7100 and 2 gigs of ram (one corsair the other kingston). The drivers were mad easy to set up. The realtek HD audio is solid when hooked up with external speakers/good headphones. I was a little disappointed on the 500/400 clocks on the video card, which is a good sign that it's gddr2. This also made it difficult to know how much I can OC it. Despite that, this card has handled some of the demanding older games pretty. It has played HL2 and Counter-Strike on all high settings smoothly along with f.e.a.r, unreal tournament 2004, farcry, battlefield 2. I tried Lost Planet just to see and the fps was way too low for enjoyable gameplay (even at the lowest settings). I didn't play around with the options much so there may have been a setting that would help increase that fps substantially. I'll be making a 8600m GS Screen shots thread soon where people can talk about the performance their getting out of this card. I'll update this post when I make the thread.

here it is: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=139489

 

Hi all,

I have a newbie-ish question (I think):
I've recently installed XP-pro SP2 on the S96S and I had to set Sata to IDE in the bios for XP to recognize the harddisk, as I'm sure you know.

Now I can't turn it back to AHCI, because XP will only boot in IDE-mode - is this a problem performance-wise - and erh... what does it all mean?

please enlighten me

thanks!!

 

Just a few more days before I get mine, can't wait this is what the laptop is rigged with:

- Monitor: 15,4" WXGA
- Chipset: Intel PM965 Express Chipset
- Graphics: Nvidia Geforce Go 8600M GS 256MB
- 2.0 Megapixel webcam
- DVD +/- Super Multi
- Weight: 2,9 KG
- Bluetooth
- 4x usb 2.0
- 1x firewire

Processor:
Core 2 Duo T7300 2,00Ghz FSB800 4MB Cache
HDD: 160GB S-ATA 5400rpm
RAM: 2GB DDR2 667MHz SODIMM
Wlan: Intel Pro Wireless Lan Mini PCI 3945ABG 802.11

 

Hey guys. I recently wrote a review on my S96S and it was posted today for anyone who wants to see my benchmarks, etc.

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3804

 

Yes same dillemma here. IF u set sata to work as IDE does it lower performance, if so how can i make it to work SATA. In the asus driver cd suppplied, it has a AHCI driver but i don't know how to install it, u have to burn it ona disk or something? if u guys get the file extracting and email me at [email protected] , that would be great so i can burn it.

 

i am gonna call the customer service line on the back of the laptop. Last time i called they picked up the phone right away, excellent service(i was just testing the service).

 

arrgh, getting angry already, ordered mine about 8 days ago from a local electronics chainstore but as the case/gpu wasnt in stock, its taking longer then expected

configuration:
cpu Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 2,0GHz
ram 2048MB DDR2 667MHz
hdd 160GB 5400RPM
gpu nVidia GeForce 8600gs 256MB
£726/$1490(thanks to uber low exchange rate)
and if anyone yells about cheap online stores then:
$1150 + $160 shipping + unknown import tax + no local guarantee repair = not worth the effort


would love a 8600gt but paying extra $350/£170 for a little better graphics and fancier case on Inspiron 1520 is a bit too much, hell even this has gone waay over the initial budget

 

hey nice config. cheers

 

solved! I sued nlite to streamload intel sata drivers into my xp-disc and was able to install with ahci enabled. Only problem I have right now is that hibernation seems to crash xp...

 

any performance increase by doing this?

 

I have no idea whatsoever - and I haven't been able to find any answers to that question. If you find out, please let me know

 

woot, finally received it, damn company let me wait for 15 days!

at least i bargained $72/£34

hehe, the pc looks ace though, the damn pictures are so deceiving

 

k, guys i managed to fix the TEEEEEEEEEE noise using rmclock. use this thread to info http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=143291&highlight=s96s+high+pitched
It is basically the c4 state and it has to be disabled to get rid of the noise.

Here are the steps.
Download this version http://forum.rightmark.org/topic.cgi?id=6:1217

1.Settings tab-run when windows starts via regis key.
2. Management tab-uncheck both use os load manage and run HLT
3.Management tab- under cpu default settings, pull down cpu defined fid/vid
4.advance settings tab,under processor- disable both c4 and hard c4states
5.advance settings tab, under platform 1-uncheck enter c4andc3 on command, check enable popup mode, check disable c4 mode, check enable c5&c6, check enable slow c4-exit.
and thats it the noice will be gone w/ loss in battery life!

try it , it works for me.

