Sunny's G51VX-RX05 Review

How is the fan noise on this doing normal stuff. surfing, music, movie and laying flat on table without a cooler? cool enough to use on lap?

 

Also read this review on the G71 , the 17 inches of Asus with the GTX M260 video card, all 6 review and citing other forums say the 17 inches line all experience shut down when reaching 81C playing game..

anyone experience this on the G51?

 

The P9500 and 9600 are different sockets though so they wouldn't work would they?

Well if you check the reviews as you did for the G71 you wouldn't hear anyone say it doesn't shut down. Some and some here on NBR just mention it gets pretty hot.

 

Sorry, i forgot to include link, here is the link to the new bestbuy G71, take a look at customer review about the shut down when 81C is reached.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9366615&type=product&id=1218092150740

 

Yeah I know it shuts down for the G71. I meant that for the G51 though.

 

Does it void the warranty on this baby? I just bought it last night and I have an extra T9300 (2.53ghz) at home. Do you think it's worth to upgrade?

 

void warranty maybe

it's a very worthy upgrade

if something happens, just put the old cpu back before u send it in

problem solved

 

<~still torn whether to get or not cause I have a gaming desktop with core i7 920 and gtx 260 , 6 gb ram, i dun really need a gaming laptop like this but its a beauty. I would so put in the T9300 if i were you, or at least try ha. Just have a thermal paste handy.

 

Really great thread, amazing info that a lot of people have brought up. Specially sunny and other owners, thx for sharing with us.

Im in need of a gaming laptop atm, i was gona buy a G50Vt-X5 due to the great price and excelent reviews and consumer opinions on it, but found in here that the G51VX-RX05 was coming.

Checking Sunnys review and others cutomer feedback in BB website, seems this is a really good laptop at an affordable price. Im not doubting at all the capabilities of G51VX-RX05 just a little worried about temperatures, i will use this laptop to work during the day (excel, powerpoint, word, some videos) on areas that the temperature is around 35C (peaking somedays to 40C), and game a night 30C or less if i get aircondining room . I mostly play WOW and COD4 probably COD6 and SC2 at the years end, i dont plan to play anythother games like crysis.

Im just looking for others opinions to see if you guys think i wont have issues with the laptop on those games at those temps.

Thanks

 

I've seen a lot of talk about potential CPU swaps here, but has anyone gone through with it yet? It looks like the value "sweet spot" for mobile CPUs right now is the T9400 (2.53ghz 6mb L2), which should be a big improvement over the P7350. Is the 35W of the T vs the 25W of the P going to be an issue.

On that note, DDR3 1066 memory. I know the G51 is running DD2 800, but because it is running the PM45, couldn't DDR3 1066 memory be used? Would I notice any perf or battery life improvement at all?

 

I'm willing to do it, as long as it doesn't void warranty. There is a small yellow sticker, if removed voiding warranty.... I'll call them up tonight and ask.

I'm curios about DDR3 as well...

 

It will not support DDR3. Chipset support is only one part of the equation. The actual dimm slots are for DDR2 only.

 

Hello,

I have built my past two desktop machines and I will be giving away my most recent one to my little bro for school. I'm a casual gamer (cs 1.6, cod4, codwaw) and wanted to know how this bad boy would perform on a 42" 1080p plasma hooked up via HDMI. I have never owned a laptop but this g51 from BB looks like a deal. It also seems as though I would be able to upgrade to processor in the future if need be. Has anyone hooked this thing up to an external monitor?

Thanks in advance.


EDIT: You guys know your stuff! Thanks for the review Sunny (and others)!

 

I JSUT got this laptop today, I had the G50-X5 and i love this one.

I have it hooked up to my Acer 23inch HDMI monitor
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...er+23&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1218049006792

it has a resolution of
1920 x 1080

and im connecting it via HDMI, it runs and looks GREAT. cant notice a single difference from my gaming desktop atm.

 

Also, I was wondering how to change the look of the volume up and down prompt.

when I was at bestbuy checking out the laptop when i hit vol up or down in the upper left corner a more simple bar appeared (like you see on most laptops) but when I do it on mine a more fancy look appears in the middle with a piechart looking image appearing. is their a way to change the look of this to like the stores model?

and if anyone has any other req. or questions feel free to ask. I will know be watching this thread for some time.

