Fed up

As the title describes, I am truly fed up with this machine.

In the 6 months that I have owned my g73jh, I have used it for a total of 72 hours. I have RMA'd three times now. Once due to a faulty hard drive cage. The second and third, because I was unable to fathom why I had idle temperates of 69c.

Now that my g73jh has finally returned after another lengthy 2 month RMA process, I am furious. From 69c increasing(?) to 81c idle, I cannot begin to fathom how they were able to worsen the situation. Further more, even downclocking to 300/500 I am only able to achieve 72c idle.

I am running 10.8 drivers and 211 vbios. My g73 returned with 10.12, but the temperatures were even higher than they are now. I thought it was just an anomaly with the driver, but the same heat issues persists on 10.8. I've also tried running Crysis to do a heat benchmark, Gamer settings. After IDLING for 10 minutes, the machine shut itself down. (110c+?)

I understand that it's impossible for me to get a refund at this point. A 6 month return policy is unheard of. After tanking $1800 on this /beast/, I'm at a loss. I've owned Asus machines before. G51x and G50. My daughter even has her own GV-50VT. None of which have problems (that I'm aware of).

I've been a notebook user my entire life, I love the portability, the feeling of ownership. But, I'm at a point where I think I would pull more enjoyment out of this machine if I were to break its spine in two.

Edit: Temperatures listed are of TSS1

 

Myabe open it up and do a repaste yourself or rma it one more time and make sure it goes to the cali asus repair center. Mine was idling around 67C untill I sent it in. Now its 58C with 700/1000 clocks.

 

Did you send it to the Indiana facility?
If so, that's why.

Indiana is where Asus sends high school dropouts. =s

 

Yeah just open it up and repaste it yourself and there you go. No more overheating.

 

Hah, I had to RMA it 5x (at my own expense for 3 of them), and was without a computer for the first 2 months of my MA program because asus would ship it back DOA.

I guess what I'm saying is ... fix it yourself. Yes, asus SHOULD fix it, yes it SHOULD work, and yes it's not fair.

But on the other hand, wouldn't you feel good knowing that you've fixed it yourself, and also knowing that if you break something, you can just send it back to asus anyways?

Also, the g51/60/J/JX have a bunch of problems, consider yourself lucky if they havn't popped up. Seriously, the disassembly isn't hard, if you can hold a screwdriver without taking out an eye (yours or someone else's), then you can do this without breaking anything.

And yes, I paid $1800 for mine too. I know, it hurts. I try so hard to love my g73, right now I'm at "like", and I'm going to have to be content with that. FWIW, not everyone gets idle temps of 40 and load temps of 77. Many people have idle temps of 55-65, and load at 95ish... more, in fact, than those who have low temps. It's just those with low temps are vocal

 

Thanks for the responses.

My g73 was sent to the RMA center in Ontario.

Is there a convenient link someone could post to a repaste guide?

 

Chastity's Thoughts on Repasting (Read Here First)

 

DCx summed it up. It isnt right but its better to do it yourself. After your read the above post read the one in my signature.... Guide to repasting the G73

Goodluck.

 

Any Chance you could post the retailer U got it from ? I would hammer the management (with calls, emails, letters, etc.) of the company I bought it from until I got a refund or a new machine if that happened to me.
I realize there are lemon laws for cars but I would think a large retailer would take care of you if they want any new customers or repeat business. That really is a horrible way to do business!

 

I bought it from GentechPC. Aren't they just the middleman? I don't think they can be held liable for the problems though

Ken sounded like a really nice guy over the phone too.

@ValkerieFire: That is one informative guide, thanks a million

 

He is one of the most respected dealers here, I am not dissing him at all, but he should have some clout with ASUS and I would think he could intervene in an extreme case like this.
I honesly though you were going to say Best Buy

 

There is a link in my sig for what you should expect after a repaste as well. I had a bunch of trouble with the ontario service centre too - they've fixed several asus netbooks for me, without a problem ... but I think they need to do a bit of employee training on how to properly apply thermal paste.

So, THIS link: http://forum.notebookreview.com/asu...um/527654-newbs-guide-repasting-your-g73.html is really, REALLY well documented. The speaker wires? Not a problem if you've done this sort of work before, or you go slow. I used a screwdriver on each side (top and bottom) since the plastic is a little soft, you can get two small, flat heads to bite in a bit and lift it up without a problem.

Also, read up here http://forum.notebookreview.com/asu.../553173-g73jh-repaste-collective-summary.html so you don't feel like you *need* to end up with 40C idle temps to be successful. I am in NO WAY criticizing anyone else here, especially those who have low temps - Those people (they know who they are) have been VERY helpful. It's a great target temp, but realistically, you're not going to get it. You can easily do the repaste yourself, and if you end up with 60C idle temps, that's honestly GREAT. Consider that a lot of dell computers will hit 105 under moderate load with a weak gpu ... if your top-of-the-line, 3rd-best-in-the-world laptop GPU hits 95 under load, you're doing well - that's a hot-running chip, with a good paste job. If it's 85-90 at load, you're average - probably an average chip, or an average paste job, or both. If you're hitting 80 at load, you've got a great chip and a good paste job.