 

hello guys,

I´m curious: what are you using for graphics drivers and - if you are using Vista - what have you tweaked?

I´m mostly asking, because I´m not really getting more than 15-25 fps in Oblivion using medium settings and no AA, and I´ve been seeing benchmarks around the forums from people with the same setup as mine who are getting more.

Should I overclock?

thanks

 

hey guys there is a new bios update on this model-----check intel website
i am gonna update my bios----wohoo

 

Do you have a specific link? I can't seem to find it.

 

link to bios

 

I would like to add that I have tried numerous laptopvideo2go drivers as well as stock. I have 4 gigs of ram - ought that not give me somewhat better results? I just can´t shake that feeling that I´m missing something...

 

Hello, I just bought my first laptop The S96S very nice laptop en good qaulity.

But i wanna install Windows XP on this machine but got stuck at a problem installing the 8600m GS driver. When i run the setup it comes to a point where the screen flikkers (thats normal right?) Than the screen turns black and after 30sec it will reboot.

Does anybody know what the problem is?
The rest of the drivers runs smooth.

Driver - 160.03
Bios - 0107 (or something)

My System:

Duo Core 7300 @ 2Ghz
2GB Ram
8600m GS

I Hope somebody can help me
Thanks

 

im curious as too what the setting you changed mean.... would you be able to breifly describe what each change was? thanks

 

try here:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2792&lang=eng

 

so, had a few days for testing, pretty awesome compared to my old 1,3ghz 768mb ram and 32mb gf2 rig the noise lvl is low... when you turn on the old dektop it will sound like a vacuum cleaner next to it. heat is also not a problem. but yeh, the keyboard flex is a bit of an issue, although the layout itself is quite ok (exept the fn<>ctrl button thing) screen is really sharp and the max resolution is perfect for it. case looks much petter then on the photos.. rather sleek actually, it is rather solid although there are a few micro scratches on the palmrest already. decent performance in games... stalker ran on max settings smooth with no problems (although fps was around 20 but it might of been just that spot... the fps meter was too ugly to use for the whole game) working in Photoshop is a bliss compared to my old pc, havent yet installed 3ds max though, speakers are rather useless but then again, you would probably use headphones on the run and speakers at home.... Finding gfx drivers for xp was a ***** but it seems to work ok (even with the default diver) Quite surprised that it came with bluetooth (not mentioned anywhere) the webcam has also really good picture when in good light. well, overall its a good buy and i havent had a single regret, hell, all other laptops with same configuration were 2x more expensive
ooh, and the vx revolution mouse i bought for it also kicks ass!










umm, and 3dmark06 was 2413

configuration:
cpu Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 2,0GHz
ram 2048MB DDR2 667MHz
hdd 160GB 5400RPM
gpu nVidia GeForce 8600gs 256MB

sorry for all the typs/grammar/spelling/capitals and stuff... im too lazy

 

hey thanks for your in-depth review equilerex. How much battery life do u get w/ yours?

 

those are the best pictures so far of the actual color of it. Are you sure there's bluetooth? On the CD there are drivers for it, but on xotic and powernotebooks they don't say it comes with bluetooth built in. Another thing that's interesting is that the previous version of this notebook (the one with the x1600) comes with bluetooth built in. I dunno, maybe a little hidden surprise?

 

meh, havent really tried it like that, the battery meter say 1h 48minutes left.. jut doing some surfing. stalker on max drained it in about 20 or 30 minutes i guess... cant really expect more from such a weak battery and that powerful hardware. dont really care though, bought this as im going to study in another country and buying a desktop there/carrying one there would of been complicated.
----------
it was a suprise for me too, when i installed the software i thought its just some clitch but bluetooth is installed 100%... tried it with a cellphone, then again, the company i bought it from isnt like those barebone resellers you find online... maybe its an extra addon...


damn, having problems with codec's... human voice is really messed up... like in a hangar and sometimes screetchy, cant there just be 1 universal codec pack from manufactors??

