~F3sv Owner's Lounge~

it sounds better with the new drivers. Dont know if its the driver that is making it sound better or the fact that 'I' think it has new drivers and hence feel it should sound better.

 

You convinced me. A1 it is. I ordered from Newegg this morning with Rush delivery and overnight shipping. Should arrive while I'm at work tomorrow but someone else should be at the house to grab it... fingers crossed my brother doesn't get called in to cover anyone... Besides stick in my 2 gig stick thats been waiting here and installing oblivion, anything else I should do when it arrives?

 

Burn incense and hold a vigil.

 

yep.. Celebrate
its a great choice. With 3GB, Oblivion would be sooo smooth.
welcome to club F3SV

yea... The machine has an extreme ability to cause envy

 

yeah. I also ordered stalker cuz the price was too good to pass up. I'm getting really excited. At least tomorrow I'll have to work. That'll take my mind off of this. First games on, Stalker, Oblivion, HL2. When I come home, I'll be downloading patches and drivers alllllllllll night.

 

welcome to the club i think you made the right choice with the A1, its a great resolution to have.

and, why doesnt asus live update tell me i have out of date drivers? isnt there some way this process can be automated?

 

Yeah. After I reread the review and saw the reports of Oblivion running on that rez, I had to do it.

But it looks like my hopes of seeing it tomorrow (so much for $3 spent on "Rush Processing") seem to be shot. Next day shipping and it still hasn't confirmed my credit card... sigh...

 

just to let you know you have an extra 1 in your signature (f3sv not f3sv1)

 

Yeah, newegg likes to call and confirm the order with the credit card holder.

 

RANT
Lame. My order was placed early this morning and now that Rush processing was a waste of 3 dollars. Not that I'll get it back since they just wanted to delay calling me, If I get the call tonight. Sorry if I sound bitter, I've been waiting on the Sager before this for a while. Now every delay gets to me...
END RANT

More productively, how do people handle their graphics? I see lots of successful overclocking which I think I might try (would be my first time), but I'm not sure I understand its relationship to the Power 4 Gear. Correct me if I'm wrong, but do I use Riva Tuner to set what the clock speeds are at various loads, and Power 4 Gear lets me jump to those modes, thus overclocking with a button or something?

OR Would I need to open and use Riva Tuner every time I want to overclock to play a game?

I've read over the guides and posts but I'm not quite sure I understand the relationship between Power 4 Gear and the overclocking in Riva Tuner. All help would be appreciated.

 

Well it would take even longer if you didnt purchase the rush delivery...HAHA!

I am just kidding. Personally I bought my X1 from Ncix, and I was going to purchase the express shipping, but instead I opted to save my money and spend it on a kind of insurnace that will cover the entire price of my laptop. I am glad I did.

 

Hey did anyones laptop come with the TV tuner pictured. I have the X1 and I dont see it even though it is pictured in the NCIX picture.

BY the Way I am specifically referring to the F3sv X1, because I read Gautam's review and he mentions the TV in port.

 

Mathishard

how do people handle their graphics?

Photoshop : Smooth
3Ds Max : Much smoother than I ever imagined
Games : Excellent with slight overclocking. I've tried Oblivion, F.E.A.R, Stalker, Scarface and everything ran impressively

I use Rivatuner everytime I overclock. I am not sure power4gear can be used to overclock GPU.

 

just remember that overclocking voids warranties

 

Haha. Yeah. I'm not expecting much warranty assistance while I'm in Japan. I'll give it the 30 days for the dead pixels though at least.

 

Hello everyone!

I just ordered a F3SV (I couldn't find any distinctives like A1/B1/X1 here in Greece, apparently its an... AP082C). I have some questions -to keep waiting time out of my mind!-;

Is battery time really that poor? I was hoping for some 2hour mobility...
Is there a 9cell replacement, and where can I buy one? I can't find one searching the eshops here...

But I'm mostly interested in linux support. I was reading that there were issues with the nVidia video card. Did anyone manage to get the nVidia driver working, or is vesa the only solution yet for a graphical environment? How about the other subsystems (soundcard, wireless card, modem)? Power management (hibernation, cpu scaling etc.)?

I've also heard about difficulties in formatting the drive properly for linux installation. Are there such issues, and is there any solution/walkthrough for an effective dual boot (Vista/Ubuntu)? I'm using Ubuntu Feisty on my desktop.

Anyway, I think I've made a nice buy!

