~VX2S Owners' Lounge~

Well, this is more of a work around right...
My problem, once I am able to use my speaker system again, would be that I am using SRS Audio Sandbox to drastically enhance my audio experience with the notebook. This requires selecting the virtual SRS speakers to be the default speakers, so apparently there won't be any SPDIF signal then...

Just to let you know: I sent an email to Asus Support and Realtek Support about the missen SPDIF option in the Audio manager. Let's see what they will reply.

 

Sure it helps !!! /me will try ASAP

MEEEERCI

 

Good good it works. Now I need to find a software that can read blu-rays to replace this crippled windvd : I can get stereo but no 5.1 with it (options are greyed)

 

I use the latest version of PowerDVD for this.
Unfortunately the option SPDIF for the output as disappeared from the audio panel at some point since I've managed to get the optical working (probably driver related). I'm still in the quest of getting the stream decoded by my AV amplifier though!

I can't find a version of WinDVD that supports Blu-ray (apparently they sell a HD Package for this purpose). We can maybe try to hack the version tailored for Asus and force SPDIF output instead of stereo? (had a look at the registry the other day, need to keep investigating when I get a spare moment)

 

Folks,

I sorted out my SPDIF issue in a complete different way

http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=208&product=16642&nav=0&bypass=1

I bought this, and I can tell the sound is much much superior compared to built-in RealTek....

BR//
sasovics

 

Would you mind sharing your insight regarding LCD screen change? I just ordered the Chi Mei and checked the general tips posted before. Is there anything special with the VX2S? It looks simple - just 6 screws in the front and the panel comes off?

Also, does someone have experience with Vista 64 on the VX2S? Hardware driver support etc.

Your help is much appreciated.
Thanks
Mario

 

Regarding SPDIF output and the VX2s:

I sent an email to Realtek support about this. They sent me a file to dump my audio hardware configuration to a text file in order to send it back. So did I and got this as a reply:

Asus clearly states on its website within the specs for the VX2s: 1 x Headphone-out jack (SPDIF)

So I guess its up to Asus to explain what's going on...

Update:
Asus replied to my support request, giving a standardized description how to check on the Realtec Digital Output. Also telling me to check if my notebook supports SPDIF output (ROFL - they should know better than I if I give them all the data about my latop includin S/N) and use the latest drivers. Since I use the latest drivers from Realtek which do not show the Digital Output Device (SPDIF output) I replied and also included the answer from Realtec.

 

Here is a description that I sent to some people now. I did not revise it but it should work fine. Right, Sasovics?
The most important thing: be patient and carefull

 

Hey guys, please help!!!
I have upgraded my BIOS to the newest version which is 209. When the boot screen was coming up, I pressed CTRL+P to enter ATM configuration. Then, I entered password "admin" which is default password for ATM control panel, and it let me go to the control panel. It also required me to change the
default password (admin) before going to the next steps. Therefore, I changed password which is over 8 characters length, but the password was rejected to be changed. Although I tried many passwords which were over 8 characters length, it still was not allow me to change the default password.
Thus, I could not go to futher steps to active the ATM.
So I sent an email to Asus customer care with the same content as above, and I received a reply with this:

Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you for contacting ASUS Customer Service.

My name is Cooper and it's my pleasure to help you with your problem.

Please try to downgrade your BIOS as a temporary solution for the problem, the procedures are like this:

Click Start ->run ->input "cmd" and press enter ->then swith the current directory into the location of WinFlash and lauch the application by the order "winflash /nodate", you can download the v.208 BIOS file and the WinFlash utility from the link below:

http://support.asus.com.cn/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=VX2S

ps: we recommend you to put your adapter on in case of power problems.

But this method did not work either, so I could not still active the AMT. Any solution?. Thanks in advance. Sorry for my English

 

Hope this will help

Entering the Management Engine BIOS extensions (MEBx): The MEBx is an option ROM module provided to the OEM by Intel that is an extension to the system BIOS. The MEBx allows you to configure settings that control the operation of the Management Engine which runs on the Intel AMT client. We’ve seen two different methods to enter the MEBx.