Really, the disassembly is easier than you think. Use a low bowl (or some other support that's about 1inch) instead of resting the screen on the edge of the case (like in the video). Drop a towel over the screen so you can put the mobo on top of it without worrying.

There are only 4 types of screws, 4 are specific to the outer case, 6 are specific to the hinges, and 6 are specific to the fans. So you don't even have to keep track of which screws go where! It really is easy, especially if you go slow. And if you've ever built a computer before, you know how durable computer components really are.

 

This is sad. I know what you feel. It happened to me on a desktop, I used a semi defective motherboard until it died after 3 years. Call customer support if anything might be done.

 

I honestly hope it all works out for you. Sad to hear stories like this. No one should have to put up with ASUS's ridiculous RMA process...

 

Glad I have an authorized repair center right down the street. If anything were to happen, I can be there personally to make sure what needs to be fixed gets fixed.

 

how the hell are the temps going to be worst after rma

Damn, all the luck in the world to you.

 

I would get in touch with Ken, and let him know what is going on. If it just needs a repaste, I know he can do it. If not, you can setup a new RMA and instead of sending it out, you can go to a local ASP center, and they can do it onsite. Nice part is that you can inspect it before taking it home.

Tho start with Ken, since he's good about supporting his customers.

 

This is exactly the reason I refuse to do an RMA because they just plain suck, I rarely hear good things about doing it. Mine also needs a re-paste on the GPU but I fear of doing it myself so I am going to suck it up and spend $100ish at a shop I trust back home.

 

Chastity has a great point. Gentech can probably do a repaste correctly in 20 minutes. If Asus reimburses them then they have nothing to loose. Hopefully they can do it for you for free or a nominal fee if you don't want to do it yourself. It isn't hard, but people do break their laptop trying it. So far we've had broken speakers cable, broken cameras, and broken monitor cables, so it isn't for the faint of heart.

 

I'll be heading over to Toronto in March, so I'm thinking of possibly getting one of Asus's associates to do the repaste. Apparently, it's covered by the warranty.

I live in Canada, if I were to send Ken my g73. How long would you guys estimate I would need to wait?

 

Why not just email Ken and ask him?

 

Couldn't tell ya. Shipping should only be a week or two each way, but customs may hold it up.

 

My Diamond arrived today, and I immediately referred to the pasting guide and opened my g73.

The temperatures have now dropped to 50~60 at 700x1000!

On the down side, now the blue LEDs reporting caps lock and nums lock, and also the 3 suite buttons at the top left now don't work. I also broke my End key off, but that's a small price to pay.

 

How'd you manage that? Go back in and check if everything is plugged in.

 

The 3 blue lights in the top left are linked to the blue thin cable underneith the keyboard which doesnt go back in very easily it sounds as though the connections are not touching.

Be very gentle with the keyboard and you wont have any problems take your time there is no need to break anything when doing a repaste in fact I have opened mine 4 times and only fixed problems with it each time not caused them. Time is of the essence!

 

I just noticed, but my track pad is gone as well.

Not a huge issue though, no more worrying about random movements.

 

It sounds as though you have not reconnected certain cables and that is not good you need to tear apart the block and check all the connections.

Loose connections can cause hardware failure and short circuits and then your mobo will die and game over without a checkpoint or save game so if its working or not you run the risk of killing your JH. But its totally up to you just warning ya.

I cured my random mouse movements by readjusting the yellow stickers around the touchpad film and this cured all my mouse issues and sticking.

 

Thats pretty much me right there. Idle at 56-58 and highest load temps ever gotten was 93C.

Anyway, TC repasting yourself is the way to go. Not worth RMA'ing it for temp issues. It's better to do a repaste yourself IMO.

 

Guess when I go to Toronto, I'll have an RMA agent look at the internals.

I don't feel like repeating the process a second time.

Perhaps even get me a new "End" key

 

Not really sure how you're having that long of a wait from the Ontario center. I sent mine there and had it back in less than a week. They even repasted my GPU (well, kinda had to, they had to replace the whole cooling unit for the GPU), and its been fine since.

 

I pasted it myself.

 

The G73 series has some serious quality issues. Just look at this forum for a bit. It's something to consider next time you buy a notebook. Look for the user forum and see if there are a zillion posts about instability, overheating, RMAs, etc.

 

Not so much anymore most of the issues are from people who not yet repasted, updated their Vbios and bios and got the latest drivers.

I picked my G73JH up 3 weeks ago for cheap it was one of the old versions and had nothing done to it. I spent a couple of days reinstalling updating drivers flashing the BIOS and then tore her apart repasted and she is now the best gaming laptop I have ever had along with being very powerful.