 

aright, so mD- u get the high pitched cpu TEEEEEE noise right?

Equilerex, do u get any noise from your laptop. I want to know if this is a issue on all s96s lappys. Myshkin, another use of s96s has the same problem

 

yeah I get that noise, I haven't tried to fix it yet because I just ignore it. I'll probably do it later. I'd give you more rep, but it says that I have to spread around the rep first =p

 

hey guys i posted this on the officisal s96s noise thread that i have running but dell 1520 has the same problem too
http://youtube.com/watch?v=s5xwSJJPoVY

interesting uh? lets sue those bastards

 

One big question, are the T7xxx santa rosa cpu capable of c5&c6 states? i checked this option in the new rmclock version and my cpu is running even cooler on normal surfin etc tasks

 

Does anyone have a clue as to what this new bios update is about? I'm not really a fan of installing updates when everything is running just fine unless I know what the update does. Thanks

 

i installed the bios, i haven't had any problems.

 

yea, and its not an issue with this laptop, ive heard that most intel mobile cpus whistle when they are clocked on idle

 

datasheets on the CPU family:

http://www.intel.com/design/mobile/datashts/316745.htm

965PM chipset datasheets are here:

http://www.intel.com/design/mobile/datashts/316273.htm

 

Hey, glad to see I'm not the only one with an s96s. Fortunately I'm not having the "TEEE" noise that everyone is talking about. There is a problem however. Is anyone else have any problems with the Hotkeys? Only the screen brightness controls seem to be working for me. When I tried to reinstall ATK Hotkey from the driver/utility cd the computer restarted and everything and it said that it was installed, but it's status remained "not installed" on the page that pops up with the driver cd- its still not working of course. Do you guys think that that new BIOS update would help this?

 

what teee noise??? Im about to order a s96s but this noise might just make me go for another laptop (yeas i heard the dell 1520 and ifl90 have the same problem too)

does all santa rosa notebooks have this issue???

Science bandit why is your different do you have a pad cooler or AS5?? is this a heat issue maybe???

 

cancer777 did u check my youtube link to dell 1520 noise? it is same as that but mine is fixed through rmclock w/out battery life loss(u can refer to my previouse posts pg2).

yes, Hp, dell, asus have the noise but i am not sure if every piece has a problem

 

satdog- i used your fix method and the noise stopped without any noticable loss in battery life, but my fans come on alot more. which doesnt make sense sense my cpu temp shows lower. does your fans kick on more with those settings?

 

I use xp and all the fn keys to control brightness,volume, standby etc work.

Are u using vista? can people w/ vista comment on this?

 

yes i looked at it ... more like listen to it... wow i cant belive all these laptops have that issue...

well if there is a fix then i guess ill go ahead and order one...

who knows maybe mine won have the issue at all... (dreaming is cheap, lol)

 

Hmm, not sure y that happens to u. My fans kick in lets say when i play cs:source or any other game or when i do cpu intensive stuff. But otherwise when it is in 1.2ghtz mode, the fans don't spin at full speed as often as u described. U said u r getting lower temps, i am not sure y the fans are kickin in that often. U could try opening it up and take a look inside n check the fan pins if it is plugged in fully(very easy by the way http://sybreon.blogspot.com/2007/06/asus-s96s-whitebook.html)

did u also try the bios on intel's site?

did u uncheck run HLT and os based load management?
did u enable cpu defined FID/VID?

To tell u the truth , i used those settings for like 2days and then enabled the c4state back on and the noise minimized so much to the point where i have to now literally put my ears to keyboard to hear it

 

so does this laptop has support for the por bar III???

 

to my knowledge it is suppose to support port bar IV

but on another note should i get a 5400 rpm 160 gb HDD by hitachi or a 7200 rpm one by seagate. im going to be a student in college and i will need it im not sure whether the additional rpm will be worth the extra $60 and less battery life or not.

 

that case get 5400rpm. I am not sure how much battery life is affected but i can assure that heat will not be an issue with either one of them. The HD resides on the left palm(i am confident about this coz i just checked yesterday) and laptop will dissipate heat(not to the extent of burning hot) on the right palm side because of the board itself(graphics or chipset maybe?).