Questions about the ASUS G50VT-X6

So I've been searching for a couple of weeks now and it looks like I'm going to buy the ASUS G50VT-X6 from NewEgg. I'll be studying abroad in Europe next semester so I'll be doing a lot with this thing. I'm also a gamer. I'm not too concerned with battery life and weight since it's probably going to sit on my desk most of the time.

Questions:
1. This one is for people that have had this computer for a couple of months now: How is it holding up? Any major issues I need to know about? Reviews on NewEgg mention a problem with the mouse buttons failing over time. I'm curious if you've seen anything like this.

2. I want to buy a cooler for this thing. Any suggestions? Is the exhaust located on the bottom? Newegg has this one that looks pretty good: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834998051

3. What are the first things I should do after taking it out of the box? I'm guessing I should re-image it right away. I've never used Vista before either, I'm thinking I should go right to Windows 7. Please give me your suggestions.

Thanks everyone! This is a great forum and everyone really nice/knowledgeable on here. I look forward to reading your comments.

 

1. My G50Vt-X3 come with a DOA Blu-ray drive, and it was RMAed. There are always some lemons. Let's hope that you won't get one. But on overall, G50Vt work perfectly.
2. I think that cooler is good for G50Vt, since the Zalman NC2000 cooled ClutchX2's G50Vt quite a lot. I think NC1000 and NC2000 don't differ much.
3. You should take a clean Vista first. Since Win7 is just Release Candidate now, and you haven't tried Vista yet, why don't you give it a chance to prove itself? I think you will like Vista.

 

Thanks red. Sorry about your Blu-Ray but I'm glad you got it fixed. Oh and I just realized that I should buy the NC2000 cooler instead of the NC1000 because the G50VT-X6 is probably too big for the NC1000. I wonder what Clutch has to say... And you think I should try Vista eh? Everyone I know always trashes vista. Glad to see that not everyone's a critic

 

At somewhere, I read that Vista SP1 (especially the 64-bit version) is quite good. But people still hate it because on its early days, it caused a lot of trouble with drivers. And you also are likely to hate it because you heard a lot of complaints. You can see that now microsoft is advertise Win7 everywhere, and I saw banners that said they want hardware manufacturer co-operate with them to make good driver. They don't want Win7 go again on Vista's bad track. And I also read some preview about Win7, critics said they don't see much improvement from Vista. I think Win7 is a re-made Vista, but with better preparation for release.

 

howdy folks... noob here.. love this place... it helped me find the laptop ive always wanted...

i just picked up my new g50tv-x6 from new egg... so far its beena dream... cant comment on the battery as i always have it plugged in...

I installed 64-bit win7 right away... had really no driver issues... everything went smooth.. but i have heard other people say the same thing that redguardsoldier said... thats its (insome ways) a repackaged vista... with a few default options changed... so... if you are interested in win7 then I can only say ive had a successful time with it.. but i dont hardcore use it... i play wow and am a ui developer.. so i do that on it...

edit: also, i picked up this cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834997340
and have been pleased... really tho.. it doesnt get nearly a hot as i thought it would... there again... it might just
be that im not taxing it enough...

 

Red, thanks again for your post. I'm actually completely indifferent about vista. I have XP on this old hunk of junk computer I use now and my IT guys at work have stuck to XP as well, so Vista is no where in my life! Surprisingly I've never used it before. Anyway, I still think I'm gonna upgrade to Windows 7 right away since that's gonna be the next big thing. No use learning anything about Vista if it's going away anyways.

Evilsquid, welcome to the forums! That makes 2 of us n00bs Did you install Windows 7 immediately? Any trickyness about upgrading to 7 that I should know about? I'm guessing by installing Windows 7 it's gonna do a complete re-image. I immediately want to get rid of all the bloatware that's gonna be on this thing. With regards to that, is there any actual useful bloatware that comes with it?