Thanx for any help!

Specs are below:

MONITOR SIZE : 15,4'' WXGA(1280x800) Glare LCD
CPU : Intel Santarosa T7500
RAM : 2048 MB
HDD SIZE : SATA 160 GB
VGA : PCI Ex - Nvidia GeForce 8600 up tp 1024MB TC
DVD/DVD-RW : Dual Double Layer
FAX-MODEM : YES
CARD READER : SD/Mini SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/MS duo/MS Pro Duo
LAN : Gbit
WiFi : YES
INFRARED : NO
BLUETOOTH : YES
USB Ports : 4
FIREWIRE : 1
Parallel/Serial : NO
WEB CAM : YES
CPU : Intel Santarosa T7500
RAM : 2048 MB
HDD SIZE : SATA 160 GB
VGA : PCI Ex - Nvidia GeForce 8600 up tp 1024MB TC
DVD/DVD-RW : Dual Double Layer
FAX-MODEM : YES
CARD READER : SD/Mini SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/MS duo/MS Pro Duo
LAN : Gbit
WiFi : YES
INFRARED : NO
BLUETOOTH : YES
USB Ports : 4
FIREWIRE : 1
Parallel/Serial : NO
WEB CAM : YES

Price is €1513

 

You can eek out two hours, but not much more.

Well currently it's pretty bad. Vesa at the moment, before you install the gfx driver by hand. Sound works, WIFI DOES NOT. You have to find workaround fixes, installing the wi-fi driver on your own. ACPI seems to work just fine.

You have to use the alternate cd at the moment. The installation isn't the problem, it's getting the wi-fi to work that is.

 

Well, thanks a lot Gautam!

Looks like I'll have to get my hands dirty with this one! Let's just hope for out-of-box support in Gutsy...

As soon as I get my lappy (it's my first one, so I'm a bit excited!), I'll come join "nbr linux team"!

Giorgos

 

Anybody buy an intel turbo memory module for their lappy yet?

 

It can, but it does not necessarily do so. If you overclock and it burns your computer out, certainly that will void your warranty, however if you have issues unrelated to overclocking, they will still be covered.

 

I would probably play it fairly conservatively anyways. Until it gets to be winter in Japan and there's no heating in my little cottage. Then you'll see my cpu and gpu at 30 Celsius oc'd. jk.

I just got word that mine was picked up from New Egg at 3 or so this afternoon. Should be here tomorrow morning right after I leave for work... sigh. I'm holding my breath. Won't be long now.

 

What is there to do in the Media Center if you don't have a tuner?

 

Pretty much nothing you can't do in windows media player. Its so pointless. I honestly bought this laptop thinking it had a tuner but it turns out no it doesnt. The port on most peoples laptop is actually a dummy port and does not have the necessary equipment with it, and most F3sv's do not even come with the port installed any way, like mine!

 

I thought mine did too, it is the A-1. I suppose it doesn't as it always asks me for one. I don't really care too much because I probably wouldn't ever use it anyway. It's just there.

By the way, does the A-1 come with the trial Microsoft Works (Word, Accesss, Excel.. etc) or is it the full version? I didn't remember seeing any keys in the package so I assume its trial? I deleted off the bloatware on my desktop because I like it clean. I'm not sure if I deleted some kind of Microsoft works thing on there.

 

Try Open Office. Google it. I haven't tried it yet but It's going to be the first thing I download when I get mine tomorrow. It is basically a free, office utitility much like MS office 2003. I saw it recommended in another thread I forget and it stuck with me b/c I was thinking about how much office was going to cost.

 

Well its here. This is my first post on it. What drivers are everyone using right now for the 8600 GS?

 

Got it too! Just one day wait time!! It's great! Still doing some tweaking.

But Vista sucks, seriously. Everything's so mixed up. 800MB memory usage at idle! I just hate it. Since I'll need dual booting (the other OS will be linux), is there a nice painless way to install XP and get rid of the crappiest-everOS?

 

I really like vista. But there are plenty of people that don't and have switched to XP. I'm sure there are a few posts already.

Glad to see that your computer came Mathishard. I just use the stock drivers it came with, when I see if I need to upgrade Microsoft says I have the latest addition *shrug*

 

hey guys, im gonna make a buy in late august and i'm so bent on getting the F3SV, but now i see that theres a new line coming out. However, I see that theres not much of a difference except for the processor which is .2 GHZ faster. As well, after that I have to upgrade the HDD. The total cost of the
F3SV would be 1776. THe cost of the F3SV-B2 would be 1833 witht he HDD upgrade. IS it worth it? I hear theres this intel turbo memory as well. Is the extra .2 GHZ CPU and this turbo memory worth the extra hundred bucks i'll be shelling out?