When you get a laptop that can handle this much power and a 17 inch screen and stay thin and good looking it comes at a price. Most of the small issues have been fixed in the JW/SW models but that is because they learnt from the JH model and you lack they power of the 5870m.

 

In my personal opinion, and as a JH user, I think Asus colossally screwed up the 5870m. That same card in other manufacturers stay cooler, clock higher, and run relatively better.

But because of Asus's own revision to it, we all get weird, niggly little issues that were UNFORESEEN when we bought the laptop.

As for thermal paste issues, so long as you're familiar with the lovely resellers here (HI KEN), you have the option of having them do the paste for you for a small fee if you bought with them. Standard procedure if you can spare the cash.

I will say this though, haven't had any issues since I air canned. No need for a repaste.

 

If I had bought the JH when it first came out without all the fixes and it came with all those problems with that price I would have been screwing!

The fact I got it for cheap and was able to apply all the fixes makes it a fantastic buy for me. I guess its worth waiting with new models to see what issues they have and if fixes are applied. A new creative driver would be nice but apart from that im happy

 

Despite that, I have to say that the JH has been solid for my entire use lol. Still is. Didn't even GSOD before the vBIOS, didn't after. I was on 10.6 the whole time before the vBIOS fix came.

Only the fact that I can't overclock to 800/1100 bums my ego. Where the single-GPU M17x owners are running circles around me far as that goes.

My advice would be to get a cheap Asus G73JH now (nothing better for its price, as it was, and still is, and forever will be) and wait for the HD69xx with Ivy Bridge on a Clevo/Sager.

 

Is that temp related your ability to not overclock? I have to say that mine does not go as high as I would like my temps are very low 80's max and I cant push further than 800/1100 without issues. Although that is very fast anyway.

 

I can go to 760-80/1150 depending on the game. Vantage benchmarking gets me higher. 790/1150.

And it remains at relatively stable temps. Around 89C max on the hottest sensor without a cooler, and 26C ambient. And that's with 11.4, which run about 4C higher. Back to 11.2, and I get lower heat, and no stuttering on Bulletstorm.

Cool down the room with AC, and I get much better temps. 80C max.

 

Card to card differences I guess my max is 900/1100 on 11.2 or 11.4 it doesnt make a difference but I cannot push it further than 1100 without artifacting. My core can go even higher but I dont want or need to push it to far. I like 800/1100 though.

Have you repasted?

 

Nope. Haven't repasted. Don't need to really. All I need is a cool room (which is a prerequisite since my own body overheats too lol) and to blow out the vents frequently.

 

Have you checked your temps under HWINFO32? on my last laptop I was able to hugely overclock but not before I repasted even though my temps seemed ok until I checked each section of the GPU.

It was mainly due to a difference in temps that was causing the problem my diode was fine but my memory was about 25oC higher and it did not like it at all poorly seated heatsink was the issue and the memory pads were all over the place, looked like a drunk tech at asus had put it together.

 

Yep I've checked using a variety of proggies. They're all within 1.5-3C of each other.

I think its just my revision of the card. OR it could be a power draw issue. Using an extension cord at the moment, and wonder if I get different results using a direct wall socket.

 

Worth a try voltage is the biggest issue 0.95 and 1.15 is not really enough to throw some serious overclocking around especially when 700/1000 are the stocks.

 

Wait, ASUS associates can repaste for you if you bring it to them with the thermal paste?
I live in Toronto so I was wondering if I could just head over to the RMA center here and ask the dude behind the desk to repaste with the paste i give him.

 

This Laptop is a Bargain on paper, but in the real world this is a piece of crap!
It's like an old car! when you FIX something, something else appears to get fixed!

 

Electronics here in the US are sort-of covered by a lemon law if you are under warranty. Something like after a reasonable number repair attempts the manufacturer is required to offer a full refund or a equal agreed upon replacement. Forget the exact name of the law but it exist. I turned my no longer under warranty G1S into a NIB free from Asus G73 using the law as pretense for my case. After initiating legal proceedings against Asus (nvidia defect and failed repairs) i had them contacting me in a couple weeks.

I would be on the phone with Asus demanding a functional, reliable replacement.

Heres the link to my story and how i ended up with my g73. Didnt dig thru it but you can find some really useful information in it.


View topic - G1S Second RMA in 2 months • The Nvidia Defect Forum


and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson–Moss_Warranty_Act


You have your warranty right. You should fall well under that warranty act. I would contact Consumer Affairs. Hand write a letter a Asus HQ and send it certified mail and req a signature. Contact Trinity Sparks @ Asus HQ in cali and tell her your story. Constantly call and push to speak with managers at the repair center that botched your repairs. Demand a replacement. I know i would. No way after spending that kind of money would i settle for a paper weight.