• Ctrl+P. When booting the Intel AMT enabled system, after the BIOS entry screen has passed, another screen will display which prompts you to enter Ctrl+P which will then enter you into the management engine BIOS.
• BIOS. Some local OEMs have chosen to have the MEBx be a portion of their regular BIOS menu system. In this case follow the keystrokes to enter their BIOS settings (usually pressing F2 or Del). Default MEBx Password: Upon entering the MEBx for the first time, you will be required to enter the default password, which is “admin.”

Change the Intel AMT MEBx Password:

When you enter the MEBx for the first time, you will be prompted to change the password. The ME password must meet “strong” password criteria which include:

• Be between 8- and 32-characters long
• Contain both upper and lower case Latin characters
• Have at least one numeric character
• Have at least one ASCII non-alphanumeric character (!, @, #, $, %, ^, &, *)

 

Go figure, home sick and the damn thing shows up this afternoon. So, I'm driving into the office later and picking it up, sick or not I want to see how this thing is.

 

Really appreciate everyones feedback on the Samsung LCD issue. Just returned from a week long trip after sending the VX2S-B2B to Asus with a request to replace the Samsung LCD with uneven lighting and low contrast.

The repaired unit was was delivered before my return.

Must give Asus support credit for being very responsive and willing to exchange the LCD. Although I asked them to replace with the N154Z1-L02, they actually replaced with the Chi Mei N154C1-L01. They called to ask me if I would accept a highly rated LG LCD as a replacement and I agreed. Somewhat surprised to see the Chi Mei 154C1 instead.

It is definitely an improvement in terms of contrast. However the lower corners do have some light falloff and 3 stuck pixels in the extreme lower left corner. Also a moderate amount of light leaking from the lower edge of the screen as before.

Does anyone know if the Chi Mei C1 model is inferior to the Z1 model?

 

@Bradford:
Actually a lot of LCD panels in LG laptop are from Chi Mei. I am not sure if LG Philips even produces laptop lcd panels.

I owend a LG laptop before which had the same lcd panel that was built in the VX2 (CMO N154Z1). So I knew exactly what I was missing when getting the VX2S with the Samsung lcd pantel. I haven't had the endurance to struggle with Asus for getting the lcd panel exchanged. Especially not because my LG notebook (which was great) broke and I needed a replacement quickly.

Regarding the N154C1-L01:
It is a 1440*900 pixel lcd panel - so it is less than the usual 1680*1050 pixel that the VX2s ships with.
The brightness is 300cd/m2 whereas the Samusung has a brightness of only 180cd/m2 (which is terrible).
CMO does not have the N154C1-L01 in their portfolio anymore (check their website) so it appears to be discontinued.

 

For the money, not impressed.

Screen, seems ok, need to take it outside today and see how it does in the sun, for everyday stuff it looks fine, the guy I'm giving this too will be the one who either likes it or not.

Windows performance score of 4.6 because of a 4.6 Aero score with a 512meg supposedly fast video card. My lowly 1 year old HP scored better. Looking to upgrade drivers with the hope this improves.

I just bought 3 HP 8510p laptops and all scored 5.2 with HD 2600's in them and 400 mhz lower CPU, this cracks me up.

I'm going to run the new PC Mark Vantage on the HP and VX2S this weekend and get a better comparison.

Speakers, this laptop costs 3 grand and has the absolute worst sounding speakers I have ever heard. One almost has to think ASUS was joking they're that bad.

System quality, my HP DV9000T (I sold it this past summer) had a better keyboard, screen and speakers than this VX2S does, is the VX2S nice, yes, 3 large nice? I don't think so but I got this for someone who likes somewhat exclusive things and whats important to me isn't as important to him.

He'll care more about the fact he knows nobody that has one and it looks very cool. The horrible speakers may kill it though, his last Compaq had great speakers and he's picky that way.

ASUS Vista build, it took 15 minutes once I got passed the initial setup boxes, that's just nuts but he didn't have to deal with that so it doesn't matter much.

I'm setting it up for our Domain today and will be installing all of the software he needs and should have it to him for Monday morning. We'll see what a CEO thinks about this machine.

Oh, does anybody know where I can get an AC Adaptor and the Dock for this machine?