 

im using the new one from the asus website now, i find its better than the modded drivers

i like vista too, kinda, its got its ups and downs. once they clean out the bugs it should be a good OS, but i will be getting linux too, i just find its hard to find the time to do it when i would rather be playing CSS or C&C instead of altering ubuntu so it works

i think you might be missing something, because the F3SV has the intel turbo memory (robson) and the extra .2GHz on the processor isnt really that great if you ask me, but others might beg to differ.


and another little something for all you guys, Cheers to Matt and the NBR Graphics team

 

The new audio drivers from the ASUS website is really good. I had some problem with the sound but its very good now.

I like Vista too. Yes it starts slow - but this I felt when i used XP initially too. All my programs and games work very well on Vista. I really like the search on top right.

 

The difference in the B-1 and the A-1 is the ghz as fitters mentioned, and also the screen resolution 1140x900 (a1) to 1680x1050(b1).

Edit: thanks for the sig fitters

 

what about the F8 vs. the F3SV. Does more powerful GPU (8600GT) and same resolution make up for its smaller screen size (14" vs. 15.4") + a cheaper price for the F8?

 

thank Matt and the NBR Graphics team

 

Well actually in late 2007 and early 2008 I read that Intel will release their new Penryn processor, with the current Santa Rosa Platform. Penryn is just a small processor offering more power and alot more efficiency meaning less power wasted, since it uses the 45 nm fab process. I think that might be a part of Asus's next line.

If it is cheaper go for it F8 is to be released, even though it is a rumor, it will be cheaper. Smaller screen and better video card translate into alot more doe. Around 200-300 more. The 8600M GT will provide even better performance than the already excellent performance of the 8600M GS. If I could find the F8 for cheaper in Canada I would personally go for it. I think a better video card and a smaller screen is definiley a winner, especially if all other specs are pretty much the same. That is only me opinion though, since I wanted a more portable laptop.

 

I believe the F8SV-A1 will retail around 1549 USD.

 

Hey that penryn you mentioned. If thats on Santa Rosa, does that mean we might even be able to upgrade to it? Sorry if thats a newb question.

 

No problem. Yes of course. Penryn will be released in two variants.

One will be under the socket design of Santa Rosa currently using Socket P I believe. There will also be a new socket released with the next generation Intel Centrino platform, codenamed Montevina. Penryn will be made in a different socket format for Montevina. So yes we will be able to upgrade just like those who were using the older Napa platform could upgrade from the Yonah core, or Core Duo to the Merom Core or Core 2 Duo. But now a person cannot upgrade their older Napa platform with the current release of Merom made for the Santa Rosa platform, becuase

1. Different socket design, Socket P instead of Socket M, and
2. Different FSB rating.

The new meroms include the T7100-X7800

So we will be able to upgrade to Penryn for Santa Rosa but not for Montevina.

 

Quick question. where did you get the info on the F8sv. I havent heard anything about it but what is on this thread. Anyway from what you are saying, if the F8sv- A1 is comparable to the F3sv-A1, then that is 100 USD or even more expensive than the F3sv A1.

 

http://www.excaliberpc.com/ASUS_F8SV-A1_Intel_Core_2_Duo_T7500/partinfo-id-580899.html

It seems like a much better buy than the F3SV-A1, with a better processor, better GPU, more RAM, smaller and lighter, and Turbo Memory (does the F3sv-A1 have this? I can't remember.)

 

To new F3sv owners: If you want to install XP on you new notebook, go to page 21 of this thread where Thraken has posted a nice guide in how to create a slipstream XP cd. There are also links to XP drivers that should work for this notebook. Good Luck

 

Oh cool. I know excalibur pc store does sort of have its rep. Anyway ya it looks great. Go for it it is a really good buy. This is actually on par with the F3sv-B1 sporting a smaller screen and a better videocard. Its a great buy, but why is it cheaper is the better question. Double check this because I currently see no other vendors selling it.

As a matter of a fact it does not even look like it is listed any where on the Asus website so double check there too. I am not too sure about this. It really looks sketchy. No laptop with those specs goes for that cheap.