Thanks for the cooler link too. I'm actually really interested in which cooler ClutchX2 recommends. He seems to be the ASUS guru around here ;-)

 

That your choice to either stay with Vista or go to Win7. Win7 now is free for download because it's release candidate (RC). In the future, when Microsoft officially release it, the RC no longer can be used. I heard somewhere that it will only work for 2 hours, and you have to restart the computer and few next months, it no longer work. Then you have to buy Win7 or restore your computer to Vista.
I'm kind of lazy in installing and configuring my software for my use so that I don't want to keep installing windows often. After buying my X3, I don't have any money left to buy a cooler (I tent to buy a Cooler Master Infinite). So I build myself one. It works, it cools my GPU somewhat 8C.

 

Just a tip, if you can hold off buying your laptop until the 26th of this month, you won't have to pay for Windows 7 when its released in October.

That is the date Microsoft begins their Win 7 voucher program on all Vista installed PC's. Its good on any Vista PC purchased between June 26 and January 31.

Whether you like Vista or not, or think Win 7 is a repackaged Vista, you'll save yourself the cost of a new OS and all the update improvements that follow.

 

wow. Thanks for that Steelers. I think I will wait now. Can you provide a link to this information from a news article or from the microsoft website?

Thanks

EDIT: So far it only looks like something Best Buy is going to implement. I wonder if newegg will do the same. It'll be interesting to watch: http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/06/05/windows-7-guarantee-program-starting-june-26-at-best-buy/

EDIT2: Nevermind, looks like ASUS is doing it too http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=386305

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it covers all the major manufactures and vendors.

 

steelers,

are you a penguinsworshiper as well?

 

pretty machine. best I've ever had. Plays Crysis on 1680x1050 medium-high settings at an avg 35fps.

 

Being born in the South, I'm not a big hockey, but you can damn sure bet I'm pulling for the Pens.

If I bought a rig today, no question the X6 would be it. I'm only waiting for the Windows 7 upgrade and, hopefully, more info on the G51/G60's pricing/specs. At $ 1150.00, I don't know how much longer Newegg will have it in stock.

Also, does the the case lid on the X6 have the flashing side and center LEDs that everyone complains about? From Neweggs pictures, I can't tell. Thanks much.

 

Hahaha. Yeah I'm from Buffalo NY and the Sabres are my team (not a pens fan at all), but I really disklike Detroit so I hope you guys kick some butt! Great game last night! Way to make it to game 7

Yes I'm in the same boat. I hope newegg has loads of extras and they all go on clearance in a couple weeks when the G51 comes out. But I'm scared that there won't be any left soon! Oh well I'll just wait and see. I'm not buying until June 26th. Worst case I'll buy the G51 ;-)

no idea.

 

All G50's have the lights and you can turn them off and they dont have to flash they can also just be on. All G50VT's are the same laptop, they will vary in paint job, battery, bluetooth, cpu, hdd, odd and the screen panel.

While a long and usual list point is the cases is the same except for the screen bezel on all models, the motherboard and video card and its capability of support this or that is all the same.

Maybe its because ive seen them before but i see them in a minimum of 4 of neweggs pictures. There is no flashing center led. Its lit and you cant turn it off.

 

Thanks much Zeedee and Clutch. I must be looking in the wrong place, not to see them.

 

there is a button on the X6 that gives you full control over the lights on the back.

 

LOL WUT? No such button, if your referring to the direct console button that does nothing without direct console. You still cant turn off the shield and middle led. Also cant control the touchpad led which is changable via Predator MF's code for the G1s.

 

to-may-to, to-mah-to

 

Hey clutch, glad you ventured over here.

I want to buy a cooler for the G50VT-X6. Any suggestions? Is the exhaust located on the bottom? Newegg has this one that looks pretty good: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834998051

let me know what you suggest. Thanks bud

 

that link doesn't work...

 

You can look at my Zalman review for hints about the vents lol as their are pictures and measurements and all. And yeah your link = broken.

 

awesome. Looks like i'm gonna get the Zalman NC-2000 Thanks again