 

@viking396: The nVidia 8600GT clocks down when running aero or non 3D environment to save battery power. That makes the aero results that "bad".

 

That makes so much sense when it's plugged in.

EDIT: He just called me, looks like I'm switching to XP, he has proclaimed his utter hatred for Vista and demands XP, this will make my weekend very interesting indeed.

 

Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered.
I got this message randomly during playing games. The LCD screen freezed about 5-10 seconds, and then Vista gave me the warning above. I had been searching around for such of errors, and people prefered me to download Nvidia drivers, someone who has the same problem got fixed with BIOS from their manufacturer, and orthers gave some instructions to modify Vista's system. Any solutions???. Thanks in advance.

 

Some obvious questions to ask..
What BIOS version do you have
What Video driver version do you have
Have you been to ASUS download page to look for newer drivers or a bios update? Also, the LCD didn't freeze, Vista froze while Vista reset the driver, this seems to be a favorite past time for Vista.

In order to help you, you need to provide info.

 

@VX2s: Update to the latest nVidia dirvers (169.04) from laptopvideo2go.com.
The latest bios for the VX2s is version 209.
These measurments should help. I had these errors occaisionally in the beginning. I have not experienced them during the last two weeks.

 

I am using BIOS 209 and the lastest driver which supports from Asus VX2S download area. I just reported the problem to Asus. In the mean time, I will try Jorlin's method to check out if it works. I also test my laptop with 3Dmark06 and got 2979 points (Windows Vista Ultimate, Resolution 1280 x 1024). Is it a high score? Any comments...

 

This is normal 3D Mark score for VX2S with no OC and Vista.

I got a quite performance boost pushing my clocks to 625/475, with my self-modded drivers 167.26 and XP Pro got a nice 3DMark06 score of 4253

Check here for detailed benchmark results:

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=3523785

 

A little disappointed about VX2S , because the VGA seems not too good for playing games. I am playing Medal of Honor - Airbone version, but there were some laggy screen occuring. Do we need to overclock the notebook??? Does it make some harmful things to the notebook?. Thanks!!!

 

If you are running Vista, do not expect top-notch performance. Vista itself is a huge resource hog.

I have removed it first day my notebook arrived. I am running on XP Pro and I playing Battlefield 2, Battlefield 2142 in 1680x1024 res, full details with decent framerate... of course my GPU is way overclocked

The answer if OC can harm your notebook: as soon as you do it wise, it should not. The most important thing is watching the GPU temperature (w/ AtiTool),
Mine never goes over 82*C even after hardcore playing for couple of hours

 

@VX2s:
The score is normal. If you overclock your card, you can get another 550 points.

The problem with notebooks is that most games are not tested with them and it might be that this is causing more problems than maybe on a desktop.

 

Wrong thing to be discussed, sorry!!!

 

@VX2S:
Regarding the topic of this thread I honestly do not think that this question really fits in here. You ask for advice for exchanging a notebook with another... although this is the VX2s thread and you want to exchange it, your question has nothing to do with the main purpose of talking about experiences and problems and opionions with/on the VX2s.
:/

 

A big thanks to Jorlin. Your LCD guide was great help. The Chi Mei is so much better ,)

 

Hey Mario,

... that means you have successfully exchanged your LCD, haven't you ?
If so, congratulations and welcome to the happy VX2S users community.

btw.. would you mind to share your experience with exchanging your LCD ?

 

Hi there,

I just wonder if someone knows which lcd screen is used in vx2s-AK077G and vx2s-AK078G? This two models are mainly sold in Australia btw.

Many thanks in advance.

 

I have just test running 3dmark06 in 1152*864 resolution, and the notebook scored 3386 points. It means that the point is strongly related to the resolution which we use to test for 3dmark. I wonder if we change the OS to WinXP and upgrade T7500 processor, we can get a high point as much as 7950GTX. There was also a mistake in Medal Of Honor - Airborne Configuration; because the game was configirued to 1280*1024 resolution as default mode. That was the reason why some laggy graphics happend. Again, this VGA is not bad at all for a fantasic design of VX2S (the most beautiful notebook, I have ever seen).