 

It's not available for sale yet, only pre-order if you check the site carefully. It appears in an Asus North America press release here. And it's price isn't suprising, since it's being billed as an A8Js update which had an initial MSRP of $1599 USD. All of the new releases appear to be listed at $50 less than their predecessors.

 

For what it offers the price is pretty surprising compared to whats on the market, especially with other comparable and extremely competitive Asus notebooks. But if the price is cheaper that really says something...

If I was still buying a notebook, I would be careful and wait for some reviews before I would buy this one.

 

hey guys, new member and proud (maybe?) f3sv-b1 owner.

got my laptop around 10 days ago, and everythings been great. Besides the fact that vista is dead slow.

Recently i installed the 156.13 drivers which supports the 8600m gs card. this worked fine for about 5 days. Until i boot up today...and no picture on screen. The components are powered, so i can hear the fan running yet the LCD is off. Tried hitting all the function buttons to make sure it wasnt set to tv mode and no luck. Called up asus and the guy had me hit the reset switch on the back. the laptop powered on saying that windows had a critical error. i turn the laptop off and get it on again. everytime i hit the power switch, it will attempt to POST (still with a dead screen) and then power off on its own within a few seconds.

So why was i writing about updating the driver? Well...i seriously think that updating the driver had something to do with what happened. if anything was to go wrong, it shoudlve gone wrong the moment the new driver was installed. But the new driver was installed and running for about 5 days. Between which ive been playing GTA san andreas. its not even like the laptop froze while playing the game anytime. but instead just refused to boot yesterday night. I still think that the driver is the cause of the problem but want your opinion.

On a side note. --
Asus tech support is very prompt. i was on the phone for less than 35 seconds before an attendant was on the line. He suggested that the problem is faulty hardware, and that i send it in (Fed-ex will pick up at my door) for repair. He gave me the option of a complete replacement but id rather a repair, because i feel that this way, a technician will have a chance to diagnose the problem rather than just shipping out a new notebook for the same thing to happen to.

My questions. --

1) Whats the problem? What caused the problem? Was it the update of the graphics driver to 156.13

2) repair or replace?

 

I don't know why the drivers would work for 5 days and then suddenly stop.

Is there anyway you can get it to turn on, even for a few minutes just to rollback the drivers?

If you can't turn on the computer, then I guess you have to repair it. But I wouldn't send it back until you try everything out.

What does the critical error say when you get it? It might say something that can narrow down the possibilities.

Oh well, good luck. I'm not sure where to go either.

 

1. Vista is dead slow becuase of the 1GB of RAM. I really suggest you upgrade to 2 GB.

2. This is clearly a hardware issue, if you cannot even see POST on the screen when you start it up. I have heard of cases like this where it ends up being an issue with your IDE ports and the hard drive. It somehow prevents POST from happening. This is not a software issue if you cannot even start and see the POST. There might be an issue with the connection to your LCD as well. I suggest you send it in, and as long as you have no files on it might as well replace it. Form my experience with companies repairing notebooks, the notebook always comes back in one of two situations:

a. Original problem solved, new problem created

b. Original problem not solved, new problem created.

 

Hey guys! I have found something that is probably reducing the battery life.

Have you monitored gpu core frequency with rivatuner or ntune? It stays the same independently of what you are doing. GeForce 8M series has a feature called PowerMizer that allows GPU frequency scaling on demand. So if you are idle, or simply using 2d apps, the frequency should be very low, saving battery, just like CPUs have been doing for years.

I don't know if this is fault of NVIDIA or ASUS, but I think we should blame somewhere to get things fixed properly. NVIDIA sells features that don't work. NVIDIA, please don't make me pay for things that I cannot use.

I posted in the NVIDIA forums: http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=42145

You can search "powermizer" in the NVIDIA forums. You will find various posts of different people asking the same question as me, but nobody replied. There seems to be problems with Vista and PowerMizer...

 

I don't know if cancel my Vostro and buy a F3SV-ap100c...

AutoCAD, 3DStudio, Maya, ProENGINEER and similars uses well in this laptop?

 

I have not tried those programs but I can tell you that CINEMA4D and Silo performs well with this laptop. I ran CINEBENCH ( http://www.maxon.net/pages/download/cinebench_e.html) and obtained 4100CB in the hardware lighting test (done using graphics card). With my old desktop 6600GT DDR3 I obtain 3000CB in this test. Vista drivers aren't as optimized as the XP ones, so we can expect improvements in this area.