 

I am looking at this laptop as a desktop replacement and for some light note taking in college. I am EXTREMELY worried about the heat problems I have been reading about, as I'd be using this to play games (especially Everquest 2) for hours on end, and seeing that it heats to 95+c after just 10 minutes of playing Crysis is disturbing.

What to do, what to do. Now I am scratching my head, pondering whether or not to get this or keep looking.

 

hmm well I have only had it a day and not sure of heat problems. maybe someone else can elaborate. but atm from sitting on my desk and ive been downloading games, dl software, and updates for a few hours nonstop it feels alot cooler then my old asus g50vt-x5 when doing the same.

so as far as stuff like that it feels quite improved. idk about gaming yet. sorry

 

Anyone hooked the G51 up to an external monitor? I am looking to use this as my only gaming device. Basically, at home, hooked to an external monitor and on the road, just using the LCD screen.

I am assuming this notebook should be able to handle everything fine? Right now I have a GW desktop with an nVidia 120M card that I want to replace with just the G51.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

 

MJBarnes if you look 4 posts above yours you can see I answered that. yes I hooked it up to a HD 23inch monitor and ran perfectly.

 

Sorry about that. I saw the G50 and thought thats the one you just got...

What resolution do you play your games at on the external? What games have you played? Any issues? Thanks much!

 

Anyone tested the outbound sound ability of the G51?

I would love to run my laptop into my Denon Audio/Video Receiver via the HDMI out on the G51 for 5.1 or 7.1 sound. Is the G51 capable of passing multichannel sound via HDMI or is it just crappy digital 2 channel stereo only?



PS - The G51 says it has that same ole' Azaila (spelling) chip while the G71 has DSP and Dolby Home Theater sound, so I wounder if the G71 is better sound wise (externally speaking).

 

well I put my monitor to max res.

1920x1080.

I havent gamed ALOT since JUST got the laptop.

but Call of Duty Modern Warfare on all max still runs GREAT. All ive tried is CoD and Half Life 2 and both run perfect on max. Ill try more later in the week but pretty busy.

any thing else?

 

I own a G50 and am just hoping that the G51 is a significant improvement. Besides the GPU, the components themselves dont seem to overly impress over the G50.

Do like the keyboard and color, however.

Thanks much.

 

mjbarnes. I had the g50 14 days ago and I just returned it on the 14th day to pick up the g51. I LOVE IT. they keyboard alone is pretty much worth it I LOOOVE it. so smooth and the touchpad is alot nicer. and leds on outside are brighter

one downside but can be expected is it runs a bit louder with fans.

 

So what is the suggested drivers/settings so far on the G51VX. The performance I was getting out of 3DMark06 demo (720p) was nothing impressive. I used SetFSB to overclock to 2.25 like in the op and I am not seeing any increase in temps at all but my perf was much better (+1500 on 3DMark06, increase on the Source Video Test from 156 fps to 172 fps). This is with stock drivers and almost all the original utilities uninstalled.

 

hmm im not to sure, I havent messed with OC or anything at all. I was about to ask if anyone has OC the CPU?

 

Yeah, the CPU is bottlenecking the GPU, so I'd definitely giving OCing a shot so that you get the full potential of the machine. Just keep the heat in mind.

 

yeah thats what imworried about.

so has anyone here actually OC it themselves?

 

Hi all, I'm considering a G51 notebook for a pre-september purchase. Sunny, thanks for the review. I'm going to give it one more month and see if newegg comes out with something similar with a better processor.

Clutch, I see you have a positive review on Zalman NC-2000, for the G50-X5. It looks like the bottom vents of the G51 are quite similar (I think Sunny's review confirms this). I don't mind keeping the G51 on a pad all the time, considering that it'll be on someone's lap or on a bed for the most part. Do you think the NC-2000 is still a good idea over something like the NZXT?

 

I used this one to cool my previous Gateway 17 inches FX and Asus G50, whole construction was aluminum, so even if fan not on, it still act as a big heat sink.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834998492

PS: Anyone know how noisy this G50 is? quiet? loud?

 

I guess what I meant by noisy is, is it reasonably quiet when doing nothing at night can leave on a desk near you and I would be able to fall asleep..?

 

yeah it's not loud at all unless you're running something heavy.