 

@VX2s:
Since the score scales very much with the resulution you use, it is very much dependent on the GPU. Upgrading to another CPU will only give you a small benefit compared with getting a better GPU (which is not possible with the VX2S).The GPU is simply not powerfull enough to run the latest games in highest quality.
IMO, if a game is really good, you can also enjoy it on medium setting .

You can try to overclock the GPU though. It will give you a little boost.

Anyway, if was not traveling so much, I would have a desktop computer for gaming only...

 

Playing games in the notebook is something very interesting; because everything lies under our hands. I would refer a notebook even it can never be strong like desktops. And one more thing is that playing games in notebook is something very special that everyone feels it in their own ways ).

 

Playing games on the VX2s works fine. I played the Crysis demo, GRAW2, The Orange Box - all of them run fine. Crysis not with high settings but the game still looks neat. And most of the games coming out during the next year or so will run on the VX2s...

... the lifespan of a laptop in my hands usually is not longer than 18 month anyway

I will try the Call of Duty 4 demo this evening and share my experience with you.

 

lol, the bigest problem of VX2S is the fan. Sometimes, the air is very hot on the right side of the notebook, we can use that air to boil the eggs. Luckily, our mouses use bluetooth technology; therefore, we can move our mouses a kilometre and still can control the arrow on the notebook...

 

Does anybody know where I can get a spare AC Adaptor and the Docking Station for the VX2S?

I've asked already with no response so I figure I'll ask again, maybe someone will see it this time. US location would be best, so far everybody I contacted claims they can't get them.

 

I just ordered the new HP HDX Dragon for me and handed off the Lambo to my boss, he likes it a lot but like me thinks the speakers blow.

We'll see how it stacks up against the VX2S in performance and quality. Should be here on 11/15.

 

OMG - the speakers blow? Out of all this notebook has to offer, why do you even care about the speakers? No notebook is ever going to blow you away with 15" sub woofers or something... big speakers mean more weight. If you want decent sound plug it into an amp and decent speakers.

And does anybody actually care about this 15lb monster that you are parading on here?? This is a VX2s forum - you know, the slim, 15.4", immaculate-looking, high performance (for size) notebook. This Dragon is in a completely different class... take your HP propaganda elsewhere

 

@Yobbo: Agreed!

If you are an audiophil, get some good speakers for your laptop and use the digital out.

@Viking396:
This thread is meant to be for VX2s owners who want to share their expectations, experiences, problems and suggestions regarding the Asus VX2s and for people who are interested in this laptop and want to ask questions or make suggestions.
Comparing the VX2s to your suggested H P laptop is like... hmmm... comparing a Lamborghini Murciélago to a Hummer H3 alpha... it's just not the same class... and this is simply not the right place to do it...

 

Awesome demo, too short... XD
But it runs fine on the VX2s with 1280*720 using medium to high settings. I think I will get the game

 

You should also play medal of honor - Airborne version. It is really a awesome game; I played in expert mode and the game is quite difficult for me. To overcome one mission, it may take you 2-3 hours or even more. NPCs in the games are very intelligent (only in expert mode), they will not make you disappoint because of their ugliness . Besides, the graphic is smoothly and really fantasic. I am playing in 1152*864 resolution without any lags. You can also upgrade the weapons if you use some of them to kill your enemies. On the other hands, the weapon can earn level itself and being upgraded with some interesting stuffs. Just test it out yourself.

 

Something that costs $3,000 shouldn't have anything sub-par, when I'm off somewhere am I supposed to lug around decent speakers or use whats built in? The speakers are sub-par and in this segment you can't afford to be sub-par in anything. I don't ask that the speakers blow me away, but I do ask that they don't SUCK. Maybe you don't care, ASUS must love customers who think that way. $600.00 HP laptops have better speakers, ASUS should have done better.

You the forum police or something, you decide what people care about or should care about? I posted about another $3,000.00 laptop that I am going to compare to the VX2S at least performance wise and quality wise, this doesn't interest you cool, don't read it but don't assume to know what everybody wishes to read about.

I'm not spreading HP propoganda and the Lamborghini shouldn't be afraid of the Dragon but I will say this, quality wise overall my previous DV9000T was above this VX2S even if the VX2S is cooler looking.