I have a question about the windows 7 upgrade. I purchased this on the 24th, and the upgrade only qualifies to those that bought the laptops between june 26th and january 31st 2010. The g51 wasn't technically released until the 26th, I suppose, since there's a sticker and everything about the windows 7 upgrade. I went to fill out the order form to get the upgrade, and decided to put the 26th as my purchase date. Afterwards I was informed that I need to send proof of purchase... which will obviously say that I purchased it on the 24th. If I sent that in, do you think I would still get the upgrade? I assume I can't redo the order form since my serial number is probably registered in. What should I do?

 

1) no, you will not get the upgrade since your receipt says 24th

2) take your receipt or credit card info and the credit card you used to purchase the laptop to bestbuy. I have never done this but doesnt hurt to ask. Ask them if they could RETURN the laptop and you purchase it again, then you will have the later dated receipt. If they wonder why just tell them plainly that u misunderstood the date. Just be frank with the customer service people, see what they say.

 

PS: your serial number should just show that it went to bestbuy that's all. Unless you registered your laptop online w/serial number already on the 24th.. then....your sol

 

i asked the guy who was helping me buy the laptop about the windows 7 thing, and he said to not worry about it and that he'll take care of it. so, i guess i'll go and talk to him about it and see what to do. thanks

 

hehe told ya it'll work out and ur welcome.

But for me , sigh got my laptop a whole month too early .... dun think i can hack it. aye.

 

question on OCing laptop

he has it up to 2.25ghz

so I did exactly as he did. I dl cpuz and setfsb and set stuff to exact same settings and once I hit setFSB my core speed goes to 2255.0 but the about 3 seconds later it goes back to default of 1804

idk if it isnt locking it and staying? because in setFSB in bottom right corner it still says 2255.

so any help?

 

Thats normal. When the proc. is at load it will be running 2.225. When the processor is not under load the multiplier changes. Mine idles a little over 2ghz when at load its at 2.56

 

Hi, my first post!
Just wanna say: great review Sunny!!
I´ve just ordered this laptop and just can´t wait, so anxious cuz Im not from the US so it will arrive till the 14th.

Just a little question, are the hinges on this laptop good? Because Ive had some bad experiences with the hinges of other laptops... I carry around a lot my laptop all over College so just wondering if they feel strong enough.

 

@JCHA, The hinges are the same as the G50V VM VT, i dont believe there were any common issues with them.

 

OK thanks, thats what I thought.

 

Well, the plastic covers were popped off on mine out of the box. I had to snap them back on. It was cosmetic and fixed in 2 seconds, though this being my first Asus laptop it made me question the build quality right away. No problems since though.

 

Not to mention ASUS will send you the plastic covers under warranty for free. Tip from Ken at GenTechPC awhile back. No issues with myne so far, though the covers are cosmetic as you say. The end caps are screwed in dont try to pry them off btw.

 

Hey Sunny or anyone that has this, does this one have any keyboard lag? reason being earlier generatino G50VT had keyboard lag that will skip characters, including the previous version with 9800M GS one I reviewed a while ago...

 

well no i never had keyboard lag with g50 and have been using the g51 for a good 2-3 days constantly on I think this keyboard is amazing, by far one of the best laptop keyboards i've ever used

 

One of the first things I did with my G51VX out of the box was tto type out a quick manual for some of the systems I program at work. I was able to type all three pages out fairly quickly with the G51 catching all my key presses (which included a lot of accidental hits, not used to this keyboard yet).

Taking me a little bit to get used to the fact it's over to the left a bit because of the numpad.

 

also quick question
before i got the g51 when I was at the store(BB) and hit the Function then vol. up or down button a little square in upper left corner appeared and did the standard bars to show vol. going up or down.

but with mine when i took it home when i do FN vol up or down it does this little image in the center of the screen with a piechart looking thing

can you customize the look of the volume image that appears?

anyway to customize this like the BB model had?

 

the image w/ the piechart is the ASUS OSD. you can uninstall it, i believe, through control panel. another option would just be to reinstall windows and manually install the drivers you want.

 

would their be a downside to doing that?

and whats OSD stand for?

I know what an OS is lol


EDIT:

I couldnt find the asus osd in control panel uninstall programs. and really dont wanna reformat lol

 

hey guys im looking into this laptop for school and some gaming, would you recommend this for me? i know the battery life is weak but i think i can manage. also i am concerned with the processor at 2ghz. it seems slow