 

Is everybody that weak minded they will forgo caring about something simply because they own it?? Who carries speakers with them everywhere? The built in speakers shouldn't suck, the Lambo's speakers are the absolute worst I have ever heard on a laptop, holy crap I've never been on a forum where people will overlook something this important like this.

As for the HDX commentary being meant for someplace else good grief, I'm not comparing size, I'm comparing content and in that size doesn't matter. What are you people afraid of, another laptop faring better than this VX2S? There are no rules stating other machines can't be compared in a model specific thread so welcome the competition instead of fighting it. This is the perfect place to discuss how other models do against the one you own, if you don't like my points don't respond to them or read them and it won't bother you so much.

 

I found a place that sells everything ASUS, they carry the Power Dock and I just ordered it, it comes with the power supply as well and costs $199.00.

http://www.allasus.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=385&osCsid=nva15jqg4706b2ipcfubj3mp74

 

I think that you should open another thread to compare whatever you want. As you have seen, this thread is only for VX2S owner to share their experience, funs, or problem during using the notebook. However, you just came here and compared another notebook to show that it is better than VX2S. Just imagination, if I take another notebook and compare it to your notebook. Then, I would claim that notebook is better than yours, so what kind of this thread will be. Please kindly understanding the issues that we are discussing in this thread. Sorry for my English .

 

@Viking: You got me wrong. In my office or anywhere I am going, I really do not care about the speakers (I usually mute them). If I need to listen to something I usually plug in headphones in order not to disturb anybody. When I am at home I have a 5.1 speaker system that I attach to my laptop. That is what I did with all of my laptops that I owned before.
I agree with you that the speakers aren't worth anything. But that is the case with almost all laptops. I just do not care about that anymore as long as the sound from the audio jacks is clear and good.

I do not praise the VX2s. I already stated that you get equal hardware for $1,000 less... I know of its flaws. It still is a pretty good laptop.

The title of this thread pretty much states what this thread is about. So stick to it or start a new thread.

 

I completely understood what you were saying, I too use speakers instead of the laptop speakers. That isn't the point however, the point is, the built in speakers suck, it's as simple as that, the other point is there isn't an excuse for it at this price range.

It doesn't matter that you can plug better ones in, when I'm at a hotel or giving a presentation someplace the built in speakers should be good enough so you don't want to drive a screwdriver into the grill while listening to them, also when you walk into a place with something thats named Lamborghini you expect it to be good in all areas, people in my office actually laughed when we fired up a presentation to show off the machine, thank God for Klipsch is all I can say, but he's screwed on the road.

However I do like the laptop and everything else has worked great so far. My CEO loves it and says he wants to keep it which says something because he is picky.

As for only discuss the VX2S in this thread, WOW is about all I can say. I take part in a Mustang forum, a full site devoted to the Mustang, like this lounge, discussing just the Mustang when there is things to compare it to would be boring as hell, but it seems thats what you guys like so this thread will be all VX2S all the time.

 

Hrhrhr... - if the topic changes, this thread might be doomed to become a non relevant disscussion, in no way related to the VX2s anymore. I and I am sure others are very well aware of other discussions and compariosons and other laptops. But here we have a platform to easily share and help with problems and experiences related to the VX2s which you hardly find anywhere else on the internet...
I am glad that everything went well with handing the lapatop to your CEO.

 

@Viking: Sorry, didn't mean to get you so upset. I, like Jorlin, carry earbuds with me when I take the VX2s places, and then I plug it into external speakers at home so the tinny internal ones don't really bother me. The assumption I made about the HP was purely because it is so much bigger than a VX2s, so it is difficult to compare the two considering they are aimed at different markets. By that I mean if I had $3k and didn't care about portability (or looks ), I wouldn't buy a VX2s as I could have got more bang for my buck in a big Dell or something. Anyways, enjoy the HDX.

 

Pretty false, I have CHIMEI plus blu-ray, and of course it works !

 

Someting must be wrong in that satement, because SPDIF WORKS for me, even if drivers actually only see HDMI, maybe ASUS linked HDMI sound channel and spdif together ?